RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Here is what I am noticing and I been watching, looking and researching a lot lately. Causally for a lot longer.
The market is flooded with JDM RHD Cruisers. At any given time there is dozens and dozens of them out there for sale. In the last couple years prices have come down a lot on them and there are a lot of people importing from Japan. Why? I suppose, it is realativly easy to do from Japan with all the auctions and trucks in general are in better condition with lower miles than from elsewhere in the world. However you take a small market and make it even smaller with trucks being RHD and then the market gets flooded with trucks. The result is prices drop and trucks sell slow.
I don't think there is a lot of room for another person importing RHD trucks from Japan, it is played out several times over. I do think there is some room for LHD trucks for sure, potential customer base is 5x, 10x or even 100x higher. Truly who wants to DD a RHD truck? Anything drive through sucks, forget about that in RHD. Ever tried to pass a big truck or semi on a two lane mountain road in RHD!? It is downright dangerous! Let's face it our country wasn't designed for RHD trucks not to mention if you are my age and spent the last 35yrs shifting with your right hand and now you got to do it with your left. Sure you can get used to it but why would ya if you don't have to. This is why converted trucks sell fast and go for a lot of money. Couple years ago there was a really nice 80 converted to 1HDT for sale here on ExPo that sold for over $40k.
It is kind of like the whole 4BT conversion thing. People went nuts over that for awhile and then they realized it is a loud diesel that vibrates like crazy and was designed for a skid steer! Now 4BT trucks sell slow and not for much money and trade hands a lot.
Right now I am eye balling a couple HJ80's, around 200kms on them, 1HDT, 5spd, part time 4wd, rear A/C and more in good overall condition. I am saying to myself if US spec 80's in similar condition are fetching $10-15k, more if built up a bit, there is no reason these LHD diesel won't sell fast.
Seems to me after looking around and watching the market a lot for well over two weeks everyday, the RHD market is way played out. Way to many people are fighting over a small piece of pie so to speak. Land Cruiser Direct is one of very few that moves trucks and doesn't end up sitting on them for long periods of time and lowering and lowering the prices out of all the RHD sellers out there.
Cheers
The market is flooded with JDM RHD Cruisers. At any given time there is dozens and dozens of them out there for sale. In the last couple years prices have come down a lot on them and there are a lot of people importing from Japan. Why? I suppose, it is realativly easy to do from Japan with all the auctions and trucks in general are in better condition with lower miles than from elsewhere in the world. However you take a small market and make it even smaller with trucks being RHD and then the market gets flooded with trucks. The result is prices drop and trucks sell slow.
I don't think there is a lot of room for another person importing RHD trucks from Japan, it is played out several times over. I do think there is some room for LHD trucks for sure, potential customer base is 5x, 10x or even 100x higher. Truly who wants to DD a RHD truck? Anything drive through sucks, forget about that in RHD. Ever tried to pass a big truck or semi on a two lane mountain road in RHD!? It is downright dangerous! Let's face it our country wasn't designed for RHD trucks not to mention if you are my age and spent the last 35yrs shifting with your right hand and now you got to do it with your left. Sure you can get used to it but why would ya if you don't have to. This is why converted trucks sell fast and go for a lot of money. Couple years ago there was a really nice 80 converted to 1HDT for sale here on ExPo that sold for over $40k.
It is kind of like the whole 4BT conversion thing. People went nuts over that for awhile and then they realized it is a loud diesel that vibrates like crazy and was designed for a skid steer! Now 4BT trucks sell slow and not for much money and trade hands a lot.
Right now I am eye balling a couple HJ80's, around 200kms on them, 1HDT, 5spd, part time 4wd, rear A/C and more in good overall condition. I am saying to myself if US spec 80's in similar condition are fetching $10-15k, more if built up a bit, there is no reason these LHD diesel won't sell fast.
Seems to me after looking around and watching the market a lot for well over two weeks everyday, the RHD market is way played out. Way to many people are fighting over a small piece of pie so to speak. Land Cruiser Direct is one of very few that moves trucks and doesn't end up sitting on them for long periods of time and lowering and lowering the prices out of all the RHD sellers out there.
Cheers
