The Hino 600 is a conventional-cab medium-duty truck that Hino has built in the United States since 2004, sold under a range of nameplates from 145 to 358 and renamed the L Series for the 2021 model year.
Hino 600 at a glance
| Maker | Hino Motors, United States |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–present |
| Layout | conventional cab, engine ahead of the driver |
| Predecessor | Hino F-Series, a Ranger-based cab-over |
| Nameplates | 145, 165, 185, 238, 258, 268, 308, 338, 358 |
| Weight classes | Class 4 to Class 7 |
| Facelift | 2007 |
| Renamed | L Series for the 2021 model year |
| Engines | Hino J08E, then Cummins B6.7 from 2022, 240 or 260 bhp |
| Transmission | Allison automatic |
| Axles and shafts | Meritor axles, Dana Spicer driveshafts |
| Wheelbases | 152 to 301 inches in the United States |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Hino 600. The 258, 268 and 338 records of this collection are nameplates of the same family, and the F-Series record refers to the cab-over truck it replaced.
History of the Hino 600
600 Series (2004)
The first-generation 600 was introduced in 2004 for the United States and in 2005 for Canada, replacing the Ranger-based fourth-generation F-Series cab-over. Some trucks were built from CKD kits imported from Japan. A facelifted model followed in 2007 for both markets. The medium-duty Class 4 and 5 models were replaced in 2012 by the Hino 155 and 195, which were based on the Dutro.
Nameplates from 145 to 358
The family covered Class 4 with the 145 light-duty and 165 medium-duty trucks, Class 5 with the 185, Class 6 with the 238, 258 and 268, and Class 7 with the 308, 338 and 358. The 258, 268 and 338 were the long-running members of the range, while the F-Series they replaced had been a cab-over design developed from the Ranger.
L Series (2021)
The facelifted truck was announced on 28 October 2019 for the 2021 model year and renamed the L Series, to sit with the larger Class 7 and 8 XL series and the smaller Class 4 and 5 M series. The L Series has new headlamps and a redesigned bumper, a four-spoke steering wheel and a 7-inch multi-information display. It was initially powered by Hino’s J08E diesel and switched to the Cummins B6.7 for 2022, with 240 or 260 bhp, an Allison automatic gearbox, Meritor axles and Dana Spicer driveshafts. Wheelbases run from 152 to 301 inches in the United States, while in Canada the L6 spans 175 to 271 inches, the L7 187 to 280 inches and the L8 187 to 271 inches.
Design and features
- Conventional cab: an American layout rather than the cab-over Hino sells elsewhere.
- Class 4 to 7: one family covering light delivery work to heavy regional haulage.
- Cummins power: the B6.7 engine replaced Hino’s own J08E for 2022.
- American driveline: Allison automatic, Meritor axles, Dana Spicer shafts.
- L Series cab: a 7-inch display and a four-spoke wheel mark the 2021 generation.
Hino 600 versions
- 145 and 165 (Class 4): light and medium-duty models.
- 185 (Class 5): medium-duty truck.
- 238, 258 and 268 (Class 6): the core medium-duty range.
- 308, 338 and 358 (Class 7): heavy-duty conventional models.
- L6, L7 and L8 (2021–): the renamed range with the Cummins engine.
The Dutro-based 155 and 195 that replaced the lightest 600 models in 2012 came from the Hino Dutro, and the truck it replaced came from the Hino Ranger family. All models are in the Hino collection.
Sources
- Hino 600, English Wikipedia: history, nameplates, L Series specifications
