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How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

danwilkerson.com

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Re: How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

#11

Post by rootusrootus »

mdtusz wrote: post #4

In the PNW these are absolutely everywhere and for good reason - they're exactly what most people need when they need a truck bed for hauling capacity. Plus, many are 4/AWD and have relatively high clearance so they're great adventure wagons for forest roads and getting out there. If a manufacturer made a truck similar (or slightly larger - not much room for people 6' and over in them) available for the market here,…

In Oregon, Kei cars are specifically illegal, they cannot be titled or registered. Other states are following a similar path so definitely make sure you can title it before you buy it.

Re: How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

#12

Post by avidiax »

The difficulties inherent in this and the simplicity of the product itself make me wonder if there's some car equivalent of the "80% lower" of the weapons industry.

Some kind of partially assembled new Kei truck that counts as "car parts" during import, and can then be assembled to create a "kit car". The kit car process is almost equally onerous, but at least you could get a new car on the other end.

Re: How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

#13

Post by chihuahua »

mdtusz wrote: post #4

In the PNW these are absolutely everywhere and for good reason - they're exactly what most people need when they need a truck bed for hauling capacity. Plus, many are 4/AWD and have relatively high clearance so they're great adventure wagons for forest roads and getting out there. If a manufacturer made a truck similar (or slightly larger - not much room for people 6' and over in them) available for the market here,…

If by "they are absolutely everywhere" you mean "I've seen one of them in 25 years of living here", then I agree.

Re: How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

#14

Post by rootusrootus »

avidiax wrote: post #12

The difficulties inherent in this and the simplicity of the product itself make me wonder if there's some car equivalent of the "80% lower" of the weapons industry. Some kind of partially assembled new Kei truck that counts as "car parts" during import, and can then be assembled to create a "kit car". The kit car process is almost equally onerous, but at least you could get a new car on the other end.

The difficulty is that this idea is not new and the regulations are written with that in mind.

Re: How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

#15

Post by greggsy »

rootusrootus wrote: post #11
mdtusz wrote: post #4

In the PNW these are absolutely everywhere and for good reason - they're exactly what most people need when they need a truck bed for hauling capacity. Plus, many are 4/AWD and have relatively high clearance so they're great adventure wagons for forest roads and getting out there. If a manufacturer made a truck similar (or slightly larger - not much room for people 6' and over in them) available for the market here,…

In Oregon, Kei cars are specifically illegal, they cannot be titled or registered. Other states are following a similar path so definitely make sure you can title it before you buy it.

Is that for safety or market protection reasons?

Re: How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

#16

Post by johnea »

When I tried to convince my buddy, a major Toyota truck fan, that really _this_ was the kind of truck evryone actually drives in Japan, he didn't want to believe me 8-)

This kind of thing is just obviously not allowed in the US, right? I mean, where's the luxury? What happens to all that social status that comes from needing a small ladder to climb into the cockpit of your rigg?

I was also mildly entertained by "damn metric system" 8-) Yea...

I have to say though, it's encouraging to see news of someone in the US coming to grips with the advantages of such a vehicle.

I've always liked the 1/2 tilting 3 wheelers like the Honda Canopy: https://wonderfulengineering.com/honda-has-introduced-a-new-...

Re: How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

#17

Post by greggsy »

zdragnar wrote: post #9
asdfigandfiono wrote: post #3

This goes to show just how superficial and backwards the American car industry is. You can do the job of a $50,000 pickup using a machine that is half the size of a Honda Civic, costs $10,000 new, gets 40 MPG, fits in any parking spot, is easy to load, and sells for around $10,000 new. But they look weak and girly . Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas.

...and aren't allowed on a highway or freeway. They're useless for most consumers.

I would argue that this form factor could absolutely replace the vast majority of trucks use for delivery and contractor duties in many cities and towns in the US.

Edit: flat bed pickup trucks that is, not lorries.

Re: How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

#18

Post by koolba »

rootusrootus wrote: post #14
avidiax wrote: post #12

The difficulties inherent in this and the simplicity of the product itself make me wonder if there's some car equivalent of the "80% lower" of the weapons industry. Some kind of partially assembled new Kei truck that counts as "car parts" during import, and can then be assembled to create a "kit car". The kit car process is almost equally onerous, but at least you could get a new car on the other end.

The difficulty is that this idea is not new and the regulations are written with that in mind.

Chicken tax trucks have entered the chat.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax

Re: How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

#19

Post by waiseristy »

greggsy wrote: post #17
zdragnar wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

...and aren't allowed on a highway or freeway. They're useless for most consumers.

I would argue that this form factor could absolutely replace the vast majority of trucks use for delivery and contractor duties in many cities and towns in the US. Edit: flat bed pickup trucks that is, not lorries.

They already have the form factor, it’s called a Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger. They are bigger than Kei trucks because they have actual safety features.

Re: How to register a Kei truck in Pennsylvania

#20

Post by coryrc »

asdfigandfiono wrote: post #3

This goes to show just how superficial and backwards the American car industry is. You can do the job of a $50,000 pickup using a machine that is half the size of a Honda Civic, costs $10,000 new, gets 40 MPG, fits in any parking spot, is easy to load, and sells for around $10,000 new. But they look weak and girly . Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas.

So long as you never get in a car crash. That's what's holding me back.
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