Hilux/Vigo wheels

[OEX]

Hello,

New to the board. I operate two of three military driving schools here in the US where we use about 10+ Hiluxes are our primary training vehicle.

One question I have is that some of the new (2013) Vigos we use with some groups have a 17" wheel on them. Will the 15" (3.0 litre) and 16" (2.5 litre) wheels on the standard Hilux fit the new Vigos? Not as familiar with the new Hiluxes as we just got six 2009 3.0 and 2.5 trucks. We've got a few Surfs, HJ/BJ 75 series, 1996 Hilux, two 1985 and so on.

I assume they will, but wanted to hear from those of you here that have plenty of experience with them. Here in the US the only people that have them are us (we have a special gov waiver since we train military) and the military itself.

Thanks for any feedback.

Garrett Porterfield
Overland Experts LLC
http://www.overlandexperts.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mars67]

As far as I know the PCD is the same on them all.

[Thunder02]

Welcome Garret.
The problem comes in with the brakes, the disks and calipers interfere with the rim when going to a smaller rim. For instance from 16" to 15". The PCD is the same.

[ThysdJ]

Welcome Garret

As Niel says, the 15" rims wont fit on the new Vigo's. The brake disks and calipers on the front wheels are too big.

[Thunder02]

Welcome Garret

As Niel says, the 15" rims wont fit on the new Vigo's. The brake disks and calipers on the front wheels are too big.

Agree with Neil.

[ThysdJ]

Agree with Thys...

[Hoppy]

The 16" should fit, but the 15" won't

[Mr_B]

Hoppy disagrees with Niel and Thys...

[OEX]

Thanks guys. Nice to see that Toyota FINALLY went to disks in the back as here in the cold parts of the US the drums can be annoying to deal with in terms of frozen parking brakes in the morning. Not to mention the drums get filled with all kinds of crap off roading and need to be cleaned after every 5-day training we do.

So that would mean that the Tacoma wheels would fit the new Vigos as well.

Thanks again.

I'm sure I'll have more questions. So far I really like the 2009 3.0 Hilux I drive here in as my daily driver. Sure confuses people, but they really wish they were available to us here in the states. Reliable, efficient and quite capable. I'll post up some training pics when I get some time.

[4x4BEES]

Thanks guys. Nice to see that Toyota FINALLY went to disks in the back as here in the cold parts of the US the drums can be annoying to deal with in terms of frozen parking brakes in the morning. Not to mention the drums get filled with all kinds of crap off roading and need to be cleaned after every 5-day training we do.

So that would mean that the Tacoma wheels would fit the new Vigos as well.

Thanks again.

I'm sure I'll have more questions. So far I really like the 2009 3.0 Hilux I drive here in as my daily driver. Sure confuses people, but they really wish they were available to us here in the states. Reliable, efficient and quite capable. I'll post up some training pics when I get some time.

That will be awesome
Welcome here by us, hope you enjoy it.

[Pora]

Welcome bud, and we wish we could get the Tacoma in SA haha

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

[Thabogrobler]

Some nice trip you guys are running!

Bolivia.....mmmmmmm

http://www.overlandexperts.com/recreati ... _recce.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OEX]

The Bolivia trip will be a first time for me. Iceland is another great trip we run. Very fun place to say the least. I also run the Newfoundland-Labrador trip in August. Those are some of the "perks" we get, but 90% of what we do is military training at our three locations here in the states - Connecticut, Virginia and North Carolina. Oddly enough most of our Special Forces groups (SEALs, Rangers, etc) all operate in Hiluxes. The armored versions have a price tag of about $300,000 (USD).

[Thabogrobler]

Interesting that the special forces uses the Hilux...

That Bolivia trip is pretty decently priced in my opinion - AND I was laying awake last night about it....

[OEX]

They've been using them for quite some time. About as long as I've been training - 12 years or so.

But when you think about it, it makes sense. Many of our SF groups operate in South America, Northern Africa, Middle East, etc. The Hilux blends in quite a bit better with our mobility ground forces that are not looking to give themselves away. At least from a distance. The "signature"/profile of the Hilux looks indigenous - not to mention getting one fixed in any number of small villages is sure easier than many other options.

The HMMWV (GMV) that we use with more conventional military groups is not really an option unless they are going "high visibility". Not to mention the HMMWV is being phased out and being replaced with what is called the 1.1 right now. At least with our more elite/special forces.

Depending on the mission the Hilux is outfitted with ceramic armor, bumpers, sliders, run flats, bead locks, winches, two spares, infrared lighting, crew serv gun mounts, Fox suspension, lockers, upgraded engines and t cases. They end up being pretty heavy trucks all said and done. Again it just depends on their mission.

I asked the question above because I got an email from some SF guys we trained that just some new 2013 Vigos and they needed/wanted to swap on some 16" wheels from earlier Hiluxes. They are likely in South America somewhere.

Yeah the Bolivia trip is priced cheap, since it's a first time trip. Things won't go as planned, but for me that ends up being the "fun" part of the trip.

[Thabogrobler]

Please tell me more about the engine and gearbox/transfer cases?

A pic or 2(if you are allowed to) of the 'Lux'es would be very nice! Detail to bumpers, bead locks, suspension, etc.

As for the wheels, take a 16" and fit it on the front a Hilux - if it clears the calipers, then it will work!


Man, that Bolivia trip is just the way I like it - totally unpredictable!

There is a local joke about a Bear Gryllis. He calls it ultimate survival. We call it camping!

Enjoy!

[OEX]

I can't show the pics of the latest trucks as they are a little touchy about that. I have some pics of the more standard trucks that would be fine. I have some pics I can show of the older Hiluxes some groups had too - with armor, mounts, bumpers, etc. Just need to dig those up. But I will make a folder and link it here.

I know the bead locks are Hutchinson and Allied. Those are familiar companies here in the US. Some of the groups have TireBall run flat systems in them. Just depends on who is spec'ing the trucks.

Trucks are getting fitted with larger turbos for one. A common upgrade with some groups is replacing the fuel/water separator with a marine grade one, so it's easier for them to service in the field. More along the lines of the mechanical diesel/earlier trucks.

Earlier Hiluxes were running TJMs bumpers up front and some ARBs with others. Some groups were having custom bumpers made that were far stronger and lots of recovery points, but these were not designed for technical off road - really bad approach angles.

Suspensions are by Fox. Reservoir type systems.