by "Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
Published 01/04/2017 at 20:00
by "Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
Published 01/04/2017 at 20:00
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STARS: 1
Hey guys, I have a little question for you... Would you be able to help me figure out the legality of Jeep Cheerokee imported from Japan, RHD, in the US and under 25 yeal old?
This company based in Oregon seems to import some, but I really don’t think they are in anyway legal: http://www.japanpdximports.com/
My logic behind that being that the RHD specific models have not been crash tested by the NHTSA and that changing the side of the column steering and all pedals make LHD crash testing non-compliant with it.
Following this logic, 1995 or 1996 Land Rover Defender from the UK would be legally importable in the US since LHD USDM models were sold in the US at the time. And if 1996 models are importable, why stop there? 2016 RHD cars of any manufacturer as long as the car is sold in the US would be legal too! Not to mention that these Jeep Cheerokee were probably built in Beijing’s Jeep factories and most likely never every set wheel on US soil.
So this is the main reason why I have my doubt concerning the legality of the whole thing, but would like to have your opinion on it.
"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
01/04/2017 at 20:04, STARS: 2
probably
They did, and still do, sell RHD Jeeps in the US, mainly for postal use. And since the engines are the same, they pass emissions standards, too (even if they didn’t, the emissions cutoff is only 21 years, not 25 like for safety)
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
01/04/2017 at 20:04, STARS: 3
Jeep shouldn’t be an issue as RHD were/are used as mail vehicles
Possibly only need lights and emission changes
"jkm7680" (jkm7680)
01/04/2017 at 20:06, STARS: 0
I’m not sure why many rural carriers would want to do that, haha.
But I’m thinking it would be legal, not too sure bout the Rovers though.
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
01/04/2017 at 20:07, STARS: 1
Yeah, but same thing goes for 1996 Land Rover Defender... Yet, those are a big no-no, in spite of being sold as in LHD version in the US during that period.
"Jack Does Cars" (jackdoescars)
01/04/2017 at 20:11, STARS: 1
If it has the 3.9 V8 then maybe, as the 3.9 V8 was the only Defender sold in the U.S. Diesels weren’t. So a diesel would not be legal due to emissions, but a V8 might be. And I don’t think aftermarket V8 Defenders would be legal, only factory examples. And that’s just a big maybe.
"Kat Callahan" (kyosuke)
01/04/2017 at 20:14, STARS: 1
What are the true differences between the LHD and RHD models? If it’s literally just the steering column, I cannot possibly see how making the importation illegal makes any sense.
"XJDano" (xjdano)
01/04/2017 at 20:16, STARS: 0
Mail carriers only. I think you have to have proof of being a mail person. Since we drive on the right and mailboxes in front of houses are on the right the mail carrier is too. That’s how they get around it. Mail carriers can sell to whom ever though when they are done. I have seen a RHD XJ and the power steering box is on same aside as LHD, just more power steering lines. I wanted one for shits, but they are still expensive. They come up on craigslist from time to time.
"XJDano" (xjdano)
01/04/2017 at 20:18, STARS: 1
There isn’t much. Power steering lines. Like a box on both sides. But the steering comes from left box. It’s almost all cosmetic.
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
01/04/2017 at 20:20, STARS: 0
Holy shit, you’re back! How are you :)
As for the differences between both cars, swapping the driving side may require lots of modifications that would need an entire diffferent set of crash tests... For example, the manifolds may get in the way of the steering column, requiring this one to be modified accordingly so that it can fit. And any modification to the steering column might generate crushing defects, resulting in having, or not, the driver with a steering column through his face in case of a crash. Same goes for the modification of the firewall, or how the pedals may or may not destroy your feet based on what is standing right behind them in the engine bay.
Changing the driving side requires LOTS of safety modifications.
"XJDano" (xjdano)
01/04/2017 at 20:21, STARS: 1
I don’t think the land rovers were marketed as mail carriers because they were likely 2x the Cherokee. There are Subaru mail cars too. But all are auto because you are delivering mail out the right and steering with left, and stopping every couple hundred feet.
"XJDano" (xjdano)
01/04/2017 at 20:23, STARS: 0
The steering colum and intake and exhaust are all on drivers side of LHD XJ. Right side of motor is the driveshaft.
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
01/04/2017 at 20:24, STARS: 2
Except the RHD models were sold here...
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
01/04/2017 at 20:25, STARS: 0
Hum ok... That’s actually really interesting. I would love to compare a USDM RHD Jeep and their japanese equivalent... I can’t help but think that both cars are too different to be importable like that, this easily.
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
01/04/2017 at 20:27, STARS: 0
So is the same steering column used in both RHD and LHD cars?
"XJDano" (xjdano)
01/04/2017 at 20:28, STARS: 0
I’ll see about finding another. I should have snapped pictures last time. They are always a mystery. A guys dad had one when I went to look at a Comanche. The RHD wasn’t for sale then of course.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
01/04/2017 at 20:30, STARS: 0
Chinese jeeps surely would be LHD only with different engine
"XJDano" (xjdano)
01/04/2017 at 20:31, STARS: 0
I replied to Kat too, but a colum is on the right I think, from steering wheel to a steering box on right, then the lines go to left box that actually does the steering. Since the front suspension set up is with a 4 link and trac bar
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
01/04/2017 at 20:31, STARS: 0
My guess was that they would be build in China for the Japanese market due to the proximity of Japan which has a non-negligeable market size... Same thing with HK nearby even though the market is insignificant there...
"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
01/04/2017 at 20:37, STARS: 0
+1
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
01/04/2017 at 20:37, STARS: 0
Hum, so Jeep would have had to do the full NHTSA testing for both cars then, which is not impossible but just seems costly. That would indeed make the RHD cars importable in the US and justify why RHD Land rover defenders are not importable for these years...
"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob)
01/04/2017 at 20:37, STARS: 1
and since the lights were sealed beams, it’s quite cheap and easy to bring into compliance
"Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition" (realasabass)
01/04/2017 at 20:39, STARS: 0
What does the VIN look like? That will answer a lot of questions about sneaking it in. If it has a normal US VIN no one will likely look twice at it when you register it. You can always say it was originally a mail delivery vehicle. Clean title donor vehicle is also an option.
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
01/04/2017 at 20:42, STARS: 2
The RHD XJ’s were originally designed as postal vehicles and produced in the US, and then exported. The small number of RHD sales meant it was cheaper to continue exporting them than retool plants in China. A ton of Japanese XJ’s have been reimported for postal use (and otherwise), and they can get away with it because unlike the Defender, it’s a US-built vehicle intended for the US market that is only different in that the stickers aren’t in American and the headlight adjusters are screwed way out. It’s not really any different than bringing in a Canadian Jeep, except you need to screw in the headlight adjusters.
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
01/04/2017 at 20:51, STARS: 0
Well, the VIN of this Jeep Cheerokee finds a Jeep Liberty from 1994 lol... Weird. That’s the VIN of 1994 Jeep Cheerokee sold recently in Japan.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
01/04/2017 at 20:55, STARS: 0
Thanks! Apparently some Subaru Legacy are importable that way also...
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
01/04/2017 at 21:00, STARS: 0
There is a good chance they are legal, could be filed under “not significantly different”. That would be a better question for the govt, there is a provision for equivalent models
"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei)
01/04/2017 at 21:10, STARS: 0
There are a few dealers in the US that stock RHD Jeeps for postal carriers. Mostly used ones but occasionally new ones too.
Wouldn’t the novelty of driving a car that wasn’t designed for the market lose it’s lustre after a while? Seems to me that you would be at a disadvantage for say, seeing around a car for a passing maneuver on a two lane road.
"CompactLuxuryFan" (compactluxury)
01/04/2017 at 21:34, STARS: 0
I’ve seen RHD Wranglers used for parking enforcement (in Santa Clara, CA, specifically). Must be the same deal. I’d imagine there’s no way to resell them for more than pennies. Maybe some only off-road user would genuinely not care about RHD when LHD ones are so abundant.
"XJDano" (xjdano)
01/04/2017 at 22:13, STARS: 0
They are more expensive.
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
01/04/2017 at 22:33, STARS: 0
I’m not 100% certain that all RHD XJ’s were US-built though, just that the Aussie-spec ones were (and it would make more sense to ship those ones from China too I think). So to be on the safe side you’d best check the vin. Should start with a 1 to indicate US origin, and the 11th digit I believe will either be an L or P to indicate the Toledo plant line 1 or 2 respectively.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
01/04/2017 at 22:34, STARS: 0
clearly with the VIN above , starting 1J4 indicates made in the USA.
chinese vin start with L....
"Svend" (svend)
01/04/2017 at 22:54, STARS: 0
There are loads of RHD Cherokees and similar in the U.S. already so I can’t see an issue importing one but restrictions may vary for use.
http://www.rightdrivejeeps4postal.com/
http://www.japanpdximports.com/
http://www.autotrader.com/car-news/you-can-buy-a-new-right-hand-drive-jeep-wrangler-in-the-us-256279