mini toyota trucks

Soundguy · Aug 7, 2006

Anyone seen those mini toyota trucks/ Around here in florida, they just poppe dup overnight and on the machinery trader mage.

Has a little flat bed with staked sides, and a small cab.. looks like no ac.. and a real fuel saver. Might be nice for the farm for going and getting more feed than your car holds.. but less than a trailer full.. plus building supplies.. etc.

Soundguy

Farmwithjunk · Aug 7, 2006

They,ve been big sellers around here since day one. I've owned 2 mini's and one Tundra. 1984 SR5 4WD, 22R engine. Best vehicle I've ever owned. PERIOD on that. 1988 SR5 extended cab 22RE (both 5 speeds) 2nd best vehicle I've owned. The 4wd's don't smash fuel economy records, but do OK. Both went over 250,000 with minimal repairs/maint. Tundra was auto/V8 with bells and whistles galore. Great truck, just too light duty for my needs at the time.Good economy for a 4WD/auto/V8. 210,000 with only tires/brakes/maint.

Biggest knock. I'm 6'-5". Toyota mini's AREN'T. Knees in the steering wheel cramps in legs.

Soundguy · Aug 7, 2006

I'm trying to post a pic.. but I can't find a suitable link anywhere.. grr....

Soundguy

Soundguy said:
Anyone seen those mini toyota trucks/ Around here in florida, they just poppe dup overnight and on the machinery trader mage.

Has a little flat bed with staked sides, and a small cab.. looks like no ac.. and a real fuel saver. Might be nice for the farm for going and getting more feed than your car holds.. but less than a trailer full.. plus building supplies.. etc.

Soundguy

LMTC · Aug 7, 2006

Farmswith, these things make your SR5 look like a Crown Vic. They are sized for orientals about like a chevette was sized for an American. Tight for them and ultra tight for us. You will NOT see a commercial for them showing how many pro BB or FB players will fit in one....because the answer is none. With that said the quality seems good and they have a purpose within a certain niche.

Soundguy · Aug 7, 2006

Anyone got a pic?

I saw one in a trader mag on friday.. but searching their site does not produce a pic.. I know where there is one on a lot in town.. but I'm chained to the desk today..

As for Fb players.. well.. i guess you might be able to chain one down to the flatbed!

Soundguy

bgoodman · Aug 7, 2006

Talking about one of these?

Best pic I could find.

Bob_Skurka · Aug 7, 2006

Soundguy said:
Anyone seen those mini toyota trucks/ Around here in florida, they just poppe dup overnight and on the machinery trader mage.

Chris, there are several brands of those, they come in van body, pick up, dump versions and many are 4wd. The biggest problem is that here in the US they are not street legal unless they meet some special criteria and about 98% of them do NOT meet the criteria. So bascially they are being sold as OFF ROAD vehicles here in the US. I am not positive, but I think they have to be 25 years old, or older, to be licensed for road use here in the US. I've driven around in them in the Caribbean and they are nifty little vehicles, but when they are driven at highway speeds on narrow roads my best advice to passengers is to hang on and keep your eyes closed

Soundguy · Aug 7, 2006

The pic that bgoodman posted looks similar. to the one I say.. except the one I saw has a longer body.

It also has a fl tag on it.. so I may have to stop by and check it out.. Obviously sombody went to the expense to make it street legal.. etc.

If I get out there tomorrow, I'll check it out and report back.

Soundguy

heehaw · Aug 8, 2006

a local tractor dealer was selling something like that a couple years ago, but as you say, they were not street legal. it would be interesting to know the fuel mileage: the one i looked at wasn't geared so i would have been comfortable using it as a daily driver.
heehaw

Soundguy · Aug 8, 2006

The one I saw in the trader mag also mentioned 'farm vehicle / hunt club' so i assume it was non road use too.

I'm still trying to get down to the one by the road one day this week.. just too many emergiencies and fires to put out to do it today.

Soundguy

scesnick · Aug 12, 2006

I have been looking close at these mini trucks to use on my farm. As Bob said there are several brands. Dihiatsu Hi Jet, Honda Acty, Mazda Carry. and others. Our local tractor dealer has a few. The one i looked at was right around $4,400. ALOT cheaper than my Yamaha Rhino and it has heat and alot bigger bed..All of them are shipped from Japan and all are used. Some more than others. I hear the MPG are anywhere from 40 to 60 MPG depending on whop you talk to.

You can get them with the bigger ATV tires, Camo paint, dump bed. A/C heat 4 wd with diff lock.
I also heard that in some states you actually can put them on the road. Most owners of these are in fact farmers or hunting camps and you can put a triangle on it and drive on secondary roads.
www.japaneseminitrucks.com

RobertN · Aug 12, 2006

I have seen similar here. A local Junior College has ana old Toyota I believe; I have taken classes occasionally there for 20+ years, and it's been there most of that time. In Mexico, when we went to Cabo a couple years ago, the Condo complex had a bunch of Mitsubishi's I think. Som had seats in the back, sort of a taxi for getting folks around the complex(the place was huge). Some had flatbeds, some had a regular bed but with a dump.

They are pretty neat, but for the price I think(IMHO

) an used Toyota SR5 of Ford Ranger shortbed would be more flexible...

scesnick · Aug 12, 2006

RobertN,

If you would want street legal I would go with the Toyota SR5 for sure but for working a farm, gathering firewood, hauling hay, hunting. etc.. I would go with one of these because they are smaller and actually only as wide as my Rhino.
I don't think the price is that bad really. I have $8,500 in my rhino and then alot more in the cab and doors and I still don't have heat in it.

Soundguy · Aug 13, 2006

I live in florida.. My yerfdog has heat... (grin).

Soundguy

scesnick said:
RobertN,

alot more in the cab and doors and I still don't have heat in it.

dfkrug · Aug 13, 2006

My local Deere dealer sells these Chinese mini-trucks. Off-road
only. 900 or 1000 cc EFI gas engines. 25MPH speed limit. $10-15K
as I recall.

Soundguy · Aug 14, 2006

Cute.

Soundguy

shvl73 · Aug 14, 2006

I think there was a member by the name of Darrin Ray who imported these mini trucks, I think he was in the upstate NY area.

EddieWalker · Aug 14, 2006

Most, if not all, of the Asian car manufacturers have a version of those trucks. Cab with a flat bed, two or four door and a few engine choices. Most that I saw overseas were gas, but there was a few diesels.

It's been almost 20 years since I lived in Indonesia, but we had several at the Embassy and they were the equvilant to our big trucks. The streets there are so small and crowded,that semi trucks are only allowed into the city during a few hours in the middle of the night. Otherwise, all deliveries are on trucks like that or the little bobtails like the Isuzu.

If you can get parts for it and the price is right, it's got the potential to be a good vehicle.

Eddie