My Importation Success Story

[madams557]

Originally Posted by arcteryx

So, does this mean Dan can issue letters for us?

Outstanding question. He would be an expert in determining what import models meet or exceed U.S. standards.

[mot]

Originally Posted by madams557

Outstanding question. He would be an expert in determining what import models meet or exceed U.S. standards.

As much as I would love to believe it I would not think that he, nor American Toyota that he works for, would do it. Heck, I wouldn't if I were him.

Not that it probably matters or anything, but I have seen a few LHD 80 (N. American-spec) imported and legelly registered/titled here in Japan, indicating that they are satisfactory/comparable to the JDM counterparts, FWIW.

Mot

[arcteryx]

Originally Posted by madams557

Outstanding question. He would be an expert in determining what import models meet or exceed U.S. standards.

My thoughts exactly, hence the question. I PMed him and told him of the thread, so we'll get an answer from him.

[MadmanCruiser]

Moondog,

Are you sure the HJ just needs a head gasket? I'm a friend of Jamie's (the guy you picked the truck up from) i thought it might be worse than just the head gasket? Check the #6 cylinder, i thought it had very low compression.

Good luck on your resto, I really like that HJ.

Cheers.

Adam

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by madams557

Outstanding question. He would be an expert in determining what import models meet or exceed U.S. standards.

Originally Posted by mot

As much as I would love to believe it I would not think that he, nor American Toyota that he works for, would do it. Heck, I wouldn't if I were him.

Not that it probably matters or anything, but I have seen a few LHD 80 (N. American-spec) imported and legelly registered/titled here in Japan, indicating that they are satisfactory/comparable to the JDM counterparts, FWIW.

Mot

Originally Posted by arcteryx

My thoughts exactly, hence the question. I PMed him and told him of the thread, so we'll get an answer from him.

You dont need to be Dan to read and understand this. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import

There are at least a dozen major hurdles to overcome.
We have also got an importation sticky at the top of this forum and its all been covered in great length before

[arcteryx]

Originally Posted by roscoFJ73

You dont need to be Dan to read and understand this. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import

There are at least a dozen major hurdles to overcome.
We have also got an importation sticky at the top of this forum and its all been covered in great length before

I understand the requirements, but if one can bypass the RI process, by getting a letter from Dan or a Toyota dealership, then that would be ideal both from a cost and time perspective.

[honk]

Originally Posted by arcteryx

I understand the requirements, but if one can bypass the RI process, by getting a letter from Dan or a Toyota dealership, then that would be ideal both from a cost and time perspective.

If you understand the requirements then you read the stipulation that the letter NOT be from a manufacturer's dealership.

Sounds like a way toward the crusher.


From above link: "...The importer obtains a letter from the vehicle’s original manufacturer, on the manufacturer’s letterhead (and not that of a franchised dealer)..."

[arcteryx]

Originally Posted by honk

If you understand the requirements then you read the stipulation that the letter NOT be from a manufacturer's dealership.

Sounds like a way toward the crusher.


From above link: "...The importer obtains a letter from the vehicle’s original manufacturer, on the manufacturer’s letterhead (and not that of a franchised dealer)..."

well, if they are letting it in with just the dealer letter AND border patrol allows it and gets a stamp certifying it meets DOT and EPA, then I do not see how they can take your vehicle and crush it if THEY made the mistake if it were deemed that the letter be inadmissable.

[madams557]

Maybe there is a fine line here between the definition of Toyota letterhead versus say 'John Elway Toyota' letterhead or 'Insert Your Local Dealership's Name Here' letterhead.

Just a thought.

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by arcteryx

well, if they are letting it in with just the dealer letter AND border patrol allows it and gets a stamp certifying it meets DOT and EPA, then I do not see how they can take your vehicle and crush it if THEY made the mistake if it were deemed that the letter be inadmissable.

Yeah but arent Canadian spec vehicles different?
Writing a letter stating a JDM vehicle complies with all the NHTSA requirements when it clearly it doesnt is suicide.
The NHTSA even say they are not fans of RHD drive vehcles because of safety issues and when there is LHD models already being sold in the US they are even more unlikely to grant approval.

We are talking about JDM vehicles are we not.

[saskdiesel]

Originally Posted by roscoFJ73

Yeah but arent Canadian spec vehicles different?
Writing a letter stating a JDM vehicle complies with all the NHTSA requirements when it clearly it doesnt is suicide.
The NHTSA even say they are not fans of RHD drive vehcles because of safety issues and when there is LHD models already being sold in the US they are even more unlikely to grant approval.

We are talking about JDM vehicles are we not.

I think they are talking about the regular HJ and BJ series diesels sold in Canada.
And they are left hand drive.

[Diesel42]

My guess is that the customs official that accepted the letter didn't realize it wasn't from the manufacturer rather than the dealor. They probably scanned the letter, noticed the official letter head, and moved on. Wouldn't guess you could depend on that working everytime at each crossing. Probably best to spend the couple hundred bucks for the RI then the liabilities are on there shoulders.IMHO

[arcteryx]

Yes, I was referring to LHD. RHD vehicles take an act of congress.

And Diesel42, I agree with your post fully. Ithink it will be hit and miss. Some will take the chance and some won't. To guarantee passage, a RI is the sole way to go.

[moondog]

They are both LHD, canadian vehicles. We called customs, several times, on several occasions, they all told us the same thing, that a letter from a dealership is good enough. Maybe it's not technically, but if it isn't they were the ones who told me that it was, and certified both vehicles upon their entry into the states. The second time through the boss himself searched both my vehicles, and questioned me thouroughly. They gave me all the paperwork though too for the second cruiser to say it meets us standards. I don't see how they could send it to the crusher for that - I did exactly what they told me to. To anyone thinking of importing the same way - can't say this enough - call customs, talk to alot of different people who work at the port you will be using, let them know what you're up to - they like that, ask them what documents you need to bring, try to get an answer that everyone can agree on. If its not a matter of money, than use an RI, I just couldn't afford to.

[phatwheels]

So yeah I got a seperate name, this is moondog's bro. I called the border myself on many occasions. This is how we were able to figure it all out. Call and talk to the folks at the border, when I explained to customs that I wanted to make sure that I had my paperwork straight they completely understood, I flat out told them I heard nightmares about vehicles getting crushed and impounded and all of that. They were helpful and went over with me exactly what I needed, ask they're name, tell them yours, they are people, they are our friends, and the gate keepers. I called three or four times. Most of them are guys, many of them like trucks, this works in our favor. And from our experience...go across with morning rush hour. Get your documents in order, call many times to confirm this and go with morning rush hour, and be friendly, yet direct......you will be a state-side Landcruiser owner. They have a lot more to worry about than a diesel Landcruiser.

And on the note of the local dealership stating that it meets NHTSA standards, left hand drive Landcruisers, manufactured for sale in Canada where found by the NHTSA to be the same as the Landcruisers for the states. They passed them, the dealership is only stating a legitimate fact, representing Toyota as a corporation.

Also, very important, you must realize you nor anyone else is smuggling these into the country, all that is being done is getting the same paperwork as a registered imported without spending as much on a letter as the rusty diesel Landcruiser cost in the ifrst place. The first time I called customs I did not want to ask direct questions cuz I felt like I was sneaking something. It wasn't until I called and was just completely up front that "I am importing two diesel Landcruisers and I want to make sure it goes smoothly"

[zander]

In my experience getting the vehicles across the border is the easy part. Its getting them fully registered (especially in California) that can be difficult.

Do you guys have plates and stickers for them in your state yet?

[moondog]

Has anyone even heard of a cruiser being crushed and/or impounded in the states, after crossing the border and being cleared and certified by U.S. customs? I don't think it works that way. I read a story about someone in Canada (I think on this forum) who had their cruiser crushed at their own expense . . . but I've never heard of that happening in the states. Especially with paperwork from U.S. customs that says that it meets EPA and DOT.

[moondog]

Haven't registered them yet . . . at customs though, with both vehicles they asked where I would be registering them, and gave me two stacks of papers, one to take to the DMV and one to keep. I've called the DMV and asked them what I need to register a vehicle imported from canada, and seems like I have every form that they want.

[madams557]

Originally Posted by moondog

Has anyone even heard of a cruiser being crushed and/or impounded in the states, after crossing the border and being cleared and certified by U.S. customs? I don't think it works that way. I read a story about someone in Canada (I think on this forum) who had their cruiser crushed at their own expense . . . but I've never heard of that happening in the states. Especially with paperwork from U.S. customs that says that it meets EPA and DOT.

I've spoken to a customs official in D.C. concerning the private import of vehicles, and he told me of few stories where individuals purchased vehicles on ebay and found that they had to pay for shipping back to country of origin because the vehicle didn't pass their scrutiny. Particularly a $100.0K Mercedes that was sitting in the NYC port authority waiting for the owner to make shipping arrangements back.

Never heard of a story about anything getting crushed.

[saskdiesel]

Originally Posted by moondog

Has anyone even heard of a cruiser being crushed and/or impounded in the states, after crossing the border and being cleared and certified by U.S. customs? I don't think it works that way. I read a story about someone in Canada (I think on this forum) who had their cruiser crushed at their own expense . . . but I've never heard of that happening in the states. Especially with paperwork from U.S. customs that says that it meets EPA and DOT.

Yes, twice. One was an ex- mine truck from Saskatchewan.
Both were Land cruisers but I am sure there have been various other brands that have met the same fate.

[moondog]

[quote] Yes, twice. One was an ex- mine truck from Saskatchewan. Both were Land cruisers but I am sure there have been various other brands that have met the same fate.

Do you know the details of what happened?

[honk]

When I went to register my BJ40 the person at the counter wasn't interested in anything from the border. She stated "U.S. Customs does not tell the state of Washington what to do". The issue was smog compliance. My vehicle is exempt from testing in the state of Washington because it is more than 30 years old, however the 25 year DOT exemption would not have helped me here.

The state requirements vary state by state, of course, but if I had been importing a vehicle less than 30 years old it would have needed smog compliance to be registered.

My vehicle is RHD. At no time has that been an issue, again due to exemption, this time DOT exemption for age. Washington doesn't care about which side the driver sits in, only that there BE a driver while it moves.

I'm not sure that I'd care to buy a vehicle originally sold in Canada. Mine, a JDM truck with 39,000 miles (approx - actual 49,000 km) had several areas of young rust, since repaired, apparently resulting from it's boatride and it's relatively brief stay in Canada.

[moondog]

Well, I'm sort of waiting until they are running to register them . . . but, out of curiosity, before they were actually here, I took my bill of sale and canadian registration to the DMV to find out what it would take to register them. All that they wanted to see was the paperwork from U.S. customs. I live in the midwest, the automotive state at that, they don't care so much about smog compliance. The women at the DMV told me that all that they needed was the form from U.S. customs that says how and when it was brought into the states. As to purchasing canadian vehicles, well, I just don't have the money for a JDM vehicle, I was lucky to have gotten the deal that I did on these two, a little tiny bit of rust isn't the end of the world, if they didn't have a single thing wrong with them, I never could have bought them. You gotta do what you gotta do.

[dieseldan]

[You gotta do what you gotta do.[/quote]

bump pics

[moondog]

Well here is a link to some pictures, I'll take some more as my brother is working on them . . . . they are small, I live in the country, with a slow-ass dial up modem.

http://photos.yahoo.com/moonshine_avenue

[ivanhoe]

hi and welcome aboard!!!
first i like to thank you from keeping me out of trouble with the wife. why do i say that asking yourself? well, i phoned about those mentioned cruisers and they were already sold!! i could just here her scalding me, not more cruisers(7 to 9). sounds like i missed out on a couple of keepers. my lost and your gain. this is the information place you wannabe and get yourself some FSM's to help along the cruising ride!