Kei trucks, what are your thoughts

[4Waters]

I think they are badass little trucks but they are obviously lacking in safety

 

[82daytona]

Bad ass!

 

[lbhsbz]

They're fun, in a golf cart sort of way....

I built a few into ambulances for off road and sporting events many years ago....lift, knobby tires, custom bed with antlers for stryker gurneys, benches, medical supply storage...etc. Parts are available here in the states. They would handle "truck" duties of 90% of the people that have trucks in SoCal....but I wouldn't wanna share the road with the current crop of shit drivers.

 

[mjc]

I need one.

 

[Blue Oval]

A buddy imported one two years ago. Once he got it to Michigan he found out he could not plate it. He was allowed to put a ORV sticker and drive it on restricted roads like a golf cart. He wasn’t very happy.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

No more dangerous than a VW bus.

I had one a few years ago. It was a fun little rig but very tight inside.

Right hand drive so when I had my dog in it people coming the other way would think the dog was driving!

 

[4Waters]

There is one here in town, cool as hell

 

[Englewood]

Just got this one last week.

Right hand drive auto/4x4/heating and air. Poor man’s Ranger!

Wrap and upgrades coming soon.

 

[Morehart]

Just got this one last week.

Right hand drive auto/4x4/heating and air. Poor man’s Ranger!

Wrap and upgrades coming soon.
View attachment 1455822

Love it. What can it tow. This is the coolest one I've seen

 

[FROGMAN524]

Just got this one last week.

Right hand drive auto/4x4/heating and air. Poor man’s Ranger!

Wrap and upgrades coming soon.
View attachment 1455822

That’s sick. Ballpark $$$?

 

[Englewood]

Love it. What can it tow. This is the coolest one I've seen

That’s sick. Ballpark $$$?

Not sure on towing capacity. The newer ones range from 15-25k in good shape. The box vans are extremely rare so they are on the upper end if you can find em.

I added a 4.5” lift/27” tires and a rear seat that added to the cost.

 

[Morehart]

I'll go be poor elsewhere

 

[4Waters]

 

[outboard_256]

There cool, we have a couple in our friends group to use as upcoming projects. In stock form they come with a 660cc motor so temper your expectations around that. A suzuki samuari comes with a 1.3L engine and we know how slow they are stock.

 

[Tank]

You can find them on marketplace. Problem is, you can’t street legal them in ca. because they are unsafe AF!! I mean, no more unsafe than a street legal golf cart except they exceed the maximum speed for a slow moving veh.

 

[4Waters]

You can find them on marketplace. Problem is, you can’t street legal them in ca. because they are unsafe AF!! I mean, no more unsafe than a street legal golf cart except they exceed the maximum speed for a slow moving veh.

Saw one 2 weeks ago at our In-N-Out with a California plate on it

 

[mash on it]

You can find them on marketplace. Problem is, you can’t street legal them in ca. because they are unsafe AF!! I mean, no more unsafe than a street legal golf cart except they exceed the maximum speed for a slow moving veh.

These are 25+ year old vehicles?
What year were airbags required?
Emissions?
Seatbelts?
Doesn't side by sides also fall (fail) into most these categories for street legal use?

Dan'l

 

[TPC]

I love these trucks.
Some people bring them to DUMONT Dunes.

Fun to just putt around in.

 

[Moabifam5]

One of our River neighbors bought one. They are installing jet ski racks in the back to haul there kids skis to the ramp. pretty cool ride...

 

[Tank]

These are 25+ year old vehicles?
What year were airbags required?
Emissions?
Seatbelts?
Doesn't side by sides also fall (fail) into most these categories for street legal use?

Dan'l

Correct. Side by sides are also not legal to register in cal for streets.

Saw one 2 weeks ago at our In-N-Out with a California plate on it

And yes, just like SXS’s people sneak them past dmv to register them. But good luck!!!

And if you get spotted by an over zealous traffic cop that sends to to a state referee? You’re done.

 

[mash on it]

Correct. Side by sides are also not legal to register in cal for streets.



And yes, just like SXS’s people sneak them past dmv to register them. But good luck!!!

And if you get spotted by an over zealous traffic cop that sends to to a state referee? You’re done.

These micro trucks would reasonably compare to 1994/1995 model trucks, a 2023/24/25 side by side doesn't come close to safety standards for a street legal 2025 Kia, Toyota or any new car.

New SxS's are arguably much safer than my old CJ though, or a 32 Ford roadster.

Dan'l

Edit -
My '81 VW Rabbit diesel pickup almost fits in the micro truck category. 52 HP of fire breathing diesel fury.

 

[TPC]

 

[HBCraig]

We did the Holley unit on my son's old F150 with the 5.0 and it fucked up the PCM. $1,000 later, it was fixed. Took a while but Holley refunded me.