PCS'ing to Germany; Everything You Need To Know About Bringing Your Taco

This will be a living, breathing thread (hopefully). I have two objectives here.

1. Find out if my truck will pass inspection
2. An information source for others in my shoes.

I intend to update it as needed so those searching the same questions I am will find answers.

The last time I was in Germany was 01-03 and I showed up single with nothing more than a duffel bag. I'm headed back this summer and the move is going to be slightly more complicated.

Can I take my modified Tacoma?

Regulations you Should Review First:

Joint Travel Regulation (01 May 2019): Shipment of a POV for service members is covered in Paragraph (section) 5030.

AE Reg 190-1 (23 Mar 2017): AE 190-1 This link will take you to a document with hyperlinks in the contents for easy navigation. This document lays out what is and isn't allowed. Appendix C-28 contains the inspection checklist. If you want to know if your taco will pass, print that sucka out and inspect your rig. Appendix C-7 through C-27 explains the inspection standards in detail.

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All that being said, lets get back to objective #1 here. Will mine pass inspection.
Please chime in on this if you have any experience here.

Ignore the tires sticking out, I have a plan to fix that. What I'm most concerned with is this part of the inspection worksheet

7.1.4 Bumpers, lateral protection and rear under-run devices
Reasons for failure: Device obviously not in accordance with regulations or bumper missing.

Will this clause result in a failed inspection if you have aftermarket bumpers?






Please chime in with your experinces...

 

Will update this post with my experience with the inspection process.

 

I shouldn't think the bumpers would be an issue, they are not defective nor are they missing. They are certainly much stronger than what comes from the factory. As for regulations on bumpers, in accordance with who's regulations, the Army, DOT, Oregon, Germany? You need to get clarification on that. I would think you could call whoever does the inspections to find out.

 

In appendix C it goes into more detail for each item on the inspection form. This is what it has to say about bumpers.

f. POVs (except motorcycles and motorbikes) should have bumpers of the kind provided by the manufacturer firmly attached to both the front and rear of the vehicle.


g. Any repair or modification to the original bumpers will be examined for safety and strength.


h. Bumpers will not be removed if they have built-in lights (for example, turn signals, taillights).

According to the regulation in the original post. Everything's there in AE 190-1 appendix C7-C27. My concern is how the inspector will interpret that regulation when it comes to the bumpers "safety and strength", or will the inspector say they're not the "kind provided by the manufacturer". Honestly, my rear bumpers not safe at all from the perspective of other motorists. If a small car rear ends me that bumpers going through the drivers face.
I'd love to hear from someone who's been over recently with a modified truck on thier experience with the inspection process. I would hate to bring it over and not be able to use it for three years.

 

The Germans that do the inspections are thorough, when I was there between 09-12 my vehicle failed due to a small leak, quick fix. I wouldn’t think your aftermarket bumpers would fail inspection unless they are not installed correctly with working lights if installed. I would recommend going to your local ACS, as they usually have a packet for PCSing overseas. The packet might have a POC to ask the question too. I would jump on a Jeep forum and ask the question as well since many SM bring there jeeps over there. But definitely inspect your rig to 10-20 standards for leaks, all lights working and they will conduct a brake test as well.

 

I would buy a camero or mustang and park your Tacoma CONUS. You will make a butt load of money off the camero and mustang for when you get back. Your Taco is going to be a pain in the butt in Europe.

 

I forgot about this thread. That position in Germany didn’t open up for me, headed to Hawaii instead.

 

Buy every Tacoma you can get your hands on and get it to the island. I know you can only ship one, however you can ship additional vehicles, Space A, from the west coast for about $600. Plan ahead to leave the vehicle on the island and make some money. I made back all my money and then some on an 88 4Runnner I sold there when I left. Buying anything on the island is overpriced due to supply and demand.

 

Tell me more about this “Space-A”.
Best quote I got for my second car was $1,500.

 

http://militarymilesandfinance.com/...from-conus-for-little-to-no-cost-navy-oplift/

 

Thanks for the link but we’re going to be turning the cars in and flying out of Seattle. Bummer....

 

One of our local members took his 3rd gen

 

That’s a private acount and we can’t see the pic, so you’re not getting my “LIKE” @ChadsPride

 

Dang it lol just edited with a pic

 

How'd everything go with you shipping your taco to Germany? Did you have to modify your wheels/go back to stock to be able to pass inspection? I'll be PCSing back there in about a year.

 

I’d like to know if anyone is in Germany with a 1st Gen. I’m stationed here for 3 years. Love any info on parts, trails or anything having to do with Tacos.
Thanks
Matt

 

Just seeing this thread and we are PCSing back to the states this summer FROM Germany. Here is my input:

My truck is mostly stock, so I have had no problems with inspection and I cannot say whether they would fail a vehicle for aftermarket bumpers. That being said, Germans are extremely uptight about vehicles. If you have a chip in your windshield or foggy headlight lenses, it will fail. A friend was pulled over in his Jeep because he had a bull bar on his bumper. They gave him a ticket and trying to fight German bureaucracy is impossible, so he had to pay it. They don’t allow off-roading in Germany, so overlanding vehicles really aren’t a thing here. Even hunters will use a Suzuki samurai or jimny with a game basket on their hitch. They also tow trailers with their cars. The market for trucks is very small here and you really only see them around military installations.

Not even 6 months after we arrived my truck died, turned out to be a corroded connection between the engine wire harness and the transmission wire harness. My theory is it happened during transit over the ocean, since my truck spent most it’s life in the west and not in the rust belt. The dealer here quoted me €4000 to replace both harnesses. I ended up finding an aftermarket connection for the engine wire harness end and just bought the new transmission wire harness. The dealer spliced in the end for me. Transmission still runs like crap.

The little taco feels massive on these narrow European roads and parking spaces. We ended up buying a lemon diesel BMW, which we drive almost exclusively. My wife and I both got our German hunting licenses and the truck really only gets driven to our hunting area. We ended up finding a sweet 4x4 Mitsubishi L300 for her hunting rig and we also took that for 3 weeks camping all through Scandinavia.

If I were to do it all again I would have left my Tacoma CONUS for the duration of this assignment. I’ve had frustration after frustration with my truck over here. Finding parts or mods has been a real pain in the ass. They also heavily salt the roads here, which I don’t understand when they don’t have snow. I have an American neighbor who left his 3rd Gen in the states and although he misses it, he is so glad he didn’t bring it. There is probably a reason why they make certain cars for certain markets.

Hope this helps anyone who is heading over here. Any other questions, I’ll be happy to answer to the best of my ability.

 

Just finished bringing my taco over to Germany and it wasn't too bad but I had to find a German willing to sign off on my truck having aftermarket bumpers. I'm good for two years now however if anyone is moving back to the states, has a 2013ish mag grey taco, and would like to get an aluminum SOS bumper then I'd be willing to sell mine as long as you would be willing to give me your stock one. PM me if your interested about the pcsing process or would like to make a deal.

 

Dang! What part of Germany are you? And did you get it inspected/registered on base? You happen to have a pic of your truck for reference? I'm pcsing to vilseck in Nov and have the slimline bumper on mind.

 

I had it inspected off base, I'm thinking of going the slimline route myself once I get a replacement bumper, getting one over here is a pain. I'll dig up a pic and post it.