Hi, i would like to hear from anyone that has done this before or knows anything about it.

Can you get away with using LHD (lefthand drive) pumps in Queensland Australia?

Cost of import from USA or Euro

Thanks Jay.

where in OZ are you ?

Try to find one in england ;-)

Or. when you buy new... You can also order right hand drive in other countrys in europe...

For normal cars there are calculators on the web where you fill in all the details like price, weight, co2, buildyear etc etc and they calculate how much you have to pay. I guess they should be available for trucks too.

dipstick

there is nearly as many left hand drive pumps in england as right hand drive

look on bau portal

Few pumps in england are RHD. The spainish pumps are cheap as chips ATM, wanted to know if it would make sence importing one from there to aus. Its just the LHD thing i aint sure about??

jj : what make/ model/ size are you looking for?

the biggest issues are usually the emission ratings and the axle loadings. The max axle loadings seem to be different for every state in Australia. We have companies doing RHD conversions on American trucks here but it is not always economical to do that.

You can Kiss the prospect of importing a pump with TRUCK chassis to Australia goodbye, based on DOTARS rulings. Under the rulings any vehicle manufactured after 1 jan 1989 is not eligible for importation unless it is owned for a continuous period of 12 months and application must be made prior to 6 month before import to gain approval (in effect 18 months). Any vehicle manufactured prior to 1989 is eligible.

Diabolical! We are the proboably the youngest country in the world, supposed to be technologically advanced, yet this 1989 prehistoric ruling encourages the import of old run down vehicles.

There are many Reasons for this ruling: Popular belief is that prior to this ruling the 15 year rule existed. However in 2003 many people where importing Nissan Skylines from Japan under the ruling. Nissan Complained to Australian government that the importation of many Japanses imports proved a threat to their market share, so the Australian government moved in and changed the rule.

The Other reason is that after 1 Jan 1989, Euro 1 class emission standards came into effect thus making the cut off the time when emission were introduced.

Most people agree the first instance is more plausible than the second. However there are scams you can do to get around this, as illustrated by a very smart man in the last 3 months. He brought in 3 concrete pumps (with no import approval) beat the system and got away with it.

If you want to import a pump (stand alone) = No restrictions. However, from experience in this case there is no such thing as a bargain. Trucks under Australian standards require modifications from asshole to universe!

Off course there are AQIS standards which you have to put up with the unecessary cleaning costs.

Just bear in mind that Australian standards are nothing like european US standards. Limits on front axles to 7.0t, 11R 22.5 standard tyres, airbag suspension, bad truck geometry, Intelligient access program for overweight overdimensioned vehicles so gettin the thing registered ensures some sleepless nights.

The vehicle dealers would love this post, they put these rules into place. So support them and buy new.

Just to clarify quickly:

1. Australia and NZ run under two completely different rules. NZ no restrictions.
2. You can use a LHD if it is manufactured by a crane Carrier I.e TOR. However, Mercedes, Mack etc must meet Australkian design rules,
3. Freight of pump alone without truck equates to roughly double of truck with pump (crane hire, low loader etc).
4. If mounting on Australian delivered truck, Wheelbase for your pump will be hard to find, modification by approved engineers, stability testing
5. If your buying a Putz, if it is mechydronic = good luck interfacing it with a truck other than a Merc, if it is a Merc good luck finding someone to interface it.

Thankyou for all the info, that was what i've been trying to find out.

Thanks Jay.

there was a guy in queensland that used to drive a left hand drive pump for a while. He had a dumbie dressed up in the right side with a steering wheel in its hands, I beleive he drove this pump for a couple months like this between toowoomba and millmeran before it was retrucked. TRUE STORY!!!! Funny shit really