1992 Hiace 4wd RZH119 ex-Firetruck

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flx

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Hello 👀

I'm squatting this section as there isn't one dedicated to the Hiace, mechanically it's closer to the 1995+ Hilux/Tacoma/4runner/T100 but wasn't seeing myself squatting the dedicated section of one of those models and my Hiace is "95-older" 😁
But if someone has a better suggestion to where my thread should go I'm all ears!

I found this Hiace in Switzerland, it's a 1992 model built in 12/91.
1712595280280.png


It's a cabover design so a very good usage of space.
1712595795423.png


It's a 4th generation Hiace (1989-2004, but in Europe they were replaced by the Granvia from 1996).
1712595987220.png


It's a petrol and 4wd (part-time with low range + rear LSD), as far as I know this combination is Swiss only and wasn't available anywhere else.
1712595697116.png

Engine is the 2RZ-E, you may think that you know this engine in the US... but no, in the US you used to have the 2RZ-FE in the 2WD Tacoma (and worldwide in the Hilux). This engine is the SOHC version of the 2RZ and was only installed in the Hiace (my guess is that the DOHC head wasn't fitting under the seats but also has the advantage of more low end torque).

It's not a fast vehicle by any means but it's a lot better then the diesel version we have available in Europe (that are fitted with the NA 2L developing 75ch...).
1712595667939.png


It spent the 30 first years of its life in a a dry and heated fire station, serviced once a year at the Toyota dealer... and wasn't used a lot.
1712596266455.png


Mechanic component are very similar to other Toyota trucks on the 90's.
G52 gearbox, transfer case, clutch, U-joints, 8" diff, wheel bearing, etc. are the same PN than in a Hilux or 4runner.
1712596326054.png


Obviously in the front setup you can expect some more specific parts...
1712596557103.png


In a bonus it's a provided with its motopump and 250L watertank!
1712596696354.png




In exactly one week I will go to Switzerland to pick it up from the garage, trailer it back to France, and pay a visit to French custom... Then I will finally be able to drive it in France and start working on it!



Oh and BTW, the blue lights work 😁😇
 
Last edited:
Toyota vans are way too cool. One of the guys in my local club is obsessed with them. He owns two JDM RHD vans.
 
Hello 👀

I'm squatting this section as there isn't one dedicated to the Hiace, mechanically it's closer to the 1995+ Hilux/Tacoma/4runner/T100 but wasn't seeing myself squatting the dedicated section of one of those models and my Hiace is "95-older" 😁
But if someone has a better suggestion to where my thread should go I'm all ears!

I found this Hiace in Switzerland, it's a 1992 model built in 12/91.
View attachment 3602059

It's a cabover design so a very good usage of space.
View attachment 3602067

It's a 4th generation Hiace (1989-2004, but in Europe they were replaced by the Granvia from 1996).
View attachment 3602072

It's a petrol and 4wd (part-time with low range + rear LSD), as far as I know this combination is Swiss only and wasn't available anywhere else.
View attachment 3602066
Engine is the 2RZ-E, you may think that you know this engine in the US... but no, in the US you used to have the 2RZ-FE in the 2WD Tacoma (and worldwide in the Hilux). This engine is the SOHC version of the 2RZ and was only installed in the Hiace (my guess is that the DOHC head wasn't fitting under the seats but also has the advantage of more low end torque).

It's not a fast vehicle by any means but it's a lot better then the diesel version we have available in Europe (that are fitted with the NA 2L developing 75ch...).
View attachment 3602065

It spent the 30 first years of its life in a a dry and heated fire station, serviced once a year at the Toyota dealer... and wasn't used a lot.
View attachment 3602074

Mechanic component are very similar to other Toyota trucks on the 90's.
G52 gearbox, transfer case, clutch, U-joints, 8" diff, wheel bearing, etc. are the same PN than in a Hilux or 4runner.
View attachment 3602075

Obviously in the front setup you can expect some more specific parts...
View attachment 3602078

In a bonus it's a provided with its motopump and 250L watertank!
View attachment 3602079



In exactly one week I will go to Switzerland to pick it up from the garage, trailer it back to France, and pay a visit to French custom... Then I will finally be able to drive it in France and start working on it!



Oh and BTW, the blue lights work 😁😇

View attachment 3602084

I loved following the travel in your 40 series, I'm looking forward to how the HiAce ends up. I know it'll be much more comfortable on the highway.
 
That thing is so hornbag.
 
was that used as a brush truck, looks like a pretty small pump and small diameter hose
I'm not sure what was the exact use of this vehicle in Switzerland.
Yes the pump isn't that big, it says 28-40L/min
1712940611727.png

And actually both fittings we can see on top of the pump are input (left one to input from a fire hydrant to fill the tank, right one to suck from a water source).
So the only output I see is the left hose reel which is really small diameter for firefighter...

Brush truck if I understand correctly what it is are generally done by much bigger trucks in Europe like those:
1712940857004.png
1712940865582.png


What it could be is a prepositioned forest fire prevention vehicle. In France we use pickups for that, their job during summer is to detect fires and have a lot of them scattered everywhere and hopefully kill fires at their very beginning (or at least alert early).
In France this task isn't handled by the firefighter, it's managed by the forest service and manned by volunteers (mostly retired locals).
A pickup seems a better choice for this task than the van honestly, from what I can find they have 500L+ of water tank vs 250L in the Hiace, not sure of the need of being able to suck water for this usage also... In France they are only allowed to attack fire up to 2m² (~20sq.ft).
So not 100% sure to understand what was the concept of this exact vehicle 🤔
1712942039269.png
1712942073426.png
 
we have bigger brush trucks as well ranging in size from pickup to larger commercial chassis. and the pick ups usually have a skid mounted pump/tank combo with between 250-300 gal with the larger ones having an internal mounted tank. having the suction allows drafting water from a static source so very useful when your out in the woods and your only water source is a river, lake or pond. very odd setup indeed but probably was built for a very specific purpose
 
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Nice tow vehicle.
 
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was that used as a brush truck, looks like a pretty small pump and small diameter hose

I bet it would be enough to set up a very effective anti-tailgating feature... :rofl:
 
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