Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: KFhunter on January 04, 2020, 09:48:59 AM

Title: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: KFhunter on January 04, 2020, 09:48:59 AM: Wife wants a UTV or side by side

wondering if one of these might be better, she's NOT gonna hot rod it at all. I would use it for hunting and trapping, and taking kids around on snowday cruises down FS roads that aren't plowed.

I'm thinking in Washington you can highway legal these things, there's no specific laws preventing a regular DOT license plate? With a DOT license plate I don't have to stick to designated ATV trails on the national forest.

I would modify it, the truck goes for about $4500 + $6000 in mods is still a bunch cheaper than bare bones UTV w/o tracks or anything. Plus I can use it around the farm more than a UTV could. I realize it's not going to do deep fluff, but it'll do early snow and spring snow for sure!

when tracked I'd trailer it to spot to spot, I have a nice GN trailer.

I would make it just like this one:
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: KFhunter on January 04, 2020, 09:57:55 AM: It would also make a decent spray rig
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: KFhunter on January 04, 2020, 10:34:30 AM: lift kits:
https://www.superminitrucks.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=98

track kits:
https://www.atvtracks.net/track-systems/suzuki-6600-carry-1989-1991-4s1
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: hunter399 on January 04, 2020, 11:38:38 AM: I might of known a guy in kettle that had one of those little trucks - no tracks.You could get a older toyota pickup and just put tracks on .same concept.
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: bearpaw on January 04, 2020, 11:50:07 AM: I've ridden in one, friends had one in Utah for hunting. I've thought about buying one at times but ended up buying side by sides. If you do some research there are two brands most recommended, sorry, I can't remember which ones at the moment.

I though about getting a crew cab with a small box, the best thing, I think you could license them for the street in WA, but not entirely sure about that?
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: KFhunter on January 04, 2020, 12:11:33 PM: I did some googling and WA doesn't seem to have specific laws prohibiting street legalization of them.

I'm finding conflicting websites, some say yes some say no.

25 years or older they're exempt DOT laws
21 years or older they're ecempt EPA laws

right now I'm *thinking* they follow UTV laws for the state of WA.

Federally they might not be classified as off road vehicles.

UTV's are off road federally, so they're limited to designated ATV trails on federal lands and state land where prohibited, but generally they can drive on 35pmh roads or in town on 25 mph roads. Which is the same for mini trucks in WA.

the difference might be that while on federal lands the kei trucks might follow on road vehicle laws, and not stuck to just designated ATV trails.

I'm still a bit confused
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: Whitpirate on January 04, 2020, 03:17:13 PM: I'm working on fitting into one....

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/happy-valley-1992-mitsubishi-minicab/7048429313.html

Full ability to title and plate if they are 25 years or older. I want one with a diff and axle lock with dump for the farm. Handy as all get out.

Look at "What's up Mini Truck" on Youtube... for a guy in Vermont I think that modified one.... way cheaper (albeit slower) than a new Polaris. Ability to drive on all roads in WA is a bonus.
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: KFhunter on January 04, 2020, 03:22:59 PM: Let us know how it goes, it sure would be handy especially if you can fully license it for highways for WA and Idaho too :tup:
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: Birdguy on January 04, 2020, 04:32:06 PM: Saw one of them in Gig Harbor Thursday night. Had a license plate and such assume it was legal as in the Harbor that is NOT typical take to town ride.
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: wadu1 on January 04, 2020, 05:10:12 PM: Cool rigs, played with two in Canada that a fishing guide has. The only odd thing I've noticed everyone has been RH steering. I've driven in England without issues the manual tyranny's are the same as ours, your shift away here and towards you with RH steering. :twocents:
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: ghosthunter on January 04, 2020, 05:17:03 PM: Umm even with modifications would be cheaper than a side by side.
And if you could license for the road huge plus.

Watched some video. Several were saying the diff. Lock was seldom needed.

Interesting.
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: Whitpirate on January 04, 2020, 05:57:43 PM: There are two farms out here that have one. Neither got the dump bed which is what I'm coveting....

This is the mini truck guy.
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: ghosthunter on January 04, 2020, 07:53:33 PM: There is a dump bed one in Bellingham.

And this one.

https://kpr.craigslist.org/snd/d/happy-valley-subaru-4x4-mini-truck/7038700499.html
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: Jerry malbeck on January 17, 2020, 05:38:18 AM: We had six of them on the farm, I was the mechanic,I hated them.Hard to find parts and when you did they were expensive and took forever to get even oil filters and other main items.Rough riding and horrible air filtration system for eastern washington dust. I ended up snorkeling all of them with aftermarket air cleaners. resale was not good either, No one seemed to want them .AND you better be a small in stature person if you have to spend much time in one. Better off going Suzuki Samurai or Toyota Truck.
Title: Re: kei mini truck or UTV?
Post by: millerwheeler on January 17, 2020, 06:47:35 AM: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
I have owned one as well parts are a pain, suspension is garbage , the sxs market is full.of an array of machines these days , a samurai, or sidekick can be just as great too there is no one machine for all