Import 105 Series to USA?

[bubbazanetti]

Certainly not a direct answer to the question, but I wonder why Toyota only offered the 105 with the 1HZ or 1FZ? Both are arguably underpowered and barely (or totally not) adequate for highway travel. Seems like the 1HD or 2UZ would have been better options. Especially 1HD since it was offered in the 80 series and would have fit in the 105 without issue.

Of course this line of thinking opens the rabbit hole of "are we in the US better off SAS'ing a 100 than importing a 105...?"

I would not call the 1FZ underpowered, I think it had more hp than the 2UZ when all the emission stuff is removed like in the 105. This will do 120kph all day. Here's mine currently in Namibia. Factory triple lockers as well. Hope to bring it back home to the States one day, 08/'00 build date.

 

[nissanh]

Ship a LHD: RHD is completely impractical and is very unsafe when driving on narrow roads/passing.

 

[SNLC]

Certainly not a direct answer to the question, but I wonder why Toyota only offered the 105 with the 1HZ or 1FZ? Both are arguably underpowered and barely (or totally not) adequate for highway travel. Seems like the 1HD or 2UZ would have been better options. Especially 1HD since it was offered in the 80 series and would have fit in the 105 without issue.

Of course this line of thinking opens the rabbit hole of "are we in the US better off SAS'ing a 100 than importing a 105...?"

Not really, in my opinion. The IFS 100 has a lot leas arch in the frame where the front axle goes than a 105. So a SaS you are limited on up travel a lot compared to a 105.

Cheers

 

[Mike NXP]

Certainly not a direct answer to the question, but I wonder why Toyota only offered the 105 with the 1HZ or 1FZ? Both are arguably underpowered and barely (or totally not) adequate for highway travel. Seems like the 1HD or 2UZ would have been better options. Especially 1HD since it was offered in the 80 series and would have fit in the 105 without issue.

Of course this line of thinking opens the rabbit hole of "are we in the US better off SAS'ing a 100 than importing a 105...?"

Less power = longer lifespan. They know what they're doing.

 

[Mike NXP]

I would not call the 1FZ underpowered, I think it had more hp than the 2UZ when all the emission stuff is removed like in the 105. This will do 120kph all day. Here's mine currently in Namibia. Factory triple lockers as well. Hope to bring it back home to the States one day, 08/'00 build date.



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****ing love the Canyero sticker...... Now I'll be singing all day,,,, yeeehaaaaaa Canyenaroooooooooohhhhohhhh

 

[John Young]

I would not call the 1FZ underpowered, I think it had more hp than the 2UZ when all the emission stuff is removed like in the 105. This will do 120kph all day. Here's mine currently in Namibia. Factory triple lockers as well. Hope to bring it back home to the States one day, 08/'00 build date.



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I agree. I owned a 2001 100 series with the 1FZ and it was more than adequate for everything I did with it including tooling around on the sand. The other major advantage to that engine is that there's tons of space around it in the engine bay. And the one I had was automatic transmission. Not even a manual. It was my first vehicle in Dubai. I really didn't know what to expect not having owned a car for about 12 years prior to that. It was a real pleasure. Great truck. I got a little bored and just wanted to try something new so I sold it and got an LX470 and oh my gosh that was such a horrible mistake. I never got the suspension to work the way I wanted it to.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I agree. I owned a 2001 100 series with the 1FZ and it was more than adequate for everything I did with it including tooling around on the sand. The other major advantage to that engine is that there's tons of space around it in the engine bay. And the one I had was automatic transmission. Not even a manual. It was my first vehicle in Dubai. I really didn't know what to expect not having owned a car for about 12 years prior to that. It was a real pleasure. Great truck. I got a little bored and just wanted to try something new so I sold it and got an LX470 and oh my gosh that was such a horrible mistake. I never got the suspension to work the way I wanted it to.

Are you sure it was a 1FZ engine John? The 100 series went to a V8 engine, or so I thought.

 

[OGBeno]

Are you sure it was a 1FZ engine John? The 100 series went to a V8 engine, or so I thought.

100 and 105's both came with the later direct ignition 1FZ-FE... So, FZJ100 and FZJ105.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

100 and 105's both came with the later direct ignition 1FZ-FE... So, FZJ100 and FZJ105.

Thanks. I knew the 105 did but wasn't aware of the 100.

 

[MountaineerLC]

Less power = longer lifespan. They know what they're doing.

But no one has accused the 1HD or 2UZ of not having exceptional life spans.

Of course I see Toyota's logic that the 105 was sold in places where it would be working hard at low speed off road not cruising highways.

 

[bubbazanetti]

I agree. I owned a 2001 100 series with the 1FZ and it was more than adequate for everything I did with it including tooling around on the sand. The other major advantage to that engine is that there's tons of space around it in the engine bay. And the one I had was automatic transmission. Not even a manual. It was my first vehicle in Dubai. I really didn't know what to expect not having owned a car for about 12 years prior to that. It was a real pleasure. Great truck. I got a little bored and just wanted to try something new so I sold it and got an LX470 and oh my gosh that was such a horrible mistake. I never got the suspension to work the way I wanted it to.

Yep, and the space is great, I was able to fit a 105ah marine battery as my second battery with plenty of room to spare. I love this thing aside from the abominable fuel consumption.

 

[ScotyDosentKnow]

Never understood why people will rule out RHD vehicles. You think you’re going to be passing people like crazy? The only other argument I hear is drive throughs…..won’t kill you to go in or just don’t go to drive throughs. You body will thank you later

 

[Zooguy]

Not really, in my opinion. The IFS 100 has a lot leas arch in the frame where the front axle goes than a 105. So a SaS you are limited on up travel a lot compared to a 105.

Cheers

Unless you lift it 3"-4" ... I mean yes it would be less possible up travel than a 105 if both had lifts... BUT ... "real world" travel that is used would be the same untill you start flexing out hard rock crawling stuff.

 

[Zooguy]

Never understood why people will rule out RHD vehicles. You think you’re going to be passing people like crazy? The only other argument I hear is drive throughs…..won’t kill you to go in or just don’t go to drive throughs. You body will thank you later

Oooooor ... Still go through drive throughs ..... Just reverse through it. Seen several Nissan guys do this in person one day with a handful of r32s and r33s. Drive thru attendant was confused as hell.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Never understood why people will rule out RHD vehicles. You think you’re going to be passing people like crazy? The only other argument I hear is drive throughs…..won’t kill you to go in or just don’t go to drive throughs. You body will thank you later

I lived in the UK for 7 years so quite use to RHD and had both manual and automatics while living there. I wouldn't necessarily rule them out but no way are they equivalent or desirable in a LHD world in my mind unless it's something really exotic like a DB4 and RHD brings a generous portion of cachet.

If you like driving a RHD in a LHD world then great but for most people it's a non starter.

 

[Trapper50cal]

I always wondered if a camera in the left door mirror facing forward could help RHD trucks with passing in a LHD world. Just like a back-up camera but for oncoming...then you only have to slide over the same amount but refer to your screen....could even magnify/zoom it for better results.

 

[hoser]

Never understood why people will rule out RHD vehicles. You think you’re going to be passing people like crazy? The only other argument I hear is drive throughs…..won’t kill you to go in or just don’t go to drive throughs. You body will thank you later

Not dangerous but certainly less safe than driving a LHD vehicle in a LHD country. Nothing to do with drive-throughs and bridge tolls.

 

[ikarus]

Thinking more about importing an HZJ105. According to my research it was available in a few markets:

- Africa. Probably not ideal to import from here, few go-to sources, and I doubt the condition will be great.
- Asia (not Japan). Also not ideal, I've seen a few cruisers imported from Mongolia and they were rough. No idea where else you could find them - the Stans? Thailand? T-Ban inherited NATO surplus? No idea. LHD in some places though.
- Australia. RHD of course, easy enough to import from and communicate with AU. Most 105s are high KMs and well-used. Lots of options on Gumtree. Have to watch out for rust if they were used on the beach.
- Middle East. LHD. I've heard that diesels are less popular than gas over there. Cars often "well-used" - I drove a Saudi FZJ75 a couple years back and that thing was so hammered. haha. Unless someone knows a go-to ME importer that has clean vehicles?
- Central & South America. I've seen a couple clean 80s come out of there (Panama and Costa Rica if I remember right) but I know the general rule of thumb is to avoid SA vehicles, especially older so-called "restorations." LHD though.

I'm leaning toward Australia. Anyone have any insights or other options I might be passing up?

 

[John Young]

The HZJ105 is really very rare in the Middle East. Moreover most of the ones I've seen have been later years. I ended up acquiring a 2003 and a 2007 because I really wanted them even though I can't import them to the US for several years. I can not say definitively that there are no 1998 or 1999 HZJ105 but I certainly never seen any in the Middle East. My solution is to bring them to Canada and then use it as an excuse to spend some time exploring Canada and Alaska.

 

[William839]

What about importing from Mongolia ? They’re also LHD and seems to have a large inventory of 105s