Help! I'm buying a FUSO 4x4 this weekend -- but which one should I get?

[Chidster]

Hi friends! I'm brand new to this forum and could use some decision making advise. I am ready to pull the trigger on a Fuso FG 4x4! I actually have two to choose from and will likely purchase one this week! The first is a 2010 that is near me with 130k miles on it for $28,500 in great condition. The second one is a 2005 that has 130K on it with a rebuild engine for 25k but is far away from me. Both are in decent condition, but the 2005 is a dump truck and may have been treated a little more roughly and has a little surface rust on the frame. From my research, I'm pretty convinced that I won't have a problem getting ULSD in Mexico but is it still difficult to find the ULSD in Central and South America? Would it be prudent to go with the older vehicle or is finding ULSD not much of an issues anymore? Also, can a 2010 Fuso handle the ULD for a while if necessary? Any insight would be appreciated!

I have a 2 year journey ahead to build out this truck into a great little overland rig. I am keenly aware of the challenge of traveling in central and south America with vehicles newer than 2007 but I'm having trouble getting real information about how fast the change to ULSD is happening. We won't actually hit the road full-time for at least 2 more years and will probably do Alaska and Northern Canada first and then even some in the continental US before we go to Central and South America.
So the questions are: Has the general availability of ULSD improved these last few years? Is it possible to find ULSD all the way down through South America? Should I hold out to find a pre-2005 option or is it a reasonable bet that by the time we hit the road it won't likely be an issue any longer? And lastly, if I go with the 2010 are there work-arounds with the vehicle itself if I just can't find the right type of fuel? Thanks in advance! You all are the best!

 

[Michael Brown]

I would also check the Isuzu/Mitsubishi Heavy truck section on this forum. They will have more answers.

 

[Toasty]

I'd like to add that if you don't have heavy truck experience i really wouldn't recommend taking one anywhere remote without first being able to service and recover the thing yourself. People often forget how much heavier everything is on these trucks, you can't break the lugnuts free without an 8' breaker bar and jumping on it so i recommend a 3/4" impact and on board air capable of feeding it. Everything aside from the engine is larger than you'd find on even a motor home, a lot of small shops don't have large tools so you'll need to carry your own. Let's not forget that when these things get stuck they are REALLY stuck, axle deep in mud and it will laugh at a 1/2 ton trying to recover it. Other than that they're a lot of fun to drive!