If you know a lot about vehicles, particularly trucks, then you must have heard about the Japanese mini tucks. They are natives to Japan and are also known ad the kei trucks locally. The most amazing or rather striking thing about the Japanese mini tucks is their incredible performance and dependability. These vehicles can do almost any job that a pick up truck would regardless of the road condition or the terrain. That’s just how good they are.
This article aims to give you a deep understanding of these vehicles and also go through the different models and how they compare to each other. However, let’s first look at some of the automakers that are leading in the making of these mini trucks.
Top Mini Trucks Brands
The Japanese mini trucks market is dominated by about half a dozen automakers which have been around for close to a century. The competition of these brands have seen improvement and bettering of the Japanese mini trucks. Here are some of the leading mini truck brands
Subaru
Everybody who knows about cars don’t need any introduction to Subaru. They are very resilient in making high performance vehicles, and their Subaru Sambar mini truck is no different. It has been around for decades and keeps getting better with every new version.
Suzuki
Suzuki is yet another automaker that has been around for many years. Their high performance vehicles that are made for the international market with affordability and deliverability in mind makes them a winner. Their mini truck is dubbed Suzuki Carry, and it just stands out.
Mitsubishi Mini Truck
From making vehicles to making ships, Mitsubishi is a brand that has a good grasp of the engineering world. The technology used in their vehicles has seen them win the hearts of millions across the globe, and one such vehicle is their Mitsubishi mini truck.
Daihatsu
Daihatsu Hijet is the flagship mini truck by Daihatsu automaker. The vehicle is a great performer, which owes to the decades f engineering expertise and craftsmanship. It is also considered to be one of the most popular as it has seen more unit sales than most of the other mini truck brands.
Mazda
Lastly, but equally powerful and dependable is the incredible Mazda Scrum. A vehicle that might not be as popular as the Subaru Sambar and Daihatsu Hijet, but still an excellent performer.
Types Of Mini Trucks
Mini trucks are designed differently, depending on what they are intended to do. Below are 4 of the most common Japanese mini truck models and details on how they different from each other.
Dump Bed Mini Truck
These are the most common mini trucks in the market, and although most of them do not have the dump hydraulic function, they are easily modified. They are designed with a standard bed which is like that of any other pick up truck. The size is pretty much the same or close to that of most pick ups. The additional hydraulic system in dump bed mini trucks makes offloading a seamless process.
Perhaps the notable differences between the dump bed mini truck and a pick up truck is the design and the speed of the vehicles.
Flat Bed Mini Truck
Flat bed mini trucks as their name suggests are designed with beds that are flat in design. Instead of having a closed bed like in a dump bed or a pick up truck, this is actually flat. The design is meant to help people carry abnormal loads of cargo. Although this is a rare, some people have such needs on a regular basis depending on the nature of their work. If you feel the need to carry abnormal loads, then this is the truck that you should be getting.
The only downside is that you may not be able to carry other goods such as sand since the bed is flat.
Scissor Lift Mini Truck
A scissor lift mini truck is a specialty vehicle that is designed with double hydraulic system which is in the front and the back side of the vehicle. It is called the Scissor lift mini truck because when the hydraulics are functional and the bed is lifted, it forms a scissor shaped structure. The bed of the scissor lift mini truck is the standard bed. This type of mini truck can be used in many occasions either to do normal jobs that a pick up would do with the additional function to raise cargo to a higher level.
Caravan Mini Truck
Lastly, in our list of popular mini truck models is a Caravan mini truck. As its name suggests, a Caravan mini truck is designed to look like a Caravan. A caravan mini truck is just a closed bed mini truck which can be used to carry things that need to be covered. You can however use it to carry anything else that fits inside. Some of the instances that this vehicle will come in handy is when you need one to use to carry supplies wither for business or personal use, carrying farm produce or working where it is raining and the cargo needs to stay covered.
Conclusion
Japanese mini tucks are excellent vehicles that have stood the test of time. They are used all over in many countries for many different uses. Having looked at the different modifications an their advantages in different scenarios, we hope that you can now make an informed decision on the right one you should be going for.
If you are looking to buy one of these vehicles, then your best bet is to import it directly from Japan. It is cheaper and you get to compare a lot of them. And importing the vehicle is easier than you think. Be sure to check out our car listing page to see some of the mini tucks and mini cans that you can buy and have them imported to your country. You can also get in touch with if you have any questions and we will do our best to see that you get what you want.