Something heavy fell across the bed of this T100. I’m wondering if it was a tree during our recent snow storm, which brought down a huge number of trees. But it hasn’t sidelined this tough truck.
I’m sorry to see this happen to one of my favorite trucks. I’ve written here before that if I ever had to replace my F100 someday, this would be my first choice. And one with the 2.7 L four at that. I am a minimalist.
The T100 is a great truck, but I’d look for one with the V6. We had a flatbed T100 parts delivery truck at our Toyota dealership and it was a dog. It had the 4 cylinder with a 5 speed and no one wanted to drive it, especially when we needed to go over the hill on Highway 17. Even heavy delivery trucks would be on its back bumper all the time. Maybe something was wrong with it.
Was this model Toyota pickup one of those where entire frames were swapped out due to structural failure caused by rust?
Time-lapse video here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zuo9uC42RVw
No, that was certain model years of the Tacoma and the Tundra, the latter of which being the model that replaced the T100.
As far as I know, the frame recalls were on domestically manufactured trucks with Dana-Spicer (or AO Smith?) frames. The T100, as noted elsewhere was all Japanese. However, even my California T100 had a fair amount of non-structural rust on the frame and some perforation around the windshield. I had the windshield replaced and the tech commented that this was common; he cleaned and primed it, but told me that removing the glass again in a few years could be problematic.
Everyone gripes about how high the bedsides are on modern pickups. This one does not have that problem. From this view it looks like a junkyard bed might fix everything that ails this one. Of course the frame could have been kinked too, which would change my answer.
I agree with you- eyeballing the line formed by the in the bottom edge of the cab and the bottom edge of the box, it looks like the frame survived with minimum damage.
My thought is the same that the frame has survived based on the lower line of the frame. So just need to find a bed and spend a bit of time stripping this one off and bolting the replacement on.
Errrr,, T100? Is that a Hilux elsewhere.. Hilux’s are unbreakable..
No
This is a fullsize truck. The Hilux (or Toyota Truck in the USA) was replaced here by the Tacoma.
The T100 was Toyota’s first attempt(and failure) to give the Big 3 trucks a run for the money. It failed at that but is still a good truck
It was marketed as Toyota’s first full-size truck, as it had an 8′ bed, but the T100 was almost identical in dimensions and capacity to to the mid-size Dakota. You’d have to go back some 25+ years to find a full-size truck of a similar size to the 1993 T100.
The T100 did share similar dimensions to the Dakota, particularly in the 8’ length of the bed. I may be wrong, but if I recall correctly the T100 did offer a full 48” between the bed wheel wells, critical for hauling palletized materials, and being able to claim “full-size” status. I briefly owned a ‘93 Dakota, and the bed was several inches narrower than 48”. My several compact trucks were great trucks, as was the Dakota, but the one glaring shortcoming amongst them all was the inability to load pallets. The T100 was marketed as a “7/8ths” 1/2 ton; large enough to overcome the shortcomings of compact trucks, but without the excessive power and size of the Big Three’s “proper” 1/2 tons; which seems quaint by today’s standards. Like Paul, I’ve always admired these trucks and wanted one, a standard cab 8 footer with the 4-banger and 5-speed, of course. Underpowered? I’d prefer to say “adequate”.
A T 100 or a Dodge Dakota are both lightly sprung. They’re not built for hauling pallets of anything much.
The 48″+width between the wheel wells is to accommodate 4×8 building materials. The standard pallet is 42″ wide and 48″ long so the 48″ width is not needed to carry them.
I’ve never seen a 42” wide pallet, except for specialized uses; most common pallets are 48” wide. I’ve had to offload pallets of sod, bagged mulch, and baled pine straw more times than I can remember because the pallets wouldn’t fit in the compact trucks. I didn’t have the 1993 Dakota for long, but distinctly recall having to offload pine straw bales off the pallets that wouldn’t fit. Moving up to my 2000 Silverado and later F-150s made life much easier.
I don’t recall ever overloading the Dakota, but most all of my trucks, compacts, mid and full-sizers were rated for around 1500 pounds in cargo. Having started out with a 1980 F-150, I found loading down to the bumpstops was about 2700 pounds (verified by scales at the landfill); probably not safe, but with careful driving I never had a problem. Suffice to say, I considered the F-150’s “max payload” to be more of a suggestion rather than a rule. I will say the two loads scaled at over 4000 pounds were “white knucklers”. However, the compact “jap trucks” while being rated similarly to the Ford, meant what they said when “max payload” was met or exceeded. Just my experiences.
On one more note, I also owned a 2001 F-250. I was sorely disappointed in its weight carrying capibilities in comparison to the Silverado 1500 (owned a 2000 and two 2003s) or F-150 (owned a 1980, 2000, 2003, and currently in a 2016).
I found the 4-banger jap trucks were adequately powered, but certainly not over-powered. They woul haul as much as I could load, and while they could pull most any trailer, stopping was another story.
I’m sure a 4-banger, 5-speed T100 could pretty much handle all that could’ve thrown at it, except for the heaviest of trailers, and those should by all rights have their own brakes; though I’ve never pulled a trailer with brakes. One last thing…As I’m sure Paul would attest, when driving an overloaded pickup truck, speed is not your friend. Driving a truck stretched to it’s limits will force you to drive slower and much more defensively. I ve never had an accident or incident while hauling or pulling a load because of being overloaded, so being “underpowered” has it’s benefits. My buddy who lost his 25’ cuddy cabin boat on I-95 might not have if he hadn’t been so overconfident with his big V8 heavy duty. Just sayin’…
I had a T100 for several years. A great truck, arguably the best Toyota truck for American usage, although it’s sales figures didn’t reflect that. The bed size and load capacity were comparable to domestic “half tons”, yet the exernal size and great visibility made urban driving easier. Definitely 48” + between the wheel wells. I once hauled 1750 lbs of gravel with plenty of room to the bump stops; well maybe not plenty, but sufficient. Power with the 3.4V6 was adequate, both the 5 speed and A340 4 speed auto were durable, and, despite being American-market only, the T100’s were built in Japan, supposedly at a Hino truck factory, with excellent quality. The XtraCab was very spacious, but it was hard to use the space behind the seats since it had no rear doors. I think if it had been an AccessCab, like the Tundra which replaced it, or newer Tacoma’s, I would have kept it.
Most pallets are 48″ LONG, not wide. Sure you can orient a Timber Block or 3/4way so it goes in the vehicle 48″ wide but the standard is to stick your forks in the other, narrower side.
CHEP the number one producer and lessor of pallets in the world and the ones that use in the US are actually 40″ wide by 48″ long. https://www.chep.com/us/en/consumer-goods/platforms/pallets/pooled-wood-block-pallet
Goodness gractious, that T100 might just be the most beat up vehicle moving under its own power that I have seen in Oregon. I hope they get it fixed so it can live to haul again. Back in early 2017 when Portland got a bunch of ice and snow there was a brief uptick in vehicles damaged by trees or vehicles that had hit something.
Since it is just the bed, and hopefully the chassis wasn’t bent, couldn’t the owner find a replacement at a junkyard and just bolt it on?
Yea they could or make their own bed.
And then lie in it.
“We can rebuild him; we have the technology”
A wooden flatbed is the cheapest way out of this conundrum if the frame isn’t bent.
You need a CD of the Deliverance soundtrack to go with that.
The T-100 was actually manufactured by Hino. Production moved to a U.S. Toyota facility when the Tundra came out. Agree, the T-100 was a great mid-size truck. I came close to buying a 4X4 T-100 when they were first introduced, regretted not doing so. Never cared for the Tundra all that much.
Speaking of storms, trees and cars; we had a doozy a few days ago. There’s a Nissan Sentra under this tree! The driver is still in the car at this point.
A reporter lives in my building shot this pic just before the fire department got there. The guy was okay, just couldn’t get out. In the middle of this awful snowstorm he had just driven through the intersection when out of nowhere a giant tree fell smack dab on the b-pillar see, second pic.
Three days later the car was still sitting in the middle of the street. I think this might be a more rare occurrence than being struck by lightning. Amazingly none of the local news picked up the reporters story.
Difficult to see, is a large branch driven straight thru the sunroof into the console. I bet he went to church that morning!
Don’t think I uploaded the pics correctly. Try again…
This is embarrassing…
I’m glad he came out of it ok – lady luck looked after him that day.
A question for us outside North America: I notice it’s important to get the magic 48″ between the wheel wells to fit standard size building panels. Why not just get a flatbed/table top on a smaller truck? Is there a cultural dislike of flatbeds/tabletop bodies in NA?
Good question. Before I answer your question, keep in mind that the price difference between full-size and smaller trucks in the US is not all that great, nor is the difference in fuel economy. Outside of urban areas, there’s also not much of a maneuverability or parking advantage to having a smaller vehicle.
I can’t speak for all makes, but my 2000 Ranger has pockets molded into the sides of the bed, which allows you to place 2x4s or 2x6s across the bed and carry sheet goods above the wheelwells. But you rarely see people utilizing this feature; in fact, I’ve pointed it out to other Ranger owners who didn’t even notice the pockets, or know why they’re there.
Unfortunately, this only gives you about 8 inches (20 cm) of stacking space below the bedrails, and loading beyond that point takes some work and planning to keep the load on the truck, and to support the load on the boards placed in the pockets. Plus, I’ve noticed that it raises the center of gravity and can make handling a little squirrelly for all but short trips. With full-size trucks, you just put down the tailgate and drop the load into the bed.
It also makes it challenging to have a standard pallet of building materials forklifted into the bed between the wheelwells. And it also doesn’t work if you’re trying to transport an ATV, or a riding mower with a mowing deck attached; for those duties I have to use an attached trailer, or borrow my partner’s full size truck.
Ive enjoyed my Ranger for 19 years, but I always say my next trucks will be full sized. It just makes more sense in the US, with few disadvantages.
Flat beds are a pain to deal with. It puts the load much higher since you have to get above the wheels.
Granted, they’re higher, but they can be loaded from the sides, can hold a lot more stuff overall and fit any pallet you like. On a full size truck you’d carry heaps more. And you don’t have to worry about it getting scratched or dented.
Is that truck actually driving on public roads Paul? Here in the Greater Toronto Area you would probably only want to drive it under the cover of darkness. If the police don’t impound it, then the Ministry of Transportation certainly would.
Yes. Nobody would bother him. We’re pretty easy going out here when it comes to vehicles on the road. I’ve seen a lot worse.
I didn’t know Canada called government departments “ministry”. Immediately makes me think of a famous book by Orwell. Do you guys have a Ministry of Politeness and Apologies?
You should take a visit to Toronto sometime. Our Highway 401 is 16 lanes wide by the airport and one of the most congested in North America. I had company come over from Australia last year that have never seen so many big rigs in their lives.
Probably have a Ministry of Silly Walks, too.
I’ve imagined altering newer trucks thusly to improve access to the impossibly-tall box.
Dad drove a T-100 with the 3.0 V6 for a while. Toyota build quality for sure, but the engine did blow a head gasket (under warranty). He gave it to my daughter when she got her license and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t kill it.