The Toyota Pickup Truck Is the War Chariot of the Third Worl

War is Boring ^ | November 8, 2013 | Kyle Mizokami

[C19fan]

For three decades, one vehicle has dominated Third World battlefields.

Ubiquitous and incognito, chances are you’re less than a mile from one right now. You could pass one on virtually any street in any city in the world and you wouldn't think twice.

The vehicle costs a fraction as much as a modern main battle tank. In fact, you can buy 266 of them for the cost of just one tank. Plus it’s more dependable than a tank—and easier to maintain.

[ccmay]

The Tacoma is the very next vehicle I buy. I’ve gone long enough without a pickup.

I was very impressed when I test drove a couple, and astonished at how well they hold their resale value.

[Antihero101607]

Nice looking rig.

[wally_bert]

I always loved those.

Back in the 80s, a friend of my dad had one. Dad wanted to buy it but the guy wasn’t apparently interested in selling. Then one day he traded it in and was snapped up fast.

Now he is storing one for a dingbat old widow that the deceased put a lot of work into. He didn’t get to replacing the blown engine though.

That person was happy to let it sit and rust away. Her reason was that the idiot son would take over. After several years he showed no interest and would probably wreck it and not care.

Right now at least it is in a building.

[dangerdoc]

My brother drives about 70,000 miles per year. He gets a used Ford Taurus every few years, he usually gets about 300,000 miles on them with no major repairs and then gives them away.

Apparently there is one model year that is about indestructible.

[Dixie Yooper]

I bought a 2001 camry with 140K for a beater. I think it will go to 200,000k with no problem. It does need a clutch, I will have to get one soon. Crossing fingers...

I have 140K on my 2006 corolla. Should make it to 300K unless the new improved ethanol/gas requirements kill it first.

[kevkrom]

When I bout my Sequoia (SUV built on the truck frame) over 10 years ago, I actually had a salesman recount to me how vehicles built on that frame were used by 3rd-world armies as essentially light armor and personnel transport, so this isn’t new to me.

[C19fan]

Bit too much for Toyota to make a commercial for its trucks: “Battle Tested in Third World Cesspits”.

[kevkrom]

Perhaps, but maybe they can tailor a targeted media campaign for preppers: “When the SHTF, know that our trucks...”

[Sherman Logan]

once you put a uniform on Arabs, they appear to lose all of their fighting spirit.

An army can be designed to do three different things, with of course some overlap.

1. Fight and defeat other armies. That's the US and Israelis.

2. Ceremonial and show.

3. Oppress people who can't fight back.

You can combine 1 and 2, or 2 and 3. But not 1 and 3.

Just about all Arab armies are 3, with some units adding in some 2.

This is because the dictators of those countries all gained power either by inheritance or by overthrowing the previous dictator using the army. Hence they maintain super-tight control of the army, which is utterly inconsistent with developing one that can effectively fill Role 1.

Read a book by a guy who spent some decades as an adviser to several Arab armies. He said a full colonel in their armies has less decision-making authority than a mid-rank noncom in the US.

[SouthParkRepublican]

I have a 98 Maxima that I bought new and still drive. 285k on that. Also have an 04 Titan with 108k on it. Both original engines and transmissions. Very few mech. problems.

[Chode]

same EVERYTHING... i bought it three years ago with 240,000mi

first driver was a lease holder, second driver was an owner, i'm the third driver/owner

it's a 97/4cyl that came from PA where there they don't use salt on the roads and the frame was so clean it still had the original paint on it, the only rust underneath was a spot about the size of a half dollar on the pumpkin so i had a guy sand that spot, pressure wash it and shoot the whole frame/underbody with a gallon of gloss black Rust-Oleum

there's no rust on the body at all but the paint on the roof is extremely faded/blotchy and the only interior problems are the driver's side seat split along the seam but i've seen that in a lot of them since it sits so high and the clock doesn't work

it had new tires but i had to replace the battery, muffler/tailpipe from the CAT on back, belts, plugs and wires and had to replace the retractable antenna with a whip antenna and this year i had to put an external transmission fluid cooler on it cause the fittings went bad but the radiator is OK

it never saw salt till i bought it and i'm the first to admit i got one hell of a deal for $4600 but for a winter vehicle that only gets 5K miles a year it should last till i retire in six or seven years

[central_va]

$4600 + Repairs. So how much have you spent in total?

[stevio]

I had a '92 Toyota pickup for 18yrs and 225,000 miles. Sold it for $3,500 and it needed tires. Bought a '10 Tundra after that. If Toyota would sell the Hi-Lux here I would buy it without hesitation. I don't need anti-lock brakes, traction control, tire pressure sensors, etc.
I bet the government keeps them out of the country because the same thing might happen here.

[cableguymn]

I only remember because it was on the top 41’s show last week.

[Chode]

the undercoating, battery, plugs/wires, belts, muffler/pipe, whip and the cooler? prolly $1000 give or take...

so i figure i have ~$5600 total into it

like i said, i feel very lucky, like God had a hand into my finding it, that and my mechanic what does all the maint on it (i bought a Chilton's for $10) works out of his garage only charges $25hr, so i truly feel blessed which accounts for most of it

but that only accounts for the rustlessness part, from what i can tell a LOT of them do 200,000mi+ on the same engine/tranny

here's a good one, i bought a new fuel filter for it too before i read the manual, only to fine out they are good for over 300,000mi so i never changed it... but i didn't return it so when the time comes i'll have it, go figure

[steve86]

I still have an ‘86.5 first-year hardbody 93k. How often did you change the differential fluid?