Buying a Mini Truck for My New Daily Driver [Subaru Sambar]
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ธ.ค. 2022
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I’ve been looking at kei trucks for the better part of 7 years and only recently realized they’re street legal in North Carolina. In my research, I discovered Mayberry Mini Trucks, who petitioned to get them legalized in the state. I visited their location, drove all the different mini trucks, and eventually settled on a Subaru Sambar to be my new daily driver.
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![[Fall car camping] light Kei truck 4x4 trip with mini bikes](/img/n.gif)
I bought a mini truck in 2016. My first ever car along with a mazda miata. Instantly all of my friends were hooked on minitrucks. We have a whole 4 person squad with street legal minitrucks lol. Welcome to the community brither!
Squad goals right there!
Wow a mini truck and a Miata? You're living my dream lol
I live in ct and theres a local dealer that imports these trucks. They were asking 7k at the lowest. Is that average?
I am wondering about maintenance and getting parts for these trucks- is that very difficult to find a mechanic/parts for these?
@@xTheNameisEthan dude me too lol!
I own a 1996 Daihatsu Hijet and currently am stationed in Japan. I use a small collapsible milk crate type box to hold my things and drinks and such in either the passenger seat or back since mine is a JUMBO. If your looking for any parts or anything, hit me up and I'll head to UP Garage or Yellow hat and see if they got it and send it your way. Nice looking tuck. I'm bringing mine back to the states in a few months when the Navy relocates me and the family.
We had two of these trucks at a fishing resort I worked as a maintenance person at over summers while in school and I fell in love with them. The size, maneuverability and dump box on them are unmatched for doing yard work or small construction projects. Fantastic vehicles
Tony's face when he was whipping it around is what sold it for me. and the rear engine because the forward tilt upon stopping was sketching me out
If you think Tony is a crazy kei truck driver, you should see Amir at Boeki Mini Truck. It's scary to watch on TH-cam.
Love seeing you do all this different stuff it’s awesome! Keep it going!
Love your EDC videos but loving these videos as well with you branching out doing other things. Great video man!
Love it, I nearly bought a Suzuki Carry to go camping in last Summer, and I still plan to pick one up and turn it into a one man camper. We got the rear of our Ford Transit covered in 3D stretch lining and it really cut out the road noise, so I reckon you can make that cab plush and quiet easily.
I’m in the process of getting a Japanese RV through Japan car direct. I recommend bulk buying oil filters, gas filters, belts etc. even a spare pump or two. Depending on your particular truck’s model, you can sometimes get belts that are equivalent in the United States by ordering at your local parts store.
I follow Rutledge Wood and love his little van he did up, it's so rad. I wish they were lefthand drive, just preference, but that would be awesome to cruise around town in. Killer purchase my man.
This is so cool. I had NO idea the KEI trucks were street legal here in NC! I’m in the Inner Banks area and have a farm with small paths all through the woods that my Tahoe can’t get through. A street-legal mini 4x4 truck would be just the ticket for deer and bear seasons!
Yep, they would be a killer, killer hunting vehicle! Especially since they have heat and some of them even have a/c ( I live in Texas, a/c is a must ! )
They’re arguably cheap too, if you can swing ~$7k for a clean one
I've been looking at these trucks for a little while. Pretty cool to hear your opinion on one. Also cool to see someone talking about Mt Airy. My family is from Stuart VA so I'm very familiar with Mayberry. Heading that way from Florida for Christmas, I might need to make a pit stop.
I think you'll find it far more practical around town and running errands such as taking refuse to the tip or hauling firewood than a big truck. Nice purchase!
Really great video! Such fresh content.
Also damn you for yet again making me want something else I didn’t want before.
Been daily driving a Sambar since 2019 (Winter exempt due to road salting) and honestly as long as you don't mind driving 60-80km/h every where it's a great vehicle. Got a tow hitch and off-road 165/60R14 JDM direct mud tires for going on trails and 185/70R12 for street use (aka fuel economy). Aside from having to do some crazy cross referencing for parts like the fan switch, or a lower temp thermostat, or having to custom make brake line adapters maintenance is pretty easy, albeit rather expensive (Pro tip buy TRW pads GDB3136 and CiFam rotors 800-1717C from Europe for best braking). It's great for turning heads and since I started driving around a ton more have appeared in the towns around me.
Kudos to you for not driving your mini truck on salted roads and having the frame rust in a few years. I spray the undercarriage and frame (inside and out) with Surface Shield to prevent frame corrosion.
Thanks for the tip on the brakes. Too many people had a issue getting pads from ebay that caused fitment issues. You run the risk getting the China parts from eBay with these.
@@edwardgreenjr167 Yeah I thankfully didn’t have fitment issues, but the eBay rotors that you find by searching for “Sambar” or “KS4” ended up warping as the eBay pads, that are way overpriced & that you find doing the same search, just scorched. Also just looked up the PN as I realized probably should’ve included those, TRW pads GDB3136 and CIFAM 800-1717C. The rotors are coated so the first 2-4 stops will be super slidy. I also did stainless line conversion while I did brakes and if you do that too you’ll need 2X 20” hoses either 3AN or 4AN with M10 45 deg ends, and 2X matching AN size to M10x1.0 Inverted flare adapters. I also have the 3D stl files on my Cults 3D for the clamps to bolt a 4AN stainless hose to the shocks. Oh and if you’re in the states, I recommend Pentosin DOT4 or 4LV, available off the shelf at you’re local autozone.
It's awesome to see you giddy and enthusiastic about your purchase, life is short.
If it makes you happy then do it!
If I were able to drive (legally blind) I'd be getting one of these for sure.
Honestly coolest shit I've seen since the old school Ford ramp side pickup!
Congratulations, I hope you have continued success in all you do brother 👊
how do you see if you're blind???!
@Syed Mahdy I'm legally blind, just means I don't have good enough vision to aquire a license
My first mini truck was a 92 mitsubishi. Now I have a 95 honda acty. The rear engine rides so much better. Love both of them. Way on board with a mini truck! Nice subaru!!
I adore kei trucks and the subaru sambar is absolutely the one I'd buy. Great choice!
We used to use these as a yard vehicle at a place I worked at. Loved them and now i want to own one.
LOVE IT- Super unexpected! Now I really want a van version!
Bro! Absolutely killer video! Love this style!
If you want a small van, the Toyota HiAce Hi-Clas is highly recommendable. If you want to have a lot of fun in it get the RWD if not get the 4WD. Such great little vehicles and they aren't super tiny.
As I was growing up through high school and college I would work on the family almond orchard in the summers and we had one of these; specifically a little blue honda acty. I always loved when we had to take it into the rows to go cut down trees or collect wood because it was so fun to drive. 5 speed manual with 4wd that could actually get up to highway speeds surprisingly quickly as I recall. We beat on that thing so damn hard and it just kept chuggin like a good honda. Occasionally we'd use it to pull other tractors through the mud, chain up and drag out the trees we cut down, and drive into town to buy beer at lunch. Super fun to just bomb around in and very capable. I miss the thing so damn much I've actually been scouring the internet for one in my area
I just asked my local importer to look into getting me a Sambar supercharged 4wd 😂
I didn't know they made a supercharged version until today.
After watching lot's of videos the Subaru is the best one out there for sure 😃
If you wanna go and order drive through you have to go in reverse the whole way through. My Dad was a mail carrier and had his own personal work vehicle. It was a 1995 Jeep Cherokee right hand drive with a mail tray instead of a passenger seat. So when he retired I would drive his old work truck when I didn't feel like paying for gas in my '88 5.0 mustang we built together that got 7mi to the gallon.
So cool to see your channel grow and grow, and seeing some familiar places
Dude! Congrats! I've have daily driven my honda acty van for 2 years! Best decision I've ever made! Enjoy telling EVERYONE about your car every day!
I just bought my first - a Honda Acty. It’s got a home-made extended cab which allows the seat to be moved back, which should be great for my 6’ self. It’s already cosmetically imperfect, so some mud tires later I’ll be set :-)
This is such a breath of fresh air! KEI trucks are so cool. I don't get why NA always has to go bigger, noisier, and gas guzzling F150.
Because the companies can sell it for more and there are less regulations on bigger vehicles. Greedy corporations are to thank
Thanks for the video! I too have been looking at these for a few years.
Enjoyed your video. I have a Suzuki Carry Fire Truck with a bench seat so it's a 4 seater.
With off road tires in 4 wheel drive it is unstopable. FYI Yokahama Motors is the go to place for Kai truck parts in my opinion. They have super fast shipping and great prices with the largest parts inventory in the world. I had a little trouble insuring my truck because it has a siren but Geico agreed to overlook that.
Love the mini truck. You should definitely do a topo vinyl wrap on that.
I've been looking at these for months. Love them just haven't pulled the trigger yet.
You driving through Winston takes me back. we moved to Florida a couple of years ago and miss the friends and sights but definitely not the interchange and highway construction 3:23
3:17-4:30.
Great instrumental tune.
These LiL trucks are fascinating as well.
I got mine from Mayberry too. Such a great family! and I go through the drive thru all the time in mine, haha.
Congrats man! I’m picking up a Sambar van tomorrow here in North Japan. Can’t wait!
They are fun and remind me of the old RHD ford explorer Grumman body mail trucks we used to service when I worked at a ford dealer 23 years ago
Had a hijet that came with TEN inch wheels. Top speed on level highway with nothing working against me was probably around 80mph. Switched to 13 inch wheels and the ride is massively improved, but haven't taken it on the highway since, so dont know how it affected top speed.
I had one of the Honda vans like this when I was stationed in Japan in the mid '90's. It was an awesome little runner.!
Been a long time fan love the car/truck content, goes great with the edc content. Would love to see how the build goes.
Had to watch this. I used to drive these on FOB in Afghan. Toward the end of my deployment when things winded down I was tasked to support incoming troops. Me and the locals would load up 100+ twin size mattresses on these things and deliver them around. Was always hilarious to see 2 Afghans and 2 US troops inside the cab with the leaning tower of Pisa of mattresses driving down the road 😂
Just picked up my blue Acty from the port in TX! Love these things and I gotta stop by Mayberry Mini Truck next trip out East. Too much fun!
the fact that the engine is not under the cab is just awesome!
look at bully liner, good stuff, and its shelf stable and doesn't require special chemical suits/ lets you keep some for touch up if anything happens to it.
I think those are great and practical around tow workers with good fuel milage.
We have Suzuki Carry vans at work. They technically aren't Kei vans because they have an Australian export motor, 1.3L instead of the 660cc motor that complies with Kei registration in Japan. They are super fun to drive, and I am seriously considering getting a Kei truck. Probably a Suzuki Carry or Dihatsu Hijet, in either case I want 4x4 and factory diff locks so I can poke around the local logging roads and forrestry trails.
So cool man! I’ve sort of been eyeing these myself because I have a mini farm and I think it would be fun as a built farm truck!
Sambar is RR, rear engine rear drive so Japanese farmers call it a Porche of ricefield roads.
Good day bud I came across your video and it help me to decide on which one I was getting after five years of researching and searching for one I am definitely going to look up the same company you bought from thank you again for your help
I live in Kansas and I've never seen someone in one of these here, but I've been researching and they're apparently legal and people do have them here. I've been wanting one for going on five years now and I would have saved up and gotten one already, but I decided to go back to college so I'm broke again lol. I'm gonna get me one as a graduation present next year. I had already honed in on the Sambar as my most likely choice, but this video only made me even more certain of that choice. It's good to see them getting more popular (when I first decided I wanted one several years ago, no one was talking about them) because it'll only get easier and easier to get them.
I remember when the 1st Honda 600s came out. $50, dn, $50 mo! $1495. I'm 6 ft tall, but at 24 I was still agile enough to get in/out. 2cyl, shift in dash,, 12 in tires, 6.7 gal fuel, 40 mpg. Semi tk tires taller than car. 80 mph dn hill. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. Watch const vids in China on y tube they use the dunp bed version for const mtls delivery.
I had a '94 Ford Aerostar that would drop power steering occasionally when you made a right turn from a dead stop but only when it was raining.
We could never figure out what was making it happen.
3:48 Ngl, I saw this and it brought a smile to my face, like finding the hidden treasure in the forest.
Finally , something affordable, simple, and durable.
Dudes will literally buy a k car instead of going to therapy
Big fan of the mini trucks. I just found out about these the other week as well. I guess that's how I found your channel.
Not much to say except very cool! Keep us posted as you get more experience driving around town in it.
I was also eyeing Sambars for years, joked with my wife that I was going to get one. Then she surprised me last year with a key and a 'Van Life' keychain attached to it for our anniversary.
Her coworker at the time was importing them as one of his side hustles, former military that was stationed in Japan. I'm a proud owner of a '91 Dias II with the 'sun-sun' roof. Even non-car guys can't help but smile to see these things on the road.
Now, I want to get one of those larger forward cab Toyota 4-door trucks. The addiction starts with one, lol.
I love these. I drove them when stationed in Japan. I am still looking for a good 4x4 version.
Hey great content here! This spring let’s try to get together with the rest of the mini gang here in NY ,CT area. Camping with our mini has become our favorite new pastime.
PLEEEEEEAAAAASE do a build series on the kei truck! I have always wanted one and you have renewed my love and need of them 🙌
I also love and will never sell my Excursion. But I really like that mini truck. I live over by Bristol motor speedway so that place is not to far away from me. I might have to take a trip there and get on to use up at the camp site.really cool little truck
Its practical . It probably gets a ton of miles per gallon and you can do almost anything with it . As a daily beater around town truck its all you need .
Definitely approve of the wheel/tire upgrade.
I remember they used to have a bunch of these at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro. You couldn't take them off base because they weren't legal in the States at that time. Would love to get one for a grocery getter and whatever.
We used the van version as crew trans in the desert, I think it was in Seeb AB, Oman!
Bought my Sambar for Tony over a year and a half ago. Best damned utility truck I have ever owned.
I love my Suzuki carry We bought it from Tony and Stephanie from Mayberry mini iv done a lift and wheels and tires we drive it everywhere. Just used it to pull out a Jeep that was sunk down to its bumpers . We live in Gastonia nc I’ll try and do a short TH-cam video
I would not want to drive an excursion around Charlotte if I didn’t have to lol. My Xterra seems to big there at times. Thanks for the video. Good luck with the truck
Love it. There’s one at a house just down the road. And a little different but also a very small truck, my buddy has a couple vw caddy trucks.
This gives me something to look forward to when I move to NC
I’ve got a hijet van and it’s got a pretty good amount of room the seats are actually adjustable in it, enjoy it they are super fun and just about everybody loves them. Upgrade to some heavy duty springs in the front for a little better ride!
I have a 4WD Hijet truck and I'd love to have a Hijet 4WD van. No room to park it and I hate paying insurance on all of the vehicles when I only drive one at a time and don't drive that much.
Super cool!! Love this channel, and knew you were from NC! I’m a new supporter in Patreon! I grew up in Mt Airy as well. Love the video shot of “Mt Pilot” hikes there just a few weeks ago!
It would be nice to see left hand drive conversions like how we do it in my country. The dealers would usually convert the cars before selling.
My job had a couple of those, I had alot of fun driving them around.
Ive beeb lookin at them for a little bit down here in florida and have seen a few on the roads and am definitely lookin forward to gettin one as a daily because of the reliability and gas as well
Ha ha! I noticed you walked over to the left door to get in. I've owned my Sambar for about 8 months now. I still go to the left door from time to time. You will also find yourself using the wiper switch to turn on the turn signals and the turn signal switch/headlamp switch to turn on the wipers from time to time. I laugh at myself all the time. I bought a (rare) Subaru Sambar Super Deluxe High Cab with air from Tony. I had driven up to a Mini Dealer up in Christiansburg VA and was headed home. I was going back the next weekend to buy a Suzuki Carry. On the way home, near Burlington, I called Mayberry Mini and asked if they might have a Subaru Sambar with air conditioning. Tony's wife answered the phone and brought Tony on via conference connection. He said he had (just) had a delivery of a Sambar with A/C and that it was a High Cab. I headed up to Mount Airy the next day, drove it and bought it. Tony Delivered it to me 3 days later. And as a side note, Tony delivers these trucks wherever you may need. When I spoke to him the first time, he was making deliveries up in Maine! Tony and his family are great and made purchasing my Mini trouble free. Even getting the license was a breeze because they had everything together. After adding my proof of insurance, it took only 15 minutes to get the license. This little truck is a riot to drive. I usually take it everywhere. There are a lot of local roads around me so getting on an interstate highway isn't necessary, but on occasion, I will take it onto 85/40 between exits. At 50 MPH, it's fine. You will find that you get a lot of attention from people. I can't go anywhere without someone asking about my mini. Anyone with engine knowledge and whom are into trucks are amazed at the rear engine placement. I find it gives a really stable ride with the weight distribution. I haul full sheets of plywood with the tailgate down as well as 10 foot 2x4 lumber. There are lots of strap down hooks. The engine service is a breeze. Battery access is easy. I cannot say enough about these tiny trucks. I had been in the market for a John Deere Gator or similar ATV. Prices, even on used were high. I stumbled across these mini's. Tony had put up a comparison with ATV's. The mini won out in every category. Plus, you have an enclosed cab, heat, solid doors with roll up windows, great visibility, 4x4 at will, a granny low 1st gear if you want it and, in the case of my Sambar, A/C as well. But the attention you get, just unbelievable. I went to the fast food joint the other day. One of the order takers in the driveway asked if I would take her for a ride! I can take this little rig to the grocery store and when arriving back home, drive it through a muddy field. It's just an unbelievable vehicle. I wish I had bought one many years ago. This little rig outshines an ATV any day and anywhere! I'm glad you put your post up. Enjoy your (toy of a truck)!
I love those things, the ones with a dumping bed are so interesting.
So much potential in these kinds of vehicles.
yooo what camera do you use it looks really nice and crispy !!
I've looked hard at a Kei, being that I'm in Canada they're a lot easier to get here. I shopped a few but ended up in a Toyota Hiace truck, it's a lot closer to domestic truck sizes (think Ranger/S-10) so it's much bigger than a Kei, super tall and it's HILARIOUS to drive.
The cabover and very very high seating position combined with HUUUUGE windows gives you visibility for days and the maneuverability is insane.
Just looked it up and the double cab version is so sick
@@Hoodie-K that's what I've got, 1.25 ton with a pickup box and double cab.
Slow but incredibly fun.
@@barrylinkiewich9688 That’s awesome. Definitely one of the coolest looking vehicles I’ve seen in a while. Toyota makes all the best stuff overseas
*best purchase ever*
im jealous, i want one.
Dude no Way!! I live in King. I will have to go check this out!! Love your channel man.
The best thing you can do for yourself immediately is replace the suspension! See Harley Rose on that! I have a Suzuki Carry 96. Besides the suspension, I would buy sound proofing and soundproof the hell out of it.
I want one really bad. thanx for sharing where I can get one. I had one when I was stationed in Okinawa so yup I’m gettin one 🤙🏽
Nice shots of Winston and Pilot mtn too
Right on man, thanks for the shout out 👍 I enjoyed your video and subscribed 🙂
I had a subscriber mention your video to me, so I had to check it out.
You did it right, drove many different trucks and found the right truck for you. I think you will find them to be more useful ever day you drive it. I don’t regret buying mine.
So far, I’m loving it. I do think it needs a little tune up. Timing might just be off - hard to say. But it’s a great little truck.
I’m also binging your videos to learn to weld. I didn’t say this in the video, but I bought this little truck to force myself to learn to fab some stuff. So your channel is the perfect source for both things. lol
@@BestDamnEDC Right on 👍 welding is a great skill to know, you will love it 😊
One of the biggest differences I made on my Suzuki was timing, I ended up advancing the timing quite a bit and that made a big improvement to overall power. Hopefully a little tune up will help yours out. I run 92 octane in mine and a little fuel stabilizer/ carb cleaner on each fill up, one of the best things for them is just to be driven at least once a week. 😊👍
I think this is an entire segment that we don't have. and I would love to drive one of these things around but I have no use for it yet so it was fun watching. Although I think noise and comfort would be a big part of my decisions. I just got a small transit like van this year but I still like the idea of having a small electric car for around town and I don't need all the cargo space.
American vehicles have been getting bigger and bigger to the point where they are larger than some parking spots in locations that can't be upgraded that were never designed for the larger vehicles and the worst part is we're not even really getting that much more interior space.
Awesome. Been looking at Sambars the past year…. Haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
Kei trucks are really cool. I've noticed them on highways in WV on back of delivery trucks a lot lately. Might need to get one
I like it too man and i am happy about you. You look happy enjoy it!!!
Love it! Little trucks gets little EDC!
Great to see Americans find the value of these small trucks. I have fond childhood memories of a Suzuki van built on the same KEI platform. In India they were economiy vehicles and great utility on a budget. Ofcourse they are not highway friendly and crash safe like modern ones, but they sip fuel and can be used as a work truck .
I dont have a kei truck yet but i own a honda Fit sport.... 11 cupholders on a 5 seater, magic seats. And surprises me everyday! Yes everything FITS!
Was stationed in Japan from '75 to '81. During the majority of that time, I owned a Honda mini truck or as there called now Kei trucks. I really enjoyed my truck and over the years have missed it. Being a senior citizen now, the window of opportunity has passed me by.
Na man it only passes you by if you let it. That's what I tell my grandma
Great video as usual. I look forward to hearing what you have to say. You explain things very well. I do have a question. I like the jacket you were wearing in the middle of the video, the tan one. What brand is it?
Carrhartt
@@austinbridge thank you
I met Tony a few days ago and bought a Hijet, he is a real cool guy.
Great video, great truck, and -- most important of all -- an awesome father that's every kid's dream parent. Thanks to you, Taylor, I now have about 10 stuffed admin pouches and EDC pouches. They all have flashlights, multi-tools, etc., and are mostly Maxpedition in all different sizes. My question to you is, "How do you keep track of what's inside the pouches?" :) I wish there was a simple way to label the outsides with a list of contents!! 🧐
I have a Daihatsu Hijet as my daily driver. Best vehicle purchase of my life!
Totally sick
i was just wondering if you could register a kei truck in NC then I saw the highway sign for statesville/greensboro lol. (I skipped through the video before i went back and watched from the start)