In typical ME fashion long post ahead

TL/DL truck came, had issues, made it home.

So after many years and many excuses I finally bought one night after a few too many Rum and cokes a Kei truck. I've been looking at them for years, at least 7. We almost bought one 5 years ago before we moved onto the property when we were building the road to park the 5th wheel. But always decided we needed the money for something else.

This time we decided yes because now that we are remodeling and building this place to be our forever home (probably) we need a lot of dirt moved. As small as these things are they will easily hold 4 tractor buckets of dirt. So that saves us from running the tractor up and down the hill. The tractor has 800 hours on it already, so trying to save hours when we can.

Some mishaps happen with some paper work but got them figured out and got the truck the day I ran out of free 10 day storage. Well the thing the company failed to tell us it was bone dry. Literally no gas, the longshoremen had to fill it up with probably 4oz oz of fuel to get it to me only mentioned hey you should get to a gas station ASAP, Fast forward about 100' it does. 


Well we get gas for it and go to start it. It doesn't turn over. No click no nothing. Always make the wide carry jumpers so we jump it and she starts and we go. I get to the light and put in clutch, it dies. So here I am feathering this car down the road using the ebrake to slow and the clutch and gas to keep it alive well 2 more times it dies. Finally get home and call it quits.

Very cool. I've been looking at these too. How much? How long till you have the energy to get it running right?

Quote from: Moab on April 26, 2024, 08:28:19 PMVery cool. I've been looking at these too. How much? How long till you have the energy to get it running right?

I've got it idling alright once it's warmed up. There was a vacuum hose that was broke. So I reconnected it. It hadn't been registered since 2020 so I'm assuming this was abandoned or not given in 4 years.

The batter was dated 2012 and was completely flat and had absolutely no gas in it. The longshoremen had to put gas in it it drive it off the ship but they must have put like 4oz in it because it does 100' out if the terminal.

It's also got a death rattle that'll put any jeep to shame.


The cost and shipping was 1200 for truck and 2300 for shipping. The the port if Tacoma extortion charge. Tacoma requires you to use a broker. Why? Because the excise tax goes from 2.5% to 25% and then you have to pay the broker that does absolutely nothing and has no legal obligation when they fuck up like telling me to ship what's basically the title to the wrong address and then say, oops well our job is done so figure it out.

It's my fault because I read up on it a few years ago and they didn't put this new rules in place. Had I done my homework more recently I would have shipped to California and shipped up via truck. Would have saved 1000$ or so.

Very interesting. How many miles? Condition? 

That is going to be so helpful to you on your property. Are you still moving dirt around?

Quote from: Moab on April 27, 2024, 12:04:05 AMVery interesting. How many miles? Condition?

That is going to be so helpful to you on your property. Are you still moving dirt around?

It's got 130km, condition is ok, definitely not as good as the pictures showed. They used aiming tape to cover rust spots in the door jams and then painted it (lol). Motor is hard to start and doesn't like to stay running when cold which I'm assuming is the carb/choke.

Other than that it is in good condition. I'm looking at buying an after market carb I think they are Harley carbs, but it boosts power a few hp, and should fix the issues.

I haven't done a lot with it yet because we picked it up on my day off and I've had toe work every day since. We are still moving dirt and I'm currently ripping out the "mounds" which is going to be a big help with and once we get moved into the house we are making even more room in the drive way and will be moving probably 100+ yards of dirt. That's the reason we actually bought this was for future projects.

I'm planning on adding a couple leafs to the rear axle, new tires rated for more weight, and the carb as stated above. Once those are done I'll get the front suspension replaced and then I'll have a decent road worthy vehicle.

Those are the rust spots, there is one hole in the frame but that'll be an easy fix. I've got some 3/8" plate steel I'll cut out an over sized spot in both sides spray in a bunch if the rust reformer, and then weld. There are drain holes but I'll drill some new ones and spray the reformer in them to help Lee the rust at bay.

The door jams not sure about but I think I'll just spray the reformer and then later go over with some white paint. Don't think there's a lot I can do unless they sell door jam kits that I can use to replace them but that seems like a lot of work. I put weight on the doors and nothing happened so it seems a bit cosmetic which is fine.

Aren't their US importers in LA? Where you can go and look at them? Not that that would have helped you. Still a good deal with a lift bed. Thats awesome.

Quote from: Halfapint on April 28, 2024, 01:38:23 PMThose are the rust spots, there is one hole in the frame but that'll be an easy fix. I've got some 3/8" plate steel I'll cut out an over sized spot in both sides spray in a bunch if the rust reformer, and then weld. There are drain holes but I'll drill some new ones and spray the reformer in them to help Lee the rust at bay.

The door jams not sure about but I think I'll just spray the reformer and then later go over with some white paint. Don't think there's a lot I can do unless they sell door jam kits that I can use to replace them but that seems like a lot of work. I put weight on the doors and nothing happened so it seems a bit cosmetic which is fine.

Is it street legal, or keep on the property only?

Quote from: Moab on April 28, 2024, 02:23:05 PMAren't their US importers in LA? Where you can go and look at them? Not that that would have helped you. Still a good deal with a lift bed. Thats awesome.

Even with the amount I paid I can't find one for this cheap. There's a few places around (Vancouver WA has one) but they charge double what I paid. I just saw a dump truck in my area for for 11k. It had better interior.

Quote from: flybynight on April 28, 2024, 04:07:47 PMIs it street legal, or keep on the property only?

In WA they are completely street legal. But it will mostly be on the property. It will do some light hauling when my F250 is just too much.

Trucks like that can be made street legal in Texas, but most folks that have them in my AO just use them as ranch or hunting lease trucks since they're cheaper than a UTV.

Quote from: Halfapint on April 28, 2024, 04:29:48 PM

Quote from: Moab on April 28, 2024, 02:23:05 PMAren't their US importers in LA? Where you can go and look at them? Not that that would have helped you. Still a good deal with a lift bed. Thats awesome.

Even with the amount I paid I can't find one for this cheap. There's a few places around (Vancouver WA has one) but they charge double what I paid. I just saw a dump truck in my area for for 11k. It had better interior.

Figures. But maybe some competition will be created. And prices will come down. I just thought if you could get it cheap, direct off the boat in LA, flying to LA and driving it or hauling it back would be cheaper.

Car shippers are to expensive now tho. I had a Bug transported from WA to LA 10 yrs ago. And it was $500. I did a Honda a few yrs ago LA to Seattle and it was over two grand. 10yrs ago they also gave you a cheap option of a month window. They would put it in the next extra open slot on a truck. But you had a month window to wait for delivery.

Several places here still import Japanese 30k mile used engines for cheap. I found one for $600 last year for something. I forget what.

One advantage of living here is the port at Long Beach. Alot of cheap stuff gets imported directly here. And there are a ton of importers and warehouses.

Japan has that law that restricts all vehicles to 30k miles. And then they have to replace their engines. So they get imported here for cheap. I had one put in my Suzuki Samurai years ago. Back then there were places in Seattle that just specialized in that. You could get the motor and install for very cheap.

Quote from: Halfapint on April 28, 2024, 04:31:29 PM

Quote from: flybynight on April 28, 2024, 04:07:47 PMIs it street legal, or keep on the property only?

In WA they are completely street legal. But it will mostly be on the property. It will do some light hauling when my F250 is just too much.

Are any 4x4?

Quote from: Moab on April 28, 2024, 05:08:23 PM

Quote from: Halfapint on April 28, 2024, 04:31:29 PM

Quote from: flybynight on April 28, 2024, 04:07:47 PMIs it street legal, or keep on the property only?

In WA they are completely street legal. But it will mostly be on the property. It will do some light hauling when my F250 is just too much.

Are any 4x4?

Most are, in fact the rarities are the 2wd from what I've seen. Almost all are 4x4 with hi/lo the diff and axle lock are VERY rare option from what I've seen. Which is why I'm happy with this one even with all the trouble it gave and will give me. Diff lock is a more common but I've only seen 2 others that have the front axle lockers (and they are all electronic too something my ford still has to be done manual)

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on April 28, 2024, 04:59:43 PMTrucks like that can be made street legal in Texas, but most folks that have them in my AO just use them as ranch or hunting lease trucks since they're cheaper than a UTV.

Yeah, here in WA as long as you pay the taxman they don't give a eff. Bring in the original paper work, pay the taxman, and presto road legal zero mods required.

Quote from: Halfapint on April 28, 2024, 05:46:17 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on April 28, 2024, 04:59:43 PMTrucks like that can be made street legal in Texas, but most folks that have them in my AO just use them as ranch or hunting lease trucks since they're cheaper than a UTV.

Yeah, here in WA as long as you pay the taxman they don't give a eff. Bring in the original paper work, pay the taxman, and presto road legal zero mods required.

Texas only requires safety stuff like turn signals, seat belts, mirrors and a couple other things I can't remember right now.

They killed the new Toyota pickup for the US. Its inly like $11,000 and basically a bare bones hilux. And will be sold everywhere but here. It's kind of like these trucks. Just simple as shit. Few things to break. Roll up windows. 4 cylinder with incredible gas mileage. And can be configured like these with everything from a box truck design, to a basic flatbed. But it doesn't have smog or safety equipment. So we'll continue to pay 40k+ with all this extra income we have. For a truck engineered to need parts replacements every six months!. 

I'm glad to see these being able to be imported. I hope more are.

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on April 28, 2024, 06:14:55 PMTexas only requires safety stuff like turn signals, seat belts, mirrors and a couple other things I can't remember right now.

Apparently a lot of places don't allow them to (Georgia is one I know) so people will pay to have them shipped to WA, license them here (requires no proof of residence), pay the tax and then you can register it in Georgia and drive it.

But as it stands it sounds like TX would allow this. The only thing that gets me while driving it is the turn signals, they  are on the right and reversed. Up is left, down is right.

Quote from: Moab on April 28, 2024, 06:33:24 PMThey killed the new Toyota pickup for the US. Its inly like $11,000 and basically a bare bones hilux. And will be sold everywhere but here. It's kind of like these trucks. Just simple as shit. Few things to break. Roll up windows. 4 cylinder with incredible gas mileage. And can be configured like these with everything from a box truck design, to a basic flatbed. But it doesn't have smog or safety equipment. So we'll continue to pay 40k+ with all this extra income we have. For a truck engineered to need parts replacements every six months!.

I'm glad to see these being able to be imported. I hope more are.

Funny thing, I wanted that new Toyota and it was the reason I finally bought this. When they killed it here, I said screw or and got one of these. I wanted a dump truck version. Bunch of BS.

Looking on FB marketplace there are dozens of these kei trucks being sold. And I see them in Seattle pretty much every time I'm up there they are great city trucks.

Quote from: Halfapint on April 28, 2024, 06:55:32 PM

Quote from: Moab on April 28, 2024, 06:33:24 PMThey killed the new Toyota pickup for the US. Its inly like $11,000 and basically a bare bones hilux. And will be sold everywhere but here. It's kind of like these trucks. Just simple as shit. Few things to break. Roll up windows. 4 cylinder with incredible gas mileage. And can be configured like these with everything from a box truck design, to a basic flatbed. But it doesn't have smog or safety equipment. So we'll continue to pay 40k+ with all this extra income we have. For a truck engineered to need parts replacements every six months!.

I'm glad to see these being able to be imported. I hope more are.

Funny thing, I wanted that new Toyota and it was the reason I finally bought this. When they killed it here, I said screw or and got one of these. I wanted a dump truck version. Bunch of BS.

Looking on FB marketplace there are dozens of these kei trucks being sold. And I see them in Seattle pretty much every time I'm up there they are great city trucks.

How much are they in Seattle?