HINO’S David & Goliath

In-depth

9 Dec

Over years of caravanning I’ve learnt that there’s a certain pecking order when it comes to acknowledgement of other vans when on the road. Me? I wave to every van that we go past. The responses though, have for the most part, a definite social stratum.

We have an oldish but good lookin’ pop-top. Other pop-tops wave back nearly all the time, as do those generally considered ‘below’ our status – camper vans and camper trailers for example, who for the most part appear surprised that we would lower ourselves to acknowledge their existence. With full-blown caravans though, the rate of response to my enthusiastic wave drops to around 20%. That lack of response just incites me to wave more wildly at them, swear when they don’t reply in kind and give them the middle finger in the rear view mirror.

What has this to do with trucks you may ask? Absolutely stuff all except that – as in caravans – there is a pecking order: light, medium and heavy rigids, progressing to semis. Difference with truckies is that the big boys will wave back to the plebs – once the plebs have instigated the greeting.

So it was with some amusement that when I was behind the wheel of Hino’s 500 GT 1528 4X4 Rigid recently that the truckies wave was more often than not instigated by the semi driver before myself.

I can only draw the conclusion that it’s all about size. You see, this particular Hino 500 is one big momma of a truck. From head on she’s near as wide as a prime mover and she’s also as high. Pulling up at lights in town and I could see eye to eye with the bloke behind the wheel of any Merc, Volvo or Scania, and most Kenny’s and Macks.

This Hino 500 is all jacked up on steroids you see. She’s an all-wheel drive 4x4 with enough ground clearance for your average SUV to drive right under. Yes I am exaggerating but you get the picture, right?

The 500 comes in a variety of guises but this one is aimed squarely at Fire Brigades, Mining Companies, Linesmen and the like.

Being vertically challenged at a bit over 5’ 8”, my first problem was getting up into ‘Goliath’. It’s a long way up to the first step. Once inside, the dash is simple, clear and legible.

**It’s a long way to the top when you’re 5’8” (and a bit)**

There is a multi-purpose screen which handles navigation, radio, rear camera and so on. Below this are the air conditioning controls which are straight out of a ’97 RAV4 - I know because I had one. There must be a heap of these sitting around in Toyota’s warehouses if they’re still being used 23 years on. This is a good thing though because it is a simple, mechanical unit that is virtually indestructible. I’m wondering if the air con compressor is out of the RAV as well, because it’s just as Arctic.

The big news for the 500 4X4 is that it now comes with an auto transmission by way of an Alison 2500. This answers the call from a lot of those Fire Brigades and no doubt others as well. Where this truck is designed to go will require plenty of attention on the road/track ahead without having to worry about gear changes.

Power in the turbo 6 cylinder has been boosted from 215 to 280 horsepower and torque from 637 to 824Nm – both sizeable increases.

Goliath cruises up the highway at 100 km quietly, and comfortably thanks to the ISRI seat. My Rita who sat on the solid, padded affair opposite for 5 hours on one day had no complaints either.

Where we live is flat as, so we went in search of hilly terrain to try out the 4WD in low. Unfortunately the logging tracks I am familiar with were all in no-go territory thanks to COVID 19 restrictions in place at the time. Instead we headed via Beechworth to Yackandandah where local and mate Don took me to some distinctly 4th grade tracks. I have no doubt this truck would give a mountain goat a run for its money. There wouldn’t be much that would hold her back.

One early morning, unable to sleep and feeling creative, I went out to get a couple of photographs. In the near dark I’m idling along off-road when suddenly down drops the front off-side steer wheel – like I mean nearly up to the axle! After contemplating whether HINO will sue me for any damage, I wonder how I’m going to get out of whatever I’ve stumbled into. Before trying low gear, I gently accelerate and voila! Hole? What hole? Yep, Goliath is indeed a 14,500kg mountain goat. That very simple blunder brought home to me how good this truck is for the purpose for which it was intended. If my needs were aligned with its talents I’d have one. GT? Not in the sense of a Grand Tourer. Maybe it stands for Grunt Trekker.

The interior of this particular version of the 500 is utilitarian in the extreme and was supplied more to check out its undoubted ability, rather than its ambience. Should you be looking to buy a 500 this is what you can expect of the interior. It’s inviting with its two-tone highlights. Switches are logically placed and even that RAV 4 Air-con panel has moved in to the 21st century. Importantly the door pockets will hold a bottle as well as your work diary, whereas the GT was hard pressed to take my phone. This is a thoroughly ‘Modern Milly’.

I lived with and enjoyed the HINO 500 GT for a week before the company took it away and replaced it with ‘David’ their brand new 300 Series – 721 model. My loan truck for the week was the tray backed model that has featured prominently in Hino’s advertising blitz.

First tip to HINO: Make them all red!

Everyone – and I mean everyone loved it! With the lashings of chrome I reckon I got more attention than if I’d been in a Ferrari. Since when do you get out of a truck and get comments from folk about how good it looks – although one or two questioned what a New South Welshman was doing in central Vic during lockdown, when I had the truck in my possession. (The number plates you see). One person who was eagle eyed looked at the number plate and said, “I reckon HINO would pay you a bit for those plates.” (The plates said HINO). Not to disappoint, I told him I’d check it out with them. Lol.

Being more in keeping with my stature, the 300 is a doddle to climb in and out of. The 300 doesn’t have the fancy Isri seat seen in the 500 but honestly, you’d be hard pressed to discern between them. The 300’s was just as comfortable as far as my backside was concerned – and I’m no lightweight.

This truck tracks along the road nicely. The steering is well weighted with just the right amount of feedback to let you know in which direction the wheels are pointed at all times. Loaded to 80% of its 6,500 GVM, the 300 traversed some corrugated dirt roads I played on with aplomb.

The aircon controls are updated from the 500 but still no doubt shared with a RAV4, and again this is a really good thing. The binnacle which holds this, the 6.5” Multi-media unit, the UHF and an array of switches is within easy reach. A handy oddments shelf runs under this binnacle and across to the passenger door.

This truck – as with all 300 Series features Hino SmartSafe, a comprehensive safety package with advanced driver-assist technology that takes an active focus in protecting the life of drivers, passengers and other road users.

Hino SmartSafe includes: Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB); Pedestrian Detection (PD); Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS). These are in addition to the already extensive list of standard safety features such as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Reverse Camera.

Keen to try out the pedestrian detection function, I pleaded with Rita to play guinea pig, but she wouldn’t come to the party. Spoil sport!

The 300 had plenty of power and torque and I admit to being surprised how quickly it got up to speed on the open road. There was also plenty in reserve for overtaking one of those pesky caravanners sitting stubbornly at 80kph. With 3.5 ton towing maybe he should buy a Hino to haul his Wobble Box.

If you scroll back to July 14 you will find my 4-part detailed report on the 300 Series. Back then I was unable to drive Hino’s latest offering. I can say now that the product lives up to all the company hype. Good one Hino!