Any Opinions on Mini Trucks?

Iplayfarmer · Dec 9, 2011

I'm only half serious at this point, but I've thought about getting a mini truck. Does anyone have any experience with these mini trucks?

What Appeals to me is that they get 50 MPG.

I'd be using one for my commute <10 miles one way on county roads... 50 MPH. My Chevy 1/2 ton is getting a lot of miles on it. I could use one of these mini trucks to eat up the miles and save the big truck for the heavier stuff.

bdeboer · Dec 9, 2011

There is an importer of new mini-trucks that posts occasionaly in the ATV section of this forum. There were some EPA issues with used ones and getting licensed for the last couple of years.

We have a left hand drive Mitsubishi from the late 80/s it has a governor limiting the speed to 25 miles/hour. The late 80's unit is carburated with a manual transmission. It is geared low.

TimberXX · Dec 9, 2011

At work we ran two mini trucks for several years. We ran them hard off road, and on road.

We had zero issues with them, except the lift kits were poor quality.

I would not suggest one with a lift kit.

Be careful on the roads with them.

Have you considered a high speed golf cart that runs on batteries, Im only half serious. 10 miles isn't too long, and these carts I hear go 25 mph.

bdeboer · Dec 9, 2011

This is the thread I was talking about.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...150093-has-any-one-considered-japanese-9.html

Poster woodhe1 is the dealer.

Iplayfarmer · Dec 9, 2011

bdeboer said:
This is the thread I was talking about.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...150093-has-any-one-considered-japanese-9.html

Poster woodhe1 is the dealer.

Thanks for that link. I got through page 3, and I'll probably keep reading to the end. It seems most of that discussion is for off-road use. My intention would be for commuter use. I like having the bed on my truck, but nothing with a bed gets better than 20 MPG. If one of these little guys really does get 50 MPG it would probably pay for itself in the fuel cost alone not to mention reducing wear and tear on my full size truck.

Obviously if I got a mini truck I couldn't have one that's governed to 25 MPH. That's what rules out the electric golf cart idea, too. I have a 4-wheeler, but the cab in the winter will be part of what makes this pipedream worth considering.

capt_met · Dec 9, 2011

Wildfire Motors - WF800-T

have you seen these? they are street legal and capable of 45 mph.

timswi · Dec 9, 2011

Iplayfarmer said:
I'm only half serious at this point, but I've thought about getting a mini truck. Does anyone have any experience with these mini trucks?

What Appeals to me is that they get 50 MPG.

I'd be using one for my commute <10 miles one way on county roads... 50 MPH. My Chevy 1/2 ton is getting a lot of miles on it. I could use one of these mini trucks to eat up the miles and save the big truck for the heavier stuff.

Depends on what you mean by "mini". Some of the smaller trucks are a similar price to the full size..ROI is negative (referring to overall utilization) unless you keep it forever and get your money back on gas mileage.

Otherwise, I'd buy a diesel car and keep the full size truck..At this point in history, you can't have 50MPG and full utility.

Gary Fowler · Dec 9, 2011

If you are talking about the Japanese mini trucks, be careful, most states now refuse to license them for road use due to safety and emission issues. I also hear that they are way, way under powered for climbing even the slightest hills. Check the HP on the engine, I think they have less than 900 cc engines.

Inspector507 · Dec 9, 2011

Ohio won't allow them on-road for commuter use.

jeffsw6 · Dec 9, 2011

Unless my arithmetic is wrong...

If you do that commute five days a week for fifty weeks a year, at $3/gallon, you reduce a $750 fuel expense to $300, for a $450 savings. By the time you purchase insurance and tags you might break even and have a spare vehicle in case your truck needs maintenance, or you might come out a little ahead or a little behind. Either way, with only 20 miles of daily commuting, it is not a huge win or loss.

Except... you spend some money purchasing the truck itself!

Change that to $5/gallon fuel and your expenses are $1250 @ 20 MPG or $500 @ 50 MPG. I would bet fuel will cost $5/gallon before you wore out the vehicle, so at some point in its life it probably would save you a little more.

Then there are other savings on tires and maintenance of course, but you have to ask yourself if you will really come out ahead, factoring in the purchase price of the truck, insurance, and tags. I think it is hard to justify a commuter vehicle for 20mi/day unless you don't already own a second vehicle and you want the comfort of knowing you can still get to work, run errands, make it to the auto parts shop, etc. if one breaks down.

Just my $0.02!