In Europe the Hi Ace and....Lite Ace, been popular. The last decade....it seems they're more rare even. ( I've used to work in a official Toyota dealership in the mid '80s. We sold more Van's than the common Corolla's-Starlets- Carina's -Camry's and Celica's. Both been very popular for small delivers etc... The 4x4's, mostly get sold to ppl who take care of landscape etc...
Very common in Australia in various configurations, from delivery vans to mini buses to campers, in both petrol or diesel, turboed or normally aspirated, two wheel and four wheel drive, standard or extended wheelbase, with the option of one or two sliding doors, early series were manual transmission only but current offers auto. Even available as a military and mine specification. The suspension, and a large proportion of the interior components, are from the Toyota Hilux/Landcruiser parts bin, another vehicle not available in the USA. 👍👍🇦🇺
Very cool van! On another note, you can download Google translate on your smartphone. In the app it will allow you to point your camera at writing and will interpret the writing.
These are everywhere here in New Zealand. I had the turbo diesel 8 seater version, went like a rocket and was still going strong when I sold it at just over 400,000 kms. You can take the drivers seat out and remove the panel under it for better engine access.
These were legendary in Britain back in the days when shop owners went to the cash and carry and always left with a van full to the rafters. It was very common to see them with a badass set of bullbars that made it look like a... like a bull, I suppose. Unforgettable diesel engine notes.
Hoping you reply, after working on one and understanding they’re rare. Do you think it’s viable option for camping and owning in the US and are parts easy enough to get?
Blame the lack of such vans on the NHTSA. Not sure about the Diesel ones, but since the gassers share the 4-cyl engine with the Tacoma it wouldn't be so hard to comply with the emission regulations.
Those forward-control Japanese vans in general are amazing. I'd much rather pick a standard-roof SWB one over a pick-up truck or SUV with the same drivetrain.
That would’ve been nice if they had imported these to United States. Although I do remember Toyota having a van that kind of looked like this one, but I don’t remember the name of it
Weird cause this is kinda often found in the UK weird it’s not in the US but it’s definitely a quirky vehicle, (don’t hate but I prefer it over the VW Camper van)
The manual 4 wheel front locking hub devices are common in New Zealand. As I understand the vehicle can be driven with the front hubs in the locked 4 wheel drive mode and the main gearbox not in 4 wheel drive without much problem - this however does mean that that front wheels are turning all the front portion of the 4 wheel drive mechanism - from the gearbox to the the front wheels whenever the vehicle is movimg - back wheels only driven by gearbox / engine. These locking front hubs isolate the front wheels from the rest of the front portion of the four wheel drive system allowing the front wheels to free wheel so to speak. The front wheel hubs need to be in the 4 wheel drive mode plus the thransfer gearbox need ro be in 4 wheel drice mode for full 4 wheel drive as you said.
3:09 the axle code G144 indicates it's the 4.88 axle Toyota offered in trucks and SUVs in the early and mid 90s Also, the sound from 4:25 is the electronic toll collection box or ETC, it's like the EZ Pass of Japan.
In Australia I owned a Mitsubishi of similar size and rented campers of this model Toyota. The 4wd drive was also very rare here. The Toyota was much better engineered than the Mitsubishi which was a delivery van all through.. Toyota had better driving position, better suspension, smoother gear change, just nicer to drive all round...I recall the fuel consumption was a bit high as was the price bran new
btw the japanese talking thing is usually for the tollbooths in japan, you insert a card and you can drive without having to stop and the booths i think...it was once in a Noriyaro video i think
Everyone and his dog got one in Asia , Yes its very misleading with the 3L but as said its actually 2.8 , The last of the easy to repair engines the 5L that's actually 3.0L is full of electronics.
In Europe the Hi Ace and....Lite Ace, been popular. The last decade....it seems they're more rare even. ( I've used to work in a official Toyota dealership in the mid '80s. We sold more Van's than the common Corolla's-Starlets- Carina's -Camry's and Celica's. Both been very popular for small delivers etc...
The 4x4's, mostly get sold to ppl who take care of landscape etc...
Very common in Australia in various configurations, from delivery vans to mini buses to campers, in both petrol or diesel, turboed or normally aspirated, two wheel and four wheel drive, standard or extended wheelbase, with the option of one or two sliding doors, early series were manual transmission only but current offers auto. Even available as a military and mine specification. The suspension, and a large proportion of the interior components, are from the Toyota Hilux/Landcruiser parts bin, another vehicle not available in the USA. 👍👍🇦🇺
3L DIESEL but 2.8.L
5L diesel next generation has 3.0L natural aspirated
5 high 5 low!
Two transfer case
Very cool van!
On another note, you can download Google translate on your smartphone. In the app it will allow you to point your camera at writing and will interpret the writing.
These are everywhere here in New Zealand. I had the turbo diesel 8 seater version, went like a rocket and was still going strong when I sold it at just over 400,000 kms. You can take the drivers seat out and remove the panel under it for better engine access.
These were legendary in Britain back in the days when shop owners went to the cash and carry and always left with a van full to the rafters. It was very common to see them with a badass set of bullbars that made it look like a... like a bull, I suppose. Unforgettable diesel engine notes.
Always great to see the shop dog Stella in these videos.
This one has the 3L diesel engine which is 2.8Litre not a 3Litre.The 3Litre is called the 5L.
Hoping you reply, after working on one and understanding they’re rare. Do you think it’s viable option for camping and owning in the US and are parts easy enough to get?
i once drove a later gen 4x4 hiace van (factory jacked up on mud tires) its so much fun
Those Hiace vans are also very popular in the Caribbean islands. They also make a stretched version of that van you have as well as a pickup version.
The Webasto heater was used on big trucks in the US, and you might be able to find information through a Peterbilt or Freightliner agency.
I wish we have more of these unusual vans in the United States. We got boring vans!
Blame the lack of such vans on the NHTSA. Not sure about the Diesel ones, but since the gassers share the 4-cyl engine with the Tacoma it wouldn't be so hard to comply with the emission regulations.
I believe hi roof variants of the hiace were rare outside of japan.
Fiberglass high roof ones are rare. The lower factory high tops are common in Australia, Asia and the Middle East.
Those forward-control Japanese vans in general are amazing. I'd much rather pick a standard-roof SWB one over a pick-up truck or SUV with the same drivetrain.
That would’ve been nice if they had imported these to United States. Although I do remember Toyota having a van that kind of looked like this one, but I don’t remember the name of it
There was no name to remember. It was just "Toyota Van."
@@wanderinggentile Yep that's the one! Also known as Toyota Model-F and Space Cruiser in other parts of the world
Stuck on trying to remove fan/radiator lh113 (same as 2stroketurbo) any links would be appreciated thanks in advance
Looks like the bongo van with a camper top added.
The HiAce is almost indestructible..marvellous vehicles.
Shame that this camper version is so neglected, deserves better.
That is such a cool van!
Weird cause this is kinda often found in the UK weird it’s not in the US but it’s definitely a quirky vehicle, (don’t hate but I prefer it over the VW Camper van)
The manual 4 wheel front locking hub devices are common in New Zealand. As I understand the vehicle can be driven with the front hubs in the locked 4 wheel drive mode and the main gearbox not in 4 wheel drive without much problem - this however does mean that that front wheels are turning all the front portion of the 4 wheel drive mechanism - from the gearbox to the the front wheels whenever the vehicle is movimg - back wheels only driven by gearbox / engine. These locking front hubs isolate the front wheels from the rest of the front portion of the four wheel drive system allowing the front wheels to free wheel so to speak. The front wheel hubs need to be in the 4 wheel drive mode plus the thransfer gearbox need ro be in 4 wheel drice mode for full 4 wheel drive as you said.
3:09 the axle code G144 indicates it's the 4.88 axle Toyota offered in trucks and SUVs in the early and mid 90s
Also, the sound from 4:25 is the electronic toll collection box or ETC, it's like the EZ Pass of Japan.
In Australia I owned a Mitsubishi of similar size and rented campers of this model Toyota. The 4wd drive was also very rare here. The Toyota was much better engineered than the Mitsubishi which was a delivery van all through.. Toyota had better driving position, better suspension, smoother gear change, just nicer to drive all round...I recall the fuel consumption was a bit high as was the price bran new
Very Nice 👍🏼
You should try that camera translator app.
I want to know about that little Civic in the background at 0:51! Looks like the 1200 version, about '75?
Cool, I see you did your next video on it!
WOAH!!!! does that radar detector on the dash have a floppy disk drive!!!!!!!!!!!!! sure looks like it.
I THINK that device on the dash is a minidisc player!
No, it's for toll roads: You put your chip card in so they "gate" knows who to bill.
@@TomcatSFX no kidding!
that thing on the dash is a taxi card reader btw you called it a japanese speaker XD
Highway gates reader ETC
Electronically tool control
Most city buses in Mexico (la combi) are Toyota Hiace.
The reader on the dash is for tolls. You put a prepaid card inside like an easy pass type of thing.
what are those pipes on the other side? it sucks for europe and the usa i don't even understand why we buy this stuff from you...
btw the japanese talking thing is usually for the tollbooths in japan, you insert a card and you can drive without having to stop and the booths i think...it was once in a Noriyaro video i think
Yup: andrewsjapanesecars.com/what-is-this-box-card-reader-etc/
Anyone who works on city transit buses will know about those Webasto heaters.
Cool 😀
Everyone and his dog got one in Asia , Yes its very misleading with the 3L but as said its actually 2.8 , The last of the easy to repair engines the 5L that's actually 3.0L is full of electronics.
i looooove kei vans
i know its not a kei van just saying i like them
because a kei class as to be max 600cc
Base models didn't have a tacho these were often used as campers by campervan hire companies
It sure needs a tire rotation.
Very prone rust otherwise great vans
high center of balance
This van will survive an EMP.
Wantttt
seen this in Europe.
Foist!
That japanese thing on the dash was a umd style music disc player that came out in the late 90s and failed awful