Smiles per gallon is better than miles per gallon. I've heard people say kei trucks don't get all that great of fuel economy considering, but, hey, smiles per gallon. My daily car gets around as much mpg as a kei truck and it's a lot more fun than a bigger SUV or mid-size car.
I’m getting my Sambar today actually. Did the whole importing process and hired a hotshot driver to bring it to me. I’m in right at $4k getting it to my house. So excited. Also I’m in Oklahoma where there are no hills so it should be fine 😂
That is a nice looking Sambar. I love my 1996 4WD Daihatsu Hijet kei truck. I bought it from a Japanese site on 8SEP22 and picked it up at the Newport News Virginia port when it arrived on 8DEC22. It's incredibly practical. I've piled limbs ten feet above the bed and hanging eight feet out the back, and strapped them down to five feet above the bed, then driven to the dump on the outskirts of the county to drop the brush at the compost pad. I cut up a 25 foot cherry tree into firewood and drove it 20 miles to a friend's farm. I don't drive it on the highway but it's very maneuverable and easy to drive around town. I get 31 MPG. I don't have trouble downshifting to climb hills but it is slow to accelerate. It's a five speed and it's geared low, even when the HI/LO transfer case is in HI. I'm often in third gear before I'm through an intersection. No joke, I think it does 0-60 in 30 seconds, but it'll go 70 MPH without trouble and I never use full throttle (but use 3/4 throttle a LOT). I love that I can turn the wheel to full lock and turn around 180 degrees in a two lane road. I daily drive my Hijet and only drive my 4Runner one day a week to keep the battery charged. I should have gotten a Hijet with A/C but I roll down the window and it's fine, and no A/C is one less thing to break on a 27 year old Japanese farm truck. My Hijet was $2380 to the port. I have almost $6000 in it so far and still have a lot of upgrades to go. I'll probably top out over $8000 but it'll be so sweet. It's apparently the only kei truck on the road around here and I get a lot of smiles, thumbs up and positive comments. It makes people happy.
Thanks for sharing! Glad you're enjoying it and having a similar experience! Glad you're enjoying yours as much as I am mine. Thanks for your comments and for watching 🤙
I just ordered a 95 Acty and I as well and picking it up at Newport News Virginia port . The company I ordered it from is gonna send all the proper documents but my question to you is , is there anything else I’m gonna need to get it once there ? It will be a 9 hour drive and I don’t want to drive all that way and not be able to pick it up . Any info would be greatly appreciated thanks
I'd like to add something. The more I see these k truck videos, I'm struck by how incredible it is these are still running OK after 25, 30 years. They had to have some decent engineering for that to be possible. Would love to see more videos about the engineering of these trucks and the mechanical aspects, more engine, maintenance videos. Just curious more about the mechanics of these and how they're lasting so long. They've been used for work for many years, but still running okay.
I think part of the reason is how bare bones the cars are. The engine is only being used to move the car its not used to power the power steering, windows, cameras, bluetooth, etc. also by having just the bare bones the places it could fail are reduced.
@AlpineTundra makes me think about those VW Beetles back in the day. They were pretty bare bones and designed well so people could work on them easily. Seemed a lot of them ran for quite a long time especially for that era
The other big thing is how low mileage they tend to be. Japan is a much smaller place, and these are used for in-town work, not long commutes. So it's not unusual to find these with less than 100k miles, even at 20-30 years old.
@@forthewindell Interested in the costs on top of the listed price of the vehicle... I saw another video where the costs of receiving it and titling it were twice as much as the cost of the truck, but that doesn't line up with what I see at dealerships that have done the import already and have them ready for US sale domestically.
I have picked up a Suzuki tiny truck and it came with full lockers front and rear. Also it has the extended cab and left hand drive instead of the usual right hand drive. The little 660 cc engine is surprisingly peppy but a little slow on the highway. Air conditioning would be nice but not necessary. With the price of gas, I might spend more time in it than my F-350 crew cab.
I just bought a 1997 Honda Acty Van and I love it so much. I already took it to Myrtle Beach from Columbia and it turns heads here in South Carolina even though these are becoming so common on the road now. I hang out with a group of other Honda Acty owners in Columbia and there's dozens of us here in the city alone that owns Kei Trucks/Vans even local businesses are buying them now for shops and stuff. It's just so much fun and practical to drive around.
I love that these little guys are becoming trendy. And it's not at all about speed. No one would ever bash it for being too "rice" or whatever, no matter how cool you made it look.
I'm seriously considering importing a kei truck to the UK. Because of my searches youtube is now hitting me with kei truck videos left and right. In spite of any downsides mentioned here or elsewhere, all the videos do is convince me more that it's a good idea. I won't have to worry about hills much anyway as I live in Lincolnshire
I didn't go through the effort that you did, I chose to get a truck that was in the us, and already titled in my state. It's been my daily driver since December 2021. (Suzuki Super carry) It can carry way more equine shavings than my wife's tacoma could, not having fender wells intruding into the load space gives it a remarkable amount of room.
right. its not so much the fact that it's a kei truck, but more so that the japanese favor design and functionality over style and "showing a big engine". if the US was more keen on selling civilian box trucks and cab-overs in general that were between the size of a kei truck and those gigantic mitsubishi FUSOs and toyota Dynas and stuff that we did and do actually get in the states (you usually see them dressed as food containers for CVS pharmacy and stuff), well the US would be full of awesome trucks to the point where kei trucks wouldn't hold such a niche. all flat bed box trucks are amazing and just better at everything than the inefficient L shaped pickup truck.
@@twrcrew8852 For some reason, US manufacturers seem to think we all want over complicated machines full of feature bloat…. And fools like Ralph Nader destroyed any chance we had of a useful vehicle. There isn’t one truck in the US market that I’m even marginally interested in.
Thank you for your video. I live in a hilly area, so that might be the breaking factor on my decision to get one. I like the compact practicality otherwise, though.
@@JBG1968 "Really ? I’ve been to Japan a few times and I have seen these things all over Tokyo and other cities" == I was born there and lived there(in a province) until I was 25.
I have been running them for 20 years and imported a lot of them. Their productivity and efficiency and reliability puts north American trucks to shame
Oh definitely! The bed it actually quite a bit more usable than my friend who has a crew cab Tacoma, I could probably fit my full size Honda cb500x if I really had to, so minibikes and an express will fit with a lot of room to spare!
I daily an alto works and I love it, the driving position is good and fairly comfortable. I got into a Honda Acty and the driving position I will say was not very comfortable and not as nice to drive, but I can still see the appeal cuz it’s a very cool vehicle :)
That’s awesome, yeah the driving position in the Subaru for me is actually perfect, and I say that literally, I have the seat all the way back and I think it would be uncomfortable if it was any farther forward. So I guess I just got lucky with my body shape haha.
My daily driver is an Audi S5, but as much as I love the car, it's hard to overstate just how impractical a coupe is. It has great trunk space (probably as much as a sedan) but my back seats are only accessible by reaching in, and at that point I don't even use them. I recently had to borrow my Parents' SUV to pick up a built dog ramp, and whenever I want to go to the shooting range, only one of my rifke cases will comfortably fit in my trunk. A 'cheap' (compared to buying an actual truck or other used car) utilitarian vehicle like this is SO appealing to me and my circumstance. I also love them as a vehicle, so it's like the perfect solution to my problem.
I had a 250cc Honda version in the late 70's put a light weight van back on it so could sleep in it. It didn't like hills on motorways the HGB got healed up.
april 1st 2024 they made them legal all over Texas so i am looking at some now. and a sambar is what i think i will end up with. but a hi jet is a close 2nd. and i have very few hills where i live. but i have a requirement it has to have a/c.
@@forthewindell 74 seems to be pretty good to me. but i have one more question and i will leave you alone. do you think it will run 60 mph with no trouble. i mean like for 50 miles none stop. if so i think i just made up my mind. for sure what i want. and if nothing goes wrong i'm hoping to before the first of the year.
@@MadsWorld34 I’d say 50-60 is the top of it’s comfortable cruising speed so yeah 50 miles at 60 is definitely doable and probably perfectly fine. My commute has fairly long stretches of 50s and it could do it fine as long as it isn’t up hill too much.
How do you feel like the safety is on these mini trucks? Sometimes I like to take my son around in rides, I just want to be sure if we get into a fender bender we would be ok
The older models are definitely not what I would consider safe from a modern vehicle standpoint. I do liken it to a motorcycle to an extent, you have to be willing to accept the risk every time you take it onto public roads. I think side streets and private land with a kid would certainly be responsible since they are built pretty tough and could take a fender bender but anything more, I’d prefer to only be responsible for myself in it.
i'm not really well versed with these kei trucks but they really are some tough pickup trucks for its size, i've seen people load stuff twice its size and it still going strong, wouldn't recommend it though
Well I know where you filmed the city part since I go by those buildings all the time. Anyway I think this thing is pretty cool! I can imagine it being perfect for loads of drywall and/or plywood and the like.
I have a Subaru Sambar KS4 with AC in the ATX Austin Texas area. Plus I'm starting to see a few Kei trucks on the road. They are really fun. Bless up Kei-Truckers drive safe
Jonothan great video thank you! Would you DynaMat the cab for excessive noise or engine quiet enough back there. You probably want those plastic window rain covers if you get a lot of rain. My main question about the Sambar does it come from the factory in a Mini Dump version or does rear engine location prevent a Dumper? BTW you can get bigger injectors for the Clover I think (cheater Turbo 😉) or thirstier carburetor whichever you have. Ask manufacturer if high octane is preferable for your Clover too. 👋👍 Thank you helpful video no hype just the facts ✔️
A Kei truck can haul more hay out to the cows, more construction debris to the dump, more lumber to the cabinet shop, more new cabinets to a jobsite, and more of the junk accumulated in your girlfriend's college apartment than any new "pickup truck" on the American market. It will also fit in tiny urban parking spaces. American pickups used to be the gold standard for practical utility. Now they're just giant, energy slurping passenger cars with tiny open air luggage compartments tacked on. Rangers and F-150s (along with Chevy S-10s) used to be the go-to choices for contractors and tradesmen. But the new ones suck. Sure, they can tow a 30ft camper and carry 6 adults, but a so could a Ford Torino station wagon, and in a lot more comfort. A new F-150 will barely hold 3 bales of hay and can't haul a load of plywood. Sadly, we can't buy new Kei trucks in the US, and the newest ones legally available are at least 25 years old. Much as I want one, I'm afraid these will soon start having the same problems with parts availability as my similarly aged (1991) Ford Ranger. It still runs well, but with 300,000 miles on it has accumulated a lot of road rash and the body parts it needs can't be found for any amount of money...even the correct tires are getting hard to find. I don't need a 6-passenger truck-like object that can't carry a meaningful quantity of cinderblocks or gravel. I just need to haul me, my dog, and a stack of two by fours to a jobsite. If Subaru was importing new ones, I'd buy a Sanbar this afternoon.
Kei trucks are remarkably practical. My 1996 4WD Hijet hauls more (volume and weight) than my 1997 4WD Tacoma XtraCab. The bed is slightly larger and the Hijet has a flat bed with no wheel wells poking up into the bed to eat up cargo space and make it difficult to haul sheets of drywall without breaking them. The Hijet is much smaller and more maneuverable and will go places full size trucks won't go. We really should have 1.2 liter versions of kei trucks in the US but we don't for the same reason we can't import late model kei trucks - stupid protectionist regulations. The EPA and DOT won't let me import a new kei truck with crumple zones, air bags, fuel efficient fuel injection and electronic ignition, but I can import a 25 year old kei truck with a carburetor and distributor cap that is less efficient, more polluting and less safe. Clearly, despite their claims, it's not about safety, fuel economy, or the environment.
@@Liberty4Ever In this and your comment below, you are telling me some things I really wanted to know. If I read you correctly, these little trucks can comfortably haul 4x8 sheets. One of the things I really liked about my old Ford Ranger was that I could back it up to my shop door and pull sheets of plywood directly onto the table saw. When my kid claimed the old Ranger, I bought a slightly newer (2000) one but plywood sheets sit at least a foot higher which not only makes it a worthless infeed table, but also much more difficult to load by myself, and not JUST because I'm getting old. Looks like these little trucks can do that, even better than the Ranger. I've been looking much more closely at these over the past couple of days and one thing that strikes me is how much empty space there is between the top of the frame and the bottom of the bed. I'm thinking ditch the engine. Install brushless motors at all four wheels, pave the space between the bed and frame with batteries and BAM, perfect 4wd electric utility truck for town and light use on state highways. If I was even 10 years younger I'd be up for that task, but that project would have to be about 9th in line. Too many projects, not enough time. It's just stupid that politicians and bureaucrats have created a regulatory atmosphere where we can't have small cars and trucks anymore. I'd be very happy with a new Kei truck, or if I can't buy one of those, how about a Ford Courier or Chevy Luv?
@@christopherdahle9985 - The kei truck beds are all slightly larger than 4' X 6'. Drop the tailgate and 4X8 sheets of plywood are no problem. The bed is fairly low which makes loading and unloading easier but may be too low to serve as a table saw infeed depending on your setup. There is a lot of unused space between the frame and bed on a kei truck which is odd because they're clever small trucks with very little wasted space in every other aspect. I had considered using the space for LiFePO4 batteries that trickle charged while I was driving so I could run a large inverter and 120 VAC power tools, including my little inexpensive Poulan electric chain saw which punches well above its weight class. 200 amp hours of LiFePO4 batteries could also be very useful if I built a foamie (fiberglass over foam) camper that drops into the bed to make a mini SHTF RV. Four electric motors, one per wheel, would be a sweet EV conversion, particularly if you could rig up something similar to a portal axle to increase the ground clearance. You could also lift the body a lot for more ground clearance and larger wheels (which the high torque electric motors could spin), but a much easier EV conversion would be to replace the little 660 cc engine with an engine and controller kit made for at-home EV conversions. There are plenty of RUclips videos showing all sorts of EV conversion vehicles but surprisingly I haven't seen a kei truck EV conversion. I have the old age thing too, but for me, it's too many projects, not enough mojo. Time, I have. I could watch fewer RUclips videos and be more productive, but I just don't have the energy any more. 😕 Toyota is releasing a new light pickup truck that's reported to be inexpensive, but the Toyota Stout won't be a real truck because it'll have unibody construction instead of body-on-frame construction as the kei trucks have. Actually, the front of a kei truck is a bit unibody, but they're body-on-frame for the cargo bed where it counts. Kei trucks in general and my Hijet in particular are tough little trucks.
Would you recommend this type of truck for beginner drivers? And is it possible to get in automatic? I'm looking for a small car due to my issues with with depth perception in my right eye.
It is a very small and light vehicle with very good visibility from inside. So in a way I would say it could be good for a beginner. It is possible to get the van versions in automatic but the trucks were almost exclusively manual. Depending on where you live, the steering wheel being on the right side could be a learning curve as well.
I had a 4cyl Jeep TJ. Totally freeway legal. If you saw a hill, it could not hold 55mph. It could only do 70 going downhill with a tailwind. It had factory tires, nothing crazy just no power.
I really wanted to get one of these. I ended up with a Suzuki Samurai instead. You get a lot of the same sorts of conversations every time you park it somewhere.
Thanks for watching! Yeah the import process is definitely a bit daunting but with the proper research, a lot of the frustrations can be mitigated. Working on the process video now 🤙
I stubbornly tried to do all of my import paperwork. I invested a lot of time and got essentially nowhere. I recommend using an online import broker. I used a place in India with a US website. It wasn't that expensive and they filed all of the paperwork for me. Make sure you file the ISF with US Customs at least a day before the ship leaves Japan. I resented being forced to pay for a TWIC escort but Crown TWIC Escort was well worth the money to make sure everything went well at the port. Having watched The Wire, I drove an extra 60 miles round trip to import through Newport News Virginia rather than Baltimore. Another RUclipsr complained that the Baltimore port runs a scam where they find a grass seed and charge you $350 to clean the truck to pass the USDA inspection.
A tradie in Botswana spoke highly of these trucks loaded with steel in deep sand roads. He had done many miles with his truck. Apparently other 4x4 got stuck in the sand.
Did you have to do anything to it so it's can be legal to drive in the US ? Smog ? Take the speed restriction off ? Love these thinking of getting one ?
I honestly didn’t have to do much by virtue of the state I live in having very limited vehicle restrictions. So it would definitely depend on what state you’re going to be driving in. My specific truck did not have a speed restrictor so not much to do for me besides some new tires and getting a plate
Loved the idea so much, I just bought one! 1995 Subaru Sambar KS4, JA Grade. Hot off the heels of your advise: with air conditioning! Just waiting for the seller to get the shipping arranged now... As for you MPG and some of your power struggles, I wonder if your engine is a bit out of tune? From other folks, it seems like you should be getting about 8 more MPG and you should be able to maintain just a bit more speed on the slight inclines. If you havent already gone through all your filters (inc fuel), set your valve spacing, set the flow rates on your carburetor, and set the timing of the distributer, you may want to look into that to see if you can get a little more performance from the engine within its stock parameters.
That’s awesome to hear! I definitely agree, I definitely plan on going through it in more depth once the weather is semi-bearable here in SC (I unfortunately don’t have a garage). Definitely looking forward to digging in and trying to get a little more performance. Enjoy your truck!
Did your shipping get arranged?....been waiting almost a month and still no CAP info for booking/shipping. Getting a little concerned but maybe just expecting too much Ha.
@@lynchcreekmuzzy5759 Yup! I think it was about 7 weeks before it got shipped and it actually arrived on Halloween. It'll greatly depend on the timing of the shipping routes and available cargo space. Baltimore is one of the more frequently visited ports.
@JimmyNewCakes Cool.....mine coming into Seattle area. Just fyi...I watched a show that stated to pay attention to B.S. fees coming thru Baltimore. Sounds like they like to grease their own palms. I don't know for certain but it has been a concern for people. I also got a Subaru Sambar...but a van.....CAN'T WAIT!!! hope you are enjoying yours!
It's from the Japanese. It's terrible that you can't get it unless you follow America's 25-year rule! There was a deterioration accident due to rust. Although this rarely happens, there is an example where the loading platform was damaged by rust when attached to the loading platform with a rope due to overloading (separation of the frame and loading platform). ★The solution is to reinforce the joint between the frame and the loading platform. After removing the rust, use an L-shaped angle and reinforce with welding and it will be perfect. It can be used until the engine stops working and this type of engine is cheap and there are many in Japan (if you have a spare engine, it can be used for 100 years lol). The choice of 4WD is very wise.
the japanese favor design and functionality over style and "showing a big engine". if the US was more keen on selling civilian box trucks and cab-overs in general that were between the size of a kei truck and those gigantic mitsubishi FUSOs and toyota Dynas and stuff that we did and do actually get in the states (you usually see them dressed as food containers for CVS pharmacy and stuff), well the US would be full of awesome trucks to the point where kei trucks wouldn't hold such a niche. all flat bed box trucks are amazing and just better at everything than the inefficient L shaped pickup truck. Plus, if the US had all cab overs driving around, there wouldn't be half as many karens accidentally running over people and other cars and motorcycles in the parking lot because they can't see anything beyond the giant bulge up front that's there for no reason at this point other than "churdishien". The cab over is the literal pinnacle of VISIBILITY. better than mid engined supercars which are famous for being front row seats at the roller coaster.
US automakers suffer from a complete lack of imagination that results from decades of advertising that conditions North American drivers to think only in terms of what Detroit offers as being the benchmark for what is good. The narrative of this video reflects that ... Numerous comparisons of this keitora with the imagined standard for trucks that he imagines most of his viewers hold. Oh, it may not be powerful enough for hills, and the ride might not be soft enough. And, sadly, maybe most viewers do hold that kind of preconceived standard for what an acceptable truck MUST have. Not me. I've lived in Japan and have seen the alternatives we could have in North America and that we might demand if we had more imagination and looked beyond our borders now and then.
regarding states refusing to tag these: second thought: what about those tiny cars, supposed to be super economical and eco friendly, you know the ones... I just dont remember the names of them. Those are allowed on the interstate... those tiny / slow / dangerous / "sneeze on them they flip" / How is it they are legal, and especially that they are allowed on the interstate? and yet the powers that be have a problem with these trucks? Again, if the Mini - import community gets motivated and organized, a good amount of pressure can be applied to the situation.
What size tires are you running on your Sambar? I have a '95 Sambar here in NC and just purchased 14" wheels and 175/65r14 tires for it but I don't get them delivered for a few more days. I'm curious about your tire size after you commenting on how your Sambar struggles some with hills. Thanks! 👍
South Carolina where I live currently does not have any regulations for or against kei trucks being registered as normal vehicles. It is on a state by state basis currently and unfortunately some states have arbitrarily chosen to enact strange regulations.
@ gotcha! Wish I lived in a state where it’s normalized. I’m getting a 1999 hijet and it’s efi! Super stoked about it despite having to register as antique.
@@speedyboi4623yeah it’s definitely a kinda strange situation, this is a good video that explains it better if you’re interested: ruclips.net/video/RrTnyWODUT0/видео.htmlsi=CZD-TbpXr9I6-Eiv But it does give me hope that regulations can be fought and changed if people get behind a cause. I’m glad they are still letting it be registered as antique instead of banning it completely.
@ thank you! It does make me upset that in some states kei trucks are completely illegal for street use. I know the reasoning they say is because they are unsafe but I can own a 1000cc crotch rocket which is way more unsafe and can do extreme speeds. I feel like big vehicle companies like ford and Chevy are lobbying and putting money into regulations on these trucks. Without regulation I feel most of the market would lean towards practical, small, simple, work trucks.
@@speedyboi4623exactly. And it’s even more infuriating that it was the arbitrary suggestion of a non governmental agency that convinced so many states to instate regulations. The states basically just didn’t do their research and blindly followed the suggestion of a committee of like 11 people
If you’re in Florida what’s your experience with driving this on the I-4? I’m considering getting an ACTY but given how they seem to top out around 70 I’m a little concerned.
I’m actually in SC, I picked up the truck in Jacksonville though. If top speed is a concern for you I would definitely look at the Subaru sambar just because of the 4 cyclinders vs 3 in the Honda. Just helps it be a bit more comfortable at higher speeds. As far as top speeds go, I have gotten my Subaru up to around 80mph. Wouldn’t want to do it for a super long time but it can handle it just fine. But that’s basically the limit
How many propane tanks can you fit in the bed ? I would appreciate it if you could give me an idea. Thank you. I did the math and I think 15 but not sure.
It was definitely not as accurate but since it was already in KPH, I really just used it as a reference point anyway since chances are I wouldn’t be speeding anyway on most faster roads
What Im intrested in is, how is spare parts situation? It is old and foreign car, what if something breaks? There are parts available? Are they expensive? Do I have to wait long? Thanks
There are various websites to find parts. Most of them are Japan based so shipping is rather costly. But if you can bundle some parts you need or will need you can get a better deal on shipping all those parts together
I purchased it early February (the 12th) if I remember correctly, and it arrived in Jacksonville on April 4th or so I think. So for me roughly two months.
They were available in many different options with a variety of add-ons in Japan, so there are technically parts available somewhere for OEM retrofitting. But the majority of retrofitting in the US consists of finding parts from other vehicles that happen to also work with the Kei vehicles. But anything is possible with enough work I guess 😉
It’s weird they aren’t built for hills considering Japan is insanely mountainous and the majority of its industrial areas are amongst mountains and hills. You’d think they would be purpose built for the environment they live in.
I never found it very hard to work on by myself given I could source a part from somewhere. They’re mechanically quite simple. I’m sure that as long as the US doesn’t completely ban them, the more trucks that arrive here, the more people you’ll be able to find that can work on them. I always say that it’s not the best vehicle to buy unless you’re willing to learn how to work on them yourself to an extent.
This is a dumb question, but do you have a long torso? I'm 6'2" and have been considering a Sambar cause I know it has the most cabin height of the kei trucks, but I only have a 30 pant inseam so I'm worried I may still bump my head on the ceiling.
I have a 32 inch inseam at 6’2” and I had plenty of head room. And my torso is most of my height as well. So even if you actually have a torso that is the full 2” longer than mine, you should be fine.
From last snow to first snow every year since 2020 Ive been daily driving a 1994 Sambar Super Deluxe, its really a great time as long as you dont mind going slow, 50mph or less really, as for some reason mine will not go over 85kmh (52mph). Also the AC will limit the speed you can go, as the clutch disengages over 4000rpm.
@@daleval2182 oh it will do 60, on a downhill. Plus having dug through both jp-carparts, and the fsm I see no mention or part for a governor. Im more curious if the carburetor is just not liking the ethanol gas as each year I lose a bit of range per tank. Started at 460km, now down to 390km. Also if you meant the AC clutch, well those are pressure based and will shut off the compressor clutch if there is too much or too little pressure and running the engine higher in rpm increases the pressure in the system and is most likely just tripping the high pressure switch to disengage the clutch. After a minute it will try re-engaging.
I am looking into getting one of these cars, my state legalized them in January for ones that can get historic tags (20 years or older) and I was looking at Subaru or Toyota.
I’m in South Carolina, so it wasn’t really a big deal. Here’s a Reddit post about VA that I found though: reddit.com/r/keitruck/s/pYsKnZEqQy Best of luck!
Obviously it can reach highway speeds but how is it really? I don’t drive my current truck (Nissan hardbody) much but I like having it for when I do need to carry/move some larger items. Considering replacing it with one of these but I do have a 20 mile commute including a large portion of it on the interstate. Is it fine once you’re up to speed?
It’s as fine as a 1600lb vehicle with 50hp can really be on the interstate, feels the wind and high rpm but given the circumstances it handles it fine.
That could be the case, keep in mind though that northern Japan is one of the snowiest places in the world during the winter, so the trucks are built to handle that as well to an extent. My friend lives in Hokkaido and he says that he still sees them all over even in the dead of winter.
I'm Japanese, so please let me give you my opinion. I've never been to Canada, so I can't comment lightly, but I think the lowest temperatures in Canada are harsher than in Japan! By the way, when you say, "I can't stand it," what kind of background should we imagine about her? The lowest temperature records in Japan are 1st place: -41 degrees, 2nd place: -39 degrees, and 3rd place: -39 degrees. Japan ranks 1st to 3rd in the world's snowfall records. The amount of snowfall in Japan per day is 210 cm, the highest in the world. If the vehicle cannot be driven under the above conditions, it will not pass the vehicle inspection. Specifically, let's say you go hunting, the temperature is -40 degrees Celsius, the roads are unpaved, the roads are rough, and the snow is so heavy that one meter of snow falls per day. Even in such a case, with Subaru's light truck 4WD, you'll be able to take three large deer home! (I don't know the difference in minimum temperature) Maximum load capacity is 350 kg for light trucks
lol that driveway is way better than mine. I tend to take my rather rugged driveway in a front wheel drive daily car at around 20mph. Of course, due to clearance, I wouldn't want to do the same speeds on unknown ground in it. That kei truck, not sure what sort of clearance it has.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Pro #1 - It obviously puts a smile on your face!
I saw a little Honda Acty at the Lowe’s I worked at and it brightened up my day
Smiles per gallon is better than miles per gallon. I've heard people say kei trucks don't get all that great of fuel economy considering, but, hey, smiles per gallon. My daily car gets around as much mpg as a kei truck and it's a lot more fun than a bigger SUV or mid-size car.
@@MmmHuggleswell the front of the truck is pretty much a big airbrake.
In Japan, the Sambar was called the Porsche of farm roads.
And the Honda Acty was called the Ferrari of farm roads.
I’m getting my Sambar today actually. Did the whole importing process and hired a hotshot driver to bring it to me. I’m in right at $4k getting it to my house. So excited. Also I’m in Oklahoma where there are no hills so it should be fine 😂
That’s awesome! Hope you enjoy! Thanks for watching
Who did you hire as your driver? I am trying to figure out how to get one to me in Kentucky.
@@HeroOfTime303 assault hotshot services. They’re in Tulsa I believe
How is it?
@@MrInternationalG it’s freaking awesome! Super clean. Fun to drive. Everyone loves it. I’m happy
You can buy an electric air conditioner for the kei truck their universal and compact. So it should cool the cab easily
The kei van my friends had in Japan were awesome. Used them for everything.
That is a nice looking Sambar. I love my 1996 4WD Daihatsu Hijet kei truck. I bought it from a Japanese site on 8SEP22 and picked it up at the Newport News Virginia port when it arrived on 8DEC22. It's incredibly practical. I've piled limbs ten feet above the bed and hanging eight feet out the back, and strapped them down to five feet above the bed, then driven to the dump on the outskirts of the county to drop the brush at the compost pad. I cut up a 25 foot cherry tree into firewood and drove it 20 miles to a friend's farm. I don't drive it on the highway but it's very maneuverable and easy to drive around town. I get 31 MPG. I don't have trouble downshifting to climb hills but it is slow to accelerate. It's a five speed and it's geared low, even when the HI/LO transfer case is in HI. I'm often in third gear before I'm through an intersection. No joke, I think it does 0-60 in 30 seconds, but it'll go 70 MPH without trouble and I never use full throttle (but use 3/4 throttle a LOT). I love that I can turn the wheel to full lock and turn around 180 degrees in a two lane road. I daily drive my Hijet and only drive my 4Runner one day a week to keep the battery charged. I should have gotten a Hijet with A/C but I roll down the window and it's fine, and no A/C is one less thing to break on a 27 year old Japanese farm truck. My Hijet was $2380 to the port. I have almost $6000 in it so far and still have a lot of upgrades to go. I'll probably top out over $8000 but it'll be so sweet. It's apparently the only kei truck on the road around here and I get a lot of smiles, thumbs up and positive comments. It makes people happy.
Thanks for sharing! Glad you're enjoying it and having a similar experience! Glad you're enjoying yours as much as I am mine. Thanks for your comments and for watching 🤙
It will so cool if you do a video about all your upgrade you put in your Kei!
@@lovielol3935 - I've been making short videos of the repairs, maintenance and upgrades but haven't posted anything to my Hijet Hijinks channel yet.
I have a Sirion and love it, they scared the BMW 0-60
I just ordered a 95 Acty and I as well and picking it up at Newport News Virginia port . The company I ordered it from is gonna send all the proper documents but my question to you is , is there anything else I’m gonna need to get it once there ? It will be a 9 hour drive and I don’t want to drive all that way and not be able to pick it up . Any info would be greatly appreciated thanks
I'd like to add something. The more I see these k truck videos, I'm struck by how incredible it is these are still running OK after 25, 30 years. They had to have some decent engineering for that to be possible. Would love to see more videos about the engineering of these trucks and the mechanical aspects, more engine, maintenance videos. Just curious more about the mechanics of these and how they're lasting so long. They've been used for work for many years, but still running okay.
I think part of the reason is how bare bones the cars are. The engine is only being used to move the car its not used to power the power steering, windows, cameras, bluetooth, etc. also by having just the bare bones the places it could fail are reduced.
@@AlpineTundra that's an excellent insight. Makes sense
@AlpineTundra makes me think about those VW Beetles back in the day. They were pretty bare bones and designed well so people could work on them easily. Seemed a lot of them ran for quite a long time especially for that era
The other big thing is how low mileage they tend to be. Japan is a much smaller place, and these are used for in-town work, not long commutes. So it's not unusual to find these with less than 100k miles, even at 20-30 years old.
@thermodynamicist for sure that's a good point. If just working around town they're not going to quickly rack up a lot of miles, for sure.
When there is a used Kei-truck, the landscape becomes like the Japanese countryside. anywhere in the world.😆
I look forward to your video on the process of importing a KEI truck from JAPAN. Thanks, I enjoy your videos about these trucks.
Thanks for watching! I'm working on the import video currently, I'm hoping to have it out either next week or the week after. Thanks again!
@@forthewindell Interested in the costs on top of the listed price of the vehicle... I saw another video where the costs of receiving it and titling it were twice as much as the cost of the truck, but that doesn't line up with what I see at dealerships that have done the import already and have them ready for US sale domestically.
@@forthewindell Any update on that?
I have picked up a Suzuki tiny truck and it came with full lockers front and rear. Also it has the extended cab and left hand drive instead of the usual right hand drive. The little 660 cc engine is surprisingly peppy but a little slow on the highway. Air conditioning would be nice but not necessary. With the price of gas, I might spend more time in it than my F-350 crew cab.
That sounds like an awesome truck! But yeah the gas savings alone are enough for me to drive it over most vehicles on most days. Thanks for watching
I just bought a 1997 Honda Acty Van and I love it so much. I already took it to Myrtle Beach from Columbia and it turns heads here in South Carolina even though these are becoming so common on the road now. I hang out with a group of other Honda Acty owners in Columbia and there's dozens of us here in the city alone that owns Kei Trucks/Vans even local businesses are buying them now for shops and stuff. It's just so much fun and practical to drive around.
I daily drove my Bedford Rascal for about 3 years. The rascal looks identical to this. It was great!
great buy! i want one so bad!
With those taller tires, you may be going faster than you think. Might be interesting to check it with a GPS speedometer app on your phone.
I love that these little guys are becoming trendy. And it's not at all about speed. No one would ever bash it for being too "rice" or whatever, no matter how cool you made it look.
I'm seriously considering importing a kei truck to the UK. Because of my searches youtube is now hitting me with kei truck videos left and right. In spite of any downsides mentioned here or elsewhere, all the videos do is convince me more that it's a good idea. I won't have to worry about hills much anyway as I live in Lincolnshire
I didn't go through the effort that you did, I chose to get a truck that was in the us, and already titled in my state.
It's been my daily driver since December 2021. (Suzuki Super carry) It can carry way more equine shavings than my wife's tacoma could, not having fender wells intruding into the load space gives it a remarkable amount of room.
right. its not so much the fact that it's a kei truck, but more so that the japanese favor design and functionality over style and "showing a big engine". if the US was more keen on selling civilian box trucks and cab-overs in general that were between the size of a kei truck and those gigantic mitsubishi FUSOs and toyota Dynas and stuff that we did and do actually get in the states (you usually see them dressed as food containers for CVS pharmacy and stuff), well the US would be full of awesome trucks to the point where kei trucks wouldn't hold such a niche. all flat bed box trucks are amazing and just better at everything than the inefficient L shaped pickup truck.
@@twrcrew8852 For some reason, US manufacturers seem to think we all want over complicated machines full of feature bloat….
And fools like Ralph Nader destroyed any chance we had of a useful vehicle.
There isn’t one truck in the US market that I’m even marginally interested in.
In my country kei cars are a really common daily due to how practical they are
You could get one of those coolers they used to put on old VW vans that fit in the window to solve your no AC issue.
Thank you for your video. I live in a hilly area, so that might be the breaking factor on my decision to get one. I like the compact practicality otherwise, though.
They are better known in Japan as "Granpa truck".
They are mostly driven in rural area by old people.
So, many of them are rarely used.
Really ? I’ve been to Japan a few times and I have seen these things all over Tokyo and other cities
@@JBG1968
"Really ? I’ve been to Japan a few times and I have seen these things all over Tokyo and other cities"
==
I was born there and lived there(in a province) until I was 25.
And you didn’t see these things everywhere ?
@@JBG1968
"And you didn’t see these things everywhere ?"
==
No.
lol. Ok then
So lucky, I want one so much. I would like an Honda N-Box and a Kei truck
That would be an awesome little fleet! Thanks for watching
That actually looks very cool, I would just zip around in one.
It definitely puts a smile on your face, nothing quite like it.
awesome vid you should make more! love your vibe
I appreciate it! Stay tuned
Great review young man, thank you 🙏!
I have been running them for 20 years and imported a lot of them. Their productivity and efficiency and reliability puts north American trucks to shame
Thanks for the info, now I know that I can transport my Honda express and minibike. I know that’s a good candidate for transporting things.
Oh definitely! The bed it actually quite a bit more usable than my friend who has a crew cab Tacoma, I could probably fit my full size Honda cb500x if I really had to, so minibikes and an express will fit with a lot of room to spare!
I think you'd want to avoid loads with a high centre of gravity though, or you could make it tippy.
I daily an alto works and I love it, the driving position is good and fairly comfortable. I got into a Honda Acty and the driving position I will say was not very comfortable and not as nice to drive, but I can still see the appeal cuz it’s a very cool vehicle :)
That’s awesome, yeah the driving position in the Subaru for me is actually perfect, and I say that literally, I have the seat all the way back and I think it would be uncomfortable if it was any farther forward. So I guess I just got lucky with my body shape haha.
My daily driver is an Audi S5, but as much as I love the car, it's hard to overstate just how impractical a coupe is. It has great trunk space (probably as much as a sedan) but my back seats are only accessible by reaching in, and at that point I don't even use them.
I recently had to borrow my Parents' SUV to pick up a built dog ramp, and whenever I want to go to the shooting range, only one of my rifke cases will comfortably fit in my trunk.
A 'cheap' (compared to buying an actual truck or other used car) utilitarian vehicle like this is SO appealing to me and my circumstance.
I also love them as a vehicle, so it's like the perfect solution to my problem.
I have a s5 and a jeep Jk. Looking at a 93 Sambar now.
In the Philippines 🇵🇭, there are a lot of 'customizers' that includes switching the steering wheel to the left side among other stuff..
Nice ride.
Definitely looks like the coolest parts grabber to drive… next to my BRZ.
I had a 250cc Honda version in the late 70's put a light weight van back on it so could sleep in it. It didn't like hills on motorways the HGB got healed up.
Awesome my Subaru Sambar 1998 arrives in early August from Japan. I am very excited to see how it performs.
I just subbed to you to stay connected.
5代目は10〜15年前ぐらいには見かけていたけど最近は全く見ない。外国で第2の人生ならぬ車生を歩んでいる日本の旧車・中古車は多い。大切に使って下さいな。
We use these as public transportation in our country (the version with roof and some mods) can fit around 16+ passengers
april 1st 2024 they made them legal all over Texas so i am looking at some now. and a sambar is what i think i will end up with. but a hi jet is a close 2nd. and i have very few hills where i live. but i have a requirement it has to have a/c.
what is your top speed.
I got it up to around 74 or so once
@@forthewindell thats fast enough for me.
@@forthewindell 74 seems to be pretty good to me. but i have one more question and i will leave you alone. do you think it will run 60 mph with no trouble. i mean like for 50 miles none stop. if so i think i just made up my mind. for sure what i want. and if nothing goes wrong i'm hoping to before the first of the year.
@@MadsWorld34 I’d say 50-60 is the top of it’s comfortable cruising speed so yeah 50 miles at 60 is definitely doable and probably perfectly fine. My commute has fairly long stretches of 50s and it could do it fine as long as it isn’t up hill too much.
This road looks so fun to drive on
How do you feel like the safety is on these mini trucks? Sometimes I like to take my son around in rides, I just want to be sure if we get into a fender bender we would be ok
The older models are definitely not what I would consider safe from a modern vehicle standpoint. I do liken it to a motorcycle to an extent, you have to be willing to accept the risk every time you take it onto public roads. I think side streets and private land with a kid would certainly be responsible since they are built pretty tough and could take a fender bender but anything more, I’d prefer to only be responsible for myself in it.
my dad had a 1991 cargo Key car Daihatsu as a daily and for work, 3 cylinders under the driver seat, used to take me to school on it
i'm not really well versed with these kei trucks but they really are some tough pickup trucks for its size, i've seen people load stuff twice its size and it still going strong, wouldn't recommend it though
Well I know where you filmed the city part since I go by those buildings all the time. Anyway I think this thing is pretty cool! I can imagine it being perfect for loads of drywall and/or plywood and the like.
I have a Subaru Sambar KS4 with AC in the ATX Austin Texas area. Plus I'm starting to see a few Kei trucks on the road. They are really fun. Bless up Kei-Truckers drive safe
Jonothan great video thank you! Would you DynaMat the cab for excessive noise or engine quiet enough back there. You probably want those plastic window rain covers if you get a lot of rain. My main question about the Sambar does it come from the factory in a Mini Dump version or does rear engine location prevent a Dumper? BTW you can get bigger injectors for the Clover I think (cheater Turbo 😉) or thirstier carburetor whichever you have. Ask manufacturer if high octane is preferable for your Clover too. 👋👍
Thank you helpful video no hype just the facts ✔️
A Kei truck can haul more hay out to the cows, more construction debris to the dump, more lumber to the cabinet shop, more new cabinets to a jobsite, and more of the junk accumulated in your girlfriend's college apartment than any new "pickup truck" on the American market. It will also fit in tiny urban parking spaces.
American pickups used to be the gold standard for practical utility. Now they're just giant, energy slurping passenger cars with tiny open air luggage compartments tacked on. Rangers and F-150s (along with Chevy S-10s) used to be the go-to choices for contractors and tradesmen. But the new ones suck. Sure, they can tow a 30ft camper and carry 6 adults, but a so could a Ford Torino station wagon, and in a lot more comfort. A new F-150 will barely hold 3 bales of hay and can't haul a load of plywood.
Sadly, we can't buy new Kei trucks in the US, and the newest ones legally available are at least 25 years old. Much as I want one, I'm afraid these will soon start having the same problems with parts availability as my similarly aged (1991) Ford Ranger. It still runs well, but with 300,000 miles on it has accumulated a lot of road rash and the body parts it needs can't be found for any amount of money...even the correct tires are getting hard to find.
I don't need a 6-passenger truck-like object that can't carry a meaningful quantity of cinderblocks or gravel. I just need to haul me, my dog, and a stack of two by fours to a jobsite. If Subaru was importing new ones, I'd buy a Sanbar this afternoon.
I completely agree! Definitely wish manufacturers would at least attempt to try out the US market with these. Thanks for watching!
Kei trucks are remarkably practical. My 1996 4WD Hijet hauls more (volume and weight) than my 1997 4WD Tacoma XtraCab. The bed is slightly larger and the Hijet has a flat bed with no wheel wells poking up into the bed to eat up cargo space and make it difficult to haul sheets of drywall without breaking them. The Hijet is much smaller and more maneuverable and will go places full size trucks won't go. We really should have 1.2 liter versions of kei trucks in the US but we don't for the same reason we can't import late model kei trucks - stupid protectionist regulations. The EPA and DOT won't let me import a new kei truck with crumple zones, air bags, fuel efficient fuel injection and electronic ignition, but I can import a 25 year old kei truck with a carburetor and distributor cap that is less efficient, more polluting and less safe. Clearly, despite their claims, it's not about safety, fuel economy, or the environment.
@@Liberty4Ever In this and your comment below, you are telling me some things I really wanted to know. If I read you correctly, these little trucks can comfortably haul 4x8 sheets. One of the things I really liked about my old Ford Ranger was that I could back it up to my shop door and pull sheets of plywood directly onto the table saw. When my kid claimed the old Ranger, I bought a slightly newer (2000) one but plywood sheets sit at least a foot higher which not only makes it a worthless infeed table, but also much more difficult to load by myself, and not JUST because I'm getting old. Looks like these little trucks can do that, even better than the Ranger.
I've been looking much more closely at these over the past couple of days and one thing that strikes me is how much empty space there is between the top of the frame and the bottom of the bed. I'm thinking ditch the engine. Install brushless motors at all four wheels, pave the space between the bed and frame with batteries and BAM, perfect 4wd electric utility truck for town and light use on state highways. If I was even 10 years younger I'd be up for that task, but that project would have to be about 9th in line. Too many projects, not enough time.
It's just stupid that politicians and bureaucrats have created a regulatory atmosphere where we can't have small cars and trucks anymore. I'd be very happy with a new Kei truck, or if I can't buy one of those, how about a Ford Courier or Chevy Luv?
@@christopherdahle9985 - The kei truck beds are all slightly larger than 4' X 6'. Drop the tailgate and 4X8 sheets of plywood are no problem. The bed is fairly low which makes loading and unloading easier but may be too low to serve as a table saw infeed depending on your setup.
There is a lot of unused space between the frame and bed on a kei truck which is odd because they're clever small trucks with very little wasted space in every other aspect. I had considered using the space for LiFePO4 batteries that trickle charged while I was driving so I could run a large inverter and 120 VAC power tools, including my little inexpensive Poulan electric chain saw which punches well above its weight class. 200 amp hours of LiFePO4 batteries could also be very useful if I built a foamie (fiberglass over foam) camper that drops into the bed to make a mini SHTF RV.
Four electric motors, one per wheel, would be a sweet EV conversion, particularly if you could rig up something similar to a portal axle to increase the ground clearance. You could also lift the body a lot for more ground clearance and larger wheels (which the high torque electric motors could spin), but a much easier EV conversion would be to replace the little 660 cc engine with an engine and controller kit made for at-home EV conversions. There are plenty of RUclips videos showing all sorts of EV conversion vehicles but surprisingly I haven't seen a kei truck EV conversion.
I have the old age thing too, but for me, it's too many projects, not enough mojo. Time, I have. I could watch fewer RUclips videos and be more productive, but I just don't have the energy any more. 😕
Toyota is releasing a new light pickup truck that's reported to be inexpensive, but the Toyota Stout won't be a real truck because it'll have unibody construction instead of body-on-frame construction as the kei trucks have. Actually, the front of a kei truck is a bit unibody, but they're body-on-frame for the cargo bed where it counts. Kei trucks in general and my Hijet in particular are tough little trucks.
@@forthewindellI think federal crash regulations prevent them from doing so
The fact you have the privaledge to do this at all is a flex on its own. My state doesn't allow kei trucks
Would you recommend this type of truck for beginner drivers? And is it possible to get in automatic?
I'm looking for a small car due to my issues with with depth perception in my right eye.
It is a very small and light vehicle with very good visibility from inside.
So in a way I would say it could be good for a beginner. It is possible to get the van versions in automatic but the trucks were almost exclusively manual. Depending on where you live, the steering wheel being on the right side could be a learning curve as well.
Yes we have in stock automatic transmission also
I had a 4cyl Jeep TJ. Totally freeway legal. If you saw a hill, it could not hold 55mph. It could only do 70 going downhill with a tailwind. It had factory tires, nothing crazy just no power.
I really wanted to get one of these. I ended up with a Suzuki Samurai instead. You get a lot of the same sorts of conversations every time you park it somewhere.
I work from home, so daily driver pretty much means trips to the grocery store, but yes, my 91 Mazda Scrum is what I drive most often in fair weather.
I remember some people do mod the turbo in kei car to something like 120hp：）
And yes, newer kei car has turbo with 69hp cap😅
Thanks for the vid. Looking forward to the import process. I've seen some and it looks like a pain.
Thanks for watching! Yeah the import process is definitely a bit daunting but with the proper research, a lot of the frustrations can be mitigated. Working on the process video now 🤙
I stubbornly tried to do all of my import paperwork. I invested a lot of time and got essentially nowhere. I recommend using an online import broker. I used a place in India with a US website. It wasn't that expensive and they filed all of the paperwork for me. Make sure you file the ISF with US Customs at least a day before the ship leaves Japan. I resented being forced to pay for a TWIC escort but Crown TWIC Escort was well worth the money to make sure everything went well at the port. Having watched The Wire, I drove an extra 60 miles round trip to import through Newport News Virginia rather than Baltimore. Another RUclipsr complained that the Baltimore port runs a scam where they find a grass seed and charge you $350 to clean the truck to pass the USDA inspection.
I want a keictruck so bad. I would probably go with honda. Cause I've always had good experiences with himda machines and engines
A tradie in Botswana spoke highly of these trucks loaded with steel in deep sand roads. He had done many miles with his truck. Apparently other 4x4 got stuck in the sand.
that thing is so fucking cute omg
Much looking forward to import process video !
Super nice and versatile Trucks but you will never have a accident "front crash" in a Truck like this.
Did you have to do anything to it so it's can be legal to drive in the US ? Smog ? Take the speed restriction off ? Love these thinking of getting one ?
I honestly didn’t have to do much by virtue of the state I live in having very limited vehicle restrictions. So it would definitely depend on what state you’re going to be driving in. My specific truck did not have a speed restrictor so not much to do for me besides some new tires and getting a plate
These are so cool.
Loved the idea so much, I just bought one! 1995 Subaru Sambar KS4, JA Grade. Hot off the heels of your advise: with air conditioning! Just waiting for the seller to get the shipping arranged now...
As for you MPG and some of your power struggles, I wonder if your engine is a bit out of tune? From other folks, it seems like you should be getting about 8 more MPG and you should be able to maintain just a bit more speed on the slight inclines. If you havent already gone through all your filters (inc fuel), set your valve spacing, set the flow rates on your carburetor, and set the timing of the distributer, you may want to look into that to see if you can get a little more performance from the engine within its stock parameters.
That’s awesome to hear!
I definitely agree, I definitely plan on going through it in more depth once the weather is semi-bearable here in SC (I unfortunately don’t have a garage). Definitely looking forward to digging in and trying to get a little more performance. Enjoy your truck!
Did your shipping get arranged?....been waiting almost a month and still no CAP info for booking/shipping. Getting a little concerned but maybe just expecting too much Ha.
@@lynchcreekmuzzy5759 Yup! I think it was about 7 weeks before it got shipped and it actually arrived on Halloween. It'll greatly depend on the timing of the shipping routes and available cargo space. Baltimore is one of the more frequently visited ports.
@JimmyNewCakes Cool.....mine coming into Seattle area. Just fyi...I watched a show that stated to pay attention to B.S. fees coming thru Baltimore. Sounds like they like to grease their own palms. I don't know for certain but it has been a concern for people.
I also got a Subaru Sambar...but a van.....CAN'T WAIT!!! hope you are enjoying yours!
It's from the Japanese. It's terrible that you can't get it unless you follow America's 25-year rule! There was a deterioration accident due to rust.
Although this rarely happens, there is an example where the loading platform was damaged by rust when attached to the loading platform with a rope due to overloading (separation of the frame and loading platform).
★The solution is to reinforce the joint between the frame and the loading platform. After removing the rust, use an L-shaped angle and reinforce with welding and it will be perfect.
It can be used until the engine stops working and this type of engine is cheap and there are many in Japan (if you have a spare engine, it can be used for 100 years lol). The choice of 4WD is very wise.
A minivan with the back end cut off for some reason?
Ok Doug ❤
But have I told you about Cars and Bids?
Definitely make a video on the import process I’m looking to important into nj
I’ve got the script written, should be filming it in the next few days. Stay tuned!
Maybe exhaust modifications might get little more power and air intake, I am looking ijbto one soon
I have the ‘92 delux with ac and it’s great but the ac takes so much power away it’s not used much
軽より大きいカテゴリーにもキャブオーバータイプのトラックはあるよ。
今後はそちらも流行るでしょう。
安全性はそちらの方が高いはずですから。
the japanese favor design and functionality over style and "showing a big engine". if the US was more keen on selling civilian box trucks and cab-overs in general that were between the size of a kei truck and those gigantic mitsubishi FUSOs and toyota Dynas and stuff that we did and do actually get in the states (you usually see them dressed as food containers for CVS pharmacy and stuff), well the US would be full of awesome trucks to the point where kei trucks wouldn't hold such a niche. all flat bed box trucks are amazing and just better at everything than the inefficient L shaped pickup truck. Plus, if the US had all cab overs driving around, there wouldn't be half as many karens accidentally running over people and other cars and motorcycles in the parking lot because they can't see anything beyond the giant bulge up front that's there for no reason at this point other than "churdishien". The cab over is the literal pinnacle of VISIBILITY. better than mid engined supercars which are famous for being front row seats at the roller coaster.
Totally agree.
US automakers suffer from a complete lack of imagination that results from decades of advertising that conditions North American drivers to think only in terms of what Detroit offers as being the benchmark for what is good. The narrative of this video reflects that ... Numerous comparisons of this keitora with the imagined standard for trucks that he imagines most of his viewers hold. Oh, it may not be powerful enough for hills, and the ride might not be soft enough. And, sadly, maybe most viewers do hold that kind of preconceived standard for what an acceptable truck MUST have. Not me. I've lived in Japan and have seen the alternatives we could have in North America and that we might demand if we had more imagination and looked beyond our borders now and then.
Where did you get it from
I got mine from carfromjapan.com I’ve also got a video detailing the process on my channel
regarding states refusing to tag these: second thought: what about those tiny cars, supposed to be super economical and eco friendly, you know the ones... I just dont remember the names of them. Those are allowed on the interstate... those tiny / slow / dangerous / "sneeze on them they flip" / How is it they are legal, and especially that they are allowed on the interstate? and yet the powers that be have a problem with these trucks? Again, if the Mini - import community gets motivated and organized, a good amount of pressure can be applied to the situation.
This model have 4 cyrider,and 4 wheels independent suspention!!
What size tires are you running on your Sambar? I have a '95 Sambar here in NC and just purchased 14" wheels and 175/65r14 tires for it but I don't get them delivered for a few more days. I'm curious about your tire size after you commenting on how your Sambar struggles some with hills. Thanks! 👍
I’m running 14 inch wheels with some 165/60/r14 tires on them.
What makes it fun is getting to drive a slow car fast.
Is your kei truck registers as an antique? If not how did you get normal registration? PA you can only get kei trucks as antiques.
South Carolina where I live currently does not have any regulations for or against kei trucks being registered as normal vehicles. It is on a state by state basis currently and unfortunately some states have arbitrarily chosen to enact strange regulations.
@ gotcha! Wish I lived in a state where it’s normalized. I’m getting a 1999 hijet and it’s efi! Super stoked about it despite having to register as antique.
@@speedyboi4623yeah it’s definitely a kinda strange situation, this is a good video that explains it better if you’re interested: ruclips.net/video/RrTnyWODUT0/видео.htmlsi=CZD-TbpXr9I6-Eiv
But it does give me hope that regulations can be fought and changed if people get behind a cause. I’m glad they are still letting it be registered as antique instead of banning it completely.
@ thank you! It does make me upset that in some states kei trucks are completely illegal for street use. I know the reasoning they say is because they are unsafe but I can own a 1000cc crotch rocket which is way more unsafe and can do extreme speeds. I feel like big vehicle companies like ford and Chevy are lobbying and putting money into regulations on these trucks. Without regulation I feel most of the market would lean towards practical, small, simple, work trucks.
@@speedyboi4623exactly. And it’s even more infuriating that it was the arbitrary suggestion of a non governmental agency that convinced so many states to instate regulations. The states basically just didn’t do their research and blindly followed the suggestion of a committee of like 11 people
If you’re in Florida what’s your experience with driving this on the I-4? I’m considering getting an ACTY but given how they seem to top out around 70 I’m a little concerned.
I’m actually in SC, I picked up the truck in Jacksonville though. If top speed is a concern for you I would definitely look at the Subaru sambar just because of the 4 cyclinders vs 3 in the Honda. Just helps it be a bit more comfortable at higher speeds. As far as top speeds go, I have gotten my Subaru up to around 80mph. Wouldn’t want to do it for a super long time but it can handle it just fine. But that’s basically the limit
We want these trucks in America 🇺🇸 !
How many propane tanks can you fit in the bed ? I would appreciate it if you could give me an idea. Thank you. I did the math and I think 15 but not sure.
I’m not quite sure. That sounds about right
Did you have to calibrate the speedometer after putting on larger wheels?
It was definitely not as accurate but since it was already in KPH, I really just used it as a reference point anyway since chances are I wouldn’t be speeding anyway on most faster roads
Tell me what you use for your 180 cam setup please
I had the insta360 x3 creator bundle with the selfie stick mounted to the rack that comes with the Sambar
What Im intrested in is, how is spare parts situation? It is old and foreign car, what if something breaks? There are parts available? Are they expensive? Do I have to wait long? Thanks
There are various websites to find parts. Most of them are Japan based so shipping is rather costly. But if you can bundle some parts you need or will need you can get a better deal on shipping all those parts together
Just ordered a Sambar now that they’re street legal in Texas!
How’s yours holding up, any mechanical issues?
Nice! Still going strong 💪
how long did it take from an all said and done purchase to when it arrived in the states?
I purchased it early February (the 12th) if I remember correctly, and it arrived in Jacksonville on April 4th or so I think. So for me roughly two months.
良いね👍
Can anything be retro fitted to fit this vehicle? I.e. moon roof? Shocks? Different engine?
They were available in many different options with a variety of add-ons in Japan, so there are technically parts available somewhere for OEM retrofitting. But the majority of retrofitting in the US consists of finding parts from other vehicles that happen to also work with the Kei vehicles. But anything is possible with enough work I guess 😉
It’s weird they aren’t built for hills considering Japan is insanely mountainous and the majority of its industrial areas are amongst mountains and hills. You’d think they would be purpose built for the environment they live in.
I believe they do make them with a bit more powerful motors .
He upgraded his to 14 inch wheels from 12. That hurts acceleration but improves top speed.
What company did you use to ship it? How much did it cost to ship?
I used carfromjapan.com, the truck itself was $1400 but I ended up paying a total of $3200 with shipping cost added.
@@forthewindell Thank you so much for your information and Video.
This truck would be perfect for Island life like on Nantucket.
3,500 for the truck including shipping. Right?
How's maintainence? Easy to find someone to work on it if needed?
I never found it very hard to work on by myself given I could source a part from somewhere. They’re mechanically quite simple. I’m sure that as long as the US doesn’t completely ban them, the more trucks that arrive here, the more people you’ll be able to find that can work on them. I always say that it’s not the best vehicle to buy unless you’re willing to learn how to work on them yourself to an extent.
This is a dumb question, but do you have a long torso? I'm 6'2" and have been considering a Sambar cause I know it has the most cabin height of the kei trucks, but I only have a 30 pant inseam so I'm worried I may still bump my head on the ceiling.
I have a 32 inch inseam at 6’2” and I had plenty of head room. And my torso is most of my height as well. So even if you actually have a torso that is the full 2” longer than mine, you should be fine.
@@forthewindell Nice, thanks so much!
From last snow to first snow every year since 2020 Ive been daily driving a 1994 Sambar Super Deluxe, its really a great time as long as you dont mind going slow, 50mph or less really, as for some reason mine will not go over 85kmh (52mph). Also the AC will limit the speed you can go, as the clutch disengages over 4000rpm.
Sounds like a governor on the engine
@@daleval2182 oh it will do 60, on a downhill. Plus having dug through both jp-carparts, and the fsm I see no mention or part for a governor. Im more curious if the carburetor is just not liking the ethanol gas as each year I lose a bit of range per tank. Started at 460km, now down to 390km. Also if you meant the AC clutch, well those are pressure based and will shut off the compressor clutch if there is too much or too little pressure and running the engine higher in rpm increases the pressure in the system and is most likely just tripping the high pressure switch to disengage the clutch. After a minute it will try re-engaging.
I am looking into getting one of these cars, my state legalized them in January for ones that can get historic tags (20 years or older) and I was looking at Subaru or Toyota.
That’s awesome! They’re definitely fun little things, can’t say enough good things about my Subaru
might be too late? but what state are you in? i’m trying to find the laws on these for virginia in hopes that i can daily one but i cannot find them
I’m in South Carolina, so it wasn’t really a big deal. Here’s a Reddit post about VA that I found though: reddit.com/r/keitruck/s/pYsKnZEqQy
Best of luck!
Obviously it can reach highway speeds but how is it really? I don’t drive my current truck (Nissan hardbody) much but I like having it for when I do need to carry/move some larger items. Considering replacing it with one of these but I do have a 20 mile commute including a large portion of it on the interstate. Is it fine once you’re up to speed?
It’s as fine as a 1600lb vehicle with 50hp can really be on the interstate, feels the wind and high rpm but given the circumstances it handles it fine.
Great thanks!
I want one!!!!
I really like this type of kei truck.
But I don't think it will survive the Canadian winter.
That could be the case, keep in mind though that northern Japan is one of the snowiest places in the world during the winter, so the trucks are built to handle that as well to an extent. My friend lives in Hokkaido and he says that he still sees them all over even in the dead of winter.
I'm Japanese, so please let me give you my opinion. I've never been to Canada, so I can't comment lightly, but I think the lowest temperatures in Canada are harsher than in Japan!
By the way, when you say, "I can't stand it," what kind of background should we imagine about her?
The lowest temperature records in Japan are 1st place: -41 degrees, 2nd place: -39 degrees, and 3rd place: -39 degrees. Japan ranks 1st to 3rd in the world's snowfall records. The amount of snowfall in Japan per day is 210 cm, the highest in the world. If the vehicle cannot be driven under the above conditions, it will not pass the vehicle inspection.
Specifically, let's say you go hunting, the temperature is -40 degrees Celsius, the roads are unpaved, the roads are rough, and the snow is so heavy that one meter of snow falls per day. Even in such a case, with Subaru's light truck 4WD, you'll be able to take three large deer home! (I don't know the difference in minimum temperature) Maximum load capacity is 350 kg for light trucks
Is this Subaru Samber?
Yes it is!
@@forthewindell Thank you!
In my hometown,it is a light truck that I often see next to Daihatsu HIJET.
（I live in the countryside now.）
Best place to buy?? Looking to import one to Arizona through Los Angeles
I’m not sure about the “best” place. But I had a good experience with carfromjapan.com
I'm in Florida. Who did you get it from?
I got it from carfromjapan.com I have a video on my channel about the process
lol that driveway is way better than mine. I tend to take my rather rugged driveway in a front wheel drive daily car at around 20mph. Of course, due to clearance, I wouldn't want to do the same speeds on unknown ground in it. That kei truck, not sure what sort of clearance it has.