Mini Trucks: What do you know about them?

[jdmack79]

As I was wasting time on the internet the other day, I stumbled across a law that was recently passed here in Indiana that allows mini trucks on roads.

Mini-trucks now free to roam the roads | Politics | NUVO News | Indianapolis, IN

Mini-truck state laws

For those of you who don't know, mini trucks in the USA are usually small Japanese 4x4 pickups, dump trucks, or vans. Popular manufacturers are Daihatsu (Toyota), Nissan, Mazda, Honda, and Mitsubishi. They are really popular to use on farms and as hunting vehicles considering they are low cost, four wheel drive, and can be extensively modified.

Do any of you own these trucks? If so, where did you purchase your truck and what modifications have you done?

Here are a few pictures of mini trucks in their original form and then modified:

 

[SSGSAD]

JMHO, they allow "smart cars", and they are TINY ..... I think this is GREAT !!!!!

Now just to buy a FARM, so I have an excuse, to get one .....

 

[jdmack79]

JMHO, they allow "smart cars", and they are TINY ..... I think this is GREAT !!!!!

Now just to buy a FARM, so I have an excuse, to get one .....

At least they are a little bigger than a "Smart" Car. I think one these trucks would be very handy. The sides also fold down on the bed of these things too.

 

[Brandon]

Saw em all over in Italy years ago, I could see them being handy but honestly I'd rather have a dump trailer and a med. sized tractor. But I only have 2 acres and anything much more would just be overkill.

 

[Bfish]

A farm I used to work at had some of them but we got rid of them and got rangers... A friend of mine has one though and I love that thing! We use it in the mornings when out hunting and stuff. We also use it when shooting, we will load up targets in it, drive them out and then come back to set up the rifles and get to shooting them. When going 500 plus yards it makes it super nice!

 

[CampingJosh]

I'm much more used to seeing them in other countries, but they are awesome.

They are also called kei trucks, which is often a better way to find them for sale online.

 

[Jomibe]

That looks like fun!

I wonder how roomy they are inside?

 

[ghitch75]

i was going to get one but the ground clearance wasn't enough with out spending a bunch on a lift.....so i went with a Gator......here in Greene county we can ride them on any county road with a state atv sticker......

 

[chubbs]

A co worker had one a few years ago. He plated it and drove it daily. He said the hardest part is finding one that is titled. Indiana won't title and plate it unless it has been previously plated somewhere else. But that's just what I was told. We had a ball playing shenanigans on that truck. 3 of us where able to pick up the rear end and move it on many occasions and the battery is on the frame rail under the edge of the bed. We disconnected it a few times.

 

[ArmedProgrammer]

My dad has one on his acreage. He's getting up there in years and it helps him to get around the place easier. They are great. Heaven help you if you get in a wreck.

 

[Leo]

Campus security had a couple of them at one of the colleges I attended. They were pretty handy for driving down sidewalks and between buildings. They were not plated and used only on campus property. Theirs were chinese. I could not feel safe in one in traffic with normal vehicles.

I rode in one a couple times, and at 6'2" and 205 lbs, getting in is tough, and once you are in, there is no comfortable way to sit. Because the wheel well uses 1/2 of the floor board, there was no space for a couple of size 12 shoes. My knees were pressed hard against the dash even with my legs touching the door and imposing on the driver, and I had to lean forward on my arms because there was not enough cab height to allow me to sit up.

 

[shibumiseeker]

For those prices I would either just get a truck or one of the 4x4 mules.

Just like the Smart Car, if I was going to buy one of those I would do so because it was cheap or got a hundred miles to the gallon. It does neither.

 

[tmschuller]

we looked at them for work and they are just too small for our needs and went with kubota side by sides. There used to be some dealers in the auto RV free magazine, have not looked in some time but if I had a choice I would go with a nice side by side, just for the reason of parts availability. But if thats what you want and the price is right go for it.

 

[BE Mike]

I wouldn't want to be in one in a collision...pancake city.

 

[eldirector]

Always thought these were pretty neat. Thought one might make a good "woods truck". Kinda like a side-by-side, but with an real cab. Never driven one, though.

Couple of them on Craigslist right now. $5000 to $9000. Cheaper than a SBS, larger bed, and now street legal.

 

[jdmack79]

There's only a few more days until these are street legal state wide. Have any started to pop up for sale around here yet?

 

[indiucky]

As a driver of a 20 year old plus Ford F150 I came to this thread to mock...I leave this thread wanting one of those little beasts...That would be sweet at the farm...Will speak to the wife when I get home...

Now how to convince her it was her idea????

 

[KellyinAvon]

I saw a lot of those when I was in Korea 92-93. Daewoo made the Bongo and Hyundai made the Porter I believe. I saw a lot of them flipped over due to excessive loads of cabbage.

 

[ArmedProgrammer]

As a driver of a 20 year old plus Ford F150 I came to this thread to mock...I leave this thread wanting one of those little beasts...That would be sweet at the farm...Will speak to the wife when I get home...

Now how to convince her it was her idea????

t
Rick - I'm too big for them... but my dad has one at his place near Pekin. If you ever want to try one out

 

[indiucky]

t
Rick - I'm too big for them... but my dad has one at his place near Pekin. If you ever want to try one out

Thanks bro...May take you up on that...