The USDM and ROTW markets are quite different, to say the least. Here, there is no after market support for the FG and MFTA has pulled out of the US market completely. Further, Fuso is the straggler in the US COE market, in general and only a very small percentage of an already small market, chose the FG. Options are non-existent for configuring this truck for 'over land' use. Further, the FG was only offered here in a regular cab, with one, possibly two, wheel base choices.
The domestic truck market, to include Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota and others have a massive after market here, by comparison. Here, an FG is not offered with lockers, R/P choices, air seats, parabolic suspension, bead lock wheels, off set differentials, lift kits, super single conversions, engine or transmission tuning or any of the other goodies that the Aussies get, either from the dealer or from third-party suppliers. It has zero support here.
In stock form, the 3.0L turbo diesel makes 161 HP and 295 foot pounds of torque, coupled to a DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission), which is simply not acceptable for anything other that city driving. There is no low range offered in the US, neither is there a manual transmission, manual transfer case or non-gadget-laden engine option. As MFTB is a subsidiary of Mercedes, and the DCT is one of their products, it is complete with the typical German car problems throughout, i.e. high parts and service cost, dealer only parts, poor reliability, and so on. Contrast this with something like a 70-Series LandCruiser, the pillar of reliability in most of the world. While we do not get those trucks here, I know dozens of people with hundreds of thousands of trouble-free miles on Toyota trucks. This cannot be said for a US FG.
The Fuso has a stepped frame section in the front, small tires, a massive wheel to body gap, a low hanging transfer case, centered differentials and a weak frame. I have driven an FE tens of thousands of miles and did not care for it at all. The fuel economy and ride are simply awful. The interior and electronics are out of the 80s, there is no cruise control or navigation, the radio sucks, the shifter is clunky, ad infinitum. Buy a half ton, three quarter ton or one ton truck or move up to something like an F550, a Kodiak or an MDT if you need something larger.
Ford, Chevy and Dodge all offer gasoline and diesel trucks with massive payload and towing capacities, a huge catalogue of factory options from which to choose and there is a nation wide dealer network to support your truck, as you travel. A bone stock 3/4 ton pickup truck has 400+ HP and 800+ foot pounds of torque, a comfortable interior, a real transfer case, limited slip or locking axles, regular and crew cabs, chassis cab options, multiple wheel bases and frame lengths, etc., etc., etc.
It is for these and many other reasons that Fuso is out of business in North America.
YMMV
0.02
The domestic truck market, to include Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota and others have a massive after market here, by comparison. Here, an FG is not offered with lockers, R/P choices, air seats, parabolic suspension, bead lock wheels, off set differentials, lift kits, super single conversions, engine or transmission tuning or any of the other goodies that the Aussies get, either from the dealer or from third-party suppliers. It has zero support here.
In stock form, the 3.0L turbo diesel makes 161 HP and 295 foot pounds of torque, coupled to a DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission), which is simply not acceptable for anything other that city driving. There is no low range offered in the US, neither is there a manual transmission, manual transfer case or non-gadget-laden engine option. As MFTB is a subsidiary of Mercedes, and the DCT is one of their products, it is complete with the typical German car problems throughout, i.e. high parts and service cost, dealer only parts, poor reliability, and so on. Contrast this with something like a 70-Series LandCruiser, the pillar of reliability in most of the world. While we do not get those trucks here, I know dozens of people with hundreds of thousands of trouble-free miles on Toyota trucks. This cannot be said for a US FG.
The Fuso has a stepped frame section in the front, small tires, a massive wheel to body gap, a low hanging transfer case, centered differentials and a weak frame. I have driven an FE tens of thousands of miles and did not care for it at all. The fuel economy and ride are simply awful. The interior and electronics are out of the 80s, there is no cruise control or navigation, the radio sucks, the shifter is clunky, ad infinitum. Buy a half ton, three quarter ton or one ton truck or move up to something like an F550, a Kodiak or an MDT if you need something larger.
Ford, Chevy and Dodge all offer gasoline and diesel trucks with massive payload and towing capacities, a huge catalogue of factory options from which to choose and there is a nation wide dealer network to support your truck, as you travel. A bone stock 3/4 ton pickup truck has 400+ HP and 800+ foot pounds of torque, a comfortable interior, a real transfer case, limited slip or locking axles, regular and crew cabs, chassis cab options, multiple wheel bases and frame lengths, etc., etc., etc.
It is for these and many other reasons that Fuso is out of business in North America.
YMMV
0.02
