Making MiniTrucks Street Legal

**Donald Shimoda** · 01-12-2009, 10:18 AM

Let's face it, the latest EPA certification garbage is yet another government intervention where there should be no government interference.

Here's an idea:

Why not import Mini Trucks the exact same way that the new Smart Car is imported? I mean look at this thing ... it's like driving a bumper car:

http://www.smartusa.com/

If you can drive that thing on the road, then Mini Trucks are a no brainer. I'd put my Mini Truck with an air bag up against that go cart of a car any day of the week in exhaust testing, crash testing, you name it.

If fact, check this out. You can even get bumper cars made street legal:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr38/256990476/

The key is to import what we want correctly so that we can use them in whatever way we see fit. I drive my personal Mini Truck on the road and off the road and occasionally I even drive it in water. The key is to get the government to find something better to do with their time and our money.

How about asking Suburu, Mitisubishi, Honda, etc. to fill out the stupid paper work in Japan for their Mini Trucks so that we are no longer hassled?

If this doesn't work, let's brainstorm other ideas.

I see that Gung Ho in Michigan has been smooching the dark side of the government to get an EPA Certification for certain Suzuki models but they are still for off the road only. Who wants to buy a new Mini Truck and not be able to drive in where ever you need to go? That's stupid.

If we work together, we can come up with a way to make these Mini Trucks not only legal but immensely popular. You wouldn't believe how many people stop me to ask where they can get one. So the market is there but only if we can drive them through the McDonald's drive up window while asking our riding companion to take care of our order because we can't reach it from the right side. Come to think of it, make them pay as well.

If necessary, let's import these Mini Trucks as parts and put them together here and just use what's called an "Assembled Title."

There's got to be a good way to do this that we all can use.

Who has more suggestions to stop the EPA from hassling us?

**Ran440** · 01-12-2009, 12:12 PM

Donald
Nice post.
I see the EPA cirt as a positive thing. It is now one less hurdle we have . Get it DOT approved and imported correctly we're there.
The gov tried to ban the importation and the dealers got around it. Now if we can get the dealers to take it one step further....we'll be driving them on the streets.
Randy

**Donald Shimoda** · 01-12-2009, 12:20 PM

Thanks Randy.

The goal is to have these mini marvels available in the US for anyone that wants to drive one!

**Kevinj** · 01-12-2009, 01:04 PM

We can register just about anything with street tires, lights, horn and mirrors for on-road use. My 02 Suz-Carry and my son's Mit van are street legal here - registered as motorcycles - just can't go on the interstate. Not to get political but lobby your state to allow 4 wheelers to be street legal and your off and running. (we are in the US)

**Donald Shimoda** · 01-12-2009, 01:48 PM

The best thing would be to import these as regular vehicles and then sell them as such. Skip the whole "farm equipment" runaround.

I have one of these mini trucks licensed that I drive every day, and I'd like to help others do the same and make it easy.

**canadian1** · 01-12-2009, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by Ran440

Donald
Nice post.
I see the EPA cirt as a positive thing. It is now one less hurdle we have . Get it DOT approved and imported correctly we're there.
The gov tried to ban the importation and the dealers got around it. Now if we can get the dealers to take it one step further....we'll be driving them on the streets.
Randy

the EPA CERT. is for OFF-ROAD USE; not street use.

**Donald Shimoda** · 01-12-2009, 07:25 PM

We want off road and on road and in the hills and through the woods to Grandma's house.

We don't want a bunch of bureaucrats telling us where we can drive our Mini Trucks. That's ridiculous!

These Mini Trucks must become street legal everywhere. Let's not settle for less.

Again, if you can drive Smart for Two cars and even Bumper Cars on the road, then these Mini Trucks are a no brainer.

The question is how to overcome the adversity that the government is throwing our way?

Somebody out there has the answer. What is it?

**Timetripper** · 01-12-2009, 08:14 PM

From what I know from this side of the 49th if the Kei trucks were imported into USA as "on road" vehicles
they would be subject to a 25% import duty that they don't have right now being imported as "farm equipment".
I'm not throwing water on your parade - I totaly agree they should be as you said:
"We want off road and on road and in the hills and through the woods to Grandma's house."

I always wondered on the above duty if that somehow didn't enter into how things have escalated into where they are now.

I know that it is the "EPA" calling the shots right now but somewhere there has to be someone that imports vehicles
that is paying the 25% duty that has to be pretty ^&* at someone bringing in a Kei truck as " farm equipment" then having
the end user license it for the street and with no duty paid.
Not saying right or wrong just another POV.

**greg0187** · 01-12-2009, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Timetripper

From what I know from this side of the 49th if the Kei trucks were imported into USA as "on road" vehicles
they would be subject to a 25% import duty that they don't have right now being imported as "farm equipment".
I'm not throwing water on your parade - I totaly agree they should be as you said:
"We want off road and on road and in the hills and through the woods to Grandma's house."

I always wondered on the above duty if that somehow didn't enter into how things have escalated into where they are now.

I know that it is the "EPA" calling the shots right now but somewhere there has to be someone that imports vehicles
that is paying the 25% duty that has to be pretty ^&* at someone bringing in a Kei truck as " farm equipment" then having
the end user license it for the street and with no duty paid.
Not saying right or wrong just another POV.

Very good point. Maybe it all started in the beginning when some importer was trying to save money.

-Greg

**Ran440** · 01-13-2009, 05:39 AM

Now I am beginning to wonder how many of the newer minis would be street legal if imported as such. I mean they are built to higher emissions standards and like a previous poster said they probably have a better crash test results than the Smart Car. I think someone said they are now coming with air bags too. Not sure??
Randy

**greg0187** · 01-13-2009, 07:45 AM

Don't under estimate the Smart cars abiltiy to with stand impacts. It uses a Tridion steel safety shell similar to what todays race cars are required to be equiped with. Personally, If I had the choice, I'd rather be in a impact in the smart car. The minitruck doesn't even have any crumple zones.

Smart 70 mph barrier impact.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJHpUO-S0i8

**Mighty Milt** · 01-13-2009, 07:54 AM

when i first got my truck i spoke to an importer about legalizing my truck. he said he specialized in the smart cars but would work on any kind. $2500 and 6-8 weeks for the process... after further discussion i found that since my 99 didn't have an air bag it would never pass

**themadscientist** · 01-13-2009, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by greg0187

The minitruck doesn't even have any crumple zones.

Sure they do, right about where your feet are!

I have seen two K truck front end collisions below 20 mph and the results were downright ugly.

**Donald Shimoda** · 01-13-2009, 08:35 AM

Yeah Randy, now you're talking!

* * * * *
Now I am beginning to wonder how many of the newer minis would be street legal if imported as such. I mean they are built to higher emissions standards and like a previous poster said they probably have a better crash test results than the Smart Car. I think someone said they are now coming with air bags too. Not sure??
Randy
* * * * *

Most of the newer Mini Trucks have air bags standard. Besides, let's not even compare against the Smart Car, let's compare against these little attached bumper cars that are street legal.

**Mighty Milt** · 01-13-2009, 08:39 AM

and how much do those bumper cars cost? aren't they something ridiculous like $10,000?

seems to me that at that price i'd just buy a regular old toyota pickup. i liked the minis for the great gas mileage (which was a farce) and the low price (my 99 cost $4,000)

if i knew they got such low gas mileage as opposed to their advertised mileage and if it cost me $10,000+ i wouldn't buy one. JMHO