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.
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 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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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.
@@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.
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 ✔️
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
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 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 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 CZcamsr 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.
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.
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
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.
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! 👍
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 CZcams 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 CZcams 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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 😉
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 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.
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.
So your one of the k-trucks running around locally. I’ve been interested in getting one the main issue being I have to daily on our local highways. If your not able to get above 70 I find it’s dangerous when mixed with the local idiot.
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
Well, like it or not it’s become the standard for a new vehicle. That being said, I hope nobody who actually buys one of these expects that in the slightest. I certainly dont mind the “underpowered” nature of the trucks. So much fun
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.
Basically, there are no heavy parts in the rear of a light truck, so even if the rear wheels fall into a ditch, they can be easily lifted by one person.
Not that I know of, the listed top speed of the sambar is something north of 80mph and I have hit right around 80+ at times. The engine is screaming by then but it’ll do it
I almost died when you said 27mpg CITY.. Obviously I don’t expect a Silverado to have good economy, especially with a 5.3 in it. But it’d be nice if I could make better than 11mpg
I don’t think I mentioned in this video, but the Subaru Sambar’s engine is at the very rear of the bed. So there is no heat under the seats in the Subaru
@@forthewindell Roger that! I've been looking at HiAce's and their engine is under the seats and even accessed from inside the cab, you flip the seats up
@@SpaceJamHikes yeah I’m sure there’s pros and cons to each set up. I do enjoy the easy access of the Subaru. There’s a “hood” at the very back of the truck as well as the trap door in the bed to access different parts of the engine. I’d love to tinker with some other makes at some point
I drove a truck with the engine under the seats once, it was a Kia K 2500. The seats are well insulated in these kinds of trucks/vans, you could never feel the heat from the engine, unless if you plan to overheat it. The only reason the seats ever got hot was that they were black fake leather, and that stuff gets seriously hot if you leave it on the sun, I'm sure they could actually cause some burn injuries.
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.
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
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
When there is a used Kei-truck, the landscape becomes like the Japanese countryside. anywhere in the world.😆
The kei van my friends had in Japan were awesome. Used them for everything.
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.
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.
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 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.
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
That actually looks very cool, I would just zip around in one.
It definitely puts a smile on your face, nothing quite like it.
I daily drove my Bedford Rascal for about 3 years. The rascal looks identical to this. It was great!
Great review young man, thank you 🙏!
great buy! i want one so bad!
awesome vid you should make more! love your vibe
I appreciate it! Stay tuned
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.
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.
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!
Nice ride.
This road looks so fun to drive on
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.
In my country kei cars are a really common daily due to how practical they are
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
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.
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.
年式のわりに程度の良いサンバーですね。
私も同じ型のサンバーでスキー場に通勤してました。
that thing is so fucking cute omg
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
Much looking forward to import process video !
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 ✔️
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
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
We use these as public transportation in our country (the version with roof and some mods) can fit around 16+ passengers
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.
The fact you have the privaledge to do this at all is a flex on its own. My state doesn't allow kei trucks
In the Philippines 🇵🇭, there are a lot of 'customizers' that includes switching the steering wheel to the left side among other stuff..
Probably can do a couple of minor performance upgrades and improve the acceleration a great deal.
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 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 CZcamsr 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.
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.
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
I drove my 96 4wd 5speed Acty on 65 mph highway for 4 hours (2 each way) and averaged 41 mpg one way and 35 mpg the other way
May I know how much you paid for Duties & Taxes, and other expenses (US port)?
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.
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。
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.
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 CZcams 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 CZcams 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
I'm in Florida. Who did you get it from?
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.
Super nice and versatile Trucks but you will never have a accident "front crash" in a Truck like this.
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
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!
I have the ‘92 delux with ac and it’s great but the ac takes so much power away it’s not used much
I want one!!!!
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.
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😅
I want one
We want these trucks in America 🇺🇸 !
Ok Doug ❤
But have I told you about Cars and Bids?
This truck would be perfect for Island life like on Nantucket.
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!
良いね👍
This model have 4 cyrider,and 4 wheels independent suspention!!
Just ordered a Sambar now that they’re street legal in Texas!
How’s yours holding up, any mechanical issues?
Nice! Still going strong 💪
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!
さすがに農道で働く軽トラ～ポルシェ活躍中～💪💪ok
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!
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 😉
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.
3,500 for the truck including shipping. Right?
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
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
So your one of the k-trucks running around locally. I’ve been interested in getting one the main issue being I have to daily on our local highways. If your not able to get above 70 I find it’s dangerous when mixed with the local idiot.
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
this thing is sweeettttttt
Totally agree, they're so much fun 🤙
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!
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.
You should do a write up on the import process ive been wanting a kei for years now
Stay tuned! Video should be out in the next few weeks
@@forthewindell right on 👍
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 .
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.
I just bought one.2022 model
Here in New Zealand gas is $2.80 per LITER.!@!!
I'm hauling me and my tools 50 kilometres per day.
Hills really suck.
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。
Subaru Sambar is called the Porsche of the farm road
名車サンバーか 羨ましい
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 grew up with "underpowered" vehicles and I find peoples obsession with going up steep hills at full speed with AC as a minimum very strange.
Well, like it or not it’s become the standard for a new vehicle. That being said, I hope nobody who actually buys one of these expects that in the slightest. I certainly dont mind the “underpowered” nature of the trucks. So much fun
As a kei driver for 40 years,in the UK, I agree.Most cars are over powerful and that power is rarely,if ever ,used.
I've always wanted one of these, but California.
I have a Japanese PORSHE😊
Kei Truck has largest payload capacity in the smallest size and cheap. Modern pickup trucks are exact opposite.
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.
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.
Basically, there are no heavy parts in the rear of a light truck, so even if the rear wheels fall into a ditch, they can be easily lifted by one person.
Lol what? The engine sits in the rear of the truck. The weight distribution on these is actually pretty close to center
Does your minitruck have a governor on it?
Not that I know of, the listed top speed of the sambar is something north of 80mph and I have hit right around 80+ at times. The engine is screaming by then but it’ll do it
No AC? No problem out West.
I almost died when you said 27mpg CITY..
Obviously I don’t expect a Silverado to have good economy, especially with a 5.3 in it. But it’d be nice if I could make better than 11mpg
On the heat: do the seats get hot since the engine is right underneath them?
I don’t think I mentioned in this video, but the Subaru Sambar’s engine is at the very rear of the bed. So there is no heat under the seats in the Subaru
@@forthewindell Roger that! I've been looking at HiAce's and their engine is under the seats and even accessed from inside the cab, you flip the seats up
@@SpaceJamHikes yeah I’m sure there’s pros and cons to each set up. I do enjoy the easy access of the Subaru. There’s a “hood” at the very back of the truck as well as the trap door in the bed to access different parts of the engine. I’d love to tinker with some other makes at some point
I drove a truck with the engine under the seats once, it was a Kia K 2500. The seats are well insulated in these kinds of trucks/vans, you could never feel the heat from the engine, unless if you plan to overheat it. The only reason the seats ever got hot was that they were black fake leather, and that stuff gets seriously hot if you leave it on the sun, I'm sure they could actually cause some burn injuries.