"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
02/16/2020 at 20:00 • Filed to: None
16
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"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
02/16/2020 at 20:00 • Filed to: None | 16
| 11 |
No, the Pajero is still in Virgina and hasn’t actually been loaded on a truck to the borderland yet, but some parts I bought for it have.
I’ve already bought two things from another country for a truck I don’t actually have in my possession of yet (although I do legally own it, as money has been sent and paperwork signed and emailed). Through the magic of the interwebs, I’ve already downloaded the Mitsubishi factory service manuals for the truck (along with the factory engine and transmission overhaul manuals for every Mitsubishi engine and transmission from 1990-2002), but being bought as an adventure mobile I want a paper manual to stash in the truck.
Via the magic of Amazon, I’ve got a Haynes (I know, crappy, but potentially useful on the side of the trail) Pajero manual originally written for the UK/Aussie market on the way to me from Manchester arriving on Wednesday via DHL. I’ve never actually received a package from DHL, so I’m sure their delivery guy will enjoy the threat from the head of household security when he makes the mistake of ringing the doorbell. I got a chuckle out of the charming emails in the proper version of my mother tongue telling me my package has been dispatched. It turns out that logging to Amazon’s UK site using my US account was half the price to buy the same book from the same seller as buying it from Amazon’s US site using the same account. Go figure.
The truck is missing the ashtray (and cover) from the center console, so I’ve also got one of those coming from the UK. I don’t care about the ashtray, but the hole in the console would bother me. I only found one possible part that might fit online in the US, and it was brown. Ebay turned up a suitable replacement on the otherside of the pond for about $10 (and $20 in shipping). I’ll be curious if it shows up before or after the truck.
As for the truck, money has been sent and paperwork signed and emailed. On Saturday, a Japanese Classics employee called me and spent about an hour on the phone doing a walk around of the truck inside and out noting everything he saw as I followed along via pictures. They sent a couple of dozen pictures of every imperfection on the truck, too. There were no surprises, and it confirmed things I already saw or suspected both good and bad. They seem almost radically committed to transparency and making sure folks are comfortable buying a 25 year old weird car sight unseen. They say about 40% of their sales are to folks that have the car shipped to them long-distance. Compared to the truck and old boat I’ve bought sight unseen and long-distance, I’ve got way more information about this truck than either of those transactions.
The last step is loading the Pajero on a truck to Southern NM. It can’t come soon enough.
AestheticsInMotion
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/16/2020 at 20:09 |
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I can’t wait to see hear about the adventures with this rig.
Oh and in a ddition to international shenanigans, i f you open a business account on Amazon you’ll get different prices too. Some better, some worse.
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ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> AestheticsInMotion
02/16/2020 at 20:10 |
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Good to know.
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/16/2020 at 20:15 |
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jminer
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/16/2020 at 20:22 |
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This is exciting! I’m vicariously thrilled for your purchase!!!
I’ve also been looking for a dedicated light duty camping/exploring/adventure rig and am very interested to see what you end up doing with it and how it works out.
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ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
02/16/2020 at 20:24 |
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I’m almost strangely excited about what will almost undoubtedly be the slowest car I’ve ever bought.
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ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> jminer
02/16/2020 at 20:30 |
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I’m looking forward to it. After doing enough truck camping over the years, I’m a fan of having the option to sleep inside the truck for a guaranteed dry place to sleep when the weather doesn’t support under the stars . I’d been shopping new midsized-trucks the last few months, but something tells me I won’t feel nearly as bad about some desert pin stripping on the side of this truck as a $ 35 or $40k Tacoma that I’d be making payments on and also driving work.
Previously, the requirement
of also being a good tow vehicle for 7,000lbs had always limited my trucks and suv’s to half-ton based
vehicles or larger. Not having the tow vehicle requirement opens up all kinds of interesting 4x4 options. I’ve always want a smaller 4x4 like this. Add in the small turbo
diesel, manual, Japanese bubble era engineering and painted in my favorite color and suddenly I’m buying a JDM import truck.
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jminer
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/16/2020 at 20:42 |
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That is cool as hell for sure.
I’m not a fan of truck camping - as without a camper shell it’s hard to weather protect your gear, then you might as well be in an SUV. I’ve done a lot of camping in full size vans which works awesome. These last few years I’ve done in either in a hatchback or my wagon which is a decent mix of space and usability but the ride height is what always kills me on the forestry service roads.
DipodomysDeserti
> jminer
02/16/2020 at 22:16 |
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A backpack with a rain cover does a pretty good job at protecting gear. Been using one going on two decades now.
4by4
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/16/2020 at 22:54 |
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I am about 1.5 years ahead of you. Like many other 4x4 aficionados who can’t afford Toyotas I ended up purchasing a Montero LS that was about an hour away (I live in Los Angeles). Less than a year later I ran across a Montero SR in Lousiana with 94K original miles! I couldn’t resist and had it shipped sight unseen so that is why you see a picture of two 1995 vehicles. My passion is fishing so I take the silver one to Baja and the green one I plan to drive to Alaska. I’ve been through the parts finding exercise and all I can say is thank God we have the I nternet! Looked at roof top tents but will probably go with a ground tent after assessing the pros and cons. Fyi, my buddy said the Montero handles Baja w a y better than his buddy’s Tacoma.
benjrblant
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/16/2020 at 23:16 |
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Oh man, this is going to be so rad. You’re in... TX now? EP? I was just in Albuquerque not too long ago, likely headed back to NM once or twice this summer for some bike trips and whatnot.
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ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> benjrblant
02/16/2020 at 23:21 |
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I'm in Las Cruces. If you find yourself down South, let me know. I'm always happy to buy an Oppo a beer