Kei truck in the US: How do these get around regs?

I have noticed an ever-increasing number of Japanese mini-trucks around town over the last year or so. They are used, but they look quite new. I have seen them outfitted with truck beds and cargo boxes. How are they getting around the regulations on crash testing etc.? Could they be refreshed bodies on a 25 year old+ chassis?

Here is their site.

They pretty much explain it right there:

http://www.ridesautosales.com/mini-rides/technical/

I guess if metermaids can have them on the road, they gotta let everyone else have them too. I know there are also several electric city type vehicles that are road legal under the same guidelines, the Smart dealer up here was selling one a few years ago (don't think they moved too many though).

RSM Auto sells them in Jackson, Mi too.

There are a number of companies importing used Kei trucks as well. My understanding is that it's not cost effective to keep driving them in Japan after so many years because of their strict inspection rules.

I've seen them mostly used for off road, like at golf courses or resorts, but in Minnesota it turns out they can be registered as ATVs.

There is some sort of early '70s Suzuki mini truck on the Philly craigslist right now.

stuart in mn wrote: There are a number of companies importing used Kei trucks as well. My understanding is that it's not cost effective to keep driving them in Japan after so many years because of their strict inspection rules. I've seen them mostly used for off road, like at golf courses or resorts, but in Minnesota it turns out they can be registered as ATVs.

There's a guy in Plymouth right by MAP that used to import them. Spotted them out there a few times.

when I lived in Ocean City, NJ.. where only one street had a higher posted speed above 35mph.. one of those would have been great for getting around town.

A local mom-and-pop ice cream company has one that's a refrigerator truck. It got written up in the automotive section of the local paper. Cheap buy-in and importation wasn't all that expensive.

I have no idea how he got it registered here, but he did.

Depends on your state. In Maine we can register them like a tractor. You can drive them on the road under 35 mph and you have to stick an orange triangle on em. Not sure what other regs there are though.

still gonna need chrome stacks and beer keg fuel tanks under the bed FTW

I wonder if there's a way to register them in NY. That would be perfect for me to take to the train station, lumber yard ect.

Indiana can register them as cars.

Dang, now I want one. Too bad I already have one less parking space than I have cars and I don't have extra cash...

Hm, so the trick is, get em to indy, register as a car, and then drag the title to state of choice? I've played that game before.

I want one so I can do endos when I pull up to an intersection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cugir8ZhGHs

Wally wrote: I wonder if there's a way to register them in NY. That would be perfect for me to take to the train station, lumber yard ect.

Now that's a fly little truck. Sweet.

Waiting for the day they bring these stateside.

Or, if you need a minivan version....

I heard they get around crash laws and the 25 year rule by being imported as "used farm equipment". How do you get parts for these things?

Gearheadotaku wrote: How do you get parts for these things?

Internet???

Gearheadotaku wrote: I heard they get around crash laws and the 25 year rule by being imported as "used farm equipment". How do you get parts for these things?

Benchtop lathe??

Put bigger stuff in! If you're replacing, you might as well upgrade!

Gearheadotaku wrote: I heard they get around crash laws and the 25 year rule by being imported as "used farm equipment". How do you get parts for these things?

Make them out of origami.

Taiden wrote:

Gearheadotaku wrote: I heard they get around crash laws and the 25 year rule by being imported as "used farm equipment". How do you get parts for these things?

Benchtop lathe??

I literally laughed out loud. Good job.

I have some friends who buy them surplus from the US gov. they register them as "farm equipment" and can drive them on the road with the proper placards as long as they are on "farm business"

make one electric?