Trucks for the African Terrain – Tips for Choosing a Perfect Workhorse

There are trucks and then there are Japanese trucks. Japan has something for everyone and the main beneficiary has been Africa. Japan must have a special place in her heart for Africa because they finance road building by offering loans and grants. Of course, this is a gesture of gratitude because when it comes to buying trucks that can stand the beating of the African weather and terrain, Africa heads to Japan. Now, from South Africa to North Africa, east to west, for every one mile that you travel on the African roads, you will spot a Japanese truck eating the distance.

Some of the Japanese truck names are indeed household names in Africa. But why is this so? Apart from the superior quality of these trucks, most of the Jap trucks for Africa are assembled in Africa! That not only creates great job opportunities but it brings about trucks that are made in Africa for Africa. If you would like to win the heart of an African, then give him the opportunity to make, to grow and Japan motor industry has done just that.

There is variety for just about everyone in the Japanese trucks. For example, there is a vehicle for the farmer; a pickup truck that is indeed the workhorse that everyone needs. Here, Toyota and Isuzu have won the hearts of many. In particular, the Toyota land cruiser does cruise the roads and trails of Africa perfectly. In the tourism sector, you will find the Japanese trucks. Mitsubishi Fuso, Isuzu and others prowling the jungles. In addition, all vans ferrying tourists to the African jungle and campsites are Japanese.

Resilience, stability, endurance and value for money are an understatement for what the Japanese trucks offer. Even their structure tells it as it is, from the hardy suspension to the chassis, there is no way that any pothole will break these workhorses. That is why these trucks will be seen in the African deserts where there are trails instead of roads and in the mountains where they are able to beat the mud. Of course, this post is not meant to portray Africa as a place where there are no roads, but there is still a lot of jungle and trails and to penetrate the interior, Japanese trucks have proven perfect, passing the test of time.

You wonder why Africa went East? It is simple. Colonialism took all resources away, and left Africa on her knees. Japanese trucks, new, old or used are very affordable. That explains why they are used in the armed forces. A Japanese truck can be serviced anywhere and although there has been some worries about counterfeit spare parts, that has been taken care of very well. Today, a Japanese truck has become so common on the roads such that we wonder what would happen if suddenly we didn’t see any.

Labeled the perfect beasts of burden for Africa, they are changing lives everywhere, and they are increasing the return on investment in businesses all over. From the armed and police forces, farms to the African wild, Japanese trucks are everywhere.