Oz Lust - More Trucks You Can't Have

[dhackney]

For those in the U.S.A., our range of medium duty 4x4 trucks is a very comprehensible list, since it only has one member: The Mitsubishi Fuso FG.

Upsides: Very short decision cycle time.
Downsides: Very limited fodder for endless ExPo debate on 'which is better: X, Y or Z?'

To help those of us in the mid-range space who feel completely left out and are suffering self-esteem issues because we have zero to say in the Chevy/Ford/Dodge debates, I'm adding these lust-worthy 4x4 medium duty models from down under.

Isuzu (available in factory SRW): http://www.hackneys.com/travel/rigs/oz-FTS_800_4x4_Crew_ARK0335_final.pdf

MAN:
specs http://www.hackneys.com/travel/rigs/oz-MAN_TGM_13_15_280_4x4-specs.pdf
brochure http://www.hackneys.com/travel/rigs/oz-MAN_TGM_Brochure-12ton.pdf

Mercedes Benz:
specs http://www.hackneys.com/travel/rigs/oz-mb-DC_BRO_578_Atego_1629A_Final_RE.pdf
brochure http://www.hackneys.com/travel/rigs/oz-mb-DCBRO28_NewAtego16pp.pdf


If you are considering an extended tour of Oz, or of SE or south Asia, where there are more than a few RHD countries, it may be a worthy option to buy local from ATW or to build a camper box in the states and ship it over for install on a chassis. (If you go that route, I would recommend buying your 220V/50Hz appliances in the local market.)

Note that all the trucks in these brochures are Euro IV emission vehicles. They may suffer the same fuel availability challenges of post 2004 EPA standard chassis sold in the U.S.



Pinups:

 

[Tennmogger]

Here's an example of what can be done with the M-Fuso that is available:

http://www.ruf-inc.com/index.htm
http://www.ruf-inc.com/aatrecfm.htm

Sure would like to get one of those!

Tennmogger

 

[haven]

In addition to Mercedes, Isuzu and MAN, add to Doug's list

Hino
http://www.hino.com.au/models_4x4_landing.aspx?TabID=3

Tatra
http://www.offroadtrucks.com.au/models.php

Volvo
http://www.volvo.com/trucks/australia-market/en-au/trucks/Volvo-FM/productPage_FM.htm?TAB=2-2

Iveco (maybe)
can't yet find a link to the new Eurocargo 4x4

I don't think that UD (Nissan Truck) imports a 4x4 to Australia.

Chip Haven

 

[Pskhaat]

This doesn't suck:

 

[dhackney]

Here's an example of what can be done with the M-Fuso that is available:

http://www.ruf-inc.com/index.htm
http://www.ruf-inc.com/aatrecfm.htm

Sure would like to get one of those!

Tennmogger

Darrin built his FM 4x4s from U.S. market Fuso FM 4x2 (two wheel drive) chassis. He made extensive changes to the axles, brakes, driveline, etc. What he built are incredible trucks with very capable components.

The trucks from OZ are all factory 4x4 models that, unfortunately, we cannot buy here in the U.S.

 

[dhackney]

Chip,

Thanks for the links!

The Tatra trucks are just sick. I love the video on their home page. http://www.offroadtrucks.com.au/index.php

I think we should just stop messing around with mere 26 and 33k GVW toys and go right for the gold ring:

And if that's not enough, they've got 10x10 and 12x12 too.

I'm sure I'm late to the game on Tatra, but they sure are fun.


I posted the Hino 1322 4x4 specs here: http://www.hackneys.com/travel/rigs/oz-hino-1322_4x4.pdf

I actually don't know whether to thank you or curse you for the Hino link. We've spent the last year surrounded by the 2wd chassis and I've long wondered what their 4x4 offerings looked like.

I'm sure when I wake her up in the middle of the night babbling "Hino, Hino" in my sleep that my wife will lean towards the curse you option.

They sure look like a nice way to tour SA, SE Asia or Asia.

Doug

 

[charlieaarons]

The 4X4 International 7300s can also be defined as "medium duty", i.e. lighter than Class 8, which starts at 33000 lb. GVW.
There are also a few Class 8 6X6 chassis built for the US market: International 7300, 7400 and Paystar (with setback front axle for better maneuverability) 6X6s; and Western Star 4900 and 6900 (the 6900 is really only suitable for towing main battle tanks). None with forward control, however.
Unicat builds campers with raising roofs on the European equivalent, the MAN 33.480 6X6. And Actionmobil also uses them, and the Mercedes Actros also.

Charlie

 

[whatcharterboat]

I'm sure when I wake her up in the middle of the night babbling "Hino, Hino" in my sleep that my wife will lean towards the curse you option.

Doug when you see these on the road they actually don't look that much bigger than an FG 140. There is one that often drives past my place on it's way to Fraser that has been converted to a SRW tour bus. The last model Isuzu FSS however look much bigger for the same GVM. This one's been stretched and had the rear half of the cab roof raised. The tubeless SRW's were our conversion too. The single cabs had a big area behind the seats. Plenty of room for a bunk or low storage.

BTW Doug, Every Hino I've driven always had power to burn. You could never say they were under powered.

And Chip, as always you are the guru. How do you know all this stuff? No 4x4 UD available in Oz, haven't heard anything about the Iveco 4x4 yet.

 

[dhackney]

John,

Thanks for the photos! Great stuff. Grist for the dream mill for everybody in the states.

I noticed when reading, downloading and posting the spec sheets for these trucks that they use 8 bolt hubs.

Some of the U.S. trucks in this class, depending on the axle capacity, use 10 bolt hubs.

What GVW do you start to see 10 bolt hubs in the OZ market?

BTW, I could not find any photos or spec sheets for the 4x4 or 6x6 Volvo FM, although they claim they sell them on the FM driveline-rear axle page.

Doug

 

[Tree]

John,

I was wondering if the the bigger isuzu's like you posted and Hinos have lockers or front LSD? Are they like the FG with only a rear lsd?

BTW sorry for the inconvenience but do you have any Fuso, Isuzu, or Hino stuck pictures? I like looking at stuck pictures so I know what not to do with such a heavy truck...:costumed-smiley-007

 

[dhackney]

I was wondering if the the bigger isuzu's like you posted and Hinos have lockers or front LSD? Are they like the FG with only a rear lsd?

I remember seeing this in the spec sheets, but can't recall which one had which feature now. If you download the specs PDFs for each one you can find that info.

BTW sorry for the inconvenience but do you have any Fuso, Isuzu, or Hino stuck pictures? I like looking at stuck pictures so I know what not to do with such a heavy truck...:costumed-smiley-007

Here's the best collection of stuck I've seen lately:http://www.tatratrucksusa.com/ATT Our Compition.html

 

[Tree]

Here's the best collection of stuck I've seen lately:http://www.tatratrucksusa.com/ATT Our Compition.html

Yes those are good pictures but most of those arent 4 wheel drive and not the size of a fg, isuzu or hino. Just want to see what a truck like ours is actually capable of and see where the line ends. BTW doug have you gotten stuck often?

 

[charlieaarons]

The big Hino and Isuzu both have NoSpin lockers standard in the rear, which is a Detroit Locker center. Very impressive.

Charlie

 

[dhackney]

BTW doug have you gotten stuck often?

We've been stuck twice. First, in Baja when I drove into some deep sand. We backed right out, no drama. Second, when I attempted to reposition our FG to winch the the big MB round nose out of the mud in Ecuador I made it about 1 meter and spun. I had to winch them out from a very oblique angle.

We've used the 4x4 more than a few times, mostly as a preventive measure. There were some sections of Patagonia where I was very thankful we had it.

Our truck would probably not be a good measure of the limits of unstuckness for an FG unless you wanted to see the, um, heavy end of the spectrum.

As DiploStrat says, when we get to SE Asia and get into the real mud, we'll spend a lot of time winching and/or passing out the Marlboros Jay Shapiro is recommending we take along to share with helpful locals.

 

[haven]

I'd like to know more about what caused this little problem: