Jeep 2500

[Vince]

Close. There were Federally-approved RHD Cherokees that were sold in the US market - typically, they were special-order vehicles generally going for postal delivery.

As far as I know these were all 2wd, and the type approval doesn't cover 4wd. I would really like to be proven wrong on this point as the NHTSA do not list an entry in their eligibility list for any RHD Jeep.

Obviously there are equipment differences in export vehicles that may make them unable to be sold in the US, but LHD vs. RHD isn't one of them. In fact, as far as I'm aware, there's no legal requirement stating that the vehicle must be LHD to be sold in the US or registered in any state.

Differences between my Jeep and a US model other than steering are rear seat head restraints, and lighting. The lighting can easily be changed.

NHTSA says...

Vehicles that have been determined eligible for importation are assigned a vehicle eligibility number. All eligibility numbers are for left-hand drive motor vehicles except where the initials “RHD,” signifying right-hand drive, appear in the model type column. While there is no specific restriction on importing a right-hand drive vehicle, these may not be imported under eligibility decisions based on the existence of substantially similar U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicles. Our experience has shown that the safety performance of right-hand drive vehicles is not necessarily the same as that of apparently similar left-hand drive vehicles offered for sale in this country. However, we will consider the vehicles "substantially similar" if the manufacturer advises us that the right-hand drive vehicle would perform the same as the U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicle in dynamic crash tests. Absent such a showing, the RI would have to demonstrate (through a petition) that the vehicle, when modified, would comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards, including those for which dynamic crash testing is prescribed.

If you can demonstrate that the vehicle meets the safety, lighting, and emissions requirements for your model year it should be doable in theory.

This would mean I have to get a statement from Daimler Chrysler concerning the XJ's performance in the European ENCAP crash test in force in 1997 was equivalent or exceeded the Federal crash test of 1997.

My XJ is no longer stock and I expect that it would have to pass inspection by a Registered Importer (RI). I would probably have to submit a stocker to a RI (demonstrate dynamic crash test?) to get the model on the eligibility list and then hope I could get my Jeep in after. I would really like to find out what had to be done to get a Jeep 2500 approved.

 

[casm]

As far as I know these were all 2wd, and the type approval doesn't cover 4wd. I would really like to be proven wrong on this point as the NHTSA do not list an entry in their eligibility list for any RHD Jeep.

There were 4WD XJs sold in the US market in RHD; I've seen them in use as postal Jeeps in Virginia. Unfortunately I don't really have anything to offer beyond that in the way of solid proof.

My XJ is no longer stock and I expect that it would have to pass inspection by a Registered Importer (RI). I would probably have to submit a stocker to a RI (demonstrate dynamic crash test?) to get the model on the eligibility list and then hope I could get my Jeep in after.

Possibly, though since it would also fall under the 'substantially similar' clause, you may not need to. My argument would be that regardless of the modifications made to your specific vehicle, as stock it's functionally-equivalent to an existing US-model vehicle - and since the modifications you've made are neither prohibited nor offered by the manufacturer, it must be treated as equivalent to a stock vehicle for evaluation purposes.

I would really like to find out what had to be done to get a Jeep 2500 approved.

About the only way I can think of that it might be doable would be to bring it in as a rolling shell and build and register it as a kit car. Failing that, there's always the Belgian Restoration method...

 

[bovine]

Well it was a FIGHT to say the least to get it on the road here. I lived in Japan for many years and last year my company sent me back here but this comes just after I buy the 'truck'.

Let's see, glass, seat-belts, ALL bulbs, brake-lines ( ) and last but not least on top of MANY other things the instrument cluster had to be changed. Probably arround $4k in mods Looking back I probably should have sold it but I just had this nagging conscience that kept saying "How cool would it be to have a RHD in the US?". Plus I couldn't just send it back. Drive-thru's are the biggest pain of all, I even went thru backwards once as a joke.

Not that I don't want to help you out but I just don't want it to come back and bit me in the *** Check your PM's

 

[Kittrell]

Well it was a FIGHT to say the least to get it on the road here. I lived in Japan for many years and last year my company sent me back here but this comes just after I buy the 'truck'.

Let's see, glass, seat-belts, ALL bulbs, brake-lines ( ) and last but not least on top of MANY other things the instrument cluster had to be changed. Probably arround $4k in mods Looking back I probably should have sold it but I just had this nagging conscience that kept saying "How cool would it be to have a RHD in the US?". Plus I couldn't just send it back. Drive-thru's are the biggest pain of all, I even went thru backwards once as a joke.

Not that I don't want to help you out but I just don't want it to come back and bit me in the *** Check your PM's

Wait, so do you own a Chinese 2500, or do you just have a J-Spec XJ? Cause the 2500 is LHD, and you're sayin' you have a RHD and you came from living in Japan.

 

[89Daytona]

The newer japanese "cherokee" is a "Liberty"
http://www.jeep-japan.com/cherokee/index.html

http://tokyomotorcompany.com/TMC_Jeep.htm

 

[Sniggs]

Yeah Okay, Now I tell you errryting! Yeah, okay...

 

[XJPhoenix]

"Hero word, it is not written in their faces, but strong internal. Look at annotation 05 'version, equipped with titanium silver Interior, the British Gas break, wash eyes with macaroni."

*LOL*

I know, it's a cheap laugh... Still funny though.

 

[kloker]

I don't think it's the grill that makes the front end look awkward, I think it's the bizarro headlight assemblies. But then, look at that bumper. And those flares. The flares look like they are covering larger wheel openings. Hmmm. Is that just me? Or is it an octopal allusion?

 

[Sting25]

here are some parts pictures sent to me by a guy in china...