Fuso Canter Model Info

[Junichi]

Hi,

I'm brand new to this forum and I can't seem to find much about different models of these trucks. I live in Canada, and we can import what seem to be FB's from Japan. I have seen one on this forum that looks like an FG from japan too. The FB's seem to be more commonly available but have a 2.8 diesel or, 3.9, or 4.2. Does anyone know:

Are all these engines good choices?

Do they have cast iron block / heads or aluminum?

Since FB's were not sold in Canada/US, can I get parts?

Will FE/FG parts be interchangeable to some degree?

The truck I like is a 4wd, FB (i think) called a Canter.

Any input would be very helpful. Ronin39 gave me a few tips via PM (thanks!), but I'm looking for more info...

 

[dhackney]

In all markets I am aware of or have been to outside the US/Canada, the Mitsubishi F series trucks are sold under the model name of "Canter." Outside the US/Canada market, no one knows anything about the model names used in the US/Canada market such as FE, FG, etc.

In other markets, you will see "Canter" and "Canter HD" model name trucks. There are some small (low GVW) Fusos sold under the "Canter" model name. The "Canter HD" is comparable to what you see in Canada being sold as an FE or FG.

On this section of the ExPo forum you will see photos of Fuso F/Canter series trucks from different places in the world. Most will be from the US/Canada market. Second most popular will be from Australia (OZ), due to our incredible good fortune to have some members from down under. The OZ trucks will be Right Hand Drive (RHD), so will look like Japan market trucks.

We did not see any Fuso 4x4 FG/Canters in South America, so I cannot contribute any shots from that market.

In terms of models, the current generation Fuso F series trucks were introduced in the US/Canada market in 2005. The current generation trucks are available in South America, but I don't know what year they were first available in each market.

The current generation trucks (six bolt wheels, 5 liter motors, new cab design, etc.) are just being introduced in OZ. I believe they have been available there for one model year, but the OZ guys will have to provide the details on that.

If you have any detailed information available on converting a Japan market Right Hand Drive (RHD) truck to Left Hand Drive (LHD), that would be very welcome.

 

[dhackney]

There's a good list of Fuso models sold in each market here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Fuso_Truck_and_Bus_Corporation

As always, accuracty cannot be ascertained or verified for anything on Wikipedia, but a topic this benign should be pretty reliable.



Domestic Japan

Truck

• Fuso Canter
• Fuso Canter Guts (Canter Mini)
• Canter Eco Hybrid
• Fuso Fighter
• Fuso Super Great

Bus

• Fuso Rosa
• Fuso Aero Midi
• Fuao Aero Midi MK
• Fuso Aero Midi MJ
• Fuso Aero Midi ME
• Fuso Aero Star
• Fuso Aero Queen
• Fuso Aero King
• Fuso Aero Bus
• Fuso Aero Ace

Outside Japan

Truck

• Fuso FB (Canter Mini)
• Fuso FC (Canter)
• Fuso FE (Canter)Also Sold As Sterling 360
• Fuso FG (Canter 4WD)
• Fuso FH (Canter Hi)
• Fuso FK (Fighter)
• Fuso FM (Fighter Hi)
• Fuso FL (Fighter 4WD)
• Fuso FP/FV (Super Great)
• Fuso Shogun (Manufacture in New Zealand only)

Canters are sold as the “Colt Diesel” in Indonesia, which is Fuso's largest international market, where they enjoy a 60% market share. (source: Fuso press release 26 March, 2007)

Bus

• Fuso MK (Aero Midi)
• Fuso MP (New Aero Star) non-step Diesel & CNG
• Fuso MS (Aero Bus/Aero Queen)
• Fuso BM (Chassied Bus)
• Fuso RK (Chassied Bus)
• Fuso RP (Chassied Bus)

Others

• Truck Chassis
• Bus Chassis

 

[dhackney]

Japan web site: http://www.mitsubishi-fuso.com/

Japan site in English: http://www.mitsubishi-fuso.com/en/index.html

Japan site products: http://www.mitsubishi-fuso.com/en/products/index.html

Japan site (Japanese language) current Canter models: http://www.mitsubishi-fuso.com/jp/lineup/truck/canter/08/lineup/all.html (I am not seeing the FG on this page, but I cannot read Japanese so I may be missing a link, etc.)


To those who own current generation US/Canada FGs, the following pages are intriguing.

On the lineup:FG page, a rocker switch is used to select high/low range.

Web site photo caption: High/Low gear range switch


On the options page, free wheeling hubs for the FG are illustrated.

Web site marketing copy:

Free wheeling hubs (FG)

When in the 2WD mode, free wheeling hubs enable the front wheels to be disconnected from the drive train for improved fuel economy and reduced noise.


I haven't seen a US/Canada brochure for the FG in years, so I don't know if those are standard on US FGs or if these are new features available only in the Japan market.

 

[dhackney]

One big difference between overseas model F / Canters and those sold in the US/Canada is that the overseas trucks offer two different widths of cabs:

Standard (narrow) cab:

Wide (normal cab for US/Canada):

And there are four door / crew cabs available on 4x2 (FE) and 4x4 (FG) models:

Web site photo caption (truck model ID): FG83PE6W

 

[dhackney]

The truck I like is a 4wd, FB (i think) called a Canter.

And BTW Junichi, welcome to ExPo! Sorry I got so carried away with Fuso info I forgot to say that first, like I should have. My apologies.

The current model year FB is the lightest GVW truck they sell, at 3.5 metric tons. It's very compact, with a 2.5m wheelbase.

Web site photo caption (model ID): FB71AB8


Here's a web site of a dealer in Thailand that includes all the detailed specs of the current year FB: http://www.sonirodban.com/fuso.html

In the standard features they list free wheeling hubs for the 4x4 version of the FB - Remote Free Hub (2/4WD mode), but they don't list that drivetrain in the detailed specs. If you email them, they can probably provide answers to all of your FB questions.

The listed cab and chassis weight is 1,460 kilos, so you'd have about 2,000 kilos of payload available. Note that weight is probably for a 4x2 model; the 4x4 will weigh more due to the transfer case, front drive shaft and heavier front drive axle.

The dealer says they export LHD and RHD drive trucks, so you may be able to get a LHD FB out of them. Thailand is currently a 350 ppm (sulfur parts per million) fuel standard country, so a truck you get from there would be OK for world travel.


Here's another site that has an excellent data set on the FB: http://www.trucks.com.sg/New Trucks/Canter.htm

It includes dimensions that will be important to you if you want to build a camper for this truck (cab to axle, top of frame height, etc.). (Note the excellent turning radius: 5 meters. I've found turning radius to be the most important dimension/characteristic in day to day use in developing countries.) This is a very small truck, with a track of only 1420mm. This site does not include any information on a 4x4 FB model.

 

[Junichi]

more

Wow! Thanks for all the info DHackney. I should elaborate: we can only bring in models that are 15 years old or older. They do not have to be converted to LHD, so I don't know anything about that subject.

So, if i import a Canter from Japan, for the most parts availability in Can/USA, i should get Canter HD with the 1995mm wide cab. Right?

If I do get a 1695mm cab, are other parts (engine, driveline) interchangeable with Can/USA models?

Any comments on which engine to get? My fear is that the 2.8 may be aluminum, but i would hope the bigger engines on the HD models have a cast iron block (3.9, 4.3 2).

Thanks again

 

[dhackney]

Wow! Thanks for all the info DHackney. I should elaborate: we can only bring in models that are 15 years old or older.

No worries. I am confident some people around here will appreciate the current model photos to lust after. :drool:

So, if i import a Canter from Japan, for the most parts availability in Can/USA, i should get Canter HD with the 1995mm wide cab. Right?

If you only need 4x2, AFAIK then any Canter with a wide cab will be the same basic truck as those sold in the US/Canada. If you want 4x4, then you must buy a Canter 4x4 (FG in the US/Canada market).

If I do get a 1695mm cab, are other parts (engine, driveline) interchangeable with Can/USA models?

I do not know that for a fact, but it seems like a reasonable assumption to me. I would email the dealers in Thailand or Singapore that advertise exporting (and speak/write English) and ask them. The guys on the Forum from OZ can probably shed some light on this as well.

Any comments on which engine to get? My fear is that the 2.8 may be aluminum, but i would hope the bigger engines on the HD models have a cast iron block (3.9, 4.3 2).

I don't personally know about the older engines. Again, the dealers out there or the guys here from OZ will probably know something about the older motors. Try PMing whatcharterboat if he doesn't jump in here.

Thanks again

You are very welcome. Sorry I don't know more about the older models.

Another upside of the trucks you are considering is that they will fit into a container, so your shipping costs will be low.

 

[whatcharterboat]

Hi Junichi, "pattersonimages" imported a Japanese Canter crewcab a while back. IIRC Jeff was from up in B.C. and can probably give you some good advice for your locality. I know he was very happy with the truck but had to sell it for reasons beyond his control.

Canters are what we call FG, FE and FH here. The bigger ones like FMs are all called Fighters. BTW I don't believe I've ever heard of the FL4x4. Maybe an enigma.

"Engineer", who also gets on here regularly, has alot of experience with the older models. He's been running FGs professionally forever so try and catch him if you can. He's definitely the man for advice on the old ones.

Don't take it for granted that all the older parts were interchangeable. There was quite a few diff and driveline changes over the years. I've not had anything to do with the older 3.9s but they along with 4.2s had mechanical pumps and very reliable. The newer 3.9 turbos are more electronic but still overall very good, strong motors. They are also easy to mod if more performance is needed and still return excellent fuel consumption figures.

A mechanic friend only works on 4x4 Canters. He says an older 4.2 with an aftermarket turbo and intercooler would be his ideal Canter.

I imported a "88 Mitsubishi Pajero (Montero??) from Japan a few years back. It went fine for a few months and then the seals in the injector pump died. Apparantly they didn't like our Australian LSD fuel. It would be good to check if anyone else has had any fuel dramas with older imports. I know that the '90 Pajero and Delica imports(and newer) had seals that suited our fuel and there were no problems reported after that according to my diesel guy. Japan didn't get LSD till much later than us and our Australlian models were all suited to it for ages but I definitely got caught out.

John.

 

[dhackney]

More info from the Fuso Japan FG site.

A little OT, but thought it would be more useful here in this thread with the other Japan market FG info.

Web site photo caption: Maximum gradeability: (tan θ ) approx. 69.0%

Web site photo caption: 40 degrees approach angle 35 degrees departure angle

 

[Junichi]

Here's a link to some trucks available locally. Maybe this will give a beter idea of what i'm talking about. I love the 4wd dump, but i need 4 seats eventually and would want a camper box on there... the double cab may be a better option but i don't think i want the 2.8l engine... the d/c ones on here are the GUTS model (Canter Mini) which i don't think was available in Canada. Maybe I am too concerned about parts availability, but I have heard of locals here in BC waiting weeks for engine parts for their delica's...

http://www.islandauto.ca/filter.php?manufacture=Mitsubishi

 

[kerry]

3.9l is a cast iron block. I assume head is alloy but I'm not certain.

 

[Tree]

http://www.islandauto.ca/view.php?id=324

Nice....:bike_rider:

 

[engineer]

3.9l is a cast iron block. I assume head is alloy but I'm not certain.

I seem to remember the head being cast iron, not sure though......

 

[kerry]

I seem to remember the head being cast iron, not sure though......

After taking a look at mine, I believe you are correct.