Mini trucks

[MSU 21]

Does anyone have experience with the mini trucks? How are the in mud? Do the rut as bad or worse than a UTV?

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

A UTV is lighter. UTV has 4 wheel lock and mini trucks have differentials that are open. Would be like comparing a WW2 jeep to a side x side. But I worked at Polaris and saw them leave out with a cab and doors for $46,000.00 all day long.

I work at a farm a good bit. They have a Honda pioneer, quit and pulled to the side. A 2021 Polaris, quit and pulled to the side. I've been rolling over that whole place in a $500.00 Expedition for a few years now. Good glass and interior, no dents, cold AC and warm heat. Loaded with tools. Hit 200,000 miles last year. Ain't spent a dime on it other than gas and a little oil now and then. Never changed the oil.

For what I do, a mini truck would be just fine. How are they in the mud? Well, if you even need to ask that, probably should get a UTV. I don't play in the mud. I avoid mud if possible. We might get stuck now and then, but its pulling a16' disc, or an 8' offset disc, and the offset one is the worse of the two. We usually keep the big 4x4 tractor free if there is any question about things. We also have a log skidder with a winch but have never used it to pull a tractor out.

We also have a side x side. It's handy. But when you lock both ends up, I can't see a mini truck hanging with that in any shape, form, or fashion. We only used the true 4x4 when first purchased. When it's cold and drizzly bone chilling, you may prefer a cab with creature comforts. So I guess, think of what all you'll be doing with it, and decide what's best for you. I have seen mini trucks with ATV tires on all 4 corners and those guys kept them trucks and still have them. A crew cab mini with 4x4 and a tow bar would be the bomb for me.

 

[MSU 21]

I’m not a mudder. I am like you I try to avoid it. In mud does a mini rut less or more than a utv. When I rut I fix it.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I’m not a mudder. I am like you I try to avoid it. In mud does a mini rut less or more than a utv

Rutting is basically weight to tire size. So if the mini truck is heavier, but you put ATV tires on it to lower the ground impedance ... Kinda like a 3/4 ton full size truck with 28L skidder tires on it hardly ruts at all. So if you can get a mini truck cheaper, buy tires and still be cheaper, may be the way to go. I've bought several sets of take offs at the dealers. Usually 100 a set. Our sxs gets 3500 mi a year put on it. Never bought new tires, always used ones.

 

[Saitcho]

I bought my mini 3 years ago and its the most useful piece of equipment I own after the B26. I can carry logs, gravel and a mountain of branches. I carry 2000 lbs of water in that thing with no problems. No more dumping half the bucket of dirt on the ground. Got a closed cab with heat and AC. If you plan to go offroad get one with a rear difflock like me. Stock they dont articulate well so off camber offroad is not their strength. In some states you can even hit the road with it.

 

[WM75Guy]

We used them for EMS quick response vehicles at large events like NASCAR, NHRA, and motocross races. They worked well. Did require more maintenance than the JD Gators or Kawasaki Mules. Offroad in the wet or muddy environments they tended to get bogged down from the heavier weight, hence the Gators and Mules.

 

[fatjay]

I like them and I would have one if they were appropriately priced. But they're so expensive.

 

[Vigo327]

Like everything else imported in small numbers from Japan and China, they are a lot cheaper on the West Coast, and a lot cheaper if you don't buy them through a middleman (importer).

But the cheapest of all is when you buy a broken one from someone who's given up on it and then fix it. Not for everyone, but that's the cheapest way into most things.

If i were buying one it would have to be one with diff lock, AC, and a dump bed. That might be a rarer or more expensive combination but it's also what it takes to justify one (its ac for me, probably heat which is a lot more common, for a lot of yall) vs just.. a glorified golf cart, or a UTV, or a Ford Ranger etc which in certain cases can all be cheaper just because they're more available.

 

[Snobdds]

I much prefer these mini trucks. Tough as nails and never break.

We took them up to the cabin last week. They just go and go anywhere at that

.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I have one. I never use it. Gets stuck to easily. Doesnt get hot in tennessee. Sucks on the road.


In the pasture I just use my tractor if I am doing work, sxs for fun and truck on the road.

 

[RoyJackson]

I bought my mini 3 years ago and its the most useful piece of equipment I own after the B26. I can carry logs, gravel and a mountain of branches. I carry 2000 lbs of water in that thing with no problems. No more dumping half the bucket of dirt on the ground. Got a closed cab with heat and AC. If you plan to go offroad get one with a rear difflock like me. Stock they dont articulate well so off camber offroad is not their strength. In some states you can even hit the road with it.

What brand?

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

I like them and I would have one if they were appropriately priced. But they're so expensive.

Compared to what? When I picked up mine, it was used with 21,000-km on the clock. And cost about a third the cost of a used side by side. Haven’t checked prices in a while. I know they have gone up some. Look for a low km used one. New ones are overpriced.

If you decide to buy one, look for ones which have a dump or scissors/dump bed. They are considerably easier to work on. The regular beds have a 20X28-inch hole to access the top of the engine. The dump and scissors/dump beds, you just raise the bed in dump mode, and take off the engine protection plate, and you have good access to the engine. Much easier to work on.

The Suzuki and Daihatsu units are the easiest to get most parts for, and a bit easier to work on.

And depending on what set up you get they are pretty solid offroad. They can be had with locking rear differentials. Mine has an electrically locking rear diff, which can be engaged independently. It has a five speed manual transmission, and two range transfer case. The 4wd, with both axles locked, can be engaged in high range with a switch on the dash, but disengages in 4th and 5th gear. Shifting into low range, engages the 4wd in all gears, and locks everything up.

I invested in three sets of tires, and wheels. Mud and Snow for summer, Mud and Snow with studs, for winter, and a set of ATV tires for playing in the woods. It has pretty good traction. I plow with it in the winter, and have a brand new set of chains, that have been bouncing around in the tool box for five years now. I bought them when I first got the plow, thinking I would need them. But, I have never slipped, and have never put the chains on the truck, other than once when I first bought them to make sure they fit, and didn’t hit anything.

With out the plow it has a perfect 50/50 weight balance front to rear. if I mount the plow it adds a lot of weight to the front, and eases the back. So I carry 6 @ 80-lbs of concrete in the back over the rear wheels, to bring it back to a 50/50 distribution.

I drive a variety of UTVs and ATVs at work. I haven’t driven any of them I prefer over my Hijet.

When comparing UTVs and Minitrucks, it is important to remember that the mintruck are designed to be used as farm and construction vehicles. And for utilty use around an acreage, are very hard to beat.

My tiny dump truck, and the ATV dump trailer I use with it, are the perfect compliment for my sub compact utility tractor.

 

[fatjay]

Compared to what? When I picked up mine, it was used with 21,000-km on the clock. And cost about a third the cost of a used side by side. Haven’t checked prices in a while. I know they have gone up some. Look for a low km used one. New ones are overpriced.

If you decide to buy one, look for ones which have a dump or scissors/dump bed. They are considerably easier to work on. The regular beds have a 20X28-inch hole to access the top of the engine. The dump and scissors/dump beds, you just raise the bed in dump mode, and take off the engine protection plate, and you have good access to the engine. Much easier to work on.

The Suzuki and Daihatsu units are the easiest to get most parts for, and a bit easier to work on.

And depending on what set up you get they are pretty solid offroad. They can be had with locking rear differentials. Mine has an electrically locking rear diff, which can be engaged independently. It has a five speed manual transmission, and two range transfer case. The 4wd, with both axles locked, can be engaged in high range with a switch on the dash, but disengages in 4th and 5th gear. Shifting into low range, engages the 4wd in all gears, and locks everything up.

I invested in three sets of tires, and wheels. Mud and Snow for summer, Mud and Snow with studs, for winter, and a set of ATV tires for playing in the woods. It has pretty good traction. I plow with it in the winter, and have a brand new set of chains, that have been bouncing around in the tool box for five years now. I bought them when I first got the plow, thinking I would need them. But, I have never slipped, and have never put the chains on the truck, other than once when I first bought them to make sure they fit, and didn’t hit anything.

With out the plow it has a perfect 50/50 weight balance front to rear. if I mount the plow it adds a lot of weight to the front, and eases the back. So I carry 6 @ 80-lbs of concrete in the back over the rear wheels, to bring it back to a 50/50 distribution.

I drive a variety of UTVs and ATVs at work. I haven’t driven any of them I prefer over my Hijet.

When comparing UTVs and Minitrucks, it is important to remember that the mintruck are designed to be used as farm and construction vehicles. And for utilty use around an acreage, are very hard to beat.

My tiny dump truck, and the ATV dump trailer I use with it, are the perfect compliment for my sub compact utility tractor.

I'm on the east coast, you can get total beaters for 5k, decent ones for 12k, or a 90's ranger or f150 is about $1500. Cheaper if it's a farm truck.

 

[Saitcho]

What brand?

Suzuki carry DA63T 2003.With efi and a timing chain.

 

[houska]

I (now) know someone with a mini. Extremely capable machine, in many ways more so than my Mule. But that's now that they've heavily customized it, with off-road tires, lift kit, and a winch in particular.

Without those customizations, I wouldn't dare take it onto wet ground like I do with my Mule.

All that being said, one thing to be very conscious of is cab size, especially if you (or anyone in your family) is tall. My friend with the mini is 5'6". Works great for them. I'm 6'4" and need to heavily corrugate myself to fit in, and am stiff as heck after riding in it. I researched minis heavily a few years ago, thinking they were a great solution for my needs. I just wish I had found the opportunity to crawl into one earlier, to figure out it might be a great machine, but just isn't going to work for people like me.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

I (now) know someone with a mini. Extremely capable machine, in many ways more so than my Mule. But that's now that they've heavily customized it, with off-road tires, lift kit, and a winch in particular.

Without those customizations, I wouldn't dare take it onto wet ground like I do with my Mule.

All that being said, one thing to be very conscious of is cab size, especially if you (or anyone in your family) is tall. My friend with the mini is 5'6". Works great for them. I'm 6'4" and need to heavily corrugate myself to fit in, and am stiff as heck after riding in it. I researched minis heavily a few years ago, thinking they were a great solution for my needs. I just wish I had found the opportunity to crawl into one earlier, to figure out it might be a great machine, but just isn't going to work for people like me.

Several manufacturers make “jumbo” versions, with the roof raised 3 or 4-inches, and longer cabs, stretched about 6-inches which you loose off the bed length, dropping from 2-meters (6.5-ft) to 1.875-m (6-ft).

 

[houska]

Several manufacturers make “jumbo” versions, with the roof raised 3 or 4-inches, and longer cabs, stretched about 6-inches which you loose off the bed length, dropping from 2-meters (6.5-ft) to 1.875-m (6-ft).

Interesting! I'll have to keep a better eye out for those. Back when I was looking, I came across (online, not in person) one jumbo, which did have a stretched cab but *behind the seats* rather than more legroom. And no mention of the roof being raised. So I didn't pay much attention (or explore if the seat/legroom could be reconfigured).

Might definitely make a difference for bigger guys like me.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

Interesting! I'll have to keep a better eye out for those. Back when I was looking, I came across (online, not in person) one jumbo, which did have a stretched cab but *behind the seats* rather than more legroom. And no mention of the roof being raised. So I didn't pay much attention (or explore if the seat/legroom could be reconfigured).

Might definitely make a difference for bigger guys like me.

Daihatsu uses teh van seat track which can go further to the rear. One of the guys on the minitruck forum a few years back, added a hint on the front of the tracks, when he moved his tracks back. So, he could still get the seat base tipped to access teh engine. Honda are mid engine, and Subarus are rear engine, but they didn’t make extended/jumbo cabs.

There was a fairly large dealer in Ontario who kept quite a few in stock, it might be worth tracking them down if they’re still in business and see what they have in stock.

 

[YanmarFever]

We have owned this Daihatsu for 10 yrs, its a 4x4 deck van with a back seat for the kidos and terriers.
Not much room in the bed with the tool box, but after all its a farm truck / rolling tool box!

 

[houska]

Several manufacturers make “jumbo” versions, with the roof raised 3 or 4-inches, and longer cabs, stretched about 6-inches which you loose off the bed length, dropping from 2-meters (6.5-ft) to 1.875-m (6-ft).

I followed up (out of curiosity more than serious intent right now...I went and bought a UTV two years ago and am happy with it) with one of the middlemen importers. He confirmed there are jumbos as above, but he hasn't seen one with a dump bed.

Of course, he may just not have seen one. And I suppose a dump could be retrofitted to the smaller bed length. But it seems what would make it worthwhile for me - jumbo *AND* 4WD with diff lock, dump bed, lift kit - is starting to be so heavily customized to not be cost effective. I will continue opportunistically looking (never say never) but just sharing my experience.