Finding, buying & preliminary build of my new-to-me 4WD Toyota Hiace.
What started as an merely idea conceived on the drive home from a TV Commercial shoot in Warwick, quickly snowballed into many late nights researching and hunting down the perfect vehicle. With the decision settled on a four-wheel-drive Toyota HiAce, namely for physical size, internal space, reliability & simplicity - my next mission was to get my hands on the right one, at the right time.
Tracking One Down
While many aren't aware Toyota even makes a 4WD (AWD) version of their popular HiAce van, it isn't actually that hard to track them down once you know where to look. Numerous used car dealers down the east coast import & compliance HiAces of all different shapes and sizes direct from Japan; as a JDM vehicle they're generally better equipped, better sound deadened and offered with more options than their Australian delivered counterparts - hence 4WD. The difficult part then comes trying to find & pounce on the precise configuration of options that you're after as some are more prevalent than others.
After only a few short weeks scrolling Carsales, Gumtree and Marketplace, the unicorn surfaced; a Widebody Mid-Roof HiAce - in 4WD. One plane flight to Melbourne, one and a half very long days laying down miles to Queensland and she was home. Let the build begin.
Pushing the Boundaries
Unlike the older HiAces of the early nineties, the 4WD systems in the later H200 series vans are far less robust. Gone are the free-wheeling hubs and low-range equipped transfer cases, the vehicle instead borrows the full time AWD system from the Toyota Kluger. At mention of that, you'd be forgiven for dismissing their 4x4 credibility immediately. However, I was determined to prove (read: discover) just how far off the beaten track these little vans can really go.
The unforgiving soft sand of a Queensland beach was the obvious preliminary testing ground, with an overnight trip to Kinkuna Beach pencilled in the calendar shortly after arriving back home. Quickly nipping up the front torsion bars gained me a fraction of extra belly clearance and with the TRED recovery boards packed, preparations were complete.
I'm pleased to report that it handled the soft sand with ease. As predicted, the AWD system raised no complaints; my only criticism now being the lack of ground clearance under the front subframe and transmission pan. I managed to get myself gently bellied out on some deeper ruts, however mounting up some taller tyres and making a few suspension mods will see short work of that. Suffice to say the TRED boards earned their keep.
Next Steps... For Now
The final round of modifications to fast-forward the van into service included a desk, chair and shelving unit. With the layout far from finalised and spare time quickly dwindling, it was a matter of sound deadening all the floor, wall and door panels before bolting some second hand shelves to the drivers’ side. C-Stands, combo stands and roller stands find their home at the rear door for easy access and a rather large but conveniently cheap desk takes up most of the remaining real estate.
The last step is fabricating some bracketry and mounting a 100Ah Lithium battery along with a 40A DC-DC charger to keep it topped up. At this stage it's more than supple for charging batteries on the go, though a larger system will eventually make its way into the van for running lighting on set, supplemented with a small petrol genset for longer days.
Final Thoughts
So far it’s met all expectations in terms of space internally, external dimensions from a parallel parking & underground parking standpoint, road manners, 4WD capability and overall suitability to my requirements. My only grievance lies with the fuel economy; at a measly 14L/100km it's a hard pill to swallow for a small van, but one has to live with that as it is after all a Petrol HiAce - with 4WD.