Why Rebels Love Hilux

[OregonLC]

Found this on msnbc today:

Why Rebel Groups Love the Toyota Hilux - Newsweek

It's no secret that the Land Cruiser is the well-equipped terrorist's vehicle of choice, now the Hilux get's it's 15 minutes of fame!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

that's pretty cool.

 

[HJ-45CrewCab]

I think most Toyota fans who watch the news have already recognized this phenomenon a long time ago. Nice article. I have had problems getting things at Junkyards. When you tell them you want to look at any Toyota trucks, they get real possessive because they already have standing arrangements for shipping parts to overseas third world countries.

 

[4XLT]

Very interesting info, I must admit I've not spent a lot of time thinking about the popularity of Toyota trucks with militants.

Saw in the gallery of photos linked to the article not only Hiluxes but also 75/79's, a mini truck, a Taco and a 60. Even though it was decent, how much better would the story have been if it had been written by a real Cruiser Head?

 

[PAToyota]

I've seen that for years. Nearly any third-world news story that shows something - people or cargo - being hauled around is showing a Toyota.

 

[KLF]

"It kicks the hell out of a Humvee". Love that statement.

 

[lowenbrau]

Interesting that half of the photos attached to the story are not Hiluxs at all. Lots of Cruisers and the odd Tacoma.

 

[CivicFerio]

Awesome article isnt it OregonLC? I skimp through the thread and didn't know you posted it already!

 

[Combat Chuck]

"It kicks the hell out of a Humvee". Love that statement.

yeah, me too!

Shoot, a Humvee's a modern war elephant, they're huge, and can cover open ground in good time, but sharp turns? tight spaces? really rocky ground?
you can't make an elephant do a mountain goat's job!

My friends all comment on how The Mule will pull these insanely tight turns like it's nobody's business, and in 4LO, there's not a thing in the 'verse can make that rig loose grip.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

There's a quote out there that goes something like: "Toyota has built their reputation for reliability in countries where everyday driving is more like moderate to extreme offroading"

Don't know who said it, but it's true...

 

[lowenbrau]

There's a quote out there that goes something like: "Toyota has built their reputation for reliability in countries where everyday driving is more like moderate to extreme offroading"

Don't know who said it, but it's true...

It is kind of funny what the word 'reliability' means to different markets. If the clearcoat starts hazing or the floor mats bunch up under the pedals it's a real problem in Los Angeles. In Bamako the rig is considered to be reliable if it can still be used as a taxi with a stick stuffed in the sparkplug hole of the cyl with the burned piston.

 

[EVILSPOTTER]

"The technicals" I am so going to use that.

 

[Matt60]

i was able to drive a few hilux trucks over there but liked the 80 series 5speed w/ ambulance doors the best and this machine that would rev out 80kph....

 

[Wayneraintree]

pardon the poor image quality...

I spent months in sub-sahara Africa driving a 94 Toyota Hi-Lux Raider, single cab, long bed, petrol FI 4cyl, RHD, solid axle truck.

No question the most common rig was the Hi-Lux, second was Land Cruiser (for the rich), and third was Rovers... most Rovers I saw were either new or sitting atop a termite mound, which was dug out underneath to reach the broken gear box

The double cab diesel Hi-Lux was the most common.

 

[Matt60]

[QUOTE No question the most common rig was the Hi-Lux, second was Land Cruiser (for the rich), and third was Rovers... most Rovers I saw were either new or sitting atop a termite mound, which was dug out underneath to reach the broken gear box

The double cab diesel Hi-Lux was the most common.[/QUOTE]

this would be true most of the time i spent in the hilux it had a newer body and an older looking bed, but we all know that. i drove these in Omon Saudi Quta Iraq Kuwait UAE Uzbekistan jabuti and so on.

i'm looking for some old pics that had a nissan with a 50cal and 5 dudes in the back, but i can't locate it yet...

 

[Bigslug]

The Top Gear destruction videos will tell you all you need to know!

When you get right down to it, a Toyota pickup is an EXTREMELY cost-effective weapon of war. Figure a military Humvee costs Uncle Sam $100,000 and then some by the time it's all tricked out. For the equivalent of a few hundred to a couple thousand USD, you can pick up a 30 year old Hi Lux that will probably outlast a new Hummer, and carry a .50 caliber every bit as well.

I used to have a Associated Press photo that I cut out of the newspaper from when the Kurds were fighting Saddam after GW1. It showed a bunch of rebels cruising with an FJ-40 or FJ-45 (couldn't see the back end), that had a 106mm recoilless rifle mounted in the back with the barrel sticking out over the hood.

I wonder if Marv Specter can sell us THAT option?

 

[KayakPanic]

WOW!

That article is awsome. Who knew that you could fit 10-12 people in a Hilux? I never tried that...

The FJ60 with the chopped to and gun mounted in the back is pretty cool.

and the quote from the Army ranger, "It is the vehicluar equivelant to an AK-47...It kicks the hell out of the (cr)HUmvee" is funny...
I was thinking a Toyots Hilux is more of a double-barreled shotgun myself. not fast enough to be called an AK47 IMHO

this quote is priceless:
"the Hilux and its larger sibling the Landcruiser “provided ideal platforms for intimidation and enforcement.”

Wow this makes so much sense...my first 3 vehicles were Hilux, and I've owned 2 Landcruisers since...

 

[H8PVMNT]

Good thing they don't have the dual t-case adapter over there yet...

 

[EVILSPOTTER]

Too bad I can't mount my .30cal over here yet...