Before you buy a 2007 HINO 700 series Truck in Ugand

by Edwin

The heaviest vehicle built by Hino is the 700 Series. The truck is around for some years now, but the newest version of Hino’s heavy duty model is starting to get closer and closer to its European rivals which currently set the standards in the cab-over engine segment.

The exterior design is still pretty basic, without having the potential to make any eyebrows rise in admiration, but what is going under the sheet-metal is what really counts, so most of the upgrades are starting to be observed only after you’ll fire the engine.

The Hino 700 is offered with a choice of different wheel base lengths that range from 4005 mm- 4575 mm and comes with GVMs (Gross Vehicle Mass) of up to 28.300 kg.

Buying a foreign used 2007 HINO 700 series Truck from a Ugandan car bond

Buying a foreign used 2007 HINO 700 series Truck from a Ugandan car bond

In case you opt to buy HINO 700 series Truck from the a car bond in and around Kampala, then things could be a little bit more simpler for you because you will not have to face all the lengthy processes and journeys to the port of Mombasa to bring own the bus. Here most of the work has already been done for you. Most taxes have been cleared. All you have to do is simply pay for the truck from the car bond and go for work. However, you can also find that some trucks have only cleared the CIF fees only. So it would mean that if you want a HINO 700 series Truck then you will have to clear the rest of the taxes. You can find the Cost, Insurance and Freight of a premium Hino 300 Series truck (that is from Japan to Kampala) to be around $ 8,051 or even above. However, the total sum of the CIF can change due to year of manufacture, condition of the car, mileage and the dealer.

Click here to buy a HINO 700 series Truck or HINO 700 series Truck spare parts in Uganda

Importing a foreign used 2007 HINO 700 series Truck from Japan

Importing a foreign used HINO 700 series Truck from Japan is different from buying from car bond here in Kampala. You can prefer to import your own truck directly from Japan. This means all the costs are going to be met by you, the owner of the bus right from say Japan to Mombasa up to Uganda. Here, you will need to determine the cost of the bus while still in Japan from which the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) are calculated. For example a HINO 700 series Truck costing $ 4,814 will make a total CIF of $ 8,051 to be brought up to Kampala, Uganda. After arriving in Kampala, the required taxes will have to be cleared. The taxes charged by the Uganda Revenue Authority include Import Duty, Value added (VAT), Withholding Tax, Environmental Levy, Infrastructure Levy, and Registration Fees.

Availability of 2007 HINO 700 series Truck Spare parts in Uganda

Hino spares are readily available in Uganda. Usually you have to go the Kampala down town spare parts market to access some of these spare parts. At least you can’t fail to get the spares or alternatives for your truck to help you keep going.

Click here to buy a HINO 700 series Truck or HINO 700 series Truck spare parts in Uganda

General 2007 HINO 700 series Truck reviews in Uganda

Design

The 700 Series looks pretty similar with the smaller 500 Series. The most significant difference over its smaller sibling is the massive grille which features three horizontal stripes which receive a chromed treatment for top of the line versions. The huge grille was necessary to be able to keep the bigger engines cooled, but it also gives the truck a more imposing stance and underlines its heavy duty character.

The big triangular turning signals are carried over from the 500 Series and they look a bit out of place in combination with the robust design of the cabin.

Another proof of the rugged nature of the Hino 700 Series is the solid bumper which looks built to last and is fitted with two big headlights.

Interior
For those familiar with Hino’s trucks, the 700 Series cabin looks pretty much the same with what you’ll usually get from the Japanese manufacturer. But while the fittings and plastics are almost the same with the smaller trucks built by the company, the overall design is slightly more modern and looks more upscale than you’d expect.

The ergonomy is also pretty good, with plenty of storage and we also like the wraparound design of the dashboard, as it offers easy access to most of the controls and switches. The instrument cluster isn’t something to rave about, but its huge gauges have a clean design and are easy to read even during night.

The truck is also fitted with a useful cruise control which can be easy used by means of a stalk mounted on the steering column. To increase comfort, the steering wheel can be adjusted for both reach and rake allowing you to find a good driving position.

You’ll also like the captain seats which are at par with competition. Hino’s ISRI air suspension driver’s seat automatically adjusts to the driver’s weight providing optimum comfort. Moreover, the seat is also adjustable for slide, recline, height, swab angle and head restraint position.

Thanks to the high driving position and the generously sized windshield, the road visibility is far from being a problem. As with all external rear view mirrors these days, there is a blind spot area to consider, but the separation gap between the main and wide angled lenses helps keep this factor to a minimum.

At the back, the truck is fitted with a sleeping bunk, which even if it’s not the most comfortable unit in the segment, it offers an adequate level of comfort.

The high roof version can be equipped with a second bunk. For maximum practicality, the step which helps you climb up to the second bunk is fitted with a host of useful storage boxes. Additional storage can be found overhead and into the dash.

Click here to buy a HINO 700 series Truck or HINO 700 series Truck spare parts in Uganda

Ride and suspensions
The Hino 700 comes with a choice of Hendrickson two-bag air suspension or steel leaf spring suspension at the rear. Compared to the previous generation the span of the rear leaf springs has been slightly increased allowing a decrease from four to three blades.

Moreover, to improve the stability, the conventional one-piece torque rod acting on the rear axle has been changed to a V-type with a laminated rubber support mount.

Thanks to all these changes, the truck’s ride is pretty forgivable hence you won’t be affected too much by road bumps or other vibrations.

The steering is also pretty good and has a light but engaging feel, being very close to what you’ll find at the European trucks.

Other alternatives available in Uganda similar to the 2010 HINO 300 Series Truck

we have the Mercedes-Benz Actros, Axor, Scania, Iveco Trackker that pose a great competition for the HINO 700 series truck

Our Conclusion

The Japanese trucks are starting to recover the lost terrain and with every passing year they manage to get better and better. With the latest generation of the 700 Series it’s clear that Hino is on the good road and its numerous upgrades improved the truck’s performances and bring it closer to the European models.

The cabin is still pretty Japanese, but it has a good ergonomy and plenty of space to make you feel comfortable even for a long run. The engines are far from being world beating, but they are efficient and have enough power to deal with big payloads without backing down.

We also like the steering which is much improved compared to the previous versions. Lastly, Hino’s reliability is also satisfactory and the 700 Series it’s slightly cheaper to maintain compared to its German rivals.


Click here to buy a HINO 700 series Truck or HINO 700 series Truck spare parts in Uganda

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