Toyota fans must be loving YouTuber WhistlinDiesel's video series putting the Hilux's durability to the test. Top Gear famously strapped one of these pickups to the top of a 23-storey building slated for demolition, which in turn inspired the YouTuber to track down the "nicest" one he could find in the states and put it through his own rigorous testing program, WhistlinDiesel-style. The ensuing weeks saw the Hilux take a beating, from towing well beyond a reasonable weight limit to navigating rugged off-roading trails in Moab, Utah. Now, the Hilux has ostensibly reached the end of its journey in a large scale (and final?) test that sees the durable Toyota pickup dropped from staggering heights not once, but twice.
Is This Toyota Hilux Indestructible?
Assisting WhistlinDiesel in his latest venture is none other than frequent collaborator Dave Sparks of Diesel Brothers fame, who's contributed his own piece of machinery to kick off the video right: a MBB Bo 105 helicopter—the same one that raced Stradman's Nissan GT-R in December in an epic desert battle. Opening up the video in stylish fashion, the helicopter drops off WhistlinDiesel before the crew details their plans for the Hilux. They decide to drop it from 500 feet first, then see if it still starts up.
With its hood flinging open during the ascent, the Hilux went to the skies for its first drop. Hovering close to the action, WhistlinDiesel and Heavy D watch from the MBB Bo 105; once they're in position, another helicopter airlifting the Hilux lets it fly, which occurs around the video's 5:55 mark.
Taking The Hilux Pickup Even Higher
Numerous shots from the inside of the cabin and angles outside show the Hilux falling, smashing into the ground. Amazingly, however, the frame still looks intact. Despite initial plans to start up the Hilux following the drop, the crew instead decides to go straight into the next drop—this time from 10,000 feet.
Footage shows the truck spinning wildly in a freefall for nearly 30 seconds before colliding with the surface. Even the GoPro in the Hilux shut off at one point during the descent. As for the Hilux's condition following the massive drop—it's safe to say the Hilux won't need to go through the car crusher when they drop it off at the junkyard.