1992 Hiace 4wd RZH119 ex-Firetruck (1 Viewer)

[flx]

Looking around under the vinyl I found evidence that someone was in there at some point.

Seems they managed to break the bitumen layer and they re-glued it... also gluing the vinyl a little further for some reason

Notice also the 3 bolts (1 visible) holding the hatch in place are not OEM.

Not sure what they were doing in there because it doesn't give access to anything very interesting...

This is the top of the air intake but filter access is by under the truck so except if the air sensor failed not much could have been done here.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

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My Hiace is one of the very rare Hiace without an internal lock and handle for the rear hatch...
For the 2 first year of production the lock&handle are listed as option but my understanding is that only pure utilitarian version of standard grade didn't get it... And from 01/1992 it became standard. Of course mine was built on 12/1991....

So I just bought the lock button and rod.

And installed it... the lock mechanism had the provision to attach it available.
I'm missing a grommet so it doesn't wobble but this one wasn't available anymore, so will have to find something.


For the handle I would need the whole handle assembly but even more a complete different internal face plate of the hatch with a recess for the handle... maybe one day but for now I went for easy solution.

 

[flx]

Still a few things to do but now I've almost receive everything for a basic setup and in 10 days I will leave for a first test setup... Going to Switzerland for a stopover, then to Germany for the Buschtaxi, then to Italy in the Alps to test it over some famous trails, then back to France to go for 2 days to the South-East Overland Expo equivalent, and finally the French South-West coast for a week before to go back toward Paris along the Atlantic.
Nothing epic but a lot of kms and various driving and camping conditions to see what works, what's missing...

And some bonus pics.

 

[RevISK]

It’s crazy. If I drove to Jimmy’s, then Casey’s, then back home, I’d have probably covered the same distance and still be in the same state.

Not that this is a competition, but you win by a long shot. Love your threads.

 

[flx]

It’s crazy. If I drove to Jimmy’s, then Casey’s, then back home, I’d have probably covered the same distance and still be in the same state.

Not that this is a competition, but you win by a long shot. Love your threads.

Thanks!
For sure distances are not the same, still this trip will add +33% to the total of kms on the odometer

 

[RevISK]

Everything is bigger in Texas, including stories about how big Texas is.

Certainly looks like it’ll be an amazing trip and you are so good about documenting your travels… looking forward to it.

 

[flx]

Just because I couldn't find it on Internet when I was looking for it, and it may be useful to someone else looking for it:

2RZ-E vs 4Y Torque curve & Power curve

From Toyota publication "HIACE New Car Features Aug., 1989"

 

[Coolfuel]

Good Rigs. Rare to see 4X4 versions.

Awkward to mechanically work on. 580,000 km so far on my 2 RZ 2.4L carburetor 1996 Toyota Van / Work horse.

Noting your flooring as there is a service panel in front of the cargo bay for accessibilty to the gearbox / rear motor. Orginal rubber cargo matting is my personal weapon of choice being very durable and prevents things from sliding around. Add a little sound deadner over the rear wheel arch being mostly where road noise comes from.

Just a heads up with the spare wheel caddy cage. Chain and D shackle in case the rear end bottoms out over terrain. Secure it must.

All in all good work.

 

[flx]

Good Rigs. Rare to see 4X4 versions.

Awkward to mechanically work on. 580,000 km so far on my 2 RZ 2.4L carburetor 1996 Toyota Van / Work horse.

Noting your flooring as there is a service panel in front of the cargo bay for accessibilty to the gearbox / rear motor. Orginal rubber cargo matting is my personal weapon of choice being very durable and prevents things from sliding around. Add a little sound deadner over the rear wheel arch being mostly where road noise comes from.

Just a heads up with the spare wheel caddy cage. Chain and D shackle in case the rear end bottoms out over terrain. Secure it must.

All in all good work.

Yes I still have the access to the service panel for the gearbox, the Swiss flooring isn't covering it (but the full firefighter setup was blocking it before I removed it).

And as my template is showing I plan to conserve this access once I make my plywood flooring.

For now I didn't had the time to make my wooden floor (and I would need help to manipulate the 3m*1.55m*15mm plywood sheet...). So for my test trip I just bought some basic PVC flooring to have something slightly better than the aluminium checker plate... Saddly I don't have the original vinyl for the rear.

When it was an empty raw tin can the main noise was the exhaust drone resonating in the back.. I hope the sound dampening I installed and everything I added will lower that. Will now in a few days...


For the spare caddy, is the risk that it gets unlatch if hit? I was wondering about that but the tire is pretty tightly squeezed against the fuel tank.

 

[flx]

Vehicle is almost ready for the test trip.

Bed is back in (separation toilets and kitchen bow under)

Yes the extended foot of the bed is ugly Was supposed to rest on the plywood floor here.

31L fridge, small battery, water tanks, faucet and camping sink, bin, first aid kit.

Tools, recovery gear, table, char, showr cabin, etc. under the bed in the back... lot more available space than I'm used to in the FJ40

Used some hiking mat for temporary roof thermal insulation, just to not have the raw metal sheet just over me when sleeping...

 

[flx]

Last improvements before to go...

Was really missing somewhere to put my bottle which would not roll so I built a cup holder.

Like that I can also attach my 1kg fire extinguisher for the front.
Originally I wanted build a full cubby box that would seat in the aluminium tray but couldn't work on it Saturday so was too short to do it.

Installed a smoke detector and a CO detector.

Fridge is filled =D

Added a few stickers because my Hiace hod all its markings and badges removed, so a very naked body (and a little hommage to the FJ40).

I'm supposed to receive everything needed from Japan for the missing rear wiper... mayyyyybe it will be there on Tuesday but I most likely I won't receive it in time for the trip.

Roof rack removed because I need to pass in an underground parking in Switzerland.

 

[Beams37]

Love the simple set up. Well done!

 

[flx]

Ok ok ok I am many updates late and I'll post the full detailed tour soon, but for now I'll just say that the Hiace performed very well and is now battle tested

LSD is working really well in these situations.

Reached some of the highest forts on top of the Alps.

And got a first battel scar

(Even filmed it...)

And camped for 9 consecutive nights in the Hiace without feeling the need for a hotel brake.

 

[flx]

Ok so instead of a full written recap (I'm lazy and that's not that interesting), I'll share some of my film photos that finally came back from the lab.

Italian Alps

 

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Hendaye

Gironde Estuary

Blaye Citadel

Municipal camping is actually inside the citadel and with spots on rampart with view on the estuary.... Saddly I wasn't able to enjoy it a lot as I was under heavy rain for most of the time...
But at least this is the kind of case where I'm really happy to be in a van and not in my tent... Window deflectors also did great to keep ventilation in this situation.

 

[flx]

Some bonus videos, for the arrival on top of Forte Jafferau (>2800m altitude).
This is where I did the hit on the front crossmember posted before.

The final approach is very steep, very rough and very narrow, you are basically climbing on a edge with a very long fall on both side...
So my initial line was kind of "in the middle" but experienced the weak point of the Hiace: ground clearance.


2nd take with a better line and the epic arrival on top.



For reference, some drone picture from 2 years ago when I came here with the FJ40.

 

[RevISK]

Hendaye
View attachment 3751259

Gironde Estuary
View attachment 3751260
View attachment 3751263
View attachment 3751261

Blaye Citadel
View attachment 3751269
View attachment 3751270

Municipal camping is actually inside the citadel and with spots on rampart with view on the estuary.... Saddly I wasn't able to enjoy it a lot as I was under heavy rain for most of the time...
But at least this is the kind of case where I'm really happy to be in a van and not in my tent... Window deflectors also did great to keep ventilation in this situation.

The first picture here is so close to perfection.
If you want to send me the raw scan, I’d love to edit it for you?

Remind me, are you shooting on Portra?

 

[flx]

The first picture here is so close to perfection.
If you want to send me the raw scan, I’d love to edit it for you?

Remind me, are you shooting on Portra?

Thanks!
I regularly change the films I use, I often use Portra but those ones are ProImage100.

For now I only received the preview jpeg, low res and only good for light edit and web display.

 

[RevISK]

Thanks!
I regularly change the films I use, I often use Portra but those ones are ProImage100.

For now I only received the preview jpeg, low res and only good for light edit and web display.

I’ll need to check that film out, haven’t tried it.

 

[flx]

Definitively up to date on this thread...

Haven't had time to do much progress on the camping setup inside, I mostly did maintenance, all fluids, treating any oxydation, some paint fixes, fluid film everywhere, wheels rotation, etc.

Fuel tank was the worst... was not happy with it and actually ended-up doing it twice to make sure nothing was left.

Oh and a little compilation of badly placed fill or drain plug x)