Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi, I'm currently looking at buying my first morris, and I am particularly interested in the pickup version of the car as I do occasionally need to carry certain items that having a pick up would be useful for. Im not expecting it to carry a huge amount but I would just like some idea of what kind of load they can take. Any information would be useful.

Thanks

The earliest Minor pick-up (1950s) was rated at 5cwt (quarter ton) carrying capacity. At some later stage this was raised to 6cwt for the standard pick-up and a 8cwt version with uprated suspension and wider wheels became available about 1968.
When we used to run one at work, it certainly was occasionally required to carry somewhat more than this!

Thanks Manyminors!

Would I be right in thinking that it will be the suspension that will limit the load as opposed to the engine? so theoretically if i bought a later model and did a few mods on it I might be able to take 1/2 tonne in it? Just as an example, this one I was looking at earlier with a mod (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/morris-minor- ... 1c535ea175) I'm assuming would take the upper limit of what a minor would take?

that one is a converted traveller

1098cc's vary between 1.12 - 1.20 GVW for 6cwts, whilst 8cwts are 1.24.

Hope this helps

I would guess that,as a rule of thumb (and unless you are hauling lead or gold!) you could probably load it to the top. I had an old Ford pickup some years back and it drove far better loaded than empty...my son is still using it in his decorating business! A fitted tarpaulin or similar would be useful.

Thing is though that a converted traveller ISN'T a pick-up/commercial vehicle. Who knows how its been constructed And don't forget that the Police can pull you over anytime and escort you to a weighbridge if they think you're vehicle seems overloaded.....

That converted traveller looks quite a useful vehicle actually and more spacious and less valuable than a genuine pick-up SO it could be worth a look at anyway?

Here's mine loaded up with water filters; total weight about 150-200 kg and it handled it great, the suspension didn't sag and the truck didn't feel overloaded.

500 kg is probably too much for a Morris Pickup to handle, but up to 300 I think would be fine, depending on the type of load. The rear floor is a fairly thin piece of plywood and I'd be afraid that cargo with the load concentrated on a small point could damage it.[frame][/frame]

The way I read the one on ebay is it started as a traveller but there is a separate chassis. Meaning the longer doors were used. He doesn't provide any details on the rear chassis which is obviously a much longer wheelbase.

seems ok with a chassis, but wonder if the chassis was a home made affair and how good is it
wouldd not pay much for it

Thanks for your replies I didn't go for that one in the end as it really wasn't what i am looking for. I am defiantly on the hunt for a proper morris pick up rather than the made up versions. GBond .... can i have yours I think that it would look nice with my wood fired oven in the back

You're making a mobile wood burning pizza oven? That IS a great use for a pickup but probably too heavy for a Minor.

Don't know how rare they are but maybe you could be able to find a Cowley? They're a bit bigger so probably better for the weight and look very similar to the Morris.

My pickup is LHD so probably not very suitable for Britain, it's also as far as I know the only remaining one in my country so I think I'd rather keep it

Well I thought that that was going to be the case but I have managed to source a oven which is below 200kg, so I was hoping if I get the right Minor it should be able to cope. I have looked at the cowleys but they are pretty hard to get hold off. I am planning on doing very 'british' food and o couldn't think of a better car to do it in than a Morris!