BJ70 import to the US question (1 Viewer)

[dooney08]

Looking at importing a BJ70 into the US myself. The DOT website lists 2 stipulations that I have questions about. 1. all bumpers must meet US standards that are on vehicles manufactured after 1978. 2. All light duty diesel trucks vehicles must meet EPA standards if manufactured after 1975.
Do BJ70's meet these standards?
what if the front bumper on the vehicle is NOT original and home made?

 

[coldtaco]

Have you looked through the importation threads over at the Diesel section???

 

[Devils Paw 80]

If it's at least 25 years old (1985-1986) I don't believe you have to worry about that stuff!

 

[jonb96150]

Be aware that 99% of 20+ y.o. Canadian landcruisers are going to have significant rust issues. Be especially suspicious of newer paint jobs. Canadian body shops are masters at rust mitigation but it almost always comes back. If it's not the original factory paint job you can rest assured that there is bondo/and or panel replacement.

They can still make great trail rigs to be sure. But if you are looking at pix of bright sparkly bj70's you better examine them very closely imho.

 

[speycaster]

Except mine and I have over 200 pictures to authenticate the body work, and no bondo. Metal put in ground down and then refilled with more metal, final coat of repair was short strand fiberglas filler. No water getting through that stuff. Then most do not spend over 40 grand on body rebuild.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

A link to photos of your $40+K BJ70 would be appreciated.

 

[Estancio]

2X on 25 years or older. I have tried to legally import my 1987 BJ70 into the USA for the past 2 years, went thru a number of DMV officers, and even had them contact Wash DC officers directly by phone while I was sitting in their office. I even printed out court rulings from NHTSA which confirmed my vehicle was substantially up to code in the USA. All to no avail. No luck on legal import without going thru the expensive import broker route. DMV just kept to the letter of the law and said wait another year until it is 25 years old and then I can import without problems.

 

[jonb96150]

Speycaster: your 70 must be a beauty, and very exeptional.

Estancia: if your 70 was originally sold new in Canada, then it met N.American standards in place at that time and is not difficult to license in the US. If it's not a CDM then yah, it's a lot harder.

 

[SurfPonto]

Estancia: if your 70 was originally sold new in Canada, then it met N.American standards in place at that time and is not difficult to license in the US. If it's not a CDM then yah, it's a lot harder.

Were BJ71's sold in Canada?
I thought they only got the BJ70 for a couple years, never the BJ71.

 

[Estancio]

This 1987 has VIN that includes ...BJ71... in the sequence so I figure it must be a BJ71.
That's all I know....

 

[jonb96150]

This 1987 has VIN that includes ...BJ71... in the sequence so I figure it must be a BJ71.
That's all I know....

Where was this vehicle originally sold when it was brand new? You list your location as Cairo, Egypt so I'm a little confused.

Some of the last 70s sold in Canada actually have a 71 vin, eg: JT3BJ71XXXXXXXXXX. Mine is one of them. They are definately a BJ70, but for some reason have 71 in the vin instead of 70 eg: JT3BJ70XXXXXXXXXX

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

2X on 25 years or older. I have tried to legally import my 1987 BJ70 into the USA for the past 2 years, went thru a number of DMV officers, and even had them contact Wash DC officers directly by phone while I was sitting in their office. I even printed out court rulings from NHTSA which confirmed my vehicle was substantially up to code in the USA. All to no avail. No luck on legal import without going thru the expensive import broker route. DMV just kept to the letter of the law and said wait another year until it is 25 years old and then I can import without problems.

does your unit have a fmvss and transport canada sticker?

like #6:

if so, it should breeze right through customs. that sticker is all they want to see for a canadian market vehicle, and proves it is "up to code" with nhtsa/dot. if it isn't a canadian market vehicle and is left hand drive, then a registered importer is the only way to get it in legally. only a ri can bring in vehicles under nhtsa/dot/fmvss "similar vehicle" petition, john doe off the street can't.

another tack you could take, if it were indeed a canadian market unit, would be to talk to toyota canada (headquarters, not the local dealer) and ask for the "grey market office". what they will do is send you a form to fill out with the vin and some other details. send it back, and they will issue you a "letter of conformity". this letter will be all you need to get through customs, and provide you with the right documentation to deal with your local dmv. this will only work if it is a vehicle made for the canadian market.

i was under the impression that the "1" on a bj71 indicated it has the 13bt engine, which i'm pretty damn sure was never marketed in canada. you might have a lhd grey market unit.

 

[jake2far]

Looking at importing a BJ70 into the US myself. The DOT website lists 2 stipulations that I have questions about. 1. all bumpers must meet US standards that are on vehicles manufactured after 1978. 2. All light duty diesel trucks vehicles must meet EPA standards if manufactured after 1975.
Do BJ70's meet these standards?
what if the front bumper on the vehicle is NOT original and home made?

Do you have one of these data plates on the driver door frame?
I imported a 1985 BJ70 Canadian destination vehicle, used Chevrolake as the RI it cost me $660.00. If the vehicle is over 25 years old it is a piece of cake if it is newer use the services of an RI it makes it easy, if you don't have that data plate on your rig it will cost alot of money to bring it in, means it was for a non North American market. That data plate is the manufacturers certificate of compliance. As far as the "Toyota Letter" if you can actually get one please post a picture as far as I can find out Toyota will not send anyone this letter, I tried to get one for my rig.

Jim