Importing Aussie Toyota Troop Carrier to UK
 

I have been running around for the last six months trying to source a suitable vehicle for the sahara, other worldwide overland trips and for general use in rural Devon (carting pigs to market + 2 kids, dogs etc). Whilst I have listened too, and noted the arguments for and against Land Rovers does anyone have any experience of importing a Troop Carrier HJZ78 (or earlier) into the UK from Australia. There seams to be tons available in Oz, why do we not see many more here in the UK. I' am aware of the shipping cahrges and VAT. Is there a problem with maintenance, parts availabilty, emmisions etc in the UK? I would love to hear from anyone with any experience of doing this so that I' am aware of the pitfalls. What with the list of extras that come as standard i.e. air con etc it seems to me that you get a lot of vehicle for the money. Thanks in advance.

Hi Ian

try contacting Eddie Priscott at Frogd Island, he imported a Troopie for a couple of guys to do an Overland trip - reasonably recently I think - so may have some info that would be helpful.
Please post up any info that you get as there will undoubtedly be others who are thinking along the same lines - me included.

Regards

Maybe worth calling Milner Offroad (http://www.milneroffroad.com/)who many get their Toyota parts from and asking them. I think Toyota themselves sometimes won't work in imports (just read that on Landcruiser list - not sure if it's true?).

Also, you can probably fit 2 in a shipping container?

Thanks Darrin
I just spoke to Milner Off Road who tell me that they have ample supplies of parts for the HJZ78. Although they are expensive they are readily available as they supply them to the UN.
Thanks for your help

Hi Chris
I spoke to Eddie P at Frog Island. He does import these vehicles from Middle East as new but LHD. On the road with all the extras and registered in the UK @£23,500 including VAT (allow 40 day delivery, payment with order). He does not deal with 2nd hand vehicles as the 4.2 does not conform to Euro 4 emissions. Any ideas if a 2nd hand Aussie import could be made to comply with Euro 4 emissions.

My gut feel is that the Troopies sold in Australia will exceed the overall requirements for safety and emissions, but will fail in other areas, it will be something niggling and expensive like tyres. The best thing I can advise is that you have a look at www.dotars.gov.au who control the design rules (ADRs) for new vehicles imported into Australia. They have a checklist for private import vehicles (email me and I can send you a copy its large so hope you have broadband) which you should be able to check off against the UK construction and use regs (do they still exist). Australia has had side intrusion protection, seat belts, etc since the late 80s.

There are RoRo services available ex all major ports, containers in my opinion are an extra hassle and often an extra cost by the time its loaded. Advantage is that you can stuff the container with other spares.

Just be aware that a lot of Troopies lead a hard life - mine work is common in my part of Queensland and coal dust rots out a Troopy very quickly. Beach driving is also fairly common - and if you thought road salting is hard on a vehicle just drive down a beach for 80kms and see how much bare metal appears.

The RACQ (equivalent of the AA/RAC) do pre purchase inspections and its a good way of knowing what you are buying.

Exporting a vehicle is dead easy - you put it on a boat.

Last time I was in Dubai I saw a couple at the huge secord hand car place (can't remember the name of the place, perhaps someone from there knows?), and they were new - left over from a larger order IIRC. They looked great, and were about USD 25k IIRC, which even with shipping and tax is a bit cheaper than GBP23k... And you can have a nice holiday while you're out there. You could also drive it back, if you could get hold of an elusive Saudi transit visa... :)

Nick.

Earlier this year I again thought about bringing in a 78 or even a 79 from Australia where I go regularly and know the TLC scene. But they're no bargain out there despite their popularity and overall it's just too expensive compared to what you get here or in Europe - I think that's why so few go through with it.
Dont forget you're paying VAT + 5% on the car and the shipping.
In the end, as LHD would not be a bother I'd sooner buy from Europe (new from France or Belgium for about the same price new as Frogs - http://www.sealandsafari.com/) as the emission - which I believe could be the main hurdle from Au - is at Euro standards (see below*). In fact there is a guy - ?Charlesworth? in Stanford, who can bring them in. Or scour the Fr, Be and NL car web sites with "HJZ78 a vendre" and you'll soon find something a few years old just over the channel and easy to check out for around 15k. Often with twin tanks, a/c, etc.

And then you end up thinking well what's so bad about 5ks worth of VX easily found in the UK, even if everyone else has got one. Or even a 60 in good shape? Pigs would feel right at home in the back of that one ;-)

Chris S

* Actually I see on SLS that the C02 from a new non-turbo Troopie is the same as a 110 after they fit this Euro 3 gadget: http://www.sealandsafari.com/IMMOTEUR/EURO3
I guess it could be fitted to any old Troopie.

http://www.cruiser-connection.de
for second hand (little) and new Landcruisers.
They also send parts worldwide.

Developments
 

Hi Ian

have you got any further with this or given up??

Chris

Another thought v troopie
 

Ian,

Hi there, I am from Australia and thought you may like some comment about your plans. If you are only having two people in the vehicle there is another option to the troopie.

I have been building up a decent overland vehicle based on 79 series Toyota cab chassis. It has a custom built steel framed and colorbond canopy suitable for sleeping of two peolple and all the gear. No tent required.

This 79 series 4.2 di turbo was $AU30k with 125,000km on the clock 12 months ago. The canopy was made in Victoria and cost $AU10k including an 80L installed gravity feed water tank. The balance of the fitout has been about $AU2-3k.

Cheers Chris

Progress.......????
 

Hi Ian

have you taken this any further????

Chris

Hello Chris

I gave up. The costs outwieghed the benifits in the end so I have ended up with a Land Rover Td5 110 Double Cab. Very please with it at the moment. Thanks for your help though.

UK authorities
 

Hi there

I've started to make some enquiries about the same thing, ie taking a troopy to th UK. I got in contact with people from this site.

VOSA corporate website

The lady who replied to my query said that if a vehicle is over 10 years old when importing it, it only needs to have an MOT done, which is like a roadworthy. If it is less than ten years old, the you need to have some other inspections done as well. Seems the wrong way around to me for doing the inspections if it is less than 10 years and vica versa, but that is what she said.

Hope this helps
Pumbaa

Bringing LR into UK from SA?
 

Hi - Bit a red herring, but I am considering importing a Land Rover from South Africa into the UK permanently.

This thread has indicated that all I have to pay is shipping + VAT + 5%. The vehicle will prob be just over 10yrs old, so I will only have to get a MOT and a V5.

Can someone please confirm that to me, and tell me if there is anything else I should worry about (other than driving a LR!).

Cheers.

Bringing LR into UK from SA?
 

I recently registered a Toyota in Uk, imported from SA.

Those lovely people at DVLA needed an MOT, valid insurance cert, (we used Adian Flux who used the chassis number instead of reg no), original reg documents that MUST show the exact date of manufacture, if your docs do not show this you need a letter from the manufacturers confirming the date.
In my case we paid Toyota £70 for this & it took about a month, in the meantime we phoned the original dealer (in Windhoek) that sold the vehicle when new (we has the service history & were able to locate them) & they emailed a letter which the DVLA accepted.
Just make sure that all the chassis & engine numbers are correct & match the docs that you give them
You will also need the VAT / import forms for them as well, & if the vehicle is over 10 years old they dont even want to see it!!.
Not very difficult to sort at all

What was it
 

Hi Trumpton

what sort of cruiser was it - model, year, miles etc??
and how did it all work on the value etc - did you give them - vat man, the valuation or did they set the figure?

Ta

Chris

Hi chris,

I didnt actually import it, a friend of mine drove it back & sorted the import paperwork,(in his name as the reg docs were also in his name at the time).

Re the vat, they valued it (basing it on the purchase reciept) & I had to wait 12 months before transferring it into my name, this avoided the neccessity to pay the vat, if i had transferred it to my name immediately the vat would have had to be paid.

It was nt a cruiser, but a 2.8 double cab Hilux 1996, 100k k's

In other words to avoid paying the vat he had to wait the 12 months before selling it!

Trumpton

Another way to do it??
 

Possible maybe?
Buy the troopy from one of the tax free guys (transauto or numerous others) or even from an African Toyo dealer - then ship to Africa. Here in Ghana you could get one for way less than a new Defender... Due to the import duty being pretty low (a 105 on the other hand is VERY high). You can then register it here in Ghana and set off on your travels. Arrive in the UK 6 months later and you might be okay. I would check it out in detail with HM customs re your "expat status" but it should be possible. The troopy price will work out at about 17,000GBP Versus some of the European sites selling them registered for around Euro 34,000 or so... You could spend a fair bit of time travelling on the savings. Of course my theory might be total nonsense, but may be worth exploring? And if anyone needs logistical help to check things out at this end then give me a shout. I can also point you in the way of some of the best export prices from Europe (i.e. for Toyos to Africa)
Cheers,
Gil

If you do not mind driving LHD, here in Germany you'll fiind Troopies as you want them. Euro3 is the best emmisions standard, the J78 will be converted to!
One good address finding new ones in Germany is: PREISLISTE
Think about it! VAT in germany now is at 19%.
Usually I buy cars in the UK (i.e. from japan) and brong them to Germany; if you need assistance in purchasing/transporting your HZJ78 to UK - contact me!
Up from March 2007 there will be the new 2007-modell; pic/text: [www.buschtaxi.de] - Thema anzeigen - Der neue J7!
Not to get at european Toyota dealers!
Joachim