Importing Euro Rangers to the States

[Morningwood]

O.k. anyone here have info on how to import a Ranger from overseas to the states?

Background: I work for a defense contractor in Iraq and Afgahnistan. We have 3 company trucks of which I'm in possetion of 1 but will be taking charge of the other 2 in the next few months as the Iraq draw down finishes up. My company is going to dump these trucks here in country and I can purchase them for next to nothing. My intent is to bring at least one back to the States if I know it is possible to do so. My current truck is a 2004 Ranger Crew Cab 4X4 5-speed 2.9L diesel, the other 2 trucks are the same. My truck only has 47k kilometers on it and the other 2 are around 40k kilometers.

 

[mn_smokeater]

the biggest hurdles i see is the EPA regs

 

[Morningwood]

I have a house in Kentucky as well as in Texas, I know Dallas does tailpipe testing but not Kentucky. I'll have to find some online registration info.

 

[hondaxr650]

Not sure it's possible. I was looking at some FJ-40 Land Cruisers online once and the import company had some of them on a hold list because they had to be 25 years old or more to be imported to the U.S. Ain't emission laws great? I'd kill for a crewcab Ranger....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have a house in Kentucky as well as in Texas, I know Dallas does tailpipe testing but not Kentucky. I'll have to find some online registration info.

You have to get it to Kentucky though, that is where you will get in trouble.

 

[dasfinc]

a 4 door diesel ranger.... A real unicorn.............

Good luck , EPA/Gov will probably drop the hammer and not allow them state-side.

 

[Mac]

It's just not the EPA rules but the over sea's versions do not meet the safety requirements dictated by the NHTSA, just another governoment agency to keep you safe and sound. Lot's of people just getting sick and tired of all the rules and regs to keep us safe.
Dave of the Nord

 

[mn_smokeater]

is there any exemptions?

 

[Morningwood]

These trucks are air bag equipped, is it because of crash testing as to why they wouldn't be allowed?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

These trucks are air bag equipped, is it because of crash testing as to why they wouldn't be allowed?

Probably something with the crush of the bigger more open cab.

 

[Tony Raine]

about the only way i can see it happening is if you strip it, crate it, and send it to yourself stateside in several boxes. then re-assemble.

of course, any big boxes going from the sandbox to the states will probably be "inspected" like crazy.

good luck if your state has inspections though. luckily i'm in arkansas, where there are no inspections of any kind. i can title, register, and insure a vehicle here without anyone else seeing it first.

 

[Mac]

From what I remember reading, has to do with the "A" pillar of the cab not haviing the strength in something like a rollover. Just a shame there is no happy meeting ground with what they have and what we want.
Dave of the Nord

 

[straycat]

NO, NO and more of that!! You will not be able bring this vehicle back. I have been all over the world in the Military and I wanted to bring something back as well. I was in Japan, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Africa, etc. etc. I know several people who wanted to buy a neat car or a truck and they were not allowed to. Some people could buy a car that was allowed into America that the regulations stated they could be imported to America. Here is something that happened to me once:

I bought a very neat bike in Japan. It was an 85 Yamaha RZV 500R. It was a V4 (4 cyl) 2 stroke water cooled, aluminum framed light weight beast. I bought it in Japan in late 1985. It was new and the shop owner had it hidden in the shop under tarps. I just saw it and thought what exotic is this with the aluminum frame? I lifted the tarp and I saw it and my buddies and I were wooed by it since we all rode 2 strokes and loved road racing. I tried to buy it that day and the shop owner told me I can't take it out of Japan. He told me an my buddies 'No go to America. No go to America!! It stay here only, no America'. Well, I told him I was stationed on the base here and he said to come pick it up tomorrow. I got the cash and paid him that day. I had it crated up and got it to the base and then had it delivered to the ship and put it on the ship by my crew.
I brought it back to California and I got it set up and running. I had it titled in Arizona and rode it for about 6 weeks and then 6 of us got on our wicked bikes and rode to Laguna Seca (Monterey) for a weekend of GP Road Racing and a vintage HRA racer meet. People there were so stoked about my RZVR and could not believe that I was riding one around in America. On the way back from Laguna Seca I got pulled over by a CHP. He wanted to know how I got the bike to America. He said this bike is illegal here and it was not to be imported to America. Of course I would ride on the day that trooper boy the motor cycle head would be on duty, lol. He was going to call for a flat bed to confiscate my bike. He then noticed my military decal and asked my if I was active and I said I was. He then let me go but had me report to a motorcycle shop in Oakland. The shop owner knew the CHP (brother-in-law). He gave me some cash and I got a really neat Ducati 1000 Cafe' Racer that I really wanted. The RZV500R would only be used for road racing purposes from now on he said. Nobody had this bike in America before. So, I was one of a kind then..lol

 

[Morningwood]

So what your saying is after I get my Euro Ranger into the states some cop with send me to his brothers dealership where he'll give me a diesel F-250 in exchange for me vehicle?

 

[rangerluver]

If you remeber right, there used to be restrictions on the Nissan GTR also. It had to be used, have a certain number of miles on them and pass the emissions in the state where you lived if required. My next door neighbor in South Carolina was big into Nissans ( I have no clue why) and was in the process of getting one from Japan years ago.

Now, because of the crash test rating changes and the fact that Nissan is marketing them in the US, Nissan actually ships the new GTRs here and you can purchase new ones.

You simply need to get online, look up the actual restrictions for these vehicles as to why they cannot be in the US and see if they can be modified to be here. Then, probably with a real shipper, get them shipped to your state and have fun. It will cost a lot, though.