VZ Crewman newbie ( thinking of buying one)

[itsArthurKomar]

Ok hey guys and gals.
im in the market for a new car and recsently a white vz crewman caught my eye
just want to know whats possible to be done i.e. LSD, exhaust, LOWEred etc? anythoughts and positive opinions would be apreciated and also what are some pro's and con's? thnx

[azazeldeath]

Here is what I can say from experience.

Careful how low you lower it, I lowered my to SSLs went over a speed bump and split my fuel tank. And in all honesty Crewmans dont look good lowered. At most id say lower the front slightly, keep the back at stock for load carrying and also for a more aggressive stance.

LSD - Mine came standard with it, though it was an S pack manual. And I believe the Manuals all use the same diffs as the V8 models.

* Their turning circle is a bit, well very, wide. I know I couldnt get into a few car parks even going full lock sometimes. Though if you are used to driving the Commodores, or Commodore Utes then you shouldnt have much trouble adjusting.
* The Crewman is long, so unless you want to risk people clipping your car stay away from the 'small car carparks'.
* The back seats are horrible. But as the driver you can just say they are for keeping your spine in a good posture and have fun going around corners and watching the people in the back slide around.
* It has to have Commercial truck tyres on it. The cheapest I found is $215 each. Cannot buy second hand or re-treaded. Have terrible grip in the wet for that price as well.
* It has traction control, and the switch is normally an optional extra (can buy one from holden for around $60 though so no biggy).
* The rear end is light, if you have driven any other kinds of Utes you will be fine, but otherwise keep that thought in mind.
* The factory bucket seats are very comfortable. And do keep you in the seat if your getting a little sideways action.
* They are built solid. (I hit some trees at 80km/h sideways and only the front K bar was bent, still expensive but not a write off, the car did its job and protected my life and my passengers).
* Maloo body kits look stupid on them. The bonnet looks good, so does the front bumper. Side-skirts (custom made) side guards and rear bumper just look very out of place.


All in all the Crewmans are a nice car. I would definitely invest in a S or SS version as the stock model doesnt come standard with powerwindows, has the basic cluster (looks boring no digital speedo), front seats arent as nice to sit in.

Think that about sums it up, if you have any specific questions feel free to ask me. Also one piece of advice.
Upgrade the headunit and speakers atleast! The sound quality tends to be rather low and there is no factory input, so if you have an MP3, Ipod, Iphone, MP3 cds, and the likes, you cant use them.

[itsArthurKomar]

welll wow that a shit load to take into cosideration

yeah ive been readin bout the fuel tank issue the other night after my mate told me the fuel tank is retarded and the lowering will suck dick
(personaly i love the lowered crewmans look)
what i was thinking for lowering is i get a capa or mace custom crewman tank (modified for lowering) and stick it in then lower its will ssl's and chuck airbags on the rear to raise it for loads ( coz im not a tradie or anything just buying a new car and i want a ute but need 5 seats and this is the only option :P coz i some times need the space y know )
and yeah ive heard that its long l0l and yeah im upgrading to a ute and this is my first ute ever coz i am 19 and have been driving my moms old mazda 323 lol ( i know a massive change but i think its worth it )
the back seats i read would get better once the crewman is lowered
so as i understand as long as the tyres are comercial tyres i can have any type of rims on it?
yeah the one im looking to buy is a VZ crewman MY06 upgrade which i guess is the stock one , but at saying that i think it still feels nice
good to know they r safe cars coz my dad would be bitching up and down the street if it wasnt lol
i was only thinking of getting the sv6/ss front bar installed instead of the standard exec style retarded bumper.
also the my06 comes with half stock power windows
yeah true i was goinng to put a touchscreen unit coz it allows unlike VE's ( my original choice/secondary if the crewman gets sold by saturday)
and also about the fuel tank did u get a modified one and if so where from and how much did it rape ur wallet?

thnx for all the help mate

Here is what I can say from experience.

Careful how low you lower it, I lowered my to SSLs went over a speed bump and split my fuel tank. And in all honesty Crewmans dont look good lowered. At most id say lower the front slightly, keep the back at stock for load carrying and also for a more aggressive stance.

LSD - Mine came standard with it, though it was an S pack manual. And I believe the Manuals all use the same diffs as the V8 models.

* Their turning circle is a bit, well very, wide. I know I couldnt get into a few car parks even going full lock sometimes. Though if you are used to driving the Commodores, or Commodore Utes then you shouldnt have much trouble adjusting.
* The Crewman is long, so unless you want to risk people clipping your car stay away from the 'small car carparks'.
* The back seats are horrible. But as the driver you can just say they are for keeping your spine in a good posture and have fun going around corners and watching the people in the back slide around.
* It has to have Commercial truck tyres on it. The cheapest I found is $215 each. Cannot buy second hand or re-treaded. Have terrible grip in the wet for that price as well.
* It has traction control, and the switch is normally an optional extra (can buy one from holden for around $60 though so no biggy).
* The rear end is light, if you have driven any other kinds of Utes you will be fine, but otherwise keep that thought in mind.
* The factory bucket seats are very comfortable. And do keep you in the seat if your getting a little sideways action.
* They are built solid. (I hit some trees at 80km/h sideways and only the front K bar was bent, still expensive but not a write off, the car did its job and protected my life and my passengers).
* Maloo body kits look stupid on them. The bonnet looks good, so does the front bumper. Side-skirts (custom made) side guards and rear bumper just look very out of place.


All in all the Crewmans are a nice car. I would definitely invest in a S or SS version as the stock model doesnt come standard with powerwindows, has the basic cluster (looks boring no digital speedo), front seats arent as nice to sit in.

Think that about sums it up, if you have any specific questions feel free to ask me. Also one piece of advice.
Upgrade the headunit and speakers atleast! The sound quality tends to be rather low and there is no factory input, so if you have an MP3, Ipod, Iphone, MP3 cds, and the likes, you cant use them.

[itsArthurKomar]

oh and also if u wanna check it out YouTube - VZ crewman thats the one i drove that im might be buying. keep in mind i was really excited at the time so i was retarded in the ming and couldnt remember sertain parts of car and what they have lol

Here is what I can say from experience.

Careful how low you lower it, I lowered my to SSLs went over a speed bump and split my fuel tank. And in all honesty Crewmans dont look good lowered. At most id say lower the front slightly, keep the back at stock for load carrying and also for a more aggressive stance.

LSD - Mine came standard with it, though it was an S pack manual. And I believe the Manuals all use the same diffs as the V8 models.

* Their turning circle is a bit, well very, wide. I know I couldnt get into a few car parks even going full lock sometimes. Though if you are used to driving the Commodores, or Commodore Utes then you shouldnt have much trouble adjusting.
* The Crewman is long, so unless you want to risk people clipping your car stay away from the 'small car carparks'.
* The back seats are horrible. But as the driver you can just say they are for keeping your spine in a good posture and have fun going around corners and watching the people in the back slide around.
* It has to have Commercial truck tyres on it. The cheapest I found is $215 each. Cannot buy second hand or re-treaded. Have terrible grip in the wet for that price as well.
* It has traction control, and the switch is normally an optional extra (can buy one from holden for around $60 though so no biggy).
* The rear end is light, if you have driven any other kinds of Utes you will be fine, but otherwise keep that thought in mind.
* The factory bucket seats are very comfortable. And do keep you in the seat if your getting a little sideways action.
* They are built solid. (I hit some trees at 80km/h sideways and only the front K bar was bent, still expensive but not a write off, the car did its job and protected my life and my passengers).
* Maloo body kits look stupid on them. The bonnet looks good, so does the front bumper. Side-skirts (custom made) side guards and rear bumper just look very out of place.


All in all the Crewmans are a nice car. I would definitely invest in a S or SS version as the stock model doesnt come standard with powerwindows, has the basic cluster (looks boring no digital speedo), front seats arent as nice to sit in.

Think that about sums it up, if you have any specific questions feel free to ask me. Also one piece of advice.
Upgrade the headunit and speakers atleast! The sound quality tends to be rather low and there is no factory input, so if you have an MP3, Ipod, Iphone, MP3 cds, and the likes, you cant use them.

[azazeldeath]

Sorry for the late response.

Lets start with what my fuel tank set me back, unfortunately I didnt want to put a stock standard one in there. So I decided to go with a custom made long range tank, only at 140Ltrs but it does the job, that set me back $4,000 including fitting.

The rims. Well there are some, like the SS, and S pack rims, but you will be hard pressed to find chromies that can take load rated tyres of 104/108. You can try, but if you manage to find them you will be raped by the tyre dealership.

Read into the specific laws for lowering trade vehicles and putting rims on it. I mean you can do it dont get me wrong, but if you get into an accident, the cops and the insurance company will make your life a living hell. I know Darwin is very strict with it.
I would strong recommend putting power windows throughout. And if its your first ute put in a reverse camera!
You dont see shit out the back window except a nice blue sky, clouds, tall buildings and the tops of small cars that stand no chance if they rear end you.

After watching video

That is the standard Crewman model, 5 Speed Auto. The power windows appear to be a factory extra which the first owner requested. If I had my Crewman still id show you the S (SS) cluster, which when you have money I would recommend upgrading to, it has a much nicer appeal to it. And has the bonus of a digital speedo.

Your model will not have cruise control, and appears to have 15 or 16 inch steelies. If you want to see what the S pack rims look like just ask, I think I have some pictures of the rims on mine.
You are running the 3.6litre alloytec engine, which is very odd for the standard model. But in all honesty that is a good thing. All and all it looks like a nice clean car.

[azazeldeath]

Small extra. When you first buy it. Go practice parking in an empty secluded spot. Trust me you dont want to practice in a busy area the first time. It is a big car with the turning circle of an aircraft carrier.

[itsArthurKomar]

Its alright as i jst got hhome from work.

HOLY BAWLS man thats wayyy out of my budget might have to shop around the wrekers if they have any custom made from other crewmans.

yeah im not really fond of chrome rims all the Muzzaz and fully sick wogs ruined them for me by demolishing thier commodores and sticking overly retadedly large chrome disks as wheels
well in melbourne/victoria the laws are that the lowest point of a vehicle is 10cm so maybe that also corresponds to the crewman?

yeah the reverse camera is a great bloody idea ( thnx i havent thought of that hope they dont rip me off here in melbourne for one haha)

power windows i dont really mind because i rarely have people in the back so yeah kinda pointless i recon.

yeah well ill have a look at some clusters see if i like em .

the gearbox is a 4spd i googled it and it DOES have cruise control haha played around with it on the test drive.
yeah i think the stockies r 15's and yeah sure can i see what S pack wheels look like? :P

well i thought the 3.6 alloytech has been made as a standard in all vz after 2005?

thnx man

Sorry for the late response.

Lets start with what my fuel tank set me back, unfortunately I didnt want to put a stock standard one in there. So I decided to go with a custom made long range tank, only at 140Ltrs but it does the job, that set me back $4,000 including fitting.

The rims. Well there are some, like the SS, and S pack rims, but you will be hard pressed to find chromies that can take load rated tyres of 104/108. You can try, but if you manage to find them you will be raped by the tyre dealership.

Read into the specific laws for lowering trade vehicles and putting rims on it. I mean you can do it dont get me wrong, but if you get into an accident, the cops and the insurance company will make your life a living hell. I know Darwin is very strict with it.
I would strong recommend putting power windows throughout. And if its your first ute put in a reverse camera!
You dont see shit out the back window except a nice blue sky, clouds, tall buildings and the tops of small cars that stand no chance if they rear end you.

After watching video

That is the standard Crewman model, 5 Speed Auto. The power windows appear to be a factory extra which the first owner requested. If I had my Crewman still id show you the S (SS) cluster, which when you have money I would recommend upgrading to, it has a much nicer appeal to it. And has the bonus of a digital speedo.

Your model will not have cruise control, and appears to have 15 or 16 inch steelies. If you want to see what the S pack rims look like just ask, I think I have some pictures of the rims on mine.
You are running the 3.6litre alloytec engine, which is very odd for the standard model. But in all honesty that is a good thing. All and all it looks like a nice clean car.

[itsArthurKomar]

yeah i probably should ay

Small extra. When you first buy it. Go practice parking in an empty secluded spot. Trust me you dont want to practice in a busy area the first time. It is a big car with the turning circle of an aircraft carrier.

[azazeldeath]

That is very true with the lowering law. It will be 10cm is the lowest the car can go (at the lowest point). In Darwin we are a little more fortunate, it is as long as you can fit a coke can under it (vague right?)

Here are some pictures of my rims after a very quick clean. If you want I can even send you a picture of them on my car. Though I beleive the only photo's I have is of it after some mud got on my car

Its alright as i jst got hhome from work.

HOLY BAWLS man thats wayyy out of my budget might have to shop around the wrekers if they have any custom made from other crewmans.

yeah im not really fond of chrome rims all the Muzzaz and fully sick wogs ruined them for me by demolishing thier commodores and sticking overly retadedly large chrome disks as wheels
well in melbourne/victoria the laws are that the lowest point of a vehicle is 10cm so maybe that also corresponds to the crewman?

yeah the reverse camera is a great bloody idea ( thnx i havent thought of that hope they dont rip me off here in melbourne for one haha)

power windows i dont really mind because i rarely have people in the back so yeah kinda pointless i recon.

yeah well ill have a look at some clusters see if i like em .

the gearbox is a 4spd i googled it and it DOES have cruise control haha played around with it on the test drive.
yeah i think the stockies r 15's and yeah sure can i see what S pack wheels look like? :P

well i thought the 3.6 alloytech has been made as a standard in all vz after 2005?

thnx man

[itsArthurKomar]

yeah

wow those rims r pretty nice would look good matte black or jst black i recon
thnx man

That is very true with the lowering law. It will be 10cm is the lowest the car can go (at the lowest point). In Darwin we are a little more fortunate, it is as long as you can fit a coke can under it (vague right?)

Here are some pictures of my rims after a very quick clean. If you want I can even send you a picture of them on my car. Though I beleive the only photo's I have is of it after some mud got on my car

[azazeldeath]

Careful painting them, I have seen a few Crewmans and Tonners driving around with painted S pack rims, and all I could do was laugh. Do it right, either powder coat or do a real good high gloss black is my advice. Sit there and sand back alot of that clear anodised, it will be 10-30UM so it will take some elbow grease and a hell of alot of swearing.

As for the reverse camera, there is an EXCELLENT how-to on the forums, Reverse Camera the very best part? His write up was done on a VZ Crewman! You can easily do it yourself.

[itsArthurKomar]

i was thinking of gettign the rims don by pros

cool thnx for the link. ill probably nd up goin to the pros for th camera aswell but if this is easy nough ill do it me self
( link doesnt work)
man u bn alot of healp thnx alot

Careful painting them, I have seen a few Crewmans and Tonners driving around with painted S pack rims, and all I could do was laugh. Do it right, either powder coat or do a real good high gloss black is my advice. Sit there and sand back alot of that clear anodised, it will be 10-30UM so it will take some elbow grease and a hell of alot of swearing.

As for the reverse camera, there is an EXCELLENT how-to on the forums, Reverse Camera the very best part? His write up was done on a VZ Crewman! You can easily do it yourself.

[azazeldeath]

Ah damn, well the link is on this site, in the how to section.

[itsArthurKomar]

what page?

Ah damn, well the link is on this site, in the how to section.

[azazeldeath]

[General] how to instal reverse camera and monitor Vy.VZ etc - Crewman specifically
Page 2

[itsArthurKomar]

kool found it thnk

[General] how to instal reverse camera and monitor Vy.VZ etc - Crewman specifically
Page 2

[yourmatetrav]

I seriously wrote this MASSIVE reply, but the forum lost it!!!!!

i will attempt to write it out again (not that perfection can be repeated)

Right, Im 25, I have a partner and two kids. I bought mine a couple of years ago, with 100,000km on the clock for $15,000. Although mine looked identical the the one in the vid, mine has a soft top and no ABS.

Since then i have tried changing the exhaust a couple of times (sports and straight through), I would recommend just keeping it stock. I would recommend the two hole mod on the air intake though. I have upgrade the rims a couple of times and now I have the SS rims (found on gumtree for $500 with 505 tread)and I think I will be staying with them as they look good and 17" commercial rated tyres are pretty cheap.

I crashed into a car the other day and my car is in the panel shop. While its there im upgrading the front bumper to the S/SS with fog lights only extra $50, I will buy the lights and install myself as they wanted $250/pair for the lights where you can buy on ebay for the $120/pair and i will install myself.

People complain about leg room even though its comparable to the rodeo. And they complain about the back seats, i am 6'2 and I have never had a problem as a passenger on road trips with friends, although i would have loved to see it as a spit seat to get to the storage underneath without having to take out the kids seat on the one side. They also like to complain about the size of the tray, I work in the turf industry, i have has a pallet of grass in the back(1500kg)(would not recommend doing too often, was a b*tch to drive) and at the end of the day i can easily roll out a camping mattress and sleep in the back under the stars with the missus (tailgate down). And most of all its funny how the people who bitch about these "flaws" are generally the first to ask if they can borrow it for moving/towing/camping lol

All in all, i love my crewman and will be keeping it until holden release a new model or the missus lets my upgrade to a SS one(she hasn't said no, but hasn't said yes yet either lol) or i win lotto and then i will be buying a new Ford F series pickup

[DaveH]

Just saw this thread.
I have had my 2006 crewman (VZ SS manual) since new and love it. I also think it the best car that I have had.
My only issue with it is the capacity of the tank due to the tail shaft issue.
Just a question for Azazeldeath if I can. You mentioned the 140ltr custom fuel tank. If possible can you provide some more info eg. did it replace the current tank or did it go some where else. I have been thinking of doing something similar.

[azazeldeath]

My one replaced the original. The fabricator was rather annoyed at my request, since I wanted it to take up all the spare room as possible. When I get my car back from the mechanics I will try take a photo for you.
I know ARB does a long range tank that goes into the tray. But it looks cheap and very easy to siphon.

[DaveH]

thanks for the reply. A photo would be good. About 3 years ago I replaced the existing tank with one from CAPA. Before doing this I looked around including different forums trying to find a larger one. No luck. Just looked on the ARB site and nothing there. My thought was to put one at the back of tray if possible. Any ideas would be appreciated

[DaveH]

another thread I found had a link to Long Range Automitive. They mention a 110 litre tank for a crewman. So have contacted them.

[chocco]

I have just recently purchased a VZ Crewman Cross 8 which I spent 6 months searching and I love it. It has the Brown Davis Long Range Tank, it is going back to Brown Davis next week to have the dodgy install fixed up even though they didn't do it. the one thing I don't like about the tank is the filler it actually runs thru the RHS wheel well and the plastic inner guard has to be cut, this is how it was designed. They are going to try and bend a pipe so that it runs along the inside of the chassis rail.

The Brown Davis use's a Y filler to fill the tanks point left for one tank and right for the main tank. There is a Aux fuel gauge and a switch to transfer fuel from the Aux to main.

I averaged 11.7 on the way home from NSW where I picked it up which I thought was pretty good, I bought the crewman for towing a 2t caravan hence the LRT, as I am unsure what the usage will be after a Mafless tune and OTR, and I got it at a bloody good price.

PS - ARB no longer make the crewman tank.

Hope this helps, any more questions let mw know.

[DaveH]

I just had a look at the Brown Davis Long Range Tank site but there aren't any pictures. Where does the tank go ?
If it is the same design as the one from Long Range Automotive ie. it sits at the back where the spare wheel goes this wont help me as I have installed a dual 3" exhaust system with muffler boxes at the back so it is taking up space on both sides. I have also modiified the back bar to suit the tips.