Hilux- What’s with the water bottles?

A friend that’s visiting Thailand has been sending me pics of all the hilux trucks over there! Anyone know why the drilled out water bottles are zap strapped under the hood? Can’t think of what they would be used for.

 

good question, I want to know too.

 

Don't see it? OK, now I do. In case you get thursty?

 

I like that truck. Why not in the US?

 

Places for bugs to go instead of wires? No clue.

 

That's what I was thinking, some kind of "pest control"

 

Several reasons. Chicken Tax being a big one. Also, if you look at the payload numbers it’s basically a HD truck the size of a Tacoma, which means when it’s empty the ride is quite harsh. This is unacceptable to the majority of US buyers.

 

My best guess.
There is probably some poison for cockroaches or rats/mice.
Most likely cockroaches.

Some of those fuckers I’ve seen are 2-3in!!

 

I think your answer is that "marketing" with their American preferences on designs and constraints on engine choices (notably diesels) gives the North American market its choices.
It is possible to import Hilux, but Toyota, due to the above and taxation issues chooses not to (?).

"Due to a tax policy imposed by the American government called the Chicken Tax, importing a light truck built outside the US requires a 25 percent tariff. This 25 percent jump in the cost makes the Hilux too expensive to compete with other compact pickup trucks in the US Market."
https://www.hotcars.com/toyota-hilux-banned-in-america/

For a Hilux fan, this just crossed my newsfeed this week.
It is an attractive vehicle. I like how the pre-2000's actually tracked pretty well with NA market offerings from Toyota.

https://www.slashgear.com/1339233/every-toyota-hilux-generation-ranked-best-worst/

 

Not necessarily. Older article but since the 3rd gen Tacoma is basically the 2nd Gen with minor tweaks.

https://www.exploringoverland.com/o...2/11/16/forbidden-fruit-the-toyota-hilux.html

“One commonly held assumption is that the suspension on the Tacoma was optimized for ride comfort for us soft, fat Americans, while the Hilux concentrates on load-carrying prowess. Well . . . not necessarily. The ride on our own Tacoma—a V6 SR5 4x4 Access Cab with steel wheels and stock street tires we’ll soon change—is hilariously, maddeningly, absurdly stiff. It’s notably stiffer than the Old Man Emu leaf-spring setup on my FJ40. We’re looking forward to adding the camper and a winch and bumper just to knock some of the stuffing out of it. Meanwhile our hired Kenyan Hilux boasts a compliant, well-controlled ride whether empty or full of spear-toting Morani. What’s up with that? How can the truck rated to carry less weight ride worse than the “work” truck?”

 

I'm not sure I would choose an article from 2012 with someone's opinion as a counterargument. But, if we want to do that, here's a more recent article talking about how stiff the rear leafs on the hilux are: https://www.topspeed.com/why-the-toyota-tacoma-is-not-an-american-hilux/. Here's another mentioning the stiff leaf springs: https://www.hotcars.com/2024-toyota-tacoma-vs-hilux-difference-explained/.

If we want to examine some real data, this is pulled right from the owner manuals:

2023 Tacoma GAWR (axle) front 1385kg rear 1490 kg, GVWR 2545kg.
2023 Hilux GAWR (axle) front 1480kg rear 1700kg, GVWR 3050kg.

Keep in mind those are kg, so the hilux has over 1,000 lbs higher GVWR plus stronger axles, especially the rear. We all know the stock tacoma leaf packs are pretty weak; you're not going to load 1000kg into it and expect it to sit level.

There's no free lunch. Stiff leaf springs means a rough ride when empty, as I stated before.

 

When I had a Corvair Greenbriar, I hooked up a water bottle filled with a solution of water and alcohol to kind of be a jerry-rigged water cooler. But the engine is already water cooled, so . . . strange.

Maybe if you're working on the engine you can just grab some water without having to get your head out of the engine bay?

 

That guy who I personally have chatted with over the years, has loads and loads of experience traveling around Africa and America in HiLuxes, Tacomas, the US Pickup and LC70s. He is a crusty ol’ curmudgeon, trust his opinion more than those click bait sites. Plus I have driven HiLuxes myself. My neighbors brother from Mexico would come to visit from time to time with his. No diesel, but the chassis and suspension is the same. It rides just fine.

You should look him up Johnathan Hanson.