Question for the Hilux Surf 185 guys about a part...

[SURF RUNNER]

I have a Shrockworks rear bumper/tire carrier/jerry can holder on order. It will look similar to the photo below except that my 4Runner is Stellar Blue (I am finding out this is a very common Hilux Surf 185 color) and my bumper will be painted Toyota Millenium Silver.

I'm not going to have my license plate mounted in the center of the wheel. I plan to have it mounted on the jerry can holder with some type of license plate holder/lamps. I've noticed that the Hilux Surfs have the license plate mounted on the left side (3 photos below). The plate mount appears to have a cover/grab handle containing the lamps to illuminate the plate. It looks like there is a key hole on the left side. It has the Hilux Surf logo on it and looks really sharp. I've done different searches, but I cannot find this piece anywhere. How can I get this part?

Examples of the Hilux Surf 185 license plate holder/grab handle

My 2001 Stellar Blue Limited 4WD 4Runner

 

[Mike&Ike]

You need to find someone who will be able to purchase off of a online japan auction and have it shipped here. There are a few third party place online that do this for a fee.

 

[SURF RUNNER]

Thanks... obviously I don't want to purchase the entire rear hatch (or pay for the shipping that heavy piece). Can the cover/grab handle be removed from the rear hatch of a HS 185 in a salvage yard?

 

[GreenbowCounty]

good luck out there!

Thanks... obviously I don't want to purchase the entire rear hatch (or pay for the shipping that heavy piece). Can the cover/grab handle be removed from the rear hatch of a HS 185 in a salvage yard?

[MENTION=3963]bluerunner[/MENTION] Yes, that piece is a separate. Never used it but there is a proxy service called Buyee on Yahoo Japan. You'd have a time searching for that piece but I did come across it in the past and it was reasonable. buyee can bid on your behalf and setup shipping; again I never used them so I'd google reviews on them first.

Even with the piece though you'd be hard pressed to make it work with a standard gate so best of luck. I was able to get mine at a good price and ship it back with a number of other items, now just have to mount the tire carrier and the quotes I'm getting are not cheap!

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/121760-bringing-dead-rig-back-life-lazarus-3.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/121760-bringing-dead-rig-back-life-lazarus-3.html

 

[JohnsD90]

Just put it in the tire like everyone else, i would look to england first as they got the Surf 185's in 96 only, so there will be a few being broken for parts there, and there should only be a minor language barrier. Or just find a similar type piece off like an Isuzu SUV or another one that has that style handle, or maybe even an early 2nd gen 4runner that was sold here. Just put a 4Runner badge on that...

 

[SURF RUNNER]

I appreciate the comments and suggestions.

Honestly I don't like how the license plate looks in the center of the tire (see photo below)... Shrockworks does a great job, but that license plate location looks like an afterthought. Of course I realize that with the tire carrier and jerry can holder there is a very limited amount of space available to mount a plate. The guys at Shrockworks told me that I'm not the only customer who doesn't like that look. In my opinion the aesthetics aren't right with the rectangular plate in the center of the tire. I'm just having fun planning and designing things that are unique and hopefully turn out to look sharp.

I'm just going to use the Hilux Surf part in question as a cover or hood to mount the license plate under. All it will need to do is house two small lamps to illuminate the license plate - similar to the housing on the stock 4Runner. It may already have the lamps in there, but if it doesn't I will try to fabricate something. In Texas the rear license plate must be illuminated at night. That may be the law in every state... I'm not sure. This part has a key hole on the left side and I assume some type of door latch underneath, but I won't need it to open anything - it will just be located above the plate.

Several days ago I got lucky with an internet search and purchased a Hilux Surf 185 Field Monitor from a Japanese vendor on eBay. I'm receiving eBay messages and shipping updates in English, so I think I will try them for the part first. In their store they even mentioned that they can sometimes locate rare parts from Japanese vehicles.

Below is a photo of my 4Runner from earlier this week. This is most likely the last hard freeze we will have in this part of Texas.

 

[SURF RUNNER]

I contacted the Japanese eBay seller (the one I bought my field monitor from) about the part in question. I attached the photo below. I also want the SSR G badge since my name is Greg and I'm using two different color blues on my 4Runner. I'll post here if this seller has any luck locating these parts. It might be useful to have a dependable contact in Japan for other Hilux Surf parts forum members might want.

 

[Gerdo]

First gen 4runners also have a nice plate mount.

 

[GreenbowCounty]

good luck...

All I can say is good luck; I scoured Yahoo Japan auctions for months daily and never came across that part. What you have highlighted is the overhead light unit and key hole cover. Not saying your man can't find them but more than likely they'd be attached to a full tailgate unit. I paid about $250 for my gate; shipping was a pita but it worked out in the end. Emblems shouldn't be so bad but I believe G is harder to find than X. In any case, I like where you're going with this and good luck. :clap2:

 

[USMC0351]

So, just curious, but would the spoiler on the white rig (the top one in your example pics) fit a USDM hatch? I've been wanting a JDM spoiler, kinda resembles the 4th gens. PasswordJDM is a great source for JDM car parts, but they mainly stick to sport compacts. Guess it'd be worth an inquiry.

 

[THatfield]

If you can't get one from Japan I'd just do like JohnsD90 said and scab a similar piece off of another vehicle. Any year Isuzu Trooper or Acura SLX will have that style of license plate hood, as well as a Mitsubishi Montero or 89-94 Isuzu Amigo. Even Land Rovers had them, and we all know there are plenty of those in junkyards here in the states.

Good luck finding one in Japan, and if not, take a look at the vehicles above. You're bound to find something that fits your fancy even if it isn't from a Surf.

 

[SCRunner12]

All I can say is good luck; I scoured Yahoo Japan auctions for months daily and never came across that part. What you have highlighted is the overhead light unit and key hole cover. Not saying your man can't find them but more than likely they'd be attached to a full tailgate unit. I paid about $250 for my gate; shipping was a pita but it worked out in the end. Emblems shouldn't be so bad but I believe G is harder to find than X. In any case, I like where you're going with this and good luck. :clap2:

What was shipping on your tailgate?

 

[GreenbowCounty]

So, just curious, but would the spoiler on the white rig (the top one in your example pics) fit a USDM hatch? I've been wanting a JDM spoiler, kinda resembles the 4th gens. PasswordJDM is a great source for JDM car parts, but they mainly stick to sport compacts. Guess it'd be worth an inquiry.

Yes, it would screw in with minimal modification. I sold one of these to a forum member while I was in Japan.

[MENTION=53337]SCRunner12[/MENTION] What was shipping on your tailgate?

All total I paid like $900 for a number of items I shipped, if I broke it down I'd say it cost me up to $300 for the tailgate alone. I had to pay $250 in customs on all my stuff too but really happy with the purchase. Now it's just a matter of getting the tire carrier put on...