Diesel 105 on the Rubicon...

[expeditionswest]

Thought you guys would enjoy this. Ran into this "military" group yesterday on Walker Hill. The 105 was awesome...

I did get permission to take the pictures.

more details and picture/videos here

 

[hks3sgte]

Lucky guys... and proof that you don't need huge tires to off road.

 

[hoser]

Nice! I bet there are more 105's in the States. Did that sticker on the corner of the windshield give any clues? Did you mean to say 235/85-16 rather than 15?

 

[expeditionswest]

Thanks for catching that; yes they were 16's

 

[SurfPonto]

Wow even with the IFS I would love one of the Hi-Lux trucks
Of course the 105 would't be bad either.

 

[dclee]

Interesting that 105 having North Carolina plates, because the actual company Blackwater USA is based in North Carolina. They are probably the premier supplier of civilian "consultants" (read: mercenaries) in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mostly ex-military types (Army Rangers, Special Forces, Navy SEALs, etc.), and apparently pretty hard-core.

http://www.blackwaterusa.com/

That's sweet, now how do I get one titled in California...?

 

[blue62_brown100]

Nice! I bet there are more 105's in the States. Did that sticker on the corner of the windshield give any clues? Did you mean to say 235/85-16 rather than 15?

The yellow windshield sticker is a standard North Carolina state annual inspection. I rented a very similar 2006 diesel 105 in Western Australia for a month -- super nice off-road. Sure would like to know exactly how this puppy made it into the states and (apparently) legally licensed ...

 

[slimbuddha]

Sure would like to know exactly how this puppy made it into the states and (apparently) legally licensed ...

Friends in high places.

 

[uzj100]

That is interesting. It even has NC plates which means that it is probably not temporary. I am sending them email and ask about these trucks and how are they in NC?

They probably ordered them through Gibraltor however how in the world did they get the NC plates?

That is sweet.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

We're all moving to North Carolina!

 

[1loudLX]

you guys ever think that when you have close ties to the government you can get something like a vehicle registration no problem?

 

[uzj100]

True!

 

[rlynch356]

you guys ever think that when you have close ties to the government you can get something like a vehicle registration no problem?

Actually for something like this it might be realitively "Easy"

the 105 can be proved to be structurally the same as the 100 series and there for the DOT registration should only require minimal changes (Lights, Speedo,etc). Remember it MUST have airbags for the Driver and passanger iotherwise it would be a nightmare.
For EPA Certification (whcih is normally the killer) the truck must conform to the Model years EPA standards, in this case what ever the Diesel Standards were for that year - they are massively looser than the Gasoline standards for a similair year.

you would have to import through an approved ICI (there is 1 in Va, and 2 in Ca if i remember correctly) they are listed on the DOT&EPC sites.
All in all it should be easier than the Mitsu EVO 7 RS we brought in a few years ago (before the 8 was imported to the US) and the porsche 964 RS (no airbags) or a 993 RS both of which are done every year by some friends of mine.

YMMV

 

[dieseltoyz]

Just the EPA engine certification alone is upwards of $12,000 pass or fail. You can fly to Germany right now and pick up a brand new Hilux 4 door and have it shipped over here. It really only depends on the depth of your pockets. Most people dont want to spend $50,000+ for a toyota diesel.

 

[hoser]

the 105 can be proved to be structurally the same as the 100 series and there for the DOT registration should only require minimal changes (Lights, Speedo,etc).

Problem is, the 105 is not structurally the same as a 100. The frame is totally different.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Problem is, the 105 is not structurally the same as a 100. The frame is totally different.

Yes. It's "basically" an 80 with a 100 body on it. That's why they look funny. The narrower track.

 

[OGBeno]

That 105 is definitely Toyota Gibraltar issue.

Toyota Gibraltar has a sales office and distributer, interestingly enough, located in North Carolina....

Hmmm.....I wonder if there is a coincidence.

Great pics Scott. I wonder if our tax dollars are going towards off roading on the Rubicon?

 

[ats4x4dotcom]

That 105 is definitely Toyota Gibraltar issue.

Great pics Scott. I wonder if our tax dollars are going towards off roading on the Rubicon?

If only more pollies would throw money at it, they may see the need to keep area's open, from our view then, rather than thier cost effective view.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Maybe the 105 is a company display vehicle. The US import regulations allow a display vehicle and if they are a security firm they can say its for demonstrating what kind of vehicle the customer is getting.
Or possibly its for driver/maintenance training before they are posted to Iraq etc
No one in the govt is going to go out and check to see if they added all the armour and other gadgets these vehicles normally get before they go overseas

 

[macneill]

That is a beautiful truck. Love the tall skinny tires too.