Shipping the taco overseas

I’m moving to Europe soon and will be dropping the truck off at the port in a few days. Has anyone shipped their truck overseas? Any recommendations? As for prep, I’ve run a tank of ethanol-free through it and will be dropping it off with a quarter tank of the same. Anyone have any experience with a Tacoma on the sidewalk-sizes streets over there? I’m sure I’ll stick out like a burka on the beach. Thanks in advance.

 

Don't have any help shipping the truck, but you might want to look here to see if any members close to where you will be.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/international.130/

Good luck!

 

Appreciate that. I’ve never seen that section. Thanks.

 

Take alot of pictures and make a walk around video when you drop it off. Try to get the guy who is helping you process the truck in some of the pics. Take everything out that can be taken out of the inside and put two heavy coats of wax on it the day before.

 

I want to say @ready6delta had his truck overseas but I could be wrong

 

Ah, forgot to add that I threw a coat on it a week ago but I’m gonna do another layer the day before. Thanks!

 

Fluid film the hell out of the under carriage... Just about ruined my FJ60 on the ride from the Philippines to the states from not doing it.

 

Yeah man depending on where you are going and how modded your truck is will determine how much you stick out and how much crap local authorities give you. Main thing is tires of a certain size and aggressiveness. Its up to you how much attention you wanna draw depending on where you are and your mission. You will see a lot of bigger trucks around the bases but not as many the further you get away from military communities. Otherwise you are good man. Clean and coat the underside well, make sure it is serviced and you got all paperwork. Most of all enjoy Europe man we loved it when we were there. Hope to go back. If you can buy the specific and basic supplies for maintenance now and ship it as things are pricey over there and take a minute depending on your mail situation. Plus local shops will charge a lot if not under warranty. The shops on post are always good and usually have a pretty good mechanic to help.

 

I may be wrong but I believe it's considered a hazardous shipment due to the fuel residue. Aren't they having you drain the fuel before shipment? I'm curious.

 

Take out any interior trim you don't want stolen lol

floormats, seat covers, etc, etc

 

No, military ships vehicles with 1/4 tank.

 

Oh yean and make sure your insurance is good to go for Europe. USAA has been the best so far. Gotta get your green insurance card for certain countries and make sure they update the rate for shipping coverage.

 

I’d be interested to see reaction videos since they don’t sell the Tacoma overseas. IMO it looks better than the Hilux, so I’m sure you’ll get some rubberneckers

 

Remove any valuables. You wont stick out to badly, a lot of tacomas and fords in Germany. I'm guessing that's where you are PCS'ing to. I left in 2016, the drivers test is a BITCH, prepare yourself. They only allow 7 or 8 wrong questions out of 100 or something like that. The streets are not as small as you think you'll be fine. I do have this one horror story of the port crushing a tacomas bed with a lift.

 

Having your tires stick out past the fenders is illegal and the Polizei love giving tickets for that especially to us. That's actually a test question, I remember that one.

 

You WILL have damage to your truck after shipment. So look out for it when you pick it up and document it. I know people that have exotic car shops that do custom mods. Any car that comes and goes out of the country, even the exotics have cracked bumpers, paint chips and other minor body damage from shipment.

 

Have you checked the local laws about stuff like headlights? We have had some Germans (I work for Siemens) who shipped cars from the US back to Germany and they had to replace their headlights before they could get their car in country.

 

"You wont stick out to badly, a lot of tacomas and fords in Germany. The streets are not as small as you think you'll be fine."

Ain't parking a Taco on this street!