Used Japanese Mini Trucks

THE DETAILS:

Ordering Your Own Container Of Used Japanese Mini Trucks

Best Used Tractors has imported numerous mini trucks since early 2004. When we first started bringing in used Japanese mini trucks we could find no one else even listed on the internet selling them. That has changed. We have supplied dealers in almost every sate, and in a few countries outside the USA. We have done this long enough to know who is a good supplier in Japan and who is not. We are not Johnny come latelies who are still fumbling around with gambles on unproven suppliers. Although it is no longer difficult to find mini truck suppliers, the real challenge is locating one you will be happy with. If you are interested in importing containers of used Japanese mini trucks through Best Used Tractors we would be pleased to assist you with the professionalism you deserve. We are the mini truck supplier with more consistent quality.

Don't be fooled by nice pictures from other suppliers. Those pictures won't show you the rusted sections. And the pictures won't reveal their many mechanical problems. A dealer who has bought 37 containers from us to date tells us that we supply the nicest mini trucks of any he has seen. That's where the rubber meets the road. Whether you hear it from one of our dealers, or just through the mini truck information grapevine, you will find that we have a great reputation.

You can find suppliers in Japan to sell diectly to you, but too many US buyers skip from supplier to supplier when they get loads they are not happy with, hoping eventually to get a good one. Unless you compile a list of suppliers in Japan, fly there to inspect the trucks in person, and stay long enough to watch those specific trucks load into your container, you would be better off buying from someone already connected with quality.

We believe we can offer you better quality than most other suppliers since we have our American procurement manager, Jim Craig, who has been living in Japan for a number of years. He can check out the quality first hand. His Japanese partner has quality and integrity. We helped develop the checklist which he uses to evaluate for repair needs, and if he finds anything needing attention he does the needed repairs before we ship mini trucks to our many dealers. Most suppliers who sell containers of mini trucks from Japan do either no repair work in Japan, or very superficial improvements at best. Do you want trucks that may need a lot of expensive parts and repairs, or do you want our already sound units?

Jim's main partner is an honest supplier with high standards. We prefer working with an honest supplier. That affects everything he does for us and our dealers. He can help us get better trucks initially, but he can also more easily help us resolve problems should they arise. Because we have him assisgned right there in Japan we can also provide at NO EXTRA COST TO DEALERS some new filters and electrical parts with every truck, and timing belts and water pumps for those near the recommended change mileage. Many have tried to copy us - even frequently taking pictures and wording right from our mini truck website page - but they have not been able to duplicate the substance behind those words and pictures.

Please start the process by filling out our dealer information request form, and indicating on that form your interest in used mini trucks. You will then recieve the appropriate department phone number from our mini truck specialist, Terry Sardina, along with up to date purchase option information. If you wish to proceed then please call Best Used Tractors, or ask us to call you for more details on your options. For mini trucks we only import 40’ high cube containers. Jim, our American buyer in Japan, now has two price level purchase options for you.

Be advised. Mini trucks that come through the Philippines are not what you would hope them to be in quality. We have sent our American procurement manager to numerous suppliers in Japan and he has not found a better deal on trucks from anyone than what his Japanese partner provides.

Don't Be Fooled. Best Trade Car and Best Mini Trucks Inc are not associated with Best Used Tractors.

Small Used Transport Vehicles For Many Off Road Uses

The Japanese have been making right hand drive light duty trucks for decades which Best Used Tractors can now import used in containers to the US, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, and to many other countries around the globe. All we need is an English speaking contact person. These used mini trucks can be utilized off road here in the US like farm utility vehicles, as ranch trucks, as off road trail vehicles for hunters and rescue teams, as wholesale nursery stock transporters, as compact maintenance vehicles for golf courses, schools and universities, municipalities, parks, and zoos. They can be used at automobile wrecking yards, airports, docks & harbors, lumber yards, manufacturers, mines, parking garages, stadiums, warehouses, dairies, orchards, stables, cemeteries, hotels, marinas, campgrounds, orchards, resorts, theme parks, corporate campuses, factories, oil refineries, movie sets, fish farms, chicken processors, and as transporters of endless other types of equipment within large storage yards. Some have even used these mini trucks in certified off-road racing events. By far the largest number of these used mini trucks end up being used as versatile little farm trucks and go anywhere hunting trucks.

These used mini trucks can do a lot of the same hauling jobs that off road utility vehicles can do, but with a more solid cab and a longer truck bed – all at very high miles per gallon of gas.  They are also less expensive than typical utility vehicles. Like utility vehicles, 4X4 mini trucks can do their work in the dirt. The number of off road functions these micro trucks can perform is almost endless. Hunters who have gotten cold and wet riding their utility vehicles, their ATVs, and their jacked up golf carts in the fall, find they are much more comfortable sitting in heated used Japanese mini truck cabs. Some units also come with air conditioning for comfort on hot, humid, summer days.

Our Most Frequently Asked For Mini Truck Information

As you read below you will see that the main thrust for Best Used Tractors with regard to mini trucks is to help dealers buy entire containers of them from Japan. If that is your interest, then please fill out the mini truck container inquiry form. We can also help you to connect with dealers in you are an individual mini truck seeker. If you have a mini truck, but need parts for it, we can send your request to an excellent parts supplier here in the US after you fill out the mini truck parts request. If wheels and/or tires for your mini truck are what you seek, then please fill out the mini truck wheels & tires form.

US Based Souces For Mini Truck Accessories

For our mini truck container purchasers we can give you US based sources not just for replacement parts, and for wheels and tires for mini trucks, but we can help you with many other mini truck accessories sources. We can also provide US based sources for lift kits, dump kits, scissor lift lits, camo jobs, cargo boxes, utility toppers, tool boxes, brush guards, heavy duty bumpers, hitches, and more.

Mini Truck Manufacturing Background In Japan

Starting in the sixties the Japanese manufactured what they termed “Kei class” vehicles (now generally called “K-class”). Kei means “light weight”. These were built as a less expensive, fuel efficient, shorter, narrower, and lighter alternative to the standard size and weight vehicles termed “joyousha”. The K-class vehicles have included passenger cars, vans, and mini trucks. Best Used Tractors imports used K-class mini trucks, but not the vans or passenger cars. The Japanese have used these small off road trucks to perform a myriad of burden carrier tasks. They have often equipped the rear truck beds of these little trucks with specialized industry specific equipment. When many consider their special purpose vehicles options they often find used mini trucks from Japan to be their best choice. Some US buyers have done the same with their little all terrain trucks. See examples below of a mini truck equipped for hunters and their dogs and another now used as a special events mini ambulance.

The 80’s s had mostly 40 horsepower 550cc engines, and the 90’s s had mostly 45 horsepower 660cc engines. Due to regulations Americans are unable to import a Japanese mini truck manufactured in 1999 or later. However, the average number of miles driven per year in Japan is only about 6,000, so these vehicles usually have a lot of remaining usability. K trucks have changed in size over the years, but for comparison purposes units from the 80’s and 90’s are typically about two thirds the length and three quarters of the width of a Dodge Dakota. K-class vehicle regulations have upgraded repeatedly over the years, mainly to meet ever-tightening emissions standards and crashworthiness requirements. That means over the decades of production the Japanese manufacturers have really perfected these great little trucks.

Japanese Laws Insure Availability Of Low Cost High Quality Used Vehicles

In Japan there are punitive costs involved in keeping older vehicles on the road. There is the “shaken” or registration fee, the “zeiken” or taxes, the “shakoshomei” or parking fees, and the “hokken” or insurance. The new vehicle “shaken” lasts for three years. Then the expensive “shaken” registration must be renewed every two years coupled with  mandatory periodic maintenance checks. Although these mandatory checks keep Japanese vehicles in good running condition, those same laws force heavy depreciation of perfectly fine used mini trucks. That means good prices on great quality used mini trucks for buyers outside of Japan.

4 Door Deck Van	1992 K-Van Mini Truck	Snow Track Modification

Major Japanese Vehicle Manufacturers Make These Terrific Small Trucks

The major Japanese mini truck manufacturers, in order of recent Japanese sales volumes are: the Suzuki Carry, the Daihatsu Hijet (Subsidiary of Toyota), the Honda Acty, the Subaru Sambar (Fuji Heavy Industries), the Mitsubishi Minicab, and the Mazda Scrum (Made by Suzuki). Since most of these manufacturers market other s in the US, importers have often acquired many parts for these off road utility vehicles within the US.

Our US based associate stocks a lot of parts for these versatile mini trucks. He lived in Japan for 11 years before moving back to the United States. He still has lots of friends, relatives, and business associates still living in Japan to help him with mini truck parts acquisition. Our other American friend who still resides in Japan also helps him with parts.

The specs on these mini trucks vary from make to make and from year to year, but you may find the size averages below useful. The mini trucks are typically 10'10" in total length, about 4'6" in total width, and about 5'8" high. The typical wheelbase on these mini trucks is 6'3", and the inside dimensions of the bed are 4'1" by 6'6". They run about 1,400 lbs each. They have manual transmissions with 4 or 5 forward gears - occasionally 6 forward gears. Some also have high and low ranges. These mini utility trucks start out with 5.80-12 tires, but some buyers switch to 6.00-12 mud and snow tires, ATV tires, or tractor tires. They usually come with radios. Occasionally they have air conditioning. Sometimes they have dump beds as well.

Mini Truck Dump Truck	Off Road Medical Response Team	Great for Farm Use!

Used Japanese Mini Trucks Available From Best Used Tractors in Containers

Best Used Tractors sells mini trucks in containers to dealers. Typically  seven mini trucks will fit in a high cube 40’ container. There are no import regulations on the use of Japanese mini trucks over 25 years old (these can be used on public roads). Our focus, however, is on units from the late 80’s and from the 90’s since features improved over the years, the newer units are in better condition, the newer ones are a little easier to fit inside, and the parts for them  are easier to acquire. Most buyers prefer the 660cc units from the 90's. For a higher price we can provide units as new as 2003 to the US, and newer to some other countries. Even though these newer units cannot be used on US roadways there are innumerable possible uses for them off the public roadways. 2WD and 4WD units are both available, but we normally sell only 4WD mini trucks. Once in awhile more expensive used mini dump trucks, deck vans, and vans are also available. Some dealers buy the standard units and convert them into mini dump trucks over here in the U.S.

There are a lot of things out there we can invest in, but we especially like mini trucks. Lifted, and mounted with the right tires, these trucks can get around amazingly well in rough terrain. If you find a superior quality used mini truck supplier, and if you are in an excellent market that is not overrun with competitors, used Japanese mini trucks can not just make you money, but outfitting them and selling them can also be very enjoyable.

Speed Control Governors Now Required By EPA For Imported Used Mini Trucks

Best Used Tractors now imports mini trucks with EPA approved governors. Although most mini truck importers usually do not have problems with their governors at customs inspections, we never do, since ours were the ones actually submitted to the EPA for approval. If other companies tell you that they can import used Japanese mini trucks without governors they do so against the law. We suggest that you not put your hard earned funds at risk with such marketers. In the United States mini trucks are exclusively for off road use.

Although it is against federal law to license these mini trucks for use on regualar public roads, some have managed to do so due to some confusion at lower government levels. Absolutely do not license them. Those dealers and/or end users who license them may find themselves later on in some very troubling and expensive trouble with the federal government.

  WE SHIP MINI TRUCKS WORLDWIDE  

Give us a call. We invite your questions.

US based dealers contact: Lin Dillard Oregon at (503)-330-4767

Foreign dealers call Dennis Schweitzer in Oregon at (503)-626-6813

See our new mini truck website.