Is this the new light utility transport of PA?

[anak ni sarge]

                        

Since we are in the subject of light utility transport, may I say that this type of Japanese light truck would have been a better candidate. It has a double cab so the rear side doors could be armor-plated and the roof opened up to accomodate a machinegun. The box can double as dump box for utilitarian duties besides sitting a good number of troopers when needed. The side of the box is above the shoulder line of sitting passengers hence, by itself, can provide an ample security against sniper fire. The height of the box could also be a deterent to hurled grenades. The truck will cost more than the generic Mitsubishi L-300 though.

[texan]

Jeep restoration in the Philippines:http://www.mdjuan.com.ph/

Different type of transport available in Cebu..

A MULTICAB FRESH FROM THE HILTON WORKSHOP







Just for troop transport or could be a gun carrier if you push your imagination...

[anak ni sarge]

Most of those cornucopia of AUV’s pictured are products of backyard ‘pandayan’, meaning the cabs are imported from Japan, engines, the rest of the powertrain and suspension system are also from Japan but the chassis may or may not be Japanese surplus. Usually it is cheaper for the ‘pandayan’ (body shop) to just weld together two angle bars to serve as chassis (therefore GVW rating, tensile strength and overall quality are questionable). These AUV’s are almost as good as the original when you look at them from the outside but most of the electrical and air conditioning systems are a mess. None of the warning system built into the dash originally are working since the central module system is not reincorporated during the rebuilding process. The engine management system is absent therefore the emission system is a joke, the air conditioner blow only to your face because the tiny mechanisms (both manual and electrical) underneath the dash are missing and so on and so forth.

Really, when you think about the whole process of building your own vehicle, it doesn’t pay off much when you want to have a really good one that’s compliant with all the existing rules and regulations. It’s a whole different story though if you just want a rolling junk, so PA was right to go with the factory-built Mitsubishi L-300 for three important reasons:

1)   If it decided to build its own, manpower and tools may have to be assembled from everywhere and it would take a lot of time and money to do so.
2)   If it decided to build, it would have to talk and deal with a ton of suppliers thereby opening an avenue for possible corruption and under-the-table deals.
3)   The end product may still pale in comparison to a factory-built truck, both in price and quality.

One may argue PA was only partly correct in going with the L-300 (which is why we suggested and continue to suggest so many other attractive alternatives). PMC had a better choice, according to some. Well, not necessarily. The light utility transport that PMC chose is not being built with a lot of research data to back up its performance, rather the assumed quality and performance are just implied from data gathered for its various parts and overall design. Say for example the engine and powertrain. We assume that Mitsubishi Pajero engine and powertrain are great since we see a ton of the type on Phil. roads. But are they? Do we have a comparative data between and among Nissan Patrol, Toyota Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Pajero? And then we move on to the body. Yes, the body parts may be machine stamped but the assembly of the parts to come up with a whole body, I would assume, is still done by skillful hands and trained eyes. Factory-built SUV’s like the Isuzu Rodeo rattle a lot because not a whole lot of research was put into its off-road capability, how much more a hand-built SUV body.  Again the integrity of the PMC light truck body was assumed. It was assumed that it would be sturdy because it was copied from the American AMC Humvee/Hummer.

I could go on and on but you all might be bored to death. But if PA decide to have another type of a light utility transport in the future, how about putting a thought to this:

http://timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=2911.0

[saver111]

One thing the PA did not consider was providing assistance during calamities and disasters especially typhoon season wherein their old reliable M-35s was a relief for victims.

I saw one of these in the news, white, probably PNP, evacuating people of Candaba.

[dreamcast]

I read somewhere here that PA decided to buy this type of light utility transport instead of the ugly Hummer copycat. Personally I agree 100% with PA. At least the power train is a brand new Japanese machine. The body and chassis are machine molded and all the units PA will be getting will pass through a rigid inspection according to Mitsubishi standards.

I suspect the body of the local Hummer is just a product of a skilled pair of hands of a Filipino 'latero' or 'panday'. I have no problem with that if the finish product is just for show but if the end use of the product is to transport rowdy troopers who have no respect for the fine curves and excellent finish of the skin of the truck and the chassis which is no more than welded angle bars is forever tortured by unbelievable driving skills of  PA soldiers, then I'd go for the Mitsubishi L - 300 any day. From what I undertand anyway, most of the components of this L -300 are locally produced already. Which is why the body style remains the same since the 1980's. But that's beside the point. The chassis is also machine molded so rattles are minimized. My only concern are the small tires. It wears rim 14! My car has factory installed rim 14 and I still plow through some snow in January with just me on the driver's seat. This L-300 will always be loaded with troops and it is suppose to traverse some pretty bad roads on isolated villages and sitios. I suggest PA modify the front bumber. Get rid of the wide plastic cover and put in a narrow steel bumber with brush guard. A winch would also be a nice addition.

Don't get me wrong but isn't it that the Mitsubishi L-300 FB for:


Waste Management or Waste Collection


Employees and Students Shuttle Service


Cargo Hauling and Delivery

[anak ni sarge]

Dreamcast, it would be nice if you can get a picture of the new PA Mitsubishi L-300 so we can see if there were modifications to it. I would guess it has an open cargo box with two rows of bench, one on each side. Perhaps the cargo box could also be covered in soft top.

More importantly, does it sport the same size of tires? Has it been lifted? Does it still have the original wide plastic bumper or was it modified to have a narrow steel bumper?

[Manokski]

Anak, this is an excellent thread with intelligent and well thought out posts.  While this comment does not really add anything to what has been said so far, I wanted to say it out loud because I think it deserves mention and want to encourage everyone to follow the example.  Your proposal on the other (?) light truck thread is a good one as well.  Keep it up. 

[jammerjamesky]

Texan, those are cool pics of the Modified L-300 PUJ in Cebu. But you also missed  something. Can you post the "SPIKE Mini Bus model" that is famous travelling in Cebu South area.

Those are also capable of carrying more person than the L-300 with a slight difference in prices.

[mordoc]

Maybe the Army modify the L-300 in ambush design vehicle to suit it need for army transportation I must admit the L-300 is not a bad vehicle at all its has lot of feature I think we can use in our army we just to need modify its.   

[saver111]

Another light truck they should have considered was the Elf. A mechanic told me it has great hauling and climbing power. I remember seeing some in the AFPs color scheme.

Maintenanance wise, has lots of surplus parts around. Some are even being converted to Bank armoured vehicles which I believe the AFP should also consider.

[pj_aranda]

Personally ELF would be the best for PA. Kahit yung mga remanufactured ok pa din sa atin basta yung 4BC2 ang makina.

[anak ni sarge]

Personally ELF would be the best for PA. Kahit yung mga remanufactured ok pa din sa atin basta yung 4BC2 ang makina.

Mayroon pa bang parts yung 4BC-2. About a decade ago I've started to see already 4BD-1. My personal choice though would be the 4BB-1. It was a very rare breed of Isuzu small diesel engine. It was selling twice as much as the 4BC-2 but it was the choice of Igorot jeepney operators most especially those who ply the Kayapa and Kanili areas because the torque was just outstanding. 4BB-1 engines pulled the biggest 4-wheeler jeepneys I've ever seen and climbed mountain trails while the jeepneys they powered were heavily laden with fresh produce, forest products, and mountain people.

Imagine if it was put on an Elf for the PA. It could easily transport a platoon or two of Army troopers plus tow a howitzer without sweat.



Here's a very real problem though. Isuzu Elf is so common in the countryside. Almost every small and medium-sized business owner has one. NPA's have been known to commandeer one or two of them from businessmen when they stage big tactical offensives or raid isolated towns. If PA chooses to operate them and they drop by isolated towns without coordination then they might be mistaken for the NePs who also wear Army uniforms when they stage big tactical offensive and town hall raids. Mistake encounters might occur between Army troopers and local police forces. This must have been the reason why the many confiscated Isuzu Elf trucks from South Harbor tranferred to AFP during the time of Mison at Customs were never issued to the Army in the provinces. They stayed at Metro Manila and were used to transport daily commuters at the height of the transportation crisis in the late 80's.

[texan]

Locally made bodies found in the net.



http://www.geep.biz/geep2.html

These are reproduction vehicles

Personally ELF would be the best for PA. Kahit yung mga remanufactured ok pa din sa atin basta yung 4BC2 ang makina.

Elf would be the best bet for it is too common in the Philippines, which is also the downside to it since it is easy for the rebels to use it as a trojan horse. But that is the kind of situation that can be remedied by the AFP.

By the way everytime I watch the ANC news footage, I always try to focus on the transport being used by the armed forces in the background from Fuso and Hino trucks to multicabs nothing had been changed except that they only paint it with olive drab or green and place the seats on a strategic manner which suit bests for the soldiers. no upgrades I noticed.

[saver111]

Here's a very real problem though. Isuzu Elf is so common in the countryside. Almost every small and medium-sized business owner has one. NPA's have been known to commandeer one or two of them from businessmen when they stage big tactical offensives or raid isolated towns. If PA chooses to operate them and they drop by isolated towns without coordination then they might be mistaken for the NePs who also wear Army uniforms when they stage big tactical offensive and town hall raids. Mistake encounters might occur between Army troopers and local police forces. This must have been the reason why the many confiscated Isuzu Elf trucks from South Harbor tranferred to AFP during the time of Mison at Customs were never issued to the Army in the provinces. They stayed at Metro Manila and were used to transport daily commuters at the height of the transportation crisis in the late 80's.

Maybe the PA could adopt something like what the PMC are doing



a mini-guntruck. Those Elf are at times being made into Bank Armoured Vans.

The German Mungo

http://www.panzerbaer.de/helper/bw_mzfz_mungo-a.htm

[mamiyapis]

Heh. Maybe we should just ask the Germans if they could help us aquire a few of the Mungos. Then again, we could just ask for a copy of the schematics and build something similar ourselves...

If it were me, I'd stretch that cab or that troop compartment just a little bit more to accomodate a one-man turret with a LMG or AGL and a gunner for 360-degree firepower.