Mini Trucks in Stock

Comments: Have more trucks on order. Will up date list when they arrive.

Call Jeff 208-431-8064

Small Used Transport Vehicles For Many Off Road Uses

The Japanese have been making right hand drive light duty trucks for decades which Schow's Truck Center can now import used in containers to the US. All we need is an English speaking contact person. These used mini trucks can be utilized off road here in the US like farm utility vehicles, as ranch trucks, as off road trail vehicles for hunters and rescue teams, as wholesale nursery stock transporters, as compact maintenance vehicles for golf courses, schools and universities, municipalities, parks, and zoos. They can be used at automobile wrecking yards, airports, docks & harbors, lumber yards, manufacturers, mines, parking garages, stadiums, warehouses, dairies, orchards, stables, cemeteries, hotels, marinas, campgrounds, orchards, resorts, theme parks, corporate campuses, factories, oil refineries, movie sets, fish farms, chicken processors, and as transporters of endless other types of equipment within large storage yards. By far the largest number of these used mini trucks end up being used as versatile little farm trucksand go anywhere hunting trucks.

These used mini trucks can do a lot of the same hauling jobs that off road utility vehicles can do, but with a more solid cab and a longer truck bed – all at very high miles per gallon of gas. They are also less expensive than typical utility vehicles. Like utility vehicles, 4X4 mini trucks can do their work in the dirt. The number of off road functions these micro trucks can perform is almost endless. Hunters who have gotten cold and wet riding their utility vehicles, their ATVs, and their jacked up golf carts in the fall, find they are much more comfortable sitting in heated used Japanese mini truck cabs. Some units also come with air conditioning for comfort on hot, humid, summer days.

Mini Truck Manufacturing Background In Japan

Starting in the sixties the Japanese manufactured what they termed “Kei class” vehicles (now generally called “K-class”). Kei means “light weight”. These were built as a less expensive, fuel efficient, shorter, narrower, and lighter alternative to the standard size and weight vehicles termed “joyousha”. The K-class vehicles have included passenger cars, vans, and mini trucks. Best Used Tractors imports used K-class mini trucks, but not the vans or passenger cars. The Japanese have used these small off road trucks to perform a myriad of burden carrier tasks. They have often equipped the rear truck beds of these little trucks with specialized industry specific equipment. When many consider their special purpose vehicles options they often find used mini trucks from Japan to be their best choice. Some US buyers have done the same with their little all terrain trucks.

The 90’s s had mostly 45 horsepower 660cc engines. Due to regulations Americans are unable to import a Japanese mini truck manufactured in 1999 or later. However, the average number of miles driven per year in Japan is only about 6,000, so these vehicles usually have a lot of remaining usability. K trucks have changed in size over the years, but for comparison purposes units from the 80’s and 90’s are typically about two thirds the length and three quarters of the width of a Dodge Dakota. K-class vehicle regulations have upgraded repeatedly over the years, mainly to meet ever-tightening emissions standards and crashworthiness requirements. That means over the decades of production the Japanese manufacturers have really perfected these great little trucks.

Japanese Laws Insure Availability Of Low Cost High Quality Used Vehicles

In Japan there are punitive costs involved in keeping older vehicles on the road. There is the “shaken” or registration fee, the “zeiken” or taxes, the “shakoshomei” or parking fees, and the “hokken” or insurance. The new vehicle “shaken” lasts for three years. Then the expensive “shaken” registration must be renewed every two years coupled with mandatory periodic maintenance checks. Although these mandatory checks keep Japanese vehicles in good running condition, those same laws force heavy depreciation of perfectly fine used mini trucks. That means good prices on great quality used mini trucks for buyers outside of Japan .

Major Japanese Vehicle Manufacturers Make These Terrific Small Trucks

The major Japanese mini truck manufacturers, in order of recent Japanese sales volumes are: the Suzuki Carry, the Daihatsu Hijet (Subsidiary of Toyota), the Honda Acty, the Subaru Sambar (Fuji Heavy Industries), the Mitsubishi Minicab, and the Mazda Scrum (Made by Suzuki). Since most of these manufacturers market other s in the US , importers have often acquired many parts for these off road utility vehicles within the US .

 

The specs on these mini trucks vary from make to make and from year to year, but you may find the size averages below useful. The mini trucks are typically 10'10" in total length, about 4'6" in total width, and about 5'8" high. The typical wheelbase on these mini trucks is 6'3", and the inside dimensions of the bed are 4'1" by 6'6". They run about 1,400 lbs each. They have manual transmissions with 4 or 5 forward gears - occasionally 6 forward gears. Some also have high and low ranges. These mini utility trucks start out with 5.80-12 tires, but some buyers switch to 6.00-12 mud and snow tires, ATV tires, or tractor tires. They usually come with radios. Occasionally they have air conditioning. Sometimes they have dump beds as well.