Doh, I looked all over for the tow rating, never thought to look in the “test track” tab. 
It is a pleasant surprise that Trucks magazine seems to have understood what the Brigader was all about. It has its roots in military vehicles and is sort of like the simplest Patrol and Land Cruiser models. I expected a harsh review in the Comfort concious North American market TBH.
1 Like
Was supposed to be LTMono but the difference to Util was negligible.
Nice, concise, reviews. Thanks for hosting. 
How the fuck did I submit a right-hand drive car lmao, I’m such an idiot lmao
Can we just take a moment and appreciate the incredible effort of reviewing all 39 entries the day after the submissions closed? Excellent write-up, and congratulations to the finalists.
9 Likes
A day? It was about 3 hours. Gotta get started on reviews as vehicles start coming in, that makes it a lot easier to have things done in a timely manner without stressing out.
That said, I’m aiming to have the detailed reviews to crown the winner out in the next few hours but no promises.
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Reviews Part II
https://darlenesvintagepostcards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/aerial-view-anchorage-alaska.jpg
Bill gets up bright and early and pulls out his list from the previous evening as well as his map of Anchorage to head out for some dealership visits and test drives. He’s hoping to have a new vehicle by day’s end so he can head back home away from the hustle and bustle of the big city tomorrow morning.
@yangx2 Innis Kiwanda Jumbo Junior
The first dealership Bill visits in the Innis one, located near the motel. He quickly spots a Kiwanda Jumbo Junior like the one in the article and goes to look for a salesman to set up a test drive. After cutting off the salesman’s attempt at a sales pitch and anything else not related to the test drive, Bill gets the keys and walks up to the truck for a closer look.
First and foremost, even in person they can easily be mistaken for a standard offroader rather than a pickup truck with how well the bed cap has been integrated. Beyond that, the styling is very macho and utilitarian. Bill gets the feeling it shouldn’t ever get stuck anywhere, especially with those gigantic tires. Climbing inside, the cabin is quite utilitarian as well but the seats are rather comfortable. Buckets aren’t that common in trucks so these are a pleasant change, though the radio is the usual basic unit found in trucks.
Starting the engine with more of a whisper than a roar, Bill puts it into drive and leaves the lot. Acceleration is nothing to write home about and the Kiwanda understeers more than he’d expect. Trying out the brakes, the front ones feel rather grabby and might be an issue on slippery surfaces, but he’s surprised at how quickly it’s able to stop. Maybe there’s something to be said about these disc brakes. Taking it out on the highway, the Kiwanda reacts as expected and nothing seems out of the ordinary to Bill. Of course, he had to take a ‘shortcut’ getting off the highway to try out some of the capabilities and is glad to see his expectations in the lot were true.
Back at the lot and returning the Kiwanda, Bill gets to reflect a bit on it. It was certainly easy to drive, certainly due to the automatic transmission, while comfort was quite average as he expected, just as the fuel economy. Offroad capabilities were very impressive, as are the apparent utility features and of course the large cargo volume of the bed even with the cap in place. At the dealership Bill also has a look under the hood at the inline-6 and in the parts catalogue and figures that costs and ease of servicing should be about what he expected. Having seen what he could, he gets back to his old Dominion feeling like he’ll need to keep Innis in mind.
@GassTiresandOil Armor Anvil Mesa
The Armor dealership is not located far from the Innis dealership, so after a short drive Bill is back at a lot expertly dodging sales pitches and getting himself set up to test drive the gold Anvil Mesa he parked next to. Once he finally gets the keys, he walks over to the offroader he had his eyes on.
Standing next to the Anvil, Bill can’t help but compare it to the Kiwanda. The proportions are so similar and he wouldn’t be surprised if they happened to use the same size tire, as these are massive as well. The first thing to really stand out in terms of styling is the gold paint job with contrasting stripes wrapping around the body. Beyond that, the design is the pretty standard macho looking one for large offroaders that Bill finds appealing. Climbing inside, the cabin seems is pretty standard fare for one of these, with fairly comfortable seats and a mid range radio.
Bill put the key in the ignition and the engine comes to life with a slightly unfamiliar rumble. This is his first V6 experience and could very well decide what he thinks of them forever after. Leaving the lot, the first impression is yet again that acceleration is nothing special and fitting for the segment. While the ride is stable and steering rather neutral, Bill finds that it might be too stable. The suspension feels quite stiff and there’s little body roll, making it less comfortable over rough patches of road and around corners. Also to not is the rather biting brakes, being discs all around on this one. A bit of highway driving does not change his impression, but where he does get some excitement is when he takes the same ‘shortcut’ as with the Innis and finds that the Anvil manages it effortlessly. The offroad capabilities may very well be incomparable.
Returning to the dealership, Bill is debating the duality of the Anvil. It was well drivable, but of course the comfort was compromised by the suspension, which was seemingly designed to offer the best all terrain capabilities. Fuel economy as pretty average, nothing to note in that regard. Utility features were a bit lacking, it isn’t a pickup after all. The trunk is still very spacious and can get truly cavernous with the back seat removed. Popping the hood, Bill finds the fuel injected V6 engine and realises that it’s a bit more complicated than what he’s used to. A look at the parts catalogue also shows that things can get a little pricy though not excessively so. Getting back into his own truck, Bill decides the Anvil isn’t for him as he pulls out his map for the next dealership.
@mart1n2005 KnightFreight Packer 4x4
Bill drives closer to the port to find the KnightFreight dealership with its rows of vans and heavier duty vehicles. At least here when the salesman realised he wasn’t buying a fleet he was pretty much left unbothered to get a test drive of a van. Getting the keys, Bill heads out and needs to try the door of a few identical vans before finally getting to the right one.
There really isn’t much to say about the styling of the Packer. It’s a van… with a push bar. The styling is current and inoffensive. Getting inside, Bill sits down in the split bench and is a little surprised to see a mid range radio where he expected a cheap unit. The comfort of the bench is pretty good and interior features are about as expected.
Firing up the engine, Bill finds that it’s barely audible and mostly noticed through vibrations. This one’s a V6 as well and his impression so far is that of somewhat expensive servicing. Driving out of the lot while rowing his own gears, he finds that the Packer is about as slow as he expected from a van but that’s of no issue. Handling is very neutral, brakes stop efficiently without too much bite, and the suspension comfortably absorbs bumps. It all makes for a rather pleasant drive. Heading up onto the highway, there’s nothing to note as well, so Bill heads off looking for somewhere to try the offroad capabilities. Finally finding a spot, he puts the Packer through its paces and finds himself pretty indifferent to it in that regard as he heads back to the lot.
At the lot, Bill sits in the van reflecting in what’s quickly becoming a habit. The The Packer isn’t the easiest thing to drive and it’s not just from the manual. What is are the less than stellar all terrain capabilities, as well as the utility ones, which seems odd for a 4x4 van. Comfort was much better than expected so that’s a plus, fuel economy seems on the good side of average, and looking behind him there’s also the cavernous cargo bay. Popping the hood, Bill finds that the V6 is more conventional here than in the Armor. Access isn’t ideal as he expected but the parts catalogue shows that prices are reasonable. Walking back to the Dominion, Bill realises the KnightFreight isn’t for him either.
@missionsystem CCM Reacher
Bill eventually finds the CCM dealership and pulls in. Walking into the showroom he once again dodges all attempts at sales pitches on his quest for the keys to a Reacher. Finally getting some, he heads out onto the lot to one of the Reachers with the roof already removed.
The styling of the Reacher is very rugged and the image of a traditional offroader that this pickup is clearly based on, making it seem confidently capable. Looking around he can see that it looks okay with the roof and doors installed as well. Stepping over the modern graphics and into the cabin, Bill sits in what he initially takes to be a bench until he realises there are only two seatbelts. That said, the seat is quite comfortable even if lacking in bolstering, and the radio is a standard unit. Overall interior features seem pretty normal but he’ll need to at least sit in one with a roof and doors for full judgement.
Bill starts the engine and is once again surprised at the low sound level, even with most of the cabin removed. Getting into gear, Bill drives out into traffic and finds acceleration a little better than average. The transmission shifts well, the steering feels solid and neutral, the suspension is pretty good, and the Reacher is quite good to drive. There is a bit of worry with the brakes that might bite a little hard in low traction, but the front disc layout works well to stop quickly. Heading onto the highway once again, other than the noise and wind there isn’t much to note. Following the previous test drives, Bill takes a detour off the road to try out some of the Reacher’s other capabilities which turn out to match the styling.
Back at the lot, Bill considers that the all terrain capabilities were good but not stellar and the same can be said for the utilitarian aspect. Comfort as average, driving was smooth and without surprises, same with the fuel economy. The cargo bed behind him is also quite spacious. Getting the parts manual and looking under the hood, Bill finds access easy and the inline-6 conventional but is shocked to see how expensive parts can be. The balance between the low purchase price but expensive maintenance will need some more consideration but for now he needs to go drive something else.
@Xepy Kaufmann Kleinbus 2.5
Bill makes his way over to the Kaufmann dealership for the most unusual vehicle on his list. This time he seems to have come during break time as it takes him awhile to locate someone to set up a test drive but at least that means not being pestered. Keys in hand, he heads toward a van in the lot.
The Kleinbus mainly stands out from its cabover nature, a design that just screams import by this era. The styling is quite crisp and modern albeit not outstanding but Bill isn’t expecting a van to look like a work of art. Climbing inside, the crisp and modern styling continues into the large cabin. The seat is comfortable and the general layout is more family oriented with cubbies and the like all around, even some strange round ones. Somewhat surprising for a family vehicle is the quite basic radio.
Starting the Kleinbus, the engine quietly comes to life as expected and Bill can feel the vibrations from under his seat. He puts it into gear and drives out of the lot as fast as the van allows, which is rather slow. A pleasant surprise is how easily it drives. The steering is light and neutral, the suspension is well adjusted, and the front discs are a little grippy but not overly so. Also remarkable is the comfort, with the suspension doing a lot in that regard. Taking it up to speed on the highway and cruising for a bit also doesn’t bring out anything, so Bill heads back to the same route he took the Reacher. This is where the Kleinbus shows some weakness and reminds him that it’s a family vehicle first.
Returning to the lot, Bill goes over the pros and cons of the Kaufmann. It’s been the best in terms of ease of driving and comfort, as expected from a family vehicle. The cargo area is alright with the seats in place but truly cavernous without, apparently more than even the KnightFreight van. Fuel economy was okay, but the offroad capabilities were not as good as those on a truck or purpose built offroader. The utility aspects of this van also seem fairly low. Bill gets the parts manual for this and is surprised to find how cheap they are, especially for an import. Any praise evaporates when it comes to accessing the engine, requiring moving the driver’s seat and opening a panel in the floor to access the unusual fuel injected boxer-4. Not bothering to close it back up, Bill returns the keys and heads out. The Kleinbus could be a great compromise if he had a family but he doesn’t so it’s not up to par.
@donutsnail Boulder L150 4x4 StepSide
Bill finally gets to the last mark on his map: the Boulder dealership. Bill parks next to the red and white stepside L150 that he has his eye on. Once again avoiding sales pitches, Bill walks back toward the L150 with the keys.
Walking up, Bill can’t help but admire the looks. This was his favourite to look at in the magazine and it looks just as good and capable in person. While not obviously outfitted for offroad use, it has the look of a capable 4x4 work truck. Climbing inside, Bill finds a typically appointed truck cabin with a comfortable bench and a low end radio. This one overall has familiarity as it’s a lot like a newer version of his old Dominion.
Bill starts up the L150 and is greeted with a burble from the inline-6. Putting it in drive and heading out, it’s another one that’s familiarly slow. The first thing he notices is how much body roll the suspension allows, leaning into the corners more like a luxury car, while driving over bumps feels rather stiff. Outside of that, handling is predictable, brakes are very efficient without seeming to grippy, but there’s just something about the driving that makes it more a chore than some of the others. Heading out on the highway, the L150 performs as expected as well with nothing out of the ordinary. The final test of course is the all terrain one, and once again his expectations are met but not exceeded.
Parking back in the Boulder lot, Bill takes a moment to reflect on the L150. The offroad aspects of the truck were pretty average, same with the comfort of it. It was not the most easy to drive vehicle but utilitarian aspects of it are excellent, as is the space available in the bed. Fuel economy was on the lower side of average so unremarkable in that aspect too. Getting the parts catalogue, he comes back to pop the hood and have a look. Accessibility and good and maintenance should be a breeze if not for the fact that parts are ridiculously expensive. Paired with the high purchase price, Bill figures that the L150 isn’t quite outstanding enough to make up for the costs.
Returning to his truck, Bill is left with a decision between the Innis Kiwanda Jumbo Junior and the CCM Reacher. The Innis is outstanding in some aspects but rather average in others, while the CCM is pretty average overall but significantly cheaper to purchase. Bill finds himself almost subconsciously driving back to one of the dealerships when he realises he’s already made up his mind for his future purchase. A rare smile crosses his lips when he sees his next truck in the distance.
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Congratulations to @yangx2 for winning CSR134!
Runner-ups:
2. @missionsystem
3. @donutsnail
4. @Xepy
5. @GassTiresandOil
6. @mart1n2005
7. @Mikonp7
8. @Jaimz
And here’s the stat spreadsheet for the the finalists:
19 Likes
Aiiii sweet! First win for Innis!
I always say the simplest CSRs are the best, and Carlover, you did a great job on this one! Concise and detailed reviews, simple yet effective story, and done in a quick timeframe despite how many entries get sent in CSR these days. I always love those ones the most.
It seems like I always end up winning these during my busiest times haha. I wish I had the time to do another, but unfortunately under the pressure of school once again, I’ll have to pass this one off as well.
8 Likes
thanks for the host. it was a very fun challenge
unfortunatley i cannot host as i have exams.
sorry
3 Likes
An impressively quick turnaround on this one! Compared to the other finalists, my truck’s costs are hard to overcome, and I think I got a bit of tunnel vision chasing reliability at the cost of my price and service costs. More than happy to place 3rd here.
As far as hosting, I will have to pass it on as well. Won’t have as much time for Automation in the coming weeks.
I couldn’t quite get the Van to work so I panicked and made this monstrosity. Fun challenge, would probobly break my computer to host, not much time either 
Oh no! Is it down to me already?! I never thought I’d get as high as I did, this is a personal best for me. But I’m completely ill-equipped to host a round, so I’ll have to pass the torch again. Great round, though!
Gonna add on that I don’t think I have time either. At least not time for a good round.
From what I’ve seen, it’s hard for me to disagree with you. There hasn’t been a quick turnaround for a CSR in quite some time, and it’s nice to have it once again.
As for hosting duties… Since of the top 5 are able to host the next round, I’m expecting one of the other three finalists to take the reins. Fingers crossed that regardless of who takes over for CSR 135, it turns out to be just as fun as this one, if not more so.
Right then I’ve given this some thought since I’ve been at home. I should be able to host this as I have evening times available to work on it.
Will put rules and a post up tomorrow.
Coming soon: CSR135: The new city.
11 Likes