Kathi's post about the game rangers that was shot prompted me toi share this experience. We where hunting elephant on the border of Chizarira National Parks with 2 clients, when a game ranger came running down the mountain to get our help. Eventually the out of breath ranger could get his message out- another ranger has been shot by poachers, can we come and help? I asked the clients if they would mind staying at the park's offices, but they wanted to go with. We drove the approx. 10 miles to where the incedent took place, and casavac-ed the injured ranger out. This is how my Cruiser ended up as a bush ambulance!



Some of the loot recovered after the gunfght had the poachers fleeing.



Just goes to show you that a Cruiser is more than a hunting vehicle!

KARL:
You are right!!! the Landcrusier are like german panzer tanks , we (hunter, Ph, tracker and driver)used three of them in Namibia and in the Kalahari, crossing rivers, driving in stone plague rivers, climbing mountains and only suffering a flat wheel during a 10 days safary (we charged all the took animals in it (like a 350 kg cebra !!!) this fantastic 4 WDV overpassed the perfomance of the classic African english Made Land Rovers , Im thinking it will be a good idea to armor this vehicule and put a Minigun or M60 on the cabin´s top, just in case of another encounter with dangerous poachers !!!Kind Regards

[IMG:left] [/IMG]

So these are Toyota made trucks? Where can I get one for the Ranch here!?!?!?!?!!?

They are diesels that cannot be imported. We all want to bring one home.

They are very common in Australia also

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
They are diesels that cannot be imported. We all want to bring one home.

I have a large diesel 4wd that is awesome.

I imagine one of the problems is that most ocuntries run better diesel than ours here in the USA.

For Africa,I'd prefer a convertible diesel ram.

I've asked every Toyota dealer I know here in the States and they all just look at me with a blank stare. You can google the Toyota web sites in South Africa and the trucks appear to cost around $70K but I still don't know how they can imported. Anybody got any input of the possibility?

quote:

Originally posted by sevenmagltd.:
I've asked every Toyota dealer I know here in the States and they all just look at me with a blank stare. You can google the Toyota web sites in South Africa and the trucks appear to cost around $70K but I still don't know how they can imported. Anybody got any input of the possibility?

I think it is pretty difficult with EPA/DOT issues but you could try reading this guy's webpage.

Toyota of South Africa's page on the Land Cruiser Pick-Up.

At this point, it's just not possible due to the diesel fuel and the way EPA looks at that. I hope that changes as diesel fuel gets cleaner.

As to cost, I know a PH in Zim who paid about 50k for a new Cruiser this year...after he bought it the price changed to about 35k...then it was stolen and he bought another one. That stings.

If you go spotlight shooting in Australia and especially if the property owner is driving, then odds are very high that you will be shooting from the back of one of those

Mike

The U.S. authorities allow basically all vehicles 25 years old

and older in without much trouble at all, diesel powered included!

How old can one of these Toyotas be? Any "Quarter Centurians"?

/

Quite a bit of loot Karl well done !

Might I add that your ambulance is actually quite comfortable at the back since I spent over 10 hours in it myself at the back.

while not a diesel pickup, sitting at home in the garage i do have a 1961 FJ25 with 37000 original miles on it. hardly ever use it and i suppose i should sell it, but its fun to have around

Check out the Toyota dealers in B.C. and the Yukon. There are a couple that specialize in bringing in low milage diesels into Canada. They are importable into Canada at 15 years, and as said earlier,USA at 25 years.I have seen some for sale with very low miles. I know a few folks in Canada who have done this. There is one firm in B.C. that has an agent in Japan locating for him. These are all right side drive. That HiLux would be a fantastic seller if importable now. Mercedes and Volkswagon have repotedly developed a diesel that will satisfy current EPA regulations.

Crane, do you have more info on the B.C. dealer?

Guys

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a phenominal off-road vehicle and our main hunting transport in Mozambique. We only use the Gasoline (Petrol) version of the vehicle. Yes, they do exist - 4.5 litre fuel injected 6-cylinder engine. It is supposed to use unleaded fuel but any gasoline works just fine.

Why not diesel for me? This is often a long debate, but the petrol engine pickup is simpler to fix where we work, has way more power, the diesel fuerl in remote Africa is often really low quality and therefore the diesel components take a beating, the diesel cars are more expensive to buy and to maintain - and I just don't like diesel! :-)

I have done fairly extensive analysis and the life-cycle cost is pretty much even between the two fuel alternatives considering the purchase price, cost of maintenance, cost of fuel, etc.

You buy a new L/C for about in SA $45-$50k but it is pretty bare - not even a tow-bar! You have to replace the suspension as the standard one is much too hard and just not up to the job for us. It goes very flat after a while. I like the Old Man Emu suspension from Australia. Fantastic improvement and makes for a really good, safe ride.

For me, there is no other vehicle that can do the job with the same ease, reliability and comfort where we hunt.

For some reason I feel compelled to post a picture. If you look closely you can see the game scout checking his cell phone messages.




[Click picture for larger version.]

quote:

Originally posted by WbyPower:
If you go spotlight shooting in Australia and especially if the property owner is driving, then odds are very high that you will be shooting from the back of one of those

Mike

With older vehicles, you can remove the engine, put into the bed and import them as parts; or, at least you can here on St. Thomas. My diesel landrover 110 high Capacity p/u was brought in that wsay.

I have driven many Land Cruisers in the 15 odd years I've been involved with hunting operations. The oldest one I ever used was manufactured in 1969, and was owned by Ron van Heerden. I also remember doing a bit of time behind the wheel of Sten Cedegren's three speed model, though I cannot tell you which year that one was.
Nothing that I've ever come across can compare with Land Cruiser.

Dave

Brian- Try a Google on "Vancouver BC toyota diesel" . Try different variations of same adding "import" or "used". You should end up with more information than you can use. It is doable, but you would have to make a minor career of it. I like the post about putting the motor in the bed and importing "parts".

Here is one source of info on importing from Canada...

http://inertialabs.com/Diesel-Import-CAN.htm

It all sounds very complicated without the "Toyota letter" and the importers are skittish about diesels in general.

quote:

Originally posted by sjm:
They are very common in Australia also

Australia is actually the largest world market for the diesel Toyota Landcruiser or so I believe.

***

Karl,

Well done on the bush ambulance work. You are truly a Man among Men.

Did the guy get shot in the arse?

I have heard that also John. What does a diesel Cruiser cost you guys?

Last time I checked new the "utility" or Tray-Top model similar to those pictured were about A$50-55,000, second hand a few thousand off only. They hold their value very well. The station wagon model is similar priced, a bit cheaper as a "commercial" no frills model.

I have a 1991 Landcruiser Commercial Station Wagon and it is still going strong.

At one time, not the case now, you bought either a Landcruiser or a Landrover because they were only about the only 4WD's you could get spare parts for in the Outback.

One day I will replace mine with another, either the Station Wagon or the Tray-Top. Great farm and outback vehicles.

Interesting that they hold their value that well. Lots of guys are hard on their Cruisers. I checked on the conversion rate (AUD just ahead of the US)...50k translates to about 46k in US.

Any photos of your rig? What's the story on the Old Man Emu suspension upgrades...good stuff?

For your interest folks. This is one of my Toyota workhorses loaded with 'bait'. It is a 1991 model. Last count I have 8 of them - pick-ups (we call them utes) and wagons.

Cheers
M

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
They are diesels that cannot be imported. We all want to bring one home.

you get a 4.5 litre petrol model as well.

we call them landrover tow trucks around here

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
For your interest folks. This is one of my Toyota workhorses loaded with 'bait'. It is a 1991 model. Last count I have 8 of them - pick-ups (we call them utes) and wagons.

Cheers
M

"Bait" for what...croc's??

Mike

Yeaahhh! Bait ??? for what in Australia ?

Carnivorous koalas.

Seriously.... it is for boar and wild dogs.

The toyota landcruiser ute ,pickup, is just a copy of the American Dodge M37 its not an original jap idea ,despite the way people go on about them as being a original jap idea

I dont hear people going on about them being a jap idea....

they just build them for us...

The Japanese build them for Australia and Africa. No big deal except we can't get them in the States and I know many people after riding in them for a week or two that would like to have one. Maybe someday it will open up to us. I'm sure Japan would love to export them to us. It's a huge market they can't get to and we can't get to them. It would really put a hurt on the Hummer market.