Meet “Rudy Redford” – The JDM Fire/Safari Rig with 5,653 Original Miles

[wardharris]

Meet “Rudy the Rooster” – JDM Firei Rig w/ 5,653 Original Miles

Teaser photo…

Been thinking about a second vehicle. Not a daily driver, but something dedicated to camping (leaving it geared up), with a cargo deck for lumberyard and dump runs.

My criteria for the perfect camping rig:
1. Seating for four adults plus gear and a box or rack for a solid RTT mount.
2. Stock, unmolested and easy to work on.
3. Reasonably capable over unimproved roads.
4. Good value (combination of mileage/condition/price).
5. Extra points for style with unique configuration or history.

So, I know a guy who knows a guy who’s in Japan and has a source….. and I saw this:



Yup, a Japanese fire truck. A little longer than a stock wagon, but with options for storing, hauling and camping.

This is a one-owner, 1988 FJ62 pumper used in a private fire service. Very little use, with fewer than 6,000 original miles. It’s been garaged at an industrial plant for the last 25 years. Dealer maintained and professionally staffed, ready to rock ‘n roll.

Equipped with a 3F, H55, factory dual batteries, full floater rear end (4:11s) and right hand drive. About as old school as they come with crank windows, no computers, no air and manual steering. Zero rust, shiny original paint, good rubber/seals and like-new soft parts (seats, mats, headliner). Road tires are new, mounted on VX wheels, with zero miles on original spare.

There is a massive PTO water pump under the rear seat and 275 pounds of ballast behind the extended front bumper.

The roof is a metal factory high-top with headroom for the elevated rear seat - plenty of space for overhead storage (gun racks?) plus room for a locking storage vault under the rear seat.

Based on my list, the truck scored well, so I bought it – its headed this way from the Western Pacific. Should be here in time for Xmas.

Here are some more snaps:



Bad News:
• Tail dragger: Clearance issues should improve somewhat as weight comes off, plus addition of air bags/helpers in the rear. You can also remove the rear step to reduce length by around a foot.
• No air conditioning: I live in Washington and the windows go down.
• No power steering: Not a problem.
• 3F with carb: Guess I’ll just have to do the speed limit.
• Parts: Some 3F parts are not shared with 3FE and are hard to come by in USA – I’ll have to stock up on spares.
• Metric speedo/odo: I remember how to multiply and divide.

MUD comments, questions and suggestions are most welcome as we plan how to kit this thing out.

I might be able to get another one if anyone is interested.

Cheers and thanks!

 

[cruisermatt]

I know vehicles are usually bad investments, but that could have insane collector value in the States if you keep it original. Are you planning on removing the fire-related stuff?

Edit: Hmmm, my bumpers would look cool in red...

Also check out this 60:

 

[wardharris]

My return on investment will be good times/memories, not dollars (I hope).

There have been a couple of complete 56 and 40 series fire rigs sold in the high twenties recently, but I bought this thing to drive. I am not aware of any other 60 series fire rigs with doors in North America. Thanks for the 60 photo - had not seen that one before. Ex Japanese fire service in suburban Auckland, NZ. A lot of these rigs go to other fire services (many volunteer) throughout the Pacific region.

Pump, pipe, hoses, ladder racks, ballast, tank, etc. on the scrap heap of life. It's getting a RTT, locking storage and gun racks. Think SWAT, not fire/rescue.

 

[robustbambi]

Are these things 2WD or full time 4WD? they dont look like they have manual hubs? Nice buy.

 

[wardharris]

Thanks, I got lucky.

It is 4 wd with one-stick transfer case. Aisins were not fitted at factory. Guess they thought the low mileage lifestyles of these things made them unnecessary. Maybe the same reason they ordered them with gassers vs. diesels.

 

[cruisermatt]

Will you keep it red? (pleasepleaseplease)

 

[wardharris]

Will you keep it red? (pleasepleaseplease)

Absolutely. Getting it cleaned up a bit, but it will be red.

 

[cruisermatt]

Hooray

 

[cruiserpilot]

I think you're f'n nuts! LOL! But I'm sure interested now. You could make a fortune working forest fires
contract I would think. I guess, all I can really say is Wow! I'm going to follow along.

 

[Wiscolandcruiser]

Lift? Custom flatbed would be sweet. Subscribed.

 

[cruisermatt]

Hey wardharris, I should have asked this earlier, but how easy was it to come across it? Are there tons of retired firetrucks sitting around in Japan, or are they rare?

 

[wardharris]

I think you're f'n nuts!

Of course I am, I own two 25 year old Landcruisers...

Lift? Custom flatbed would be sweet. Subscribed.

Kind of like this?

Seriously, once you get all the c**p off the fire body, there is a lot to like there.

 

[wardharris]

...how easy was it to come across it? Are there tons of retired firetrucks sitting around in Japan, or are they rare?

Matt -
You just need to have people in place with access. Also helps to be patient, committed, obsessive, compulsive and crazy over details. My sense is that there are quite a few still in service, but they seem to get wholesaled or sold directly into other markets or get donated to countries that need help.

For that reason and given inefficiencies in tracking Japanese auctions, I guess you could say they are rare. Right now there are no compliant candidates on the market - that is, over 25 years old to be exempt from DOT and EPA compliance. Canada has a 15 year rule for exemption and that brings in the early HZ75 fire rigs like the one above. Typically those are municipally owned/operated units, but still with few miles. There is a 1992 coming up for auction with 10,000 km on the clock. Not as clean as mine, but that's because it saw more weather.

I actually cannot land my 1988 truck in USA until after November 1, since November 1, 1988 is it's "first registration" date in Japan.

 

[cruisermatt]

Wow, cutting it close with the 25 years there!

 

[rustybucket]

I need to goto japan to see these vehicles. They are just to cool looking

 

[wardharris]

Correction on Current JDM Auction Marketplace

I misspoke in earlier post regarding current availability. The only fire service Landcruiser coming up for sale is not an HZ, but a gas FJ75 fitted with a 3F, not a 1HZ. It is a 1992 as shown below. Suitable for Canadian import (depending upon province), given the 15 year exemption.

I DID get the mileage correct, however, at 10,400 kilometers.

 

[tat2matt]

Ward- absolutely LOVE this, the only thing I see as a problem is having to hear Kevin complain about not being able to sell you any wagon gear!

 

[wardharris]

....the only thing I see as a problem is having to hear Kevin complain about not being able to sell you any wagon gear!

High praise, Matt thanks!

You have seen through my nefarious scheme. If you check out the photo below, you'll see there is a BUNCH (8 to 10 inches) of unused space outboard of the service body....perfect area for mounting a new line of Wagongear accessories - I just need to convince Kevin he should design add-on external expedition storage units. Like a mash-up of interior side panels and underseat storage boxes - but waterproof.

If that fails, I'll probably opt for tool boxes from a truck body manufacturer. There is quite a bit of interior, unused space within the service body. The tool boxes would provide access once I cut some holes in the sides.

 

[Wiscolandcruiser]

I was thinking something like this Ward.




Here's the build thread for some inspiration!
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-land-cruiser/1052686-bretts-fj31-10.html

 

[wardharris]

I was thinking like something like this Brett

Y'all read my mind. My other rig was at Don's shop last summer when he was building the FJ31 and I would stop by and drool (he built me a custom console as a base for my Winters shifter).

That chop and build was one of the things that got me started thinking about a dedicated camping/expedition rig. He and Georg do amazing things in Stockton.