Making MiniTrucks Street Legal

going green

how is going green associated with a mini truck?

 

I still say it's a matter of state's rights and to heck with the Interstate. Convince your state reps to make them on-road legal in your state and include a reciprocity agreement with any state with similar regs. Import them any way you can and keep the off the Federal highways. Too many people look to the Feds for all the answers. Just because they got elected does not make them smart.

 

canadian1,

How is going green associated with a Mini Truck you ask?

Doesn't a Mini Truck burn less fuel than a Standard Pickup Truck? I know that mine does so that's going green!

Besides, how often do you need the full size truck versus the more convenient size of a Mini Truck? That's even more wasted fuel.

I'm just trying to appeal to the green folks out there.

Heck, maybe we can get half of that $700,000,000 bail out that's still left? For $350,000,000, we can swap out a lot of trucks!

Come on government boys, let's order more green ink and tissue paper and get this country moving the Mini Truck way!

 

green

i must be behind the times. i was under the impression that going green [as an example] was converting from gas to electric. going green=non-polluting; not just cutting back. correct me if i am wrong

 

Greg0187
Got to admit that is a very impressive crash test of the Smart Car.

After driving a mini I still feel it would be very useful for my needs. A round town grocery getter that could haul small loads and get good fuel economy.

MightyMilt
What kind of gas mileage are you getting? What are your driving habits like?

Canadian1
Going from gas to electric isn't green if your electricity is made from burning coal.
Randy

 

canadian1,

Green is burning less fossil fuel!

 

i drive it on the hiways at 75 keeping up with traffic and it gets 25-28mpg. around town the best i've gotten was like 36 or 38 i think?

 

Thanks Milt

OK everybody can we get back to the main subject here: "Making MiniTrucks Street Legal".

 

I've actually gotten into the 40's with mine but it's a little newer.

Now how can we get one of these little jewels for everyone in America?

I think during the last depression the goal was a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage. Let's get out of this depression with multiple chickens in every pot and a collection of cars and Mini Trucks in every garage. (Just for Milt we could make the chickens one-legged space chickens!)

 

coal

i've not seen a mini trk. burn coal. how about batteries or solar?

 

green

i don't think so.

 

It would be nice to hear some of the dealers chime in with their opinion on this.

How about it dealers?
You have a lot of customers that would like to buy a mini for the street.

 

canadian1,

You mean green means burning worthless American dollars? Whoa! That's tough.

Ran440,

I agree. It would be great if all of the dealers got together and figured this out. I definitely think that the buyers are ready.

 

green

no i do not; but no internal combustion engine is green; not yet anyway.

 

canadian1,

How about if instead of saying "going green" we say "going greener" then?

 

green

fair enough: now you can send one to the president elect.

 

canadian1,

I think what would be more fun than sending one to the President Elect would be doing a rally at the Capital. All of us that have street legal Mini Trucks can head to Washington for a rally at the White House. I bet that would get someone's attention.

I'm remember a news piece where a bunch of farmers got mad so they drove their tractors to the White House. Maybe I should check my history to see if that worked for them or if they all landed in jail.

 

I think that he is so wraped up with the car unions that they would throw a fit if he tried to make them legal. Probably would want him to make them un-legal. Just my opionion.

 

rally

that may get some attention but what about driving through the states where they are not street legal?

 

Windmill,

You may be right about Obama. Besides, as he starts sinking his teeth into the ecomony, he will probably be buried for years.

What's really too bad is that the US auto makers don't jump all over these Mini Trucks and build them at one of their many shut down plants. I love my Mini Truck but I hate to think that we can't build something just as nice or better right here in the home of the free and the land of brave.

canadian1,

I'm game. I've actually been thinking about driving mine across country this summer just to see what happens. I have been on Federal Highways and driven past all sorts of police and all I get is a big smile and a wave. Interestingly, I was pulled over by one cop shortly after I got my Mini Truck. He thought it was cool and he wanted one. Yep, another customer!

 

Legal

donald
do you know if the trks. are street legal in CO.
thanks
paul

 

No they are not as of yet... but I have SMM tags (Special Mobile Machinery) and a SMV sticker so I can drive mine on the county roads where I live to go from one property to the next for construction purposes. As soon as I get insurance I will go to town to get gas and hit the feed store. I asked a police officer about the dirt roads and he said without tags its illegal and it depends if the officer is having a good day whether you get a ticket. We shall see.... love my truck...P.S...The DMV received a memo not to register K trucks as motor vehicles...They refered me to the State for ATV stickers which is only good on state land not county roads.... I hope this is of help to you....

 

Paul,

I bet you can make them street legal in Colorado. My suggestion would be to use the category called "Assembled Vehicles" just like people use for dune buggies.

This will involve having a police officer inspect the vehicle and checking off that it has lights and blinkers and a horn, etc. Then you take that form to the DMV and get your plate. It's not always easy, but it's possible. I guarantee that if I can do it, anyone can.

 

I bed driving these little trucks around won't get u into any problems with the police. like someone else mentioned(experienced), u might just get pulled over coz the officer is curious. hey, u might even get the same response like "oohh..i want one!", "wow, neat!"

the only problem is getting it street legal. getting it properly registered for street use. i'v been doing some research as well with these trucks. the only classifications it will fall into coz of the way they r being sold is under UTV which won't make it street legal. i'v also thought of the kit car idea or home built and this is what i'v gotten so far from NJ DMV:

Custom-built vehicles have a unique titling and registration process. If they didn't come from a major automaker, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will want to make sure the car is both safely built and made out of parts that were not stolen.

There are several types of vehicles that fall under this category. Reconstructed vehicles such as dune buggies and kit cars are included, as might be salvaged vehicles. If you built or modified a vehicle to such an extent that it needs to be reregistered, you'll be asked to provide bills of sale for every major component that you used―so keep diligent records.

Once these vehicles are titled (or before they are titled), they might need to undergo a vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection. If the vehicle doesn't have a VIN, the MVC can issue you one.

Custom-built vehicles might also be subject to a safety and emissions inspection as part of the registration process.

I'm still not giving up though. i'd really love to have one of these as my daily driver(street/highway). i don't need to go pass 75mph, the speed limit is only 55-65mph. gas mileage is good as well. it has more than enough room for tools/equipment that i use. much better than buying a new tacoma or similar pick-up truck.

 

This is now my experience with DOT. State DOT wants nothing to do with vehicles or the programs...go to DMV. Here are my results...DOT sent this email to the Highway Patrol...I censored certain names numbers etc with ****:

Mr. *****
On the state level, there is no inspection system for passenger cars and trucks. There is no requirement that normal cars and pick-ups have some sort of inspection. SD State law does not require any kind of DOT stamps on any specific parts. South Dakota has a number of law regarding vehicle equipment though. There are laws specific to different parts of the vehicle and a law against operation of an improperly equipped vehicle. For instance, SD law says you cant drive on a cut or worn tire. Safety glass is required. A proper exhaust system is required, among many others. Most vehicle equipment laws are under SDCL 32-15. Lighting parts and requirement are under SDCL 32-17.

When specific parts of a vehicle have those stamps and numbers you refer to, this is mostly a federal requirement imposed on manufactures of the parts. In most cases it either shows or certifies compliance with a FMVSS, (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). These standards and manufacturing practices are regulated by the federal government.

Commercial vehicles are an entirely different story. Commercial vehicles are required to show proof of inspection annually. In South Dakota this is done by private companies such as a repair shop or dealership.

If this is in regards to fixing an old car up, for instance you pulled a 57' Chevy out of a tree line and fixed it up, or re-built a salvaged vehicle, there would be an inspection done on it but this would mainly be an inspection to check for stolen car parts, or stolen vehicle itself.

If I haven't answered your question, if I've now created more questions, or you have any different questions, please feel free to contact me.

1SG *****

-----Original Message-----
From: *********
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:09 AM
To: ***** Sgt. *****
Subject: FW: DOT specification requirements for vehicles...


Sgt. ****, can you help these folks?


-----Original Message-----
From: *****
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 7:48 PM
To: ******
Subject: DOT specification requirements for vehicles...


Dear SD DOT:

What are the DOT specifications and requirements for vehicles traveling SD roads (i.e.what does the DOT look at when putting the DOT stamp on tires, lights, glass etc in vehicles)? Does the DOT provide some sort of inspection for vehicles that do not have DOT stamped parts?

I could not find anything on the website, is this at the State or Federal level?

Thank You,

Norman *****

 

http://www.iihs.org/laws/minitrucks.aspx
That link shows the laws of each state on these little trucks.
It varies.

I think that washington has a lot on their plate, really. I'd leave these little trucks up to your local governments. So talk to them and see what takes place. I recommend waiting till fuel is back up though.
The first time they tried to make them legal in Oklahoma it failed. Gas was well under $2.00 at that time. The politician that tried back them later said (now that it passed) that its like a rain-dance: the success is all about the timing.
So once gas got high, the law made it through.

 

JTPC, when i saw that link of urs and i saw "no state laws", oh how i wished it meant there's no state laws that prohibits it from being on the road(>_<) lol

 

Ha, yeah if only.
In Oklahoma's case, they had to have the law so the trucks could be given registration and a title. Without a title here, ya can't tag or insure the vehicle.

It may be similar in other states, so by default, no title usually = no ability.
Therefore, no law is needed to prohibit the trucks; the truck prohibits itself (in a sense) because of it's lack of a title acknowledged by that state.

So that's why usually state legislation is needed to make a place/system for the trucks to be titled/tagged/insured/road legal as a normal auto.

 

Want to get a Mini Truck Tag in SC

I agree, I live in South Carolina, have you any suggestions on how to get a a tag? I went yesterday and paid the property tax and got insurance on it, but when I went to the highway dept. I was shot down, they wanted shipping records, declaration letter saying that the truck conforms to USA DOT standards.

Thanks,

Big sam

 

Big sam,

Talk to your representative and show them Oklahoma's law as a guideline for your state.

As for Donald Shimoda's suggestion, well, I doubt these trucks will ever be imported under the category as regular vehicles. If they let these in as such, then it would be fair game to import autos from south america, india, etc, which do not meet the safety standards of the US.
So yeah, I don't see that happening anytime soon because of what other problems that might come of it.

But hey, as I said, a state-by-state deal where each state decides whether to make these legal on their state roads seems to be working out for several states.
So I'd talk to local government.

~Josh