Safari Vehicles in America

[Ontario Hunter]

I just moved the Envoy out of my driveway so it could be plowed. Had to push snow to open the door. Full time 4x4 (also 2WD, ALLWD, and 4x4 LO) and it walked 75' to the unplowed street without spinning a tire. Pushed snow all the way. It's only wearing all-season tires too. The first real test since purchasing it in December. This Envoy is probably the most comfortable ride I've owned. What's not to like? May not look like a safari vehicle but it works. My first vehicle with remote starter. Damn, that is nice, especially this time of year.

 

[Lancaster]

I run a 2019 Toyota Hilux here in the UK, 2.4 diesel that gets about 28mpg tops. That’s it with 12 red hinds in the back (only a short trip from the chiller to the gamedealer in the Highlands of Scotland.) They are expensive but having seen how the Hilux performed in Zim (the other picture) I’ll be getting another Hilux! The PHs at CMS said they are shifting from Landcruisers to Hilux’s as they are $10k US cheaper, lighter and better on the road

 

[C.W. Richter]

I WISH they sold the diesel Toyotas (and Nissans) in America!!! They just make sense-great fuel mileage, longevity, torque and built with little consideration for emissions, rather putting the money toward an HD bulletproof drivetrain instead. I believe you Can import one and in many rural areas can get around the CA-inspired and other BS requirements. So, I have a twin (in 1 housing) turbo V-8 diesel Nissan (that typically weighs around 8K lb and gets 24.5 MPG on the highway, and can tow a 10K lb tractor on a 2K lb trailer-in which case mileage is dialed back to 10-15.) I got it stuck in deep mud ONCE. And then, i figured out that I had to push a few buttons, including diff lock, traction control off, and sometimes the compression release on steep grades up or down. Has not let me down. 115K mi so far. Proper tire selection is PARAMOUNT for your application. I need Mud/Snow/Ice/Wet traction, so the (discontinued General Grabber X3s were fantastic, NEED 8-10-12 ply plus sidewalls for rocky farm roads/logging trails) but the new BFG HD-Terrain are equally fantastic, as I just drove 100 mi on an abysmal unmaintained interstate highway on Sunday over the holiday weekend, with NO issues. No issues w/ Abyssinia, either!

 

[C.W. Richter]

They were building a pretty awesome machine in 1969 as well. I did get rid of the bench seat and added power steering. Trying to work a clutch with the left knee by one's ear is ridiculous.

Gas mileage in this one is about 14 miles to the galleon.

Owned a firecracker red CJ7 in 1979 that I loved. By 83 I was married, we had our first child and the CJ was traded in on a Subaru. We then owned three Grand Cherokees over a decade before moving own.

I love this thing.

There is a restored version of this but it's the smaller cab small pickup bed model at the Toyota dealership in Whitehorse Yukon territories... Stopped there to pick up potential emergency brake pads for my son's Tacoma on our drive back from AK, once I refreshed on his driving style...

 

[Buckums]

my other hunting buggy.... 1985 pickup. was my DD in college.

 

[C.W. Richter]

I WISH they sold the diesel Toyotas (and Nissans) in America!!! They just make sense-great fuel mileage, longevity, torque and built with little consideration for emissions, rather putting the money toward an HD bulletproof drivetrain instead. I believe you Can import one and in many rural areas can get around the CA-inspired and other BS requirements. So, I have a twin (in 1 housing) turbo V-8 diesel Nissan (that typically weighs around 8K lb and gets 24.5 MPG on the highway, and can tow a 10K lb tractor on a 2K lb trailer-in which case mileage is dialed back to 10-15.) I got it stuck in deep mud ONCE. And then, i figured out that I had to push a few buttons, including diff lock, traction control off, and sometimes the compression release on steep grades up or down. Has not let me down. 115K mi so far. Proper tire selection is PARAMOUNT for your application. I need Mud/Snow/Ice/Wet traction, so the (discontinued General Grabber X3s were fantastic, NEED 8-10-12 ply plus sidewalls for rocky farm roads/logging trails) but the new BFG HD-Terrain are equally fantastic, as I just drove 100 mi on an abysmal unmaintained interstate highway on Sunday over the holiday weekend, with NO issues. No issues w/ Abyssinia, either! View attachment 661677

it timed out, but looks damn good for 5 yrs/115K mi on/off-road. I try to take really good care of it, but contractors like to scratch/dent it at work.

gift to my lifelong friend that allows me to use his lift after hours (for years!)

 

[C.W. Richter]

some friends/neighbors safari vehicles...lol One is an FFL lol. The military HMMV is quite the safari vehicle!!! One neighbor at the farm collects old Fords in a barn...he has the first one pictured, but that's not his. I'm passing him as i often have to on the road in the other pic....

 

[CZDiesel]

I don’t mean to cast shade on your favorite 4x4, but having owned a massive amount of them I will say this. Specifically to the modern renditions under the control of stellantis, they have ruined every single vehicle from Jeep to Dodge to Ram. They all have the same build quality of Renault and Fiat.

Irrefutably, they have made the lowest quality, least reliable vehicles in their peer group. They slashed the amount of workers doing assembly and QA. They forced a flawed emissions tech, MDS on the market. They removed the robust engines and transmissions that made them famous. Some of the storied Jeep lines are the lowest sales volumes with highest days of inventory (over 300!) of any 4x4.

Even fanatical Jeep folks on this forum I know personally have $125,000 jeeps, having been forced to gut all suspension and powertrain to create a reliable modern offroad vehicle. The original car is but a shell like a monster truck.

Comparing a CJ5 to a Stellantis pile of junk is no comparison whatsoever. Don’t get angry at me, get angry at a feckless European firm that has destroyed some of the most admired American brands.

I can’t say I disagree with that, not a fan so much of the new ones. 2006 was when the last real ones were made with a tub and in-line six by Mercedes

 

[mdwest]

The PHs at CMS said they are shifting from Landcruisers to Hilux’s as they are $10k US cheaper, lighter and better on the road

Ive noticed that in spades across RSA.. while as a client I LOVE a cruiser (I'm built like a sasquatch.. more space is always better as far as Im concerned).. I see FAR more hilux being used as safari vehicles along with a smattering of other small trucks (Ford Rangers, Nissans, etc) whenever I am in country..

Im pretty sure the typical PH sees the hilux as a much better option for themselves.. they don't make a lot of money, and hilux is cheaper to begin with, gets better fuel mileage, is super durable / low maintenance, etc..etc.. and Im sure much more affordable both in the short term and in the long term for a young guy out there trying to eek out a living in the bush..

 

[steve white]

So far--no one has a favorable opinion of used military Hummer?

 

[mdwest]

So far--no one has a favorable opinion of used military Hummer?

Im not a fan for hunting purposes..

they're military tough.. but.. they are huge.. it can be difficult to get them into some places (most models are just under 7 1/2 feet wide vs something like a hilux which is right at 6' wide).. and they can be expensive to maintain (specialized parts that arent common among other vehicles, etc)..

they're also serious gas hogs.. you're looking at about 10MPG on the highway for a lightweight varient hummer built after 2006 (mods were made then to improve mileage).. if you get one of the heavier or older models MPG can be significantly less..

they can also be expensive.. Ive seen surplus HUMMVVE going around $5K that are running, but in not great condition.. typically whenever Ive seen one in really good shape go at auction you're looking at $20-$30K.. that's a lot of money (IMO) for an older, milsurp vehicles..

and then you have to deal with some states will not allow military hummers to become "street legal" without SUBSTANTIAL modifications to them.. so depending on where you live, you might be rescinded to your hummer being a farm/field vehicle only..

don't get me wrong.. I'd love to own one.. they're a fun truck to drive.. but.. for me at least, there are a lot better options out there that are a lot less expensive and a good bit more practical (for my purposes)..

 

[rookhawk]

Im not a fan for hunting purposes..

they're military tough.. but.. they are huge.. it can be difficult to get them into some places (most models are just under 7 1/2 feet wide vs something like a hilux which is right at 6' wide).. and they can be expensive to maintain (specialized parts that arent common among other vehicles, etc)..

they're also serious gas hogs.. you're looking at about 10MPG on the highway for a lightweight varient hummer built after 2006 (mods were made then to improve mileage).. if you get one of the heavier or older models MPG can be significantly less..

they can also be expensive.. Ive seen surplus HUMMVVE going around $5K that are running, but in not great condition.. typically whenever Ive seen one in really good shape go at auction you're looking at $20-$30K.. that's a lot of money (IMO) for an older, milsurp vehicles..

and then you have to deal with some states will not allow military hummers to become "street legal" without SUBSTANTIAL modifications to them.. so depending on where you live, you might be rescinded to your hummer being a farm/field vehicle only..

don't get me wrong.. I'd love to own one.. they're a fun truck to drive.. but.. for me at least, there are a lot better options out there that are a lot less expensive and a good bit more practical (for my purposes)..

Biggest problem with hummers: they are designed to fit African pygmies. It's the smallest interior of any car I can think of due to the trans and drive shaft running through a gigantic center console. At 6'9" tall, I cannot get in one. I can drive an FJ all day long. I would think discomfort in a hummer begins at about 5'10", becomes really annoying at 6', and is undriveable at about 6'3" tall.

A number of friends bought civvy hummers when they were in fashion in the late 1990s. Each of them had them merely a year before dumping them. The compressors on the tire inflators being a common malady. I'm sure a milspec one would be easier to deal with, but there are just so many safari capable vehicles out there without the aggravation at the same total build cost. (e.g. late-1970s FJ40 with a 350 small block)

 

[SaintPanzer]

HMMWV? I spent too much time doing maintenance management on those things to even consider one for personal use.

 

[WAB]

Biggest problem with hummers: they are designed to fit African pygmies. It's the smallest interior of any car I can think of due to the trans and drive shaft running through a gigantic center console. At 6'9" tall, I cannot get in one. I can drive an FJ all day long. I would think discomfort in a hummer begins at about 5'10", becomes really annoying at 6', and is undriveable at about 6'3" tall.

A number of friends bought civvy hummers when they were in fashion in the late 1990s. Each of them had them merely a year before dumping them. The compressors on the tire inflators being a common malady. I'm sure a milspec one would be easier to deal with, but there are just so many safari capable vehicles out there without the aggravation at the same total build cost. (e.g. late-1970s FJ40 with a 350 small block)

Agree with your point on the FJ, however, I have yet to see an FJ eight cylinder conversion that’s worth a crap off road. They are absolute crap in low gear crawling hills, constantly overheating. The original six just ticks along and crawls up anything you put in front of it.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Agree with your point on the FJ, however, I have yet to see an FJ eight cylinder conversion that’s worth a crap off road. They are absolute crap in low gear crawling hills, constantly overheating. The original six just ticks along and crawls up anything you put in front of it.

A 292 strait 6 Chevy would be a far better choice than a 350 if you had get away from the OEM.
I bet a bigger radiator would help, but they have that narrow grill.

 

[rookhawk]

A 292 strait 6 Chevy would be a far better choice than a 350 if you had get away from the OEM.
I bet a bigger radiator would help, but they have that narrow grill.

If I understand correctly, and I’m sure the collectors on here can verify:

I believe the 1970s to early 1980s Toyota FJ40 “jeeps” were not allowed to be imported to the USA with power trains. (Rolling chassis) The dealers themselves would install whatever they wanted and market them for sale. I’m not sure what power and transmissions were available, but the ones I have seen had 350 Chevy small blocks. The dealers may have offered that 292 as well, I do not know.

Postscript- I was told wrong. They didn’t come originally with 350s. A variety of gas straight 6s and diesels. Not sure why a collector on this forum told me they came as rolling chassis to the US port?

 

[Wyatt Smith]

If I understand correctly, and I’m sure the collectors on here can verify:

I believe the 1970s to early 1980s Toyota FJ40 “jeeps” were not allowed to be imported to the USA with power trains. (Rolling chassis) The dealers themselves would install whatever they wanted and market them for sale. I’m not sure what power and transmissions were available, but the ones I have seen had 350 Chevy small blocks. The dealers may have offered that 292 as well, I do not know.

Postscript- I was told wrong. They didn’t come originally with 350s. A variety of gas straight 6s and diesels. Not sure why a collector on this forum told me they came as rolling chassis to the US port?

I don’t know much about them, neat little rigs though.
The closest thing I’ve personally seen that’s close to a safari vehicle is my buddy’s 1956 CJ-6. It has the flathead 4 cylinder which is turbocharged, yes you heard me right. He is a machinist and made the intake/exhaust manifolds and all the plumbing himself.

 

[yfarm]

Hunting Trucks – STO

 

[Altitude sickness]

Yfarm, I don’t know why. But a few of those handy looking rigs remind me of a Jeepney

 

[VertigoBE]

On those Toyota BJ40/BJ42's , has anyone tried to have front facing back seats fitted in them? Is there still some trunk space, or just about none?

I'd love one as a "oldtimer" (lower taxes/registration costs in Belgium) recreational vehicle for weekend trips, but I need to be able to take my two kids with me on the adventures. The inward facing foldable seats won't do for my wife, safety wise.

I've seen the BJ45 troopy, but it looks a bit too massive of a truck. And would still need the front facing seats to be fitted.