Bicester, Oxfordshire - It was quite a challenge: How many 1/10 scale radio-controlled Tamiya models of a classic Toyota Hilux bakkie would it take to pull the latest full-sized Hilux double-cab?
Actually, it’s been done before: In a classic 1980s stunt at Tamiya’s headquarters in Japan, a team of 1/10 radio-control Hiluxes pulled a real one several metres - but today’s Hilux double-cab is a lot bigger and heavier - 3.21 tons to be exact.
Nevertheless, calculations showed that 15 mini-Hiluxes, with a pulling forces 19.6 Newtons each, should just be able to get their big brother rolling on a smooth surface - such as the big hangar at Bicester Heritage motor and aircraft museum.
The 15 models were prepared by pumping their tyres to maximum pressure (4 bar), locking their all-wheel drive electric powertrains in low ratio and putting two 500g lead weights in each load bed for extra traction.
A special towbar with 15 eyelets was bolted onto the standard tow-points at the front of the Hilux and a group of expert radio-control enthusiasts was recruited to drive the models, making sure that they all took up the tow simultaneously, while a driver in the full-sized bakkie made sure the parking brake was off and the transmission was in neutral.
And that was just the first in a series of Little and Large stunts; next they went to the UK’s toughest off-road course, the Devil’s Pit at Barton-Le-Clay, to see whether the radio-control Hilux could match its big brother in mud-plugging, wading and towing challenges - enjoy the (very tongue-in-cheek) results below.