What is a Japanese Mini Truck?
The best way to portray a Japanese Mini Truck is that it is really a smaller version of a pick-up truck. They are accepted in the United States for non-highway use (similar to an ATV or a Gator). The majority of these Japanese Mini Trucks were manufactured in the early 1990’s, and they incorporate the very best manufacturing and technology available from Japan. As you would look forward to, these vehicles are tremendously reliable and fuel-efficient. Those attributes, along with their 4×4 capabilities make these Japanese kei trucks the perfect choice for your property.
What are Specs of Japanese Mini trucks?
Each Japanese Micro Truck may have some slight differences (with respect to mileage or features) however here are the most common features of a mini truck:
Dimensions: 10 feet long, 5 feet high, 4 feet wide
Weight: 1800 lbs
Truck Bed: 4’ x 6’ with fold down sides
Bed capacity: 880 lbs
Engine: 550-660cc, Liquid Cooled, 2, 3, or 4-Cylinder, Gasoline-powered, with approximately 40 Miles per Gallon
Transmission: 4 or 5-Speed manual transmission, Low/High range
4×4, 12” All Terrain Vehicle tires, some trucks with differential lock or axle lock
Standard heat, defroster, windshield wipers, headlights. Some units have A/C.
Who manufactures these Kei Trucks in Japan?
These small kei trucks are produced by leading makers with years of practice and based on highly competent and reliable Asian engineering. You must be familiar with the names Honda, Suzuki, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru… all of these brand names stand for quality and performance.
The different Japanese mini truck companies build the slightly different variations of their kei class trucks. A lot of times it is left to your personal liking to which brand you like best. All Japanese mini trucks do great on flat rolling country land. Subaru’s and Mitsubishi mini trucks tend to have the larger cabs suited better for taller and bigger riders. If the territory is going to be very steep and hilly you may wish to pick a centrally mounted engine to have a better center of gravity, maybe even choosing a Japanese mini truck with differential lock.
Suzuki & Mitsubishi mini trucks usually have a greater ground approval. Lift kits are available for all designs of mini trucks. Daihatsu (Made by Toyota) and Honda have usually the softest ride around. Subaru’s are admired for their rear mounted engines.
What types of gears or transmissions the Japanese mini trucks have?
Daihatsu mini trucks all include a 4 speed hi/low ratio gearbox. Some late model 1992+ have a typical 5 speed gear box with no hi/low ratio. Suzuki mini trucks usually have 4 speed hi/low gears but some have a 5 speed + extra low gear (6 speed) – no hi/low. 1st gear low ratio and extra low gear are very similar. 1st low may be fairly slower. In either case the low gear ideal speed is wonderful for following stock.
Mitsubishi mini trucks have usually 4 speeds hi and low ratios in almost all models. A Few designs may contain a 5 speed hi/low. Subaru mini trucks all include 5 speed + extra low gear (6 speeds). No hi/low gears. Honda mini trucks come with 5 speed fulltime 4WD, no hi/low.
What are some other facts about the Japanese kei mini trucks?
Japanese Kei Mini trucks only come in gas engines—NO DIESEL.
All Japanese mini trucks come with heaters.
Kei trucks are equipped with an AM radio
Most Japanese micro trucks do not come with air conditioning (A/C). However a few designs can be found with A/C.
Japanese mini truck parts are available in US and you can order almost any part needed.
How Japanese Mini Trucks are such a good buy?
Japanese automobile regulations provide an incentive for automobile owners to buy newer vehicles earlier than we do here in the United States. Not like in America, taxes and insurance costs raise as a truck gets older, which prompts mini truck holders to sell in their vehicles earlier than we would be expecting. This creates a surplus, and enables Americans to import these completely capable vehicles at low costs. Plus, the average Japanese truck is driven only 6,000 miles per annually… meaning these Japanese mini trucks have years of valuable life left in them! You can buy a few Japanese Mini Trucks for the price of just one John Deere Gator or Kawasaki Mule!
What are the uses of Japanese Mini Trucks outside Japan?
The uses of a Japanese Mini Truck are infinite; however a few of the uses are listed below:
Farms: You can disregard paying for a luxurious John Deere Gator, a Kawasaki Mule, or buying a truck that doesn’t have a large bed or an enclosed cab. Japanese Mini Trucks merge the best of both worlds: economical 4×4 handling with the transportation capacity and comfort of a pick-up truck. Move hay, harvest, or equipment around your land with ease and comfort. These farm mini trucks allow you to do more work in less time.
Campuses: Both Universities and private companies equally can benefit from the inexpensive but reliable transportation that Japanese Mini Trucks provide. In this cost-conscious market, moving people or equipment around your site has never been cheaper (in the form of both lower initial investment and lower operational cost) or more comfortable. Avoid golf carts, which expose riders to the elements and have limited carrying capacity! And don’t drive full-sized pick-up trucks around your campus, damaging the artistic beauty or the lawn! Japanese Mini Trucks are beyond doubt your best possible solution.
Manufacturing and Airports: Transport material, luggage or goods throughout your location in a Japanese Kei Mini Truck. These trucks are better outfitted to fit into small spaces and maneuver in order to make your facility more productive!
Parks and Land: Move people and gear around your golf course, zoo, theme park, or Public Park with ease and with little disturbance to your patron’s experience. Japanese Mini Trucks are a quiet, fuel efficient, compact substitute to bulkier full-sized pick-up trucks. They are also better equipped to navigate the territory and through rigid areas.
Entertainment: Move around your land and enjoy your favorite activities, like hunting, camping, boating or fishing in style but still they are accepted not for highway use.
What is the strength of a Japanese mini truck?
Japanese Mini trucks are very steady due to the lower center of gravity. Most Japanese kei mini trucks have a centrally mounted engine in most designs except Subaru’s. These Japanese Mini trucks are usually more stable than a quad. Japanese micro trucks are highly dubious to tip over backwards going up hills. They can easily stop going up a hill with superb 4 wheel braking.
Japanese Mini trucks are also very stable going downhill even will towing! The Kei class mini trucks wheel base help avoid them from jack-knifing while towing heavy loads.
Traveling sideways on a hill the width and the low wheelbase combined with the low center of gravity make them very stable on the side of hills. Also any change in load should not have an unpleasant effect.
What are KEI Trucks?
Kei stands for “light weight” in Japanese, which best describes the highly resourceful nature of the Japanese Kei Mini Truck. In current few years, Japanese manufacturers have abbreviated the name of the category “Kei-class” trucks to just “K-class.” Japanese Kei Mini Trucks are designed for the toughest conditions in the Japanese landscape, capable of shipping loads on rough roads through hills and turns.