My next truck if only it were to be

[Scooby074]

This gives me stirrings in my no-no bits

I love Utes in general. Drop sides make way more sense than a traditional NA style box. Why cant I get a cab and chassis in a compact? I understand that in OZ the dealers get the trucks in as C+C and upfit the ute tray right in house at the dealer. Thats a good system. I built my trailer with drop sides and it makes it much more useful.

There was a excellent thread on the f150 that kinda went sideways into talking about the lack of compact trucks and diesels in NA. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/286071-ford-says-no-diesel-f.html I only wish the actual manufacturers would realize that a compact diesel like the Amarok, Ranger or Hilux will sell here, particularly if it gets good mileage. There was a lot of guys who seemed to like those trucks in that thread.

 

[Scooby074]

I mean look at that LC's dash. Old school slider HVAC controls. No fancy dash with digital "anything" other than the required ODO, clock and radio. no "satnav". 5 Speed. Manual 4wd, no electronic dash switch for 4wd with electric solenoids that can break. Easy clean dash with no expensive leather or breakable cup holders.Crank windows. on and on. A real, simple, working truck. How can you NOT love that?

 

[RalphVa]

Wish Tcoyota would buy VW's TDI and slap it into the 1995-1999 3,000 # body. It would then be very powerful and yield 45 mpg. (Same hp but MUCH more torque than was in the 1996 4 cylinder).

 

[TomSeller]

I mean look at that LC's dash. Old school slider HVAC controls. No fancy dash with digital "anything" other than the required ODO, clock and radio. no "satnav". 5 Speed. Manual 4wd, no electronic dash switch for 4wd with electric solenoids that can break. Easy clean dash with no expensive leather or breakable cup holders.Crank windows. on and on. A real, simple, working truck. How can you NOT love that?

You looking in a mirror when you took that or is everything in reverse when you are down under?

 

[3930dave]

You looking in a mirror when you took that or is everything in reverse when you are down under?

I believe (like the Japanese domestic market) they are right-hand drive (meaning the vehicle itself) in NZ and Oz.

http://http://www.newzealand.com/us/feature/driving-in-new-zealand/

Important rules

"Always drive on the left-hand-side of the road"

Makes importing the JDM vehicles that much easier there, come to think of it. I've driven a JDM Mitsubishi ute here in Canada - that one was automatic. A bit funny driving along next to the curb here, but you get used to it pretty quickly.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

This gives me stirrings in my no-no bits

Ain't they the cat's pajamas ? :thumbsup:

No, for the guys that regularly tow 12K# plus every day, they wouldn't replace an F650. For 90% of us, 95% of the time, these trucks would be perfect.

And, I'm sure the F650 guys wouldn't mind driving 'em on weekends. Like ya said - real olde skool approach to a truck, with modern engine management and the basics of convenience.

Magic.

Rgds, D.

 

[PhysAssist]

I believe (like the Japanese domestic market) they are right-hand drive (meaning the vehicle itself) in NZ and Oz.

http://http://www.newzealand.com/us/feature/driving-in-new-zealand/

Important rules

"Always drive on the left-hand-side of the road"

Makes importing the JDM vehicles that much easier there, come to think of it. I've driven a JDM Mitsubishi ute here in Canada - that one was automatic. A bit funny driving along next to the curb here, but you get used to it pretty quickly.

Rgds, D.

Yeah, not to bring up the left handed issue, but......

In the US, us goofy-footers die more often in head-on crashes than righty-tighties, but it is reversed in the UK, OZ, and NZ due to the left hand side of the road driving.

Go OZ and NZ! (though I'm a USA patriot, as long as the govt will leave my guns alone)

Thomas

 

[Scooby074]

You looking in a mirror when you took that or is everything in reverse when you are down under?

I didnt take it, it came from Toyota Australia. They are right hand drive in Australia.

 

[Scooby074]

Ain't they the cat's pajamas ? :thumbsup:

No, for the guys that regularly tow 12K# plus every day, they wouldn't replace an F650. For 90% of us, 95% of the time, these trucks would be perfect.

And, I'm sure the F650 guys wouldn't mind driving 'em on weekends. Like ya said - real olde skool approach to a truck, with modern engine management and the basics of convenience.

Magic.

Rgds, D.

Wanna know the worst?

An engineer buddy of mine who works underground informed me that they are indeed imported to canada, however they are for underground or above ground mining (and similar) only.

Yep, cab and chassis, old school Land Cruisers are available here. Thats heartbreaking for us that would love one. Even worse than that is they can have the cabs cut down for clearance in the tunnels. Brand new ones! Theyre tough. And can hold their own in a mining environment. Theyre a full on commercial vehicle.

Ens Industrial, a division of a Saskatoon Toyota dealer is one such importer http://www.ensindustrial.ca/

Access Mining in QC. Access Mining Services | Our Products | Toyota Land Cruiser

Miller Mining

 

[3930dave]

Checked with these guys... they usually have some fun stuff....

Diesel Toyota Land Cruiser For Sale: 1988 LHD BJ75 Troopy ｫ JDM Land Cruisers | Vintage Diesel Right Hand Drive Japanese Domestic Market Toyota Land Cruisers

Gotta love that, full floating rear end.

If I keep this up, I'll be moving to Oz, NZ, or Japan !

Rgds, D.