1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Toyota pickups set records on Antarctic trek

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by jonatay, Apr 3, 2012.

  1. Apr 3, 2012 at 2:17 PM
    #1
    jonatay

    jonatay [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2012
    Member:
    #70425
    Messages:
    75
    Gender:
    Male
    Fort Worth, TX
    Vehicle:
    '19 Black DCSB TRD Offroad 4x4
    But could they conquer America?
    A fleet of 10 specially-outfitted Toyota Hilux pickup trucks recently completed a year-year long trip to Antarctica, setting several records in the process.
    The compact pickups are not currently sold in the United States, but are among the most popular around the world and known for their durability. They were outfitted for the assignment by Iceland-based Arctic Trucks, who are also responsible for preparing a Hilux that in 2007 was the first motor vehicle to drive to the magnetic North Pole.
    To handle the extreme cold of Antarctica, as low as -50 degrees Celsius during the expedition, the 3.0-liter turbodiesel engines of the pickups were converted to run on jet fuel, which will not freeze even at such temperatures.
    While the transmissions of the trucks remained stock, crawler axles were added along with revised suspensions and bodywork to accommodate extra large tires running at just 2-3 psi for improved traction. Several of the trucks were converted into 6x6 vehicles for extra-heavy hauling. The Hilux gets about 5 mpg in Antarctica in this configuration, which is 5 to 8 times more fuel efficient than the tracked vehicles typically used there, representing a significant savings where a barrel of fuel can cost $10,000, according to Toyota.
    The trucks took part in a variety of activities on the continent, including acting as support vehicles for an Extreme World Races cross country ski competition and helping to set up a remote fuel depot for use by the permanent research facilities there.
    Over the course of their adventures, the trucks set a record for the longest expedition in the history of polar exploration, covering over 44,000 miles combined, while three of the Hilux travelled nearly 6,000 miles each during a double transcontinental crossing that included a stop at the South Pole, each one setting a new distance mark for individual vehicles.
    The Hilux was sold in the United States for many years under a variety of different names, before being replaced by the mid-size Tacoma in 1995.
     
  2. Apr 3, 2012 at 2:18 PM
    #2
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2010
    Member:
    #46536
    Messages:
    31,906
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Cody
    Kealakekua, Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    Lifted 00 TRD Off-Road
    fox extended travel remote resivoir coilovers, 14" eibach 600lb coils, All Pro tubular chromoly 1" uniball upper control arms, All Pro expedition leaf packs, 10" bilstein 5150 piggyback reservoir shocks 265/75r16 Goodyear wrangler MT/R kevlars wrapped around 16" Helo 791 gloss black, Mini H1 retrofits with 6000k bulbs, 18" magnaflow w/custom exhaust reroute various decals, Sockmonkey retro hood stripes
    body lift/stock arms ftmfw!
     

Products Discussed in

To Top