Kei Trucks—Lifesize!

[EB421]

1 hour ago, cteno4 said:

I so want one of these! Be fun to have a ev version that had like 70 mile range as that would do me for all the stuff i usually do around here off freeway stuff.

 

Oh, the Mitsubishi MiniCab MiEV U68T? Yeah, they're awesome. Unfortunately even used in Japan they're $8000, and it's almost impossible to get used EV's shipped internationally - I tried to buy one back in December. Plus, you're in the US - and they were made 2012-2016 so aren't allowed there thanks to the 25 year protectionism law. If we have any Russian members - lucky you - a bunch seem to be making it to you, thanks to the very short distance between Japan and Russian ports.

 

They're solid though - rolling chassis from a 2002-2013 Suzuki Carry DA63T, plus the drivetrain from an iMiEV and some restyling. Only downside is the long wheelbase on the DA63T - really smooth in town and super stable, but cramped up front and not as good offroad. My DA16T is much better on that front than my DA63T, though I miss being able to essentially not steer for five miles while doing 70 on straight freeway. On the other hand, doing four hour and back-to-back drives on the DA16T is actually practical, while in the DA63T it's just painful from how cramped it is.

 

[EB421]

On 2/1/2025 at 9:32 PM, RS18U said:

Very hard for me to fit in it as a driver 😕

 

On 2/1/2025 at 11:08 PM, cteno4 said:

Yeah I’m figuring my 193cm into it will be a very tight fit.

 

On 2/3/2025 at 6:40 AM, lighthouse said:

A small transporter like this was actually planned for TrainSetter's future fleet, but I no longer fit in it at 196cm....

 

You need a Daihatsu HiJet Jumbo, or Suzuki Super Carry (Current Japanese model - 80's/90's Super Carrys were just bigger engines; and the current international Super Carry is something completely unrelated).

 

Bigger problem - the Super Carry only existed since the launch of the DA16T at the earliest, which is 2013. That's fine for Lighthouse, as the EU has a fairly homogenous 10 year import law. But if it wasn't launched till 2015 or later then that's a no. For Canada (15y) you'll have to ask Four Sons Offroad in 2028, and in the US... have you considered an Aussie Yute as an alternative...?

 

[cteno4]

Very sweet! Mine is only a pipe dream really. I dont really NEED it, just would be fun and useful now and then [like transporting sheets of ply!].

 

the big thing with little trucks like these around here is crash protection. We are surrounded by tons of large SUVs that go blasting around in the dc style of “Out of my way! im more important than you are!’, especially the faster the roads. I survived a decade in a 64 vw bug when younger so i probably used up a number of cat lives driving thousands of miles on california highways, having to draft semis closely to go 65mph! But i still miss that old bug.

 

Ive seen a few interesting little prototypes of new small ev pickup trucks that looks to be bringing back the idea of smaller, useful trucks. It’s amazing the large pickup trucks these days seem to ahve smaller and higher beds making them less useful than than a good old toyota or Datsun pickup of the 70s! I had to laugh the first time i was physically next to a cybertruck and realized how high the bed and side walls were to lift anything up and into the bed even with my height. You would throw your back out having to reach out so far to get over the wide sloping sidewall. Even the rear gate is pretty high to lift stuff up to. Seems like it’s going away from the good old usefulness of a small basic pickup. Thats what i love about the keis as they seem to focus on the usefulness 100%.

 

jeff

[EB421]

5 hours ago, cteno4 said:

Very sweet! Mine is only a pipe dream really. I dont really NEED it, just would be fun and useful now and then [like transporting sheets of ply!]...

 

We are surrounded by tons of large SUVs that go blasting around in the dc style of “Out of my way! im more important than you are!’, especially the faster the roads. I survived a decade in a 64 vw bug when younger so i probably used up a number of cat lives...

 

Ive seen a few interesting little prototypes of new small ev pickup trucks that looks to be bringing back the idea of smaller, useful trucks. ... I had to laugh the first time i was physically next to a cybertruck and realized how high the bed and side walls were to lift anything up and into the bed even with my height. ... Thats what i love about the keis as they seem to focus on the usefulness 100%.

 

Road safety is a common refrain I hear about Kei in the USA. Apparently speed limits there are "minimum speed" instead of "maximum speed" like everywhere else. The biggest difference is that here, vehicles have to be safer for the people it hits; not just the ones inside; as you say - I wouldn't want to be hit by a US SUV (whether in a Kei Truck or not); especially the deathtrap that's a Cybertruck. And at 4000kg, the energy used on a Cybertruck(and therefore dirty coal burned) is much more than the energy burned on the 900kg MiEV pickup!

 

Also worth mentioning that my trucks have dual airbag, advanced emissions control and the new one; ABS - which US-importable Kei Trucks will have none of. 😞

 

Vans too - since I'm currently in France, let's shout out the Ami Pro. 45kph max speed, 75km range, no license required (Moped license in the UK) and a fair whack of parcel space.

[cteno4]

Yes most here think speed limit reads speed minimum! DC can be especially bad as it has a big im more important than you attitude and many large expensive SUVs and very large truck [and now cybertrucks] running around. 

 

I am just so shocked thee are no smaller pickups here in the states anymore. Smallest are what we would have called a big pickup when i was a kid. Macho rules over usefulness and economy. I just have to laugh walking thru the parking lots in dc and seeming so many large trucks and as i look at the beds they are so clean and scratch free and most you never see anything in the back on the road. Only contractor trucks in town seem to use the beds at all! Odd status symbols the cybertruck is capping! 

 

The ami looks so cute! It would be a billiard ball here im afraid. We cant keep people near the 25mph speed limit on residential roads with kids and no side walks and that is our slowest area! I actually had a suv come down our street two days ago at 50mph i was stunned, they caught air on the speed bump in front of the park next to us. It all happened so fast and i was so stunned i didnt even have the time to grab a rock to toss even though i could hear and see it coming all the way up the block! Some stupid kid im guessing screwing around.

 

i am hoping some day folks will get saner about transportation here. Not happening any time soon though… i went thru a heavy evaluation of personal needs last spring when we were replacing the Prius v and trying to find the best option. Kia Nero phev luckily worked out, but it was about the only choice that did,

 

cheers

 

jeff

[Cat]

My first car was a used Subaru Brat, very handy little pickup like vehicle!

[cteno4]

Honey, I shrunk the El Camino!

 

jeff