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Legal to drive on roads

Discussion in 'General Truck Info' started by kmoneil, Jun 3, 2007.

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  1. Acerguy

    Acerguy Moderator Staff Member

    Hmmm....that's what I thought. Well that ain't right.
     
  2. broshawn777

    broshawn777 New Member

    every state in the union says it is legal for motorbikes to use the roads and highways. trying to make these trucks a taboo for American roads is far past travesty. NO you don't want to drive on the interstate, NO they are not fast, but the are very roadworthy as long as you take care of them and watch other drivers very closely they are safe. I believe if you filter down to the bottom of all the bickering and crap you will find lobbyists attempting to whisper into the ears of lawmakers. I have a Honda. I drive it on the road everyday, I will be getting a tag and title for it in the great state of MS within the week. Once that happens I'm going to buy another one and make it much more affordable for someone else to do off roading and commuting at the same time. Don't believe that all legislation is good just because it is handed down.
     
  3. abcminitrucks

    abcminitrucks Member

    The speed limtations are to meet EPA regulations.....All ATVs (rhino, mule..etc) are built to meet US EPA standards for the size and use of the vehicle. The Japanese trucks do not meet these EPA standards. So they have to be speed restricted. Otherwise they would not be in the US at all!!!!
     
  4. abcminitrucks

    abcminitrucks Member

    I would suggest you use your voting power and vote someone into office that will help get the federal law changed...but right now, the law is the law and you will be violating it by driving that vehicle on the road. I suggest you take good care of the vehicle you got...they will soon be no longer available in the US if you people keep violating the law and driving them on the street.
     
  5. broshawn777

    broshawn777 New Member

    thanks for the reply. I would definitely appreciate it if you would keep your snide comments about me being a "lawbreaker" to yourself. There are laws that are antiquated and unused all over the country. Your town has them and every time you break that law you are just as much of a lawbreaker as anyone else! Doesn't matter how ridiculous the law is; if you break it you are a violator. I can legally get a tag with DOCUMENTED paperwork in the state of MS. Until that changes I am going to encourage all of my customers to do the same. Have you ever heard of states rights??????? Our country has been going back and forth about them since it's inception. I personally believe in states' rights to govern itself unless absolutely needed assistance from the federal guys. So, please, sir or madam refrain from posting slurs about me being a "lawbreaker". If tagging these vehicles is such a big deal then why aren't you fighting against motorbikes? I don't want a fight with anyone at all. We all have different interpretations of the law and how it should be carried out if you and I see it differently.........guess what this is America and difference of OPINION is still legal no matter how you look at it.
     
  6. abcminitrucks

    abcminitrucks Member

    Let me get this straight....as quoted above you are posting on a PUBLIC forum that you are going to violate the law as long as you can get away with it....and you ask me not to say anything about it.....OK

    You doing a good job of incrimination yourself anyway.
     
  7. abcminitrucks

    abcminitrucks Member

    Just thought everyone here should know that I just got a phone call from broshawn777.

    I would like to go on the record that I did not intend to call broshawn777 a Lawbreaker......I am simply stating that if you decide to drive your imported Japanese mini truck on the road, you are doing so in violation of federal law. No dis-respect intended.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 25, 2007
  8. broshawn777

    broshawn777 New Member

    All paperwork I have in the state of MS is perfectly legal in our state. If and when someone tickets me or confiscates my vehicle or any other thing that abc mini trucks says will happen this will be the first place I come to.
     
  9. abcminitrucks

    abcminitrucks Member

    Just one more thing to think about on this topic.

    If they do make these vehicles street legal. Then they would be considered used cars. So any of you guys that are selling them now would be have to become used car dealers to sell them. In most states that would require getting a license issued by the state. In Georgia, you cannot get a license unless you have passed several state courses, and you must have a retail lot with a sign and a telephone. One of the few businesses in this state that you have to be in business before you can get a license. They do this to stop the average "joe Blow" from getting in the dealer auctions and selling cars from their driveway.

    None of them would pass the emmission tests mandated Georgia, so they could not get a tag even if they were street legal.

    There is allot to consider on legalizing these vehicles...so don't jump too quick.
     
  10. Acerguy

    Acerguy Moderator Staff Member

    One interesting complication is that Federal law has changed so that now you can import "virtually anything" that is more than 25 years old. I put it in quotes as I really don't know the exact details but I do know that you can, for instance, now legally import, for example, a 1979 German-market VW without "federalizing" it. This is similar to the rule that is allowing our Canadian friends to import Kei cars except that their limit is 15 years. Just food for thought.
     
  11. abcminitrucks

    abcminitrucks Member

    I am familiar with this admendment but, importing them and making them street legal are 2 different things.

    Keep in mind that these trucks leave Japan becuase the Japanese government imposes strict (and expensive) inspection regulations on all vehicles. As these trucks get older, it becomes un-economical to keep and maintain these vehicles. So they are sold and exported or scrapped and the metal sold to other manufacturers. So I don't know how many 1982 or older mini trucks are left in Japan.
     
  12. Acerguy

    Acerguy Moderator Staff Member

    Good point. I lived in Japan a number of years ago and am very familiar with the taxes on older cars. On the bright side, if you knew you were only going to live there for a short while (i.e. in the military), you could buy a decent old car for cheap...but the licensing was expensive.
     
  13. Scott

    Scott New Member

    UTV speeds

    The Kubota's are limited to 25 MPH.
     
  14. EastTexasMiniTrucks

    EastTexasMiniTrucks New Member

    Legal or not legal....

    Excellent thread on this subject. Lots of great points made on both sides. I feel it really does boils down to politics. I spoke with one of the long time importers in the business and he said there are and always will be bought and paid for lobbyist on capital hill that will fight against these little trucks. The big 3 don't want them and you can be sure that Gator, Rhino, Mule, don't want them street legal. Talk about stealing some big boys profits! Also ...Be aware that if you are a dealer the feds are not shy about auditing your shop and asking you show proof that all trucks you have for sale have the limiters installed. If they are in your shop bay being worked on you might can get by with it being off, but if it is on your lots for sale be prepared to prove the speed doesn't go over 25 mph. We have all of our customers sign a form agreeing that they received their truck with the installed limiter and that East Texas Mini Trucks sold the truck for off road use only. What the customer does with the truck after taking ownership is his business but to be safe we're keeping all our ducks in a row. Good luck out there!!!
     
  15. abcminitrucks

    abcminitrucks Member

    Colin,
    I do the same thing with all my customers. The Feds don't mess around when it comes to enforcing the law...it is always a good idea to CYA (cover your a$$). I think there are going to be some other people that learn this the hard way.
     
  16. Wolfman

    Wolfman Member

    Hi everyone. Newbie here who has made the decision to give one of these little trucks home. I spoke with a Ft. Worth resident who has purchased one from a seller in Boyd. He jumped through the hoops, and was sucessful in getting a tag on his. This was the final hurdle for me to purchase one. I have some of the information on hand, but wish to complete the process myself before labelling the steps on a forum. I will start working with the seller in Boyd when I get back from a trip at the end of the month.
     
  17. smoothstroke

    smoothstroke Member

    I See A Guy Up Here In Prescott, Az Driving One Up And Down The Highway. He Cruises Right Along With The Traffic At 65 Mph. I Have A Couple Of Quads That Are Licensed For The Street Here In Az. I have them insured just like our cars. But alot cheaper, around 200.0 a year. I am waiting on the purchase of a refurbished truck from a fellow in Mississippi, but i really have no interest in driving it on the road. Too many crazies on the roads around here anyway.
     
  18. abcminitrucks

    abcminitrucks Member

    Just thought you would like to know that I am not the only one that feels this way....
    http://www.minitrucktalk.com/showthread.php?t=84
     
  19. broshawn777

    broshawn777 New Member

    Hoooray for you abcminitrucks! You have someone who is of the same OPINION as you. Congratulations that must be exciting for you. I completely understand that there are many people importing these trucks and that strict guidelines must be followed to do so. I definitely respect that. Once they get here it is no longer your responsibility to govern what people do with them. I told you on the phone that I would not promote getting MY vehicles tagged in MY state where it is perfectly LEGAL. I also told you that I would refrain from posting to any threads in this forum about this topic out of respect for all of you out there who feel threatened by people who want to have a more fuel and cost efficient way to travel. I don't need your help in finding an OPINION different than my own. Can we now just be MEN about our past conversation and move on? I told you that I would choose not to post anything to you and I now ask that you do the same for me.
     
  20. kmoneil

    kmoneil Administrator Staff Member

    I know some of you guys have problems with each others opinions on different subjects, but there is NO REASON to start calling people names, accusing people and calling them on the phone and bitching them out. Lets all be adults and start posting more about Mini Trucks.

    Please keep this forum friendly or I'll have to start banning people and locking threads. This forum is here to share ideas and information.
     
  21. mojomoto

    mojomoto New Member

    what ive learned

    OK

    i can make a kit car out of scraps from a junk yard as long as i have it inspected for stolen parts and is checked off road legal i can get a title.(law for fake exotic cars)

    i can take a goldwing and make it into a trike! very dangerous. (law for people that cant drive a motorcycle)

    i can import a car (or mini truck) as long it is 25 years old and get a title.(law for rich car collectors im guessing)

    i can drive a pile o truck that gets 10mpg, is not crash safe for me or anybody else on the street, and belches like a rolling volcano but i cant use a lightweight high mpg truck that suits my needs better?

    i want to buy a vehicle that will be used anyway somewhere in the world anyway.... (does it mater if co2 if it is comming out a tailpipe in india, china, or north america?)
    why cant i get a limmited title if......i accept that it is not as safe as a modern passenger vehicle in a crash (like a kit car) it shouldnt be opperated on any roads posted for speeds above 55mph.(like a trike)

    as an american i feel it is my duty to not waste oil or resources and become less dependent of forigen oil.
    resources: minitruck 1700lbs of steel. big "truck" what 4000lbs?
    gasoline consumption: mini truck 40+ or big truck 20-.

    i drive a motorcycle so i understand risk. and im betting the japanese 600+cc engines run pretty clean especially compared to big worn out v8s too. even used.

    could someone help me write a good basic letter to send to different state legislators? maybe someone will listen? maybe we can fight stupid laws instead of complaining about it?
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2007
  22. ProWrench

    ProWrench New Member

    There is said to be a bill in the works to get them legal in MO. for agricultural use / business. And for disabled folks, I'm hoping to get my Rhino legal. They are not legal in MO. yet though but hopefilly will be soon.

    My Rhino will do a a little over 60 mph if you really wring it out but cruises at 50 easily, a stock 660 will go about 38 with the rev limiter and governed clutch sheave.
     
  23. abcminitrucks

    abcminitrucks Member


    You have some really good points here. If only you could convince the right people. I would take what you have said here and send it to your local congressman.
     
  24. Wolfman

    Wolfman Member

    I now have plates on mine. I drove it to work today. I had no problem maintaining 55 mph (gps indicated). I would recommend looking into it at the state level where you live, to see what they allow. TX seems to be friendly to the idea, and I had little trouble getting plates.
     
  25. Well said Mojomoto. Something stinks in Washington, Minnesota let us register the minis as class2, atvs that gave us access to secondary state and county roads until it was decided that the minis gvw was greater than 1500# the limit for Class 2.atvs. I have heard every song an dance mentioned in the fourm as reasons why they can not be used on our roads even in a limited fashion, such as a gator or rhino that are registered as Class2 ATVs in Minnesota. GO figure!
    Steve
     
  26. Colin

    Colin Member

    Steve - I'll give you guys the low-down on my method of obtaining regular automotive plates/title for my Sambar once my paperwork is OK'd by the state (Minnesota.) :)

    Colin
     
  27. jliltd

    jliltd Member

    You're preachin' to the choir, there son. I see you are an idealist that thinks laws are supposed to be rational and fair. You're not fightin' the Gubmint' on this one. You're fighting the big dogs. By that I mean the likes of John Deere, Polaris, Club Car, Kubota, JB Hunt and even the domestic divisions of the same companies who manufacture Japanese mini trucks. As an example, for every Japanese mini truck that is sold, John Deere can count on loosing two Gator sales because a used mini truck will last twice as long as a new Gator. And the mini truck sells for less. And the mini truck is enclosed and comfortable with a heater and real automotive engineering with a 6.5' by 4' utility bed. And the mini truck won't require constant high-priced parts like belts, pulleys, starter-generators, lighting coils and other flimsy proprietary components (lots of personal experience here). That's a mighty powerful scare for these large corporate domestic UTV distributors. They've been trying every trick in the book to keep used mini trucks out of the US for 3 years now and the only thing they've been able to latch on to is an existing EPA regulation, or more accurately a lobbiest-guided interpretation thereof forcing US Customs to do the dirty work. So the Gubmint' is merely a pawn being played by the big dogs.
     
  28. Colin

    Colin Member

    ...which is exactly why I don't feel the least bit guilty for "stickin' it to the man" by loopholing my Sambar through our DMV. :)

    I'm not taking sales away from Polaris, John Deere, Kawasaki, etc, anyway - I need a small truck that can be driven on the roads. If anything, I'm taking business away from Joe Sixpack who's trying to sell his '80s Hilux on Craigslist.

    Colin
     
  29. Hey guys I want to clarify my position on road legal use.I only want the right to drive from point A to point B on secondary roads and not have to trailer my truck a mile down the road to my dads place to be legal.Class 2 ATV in minnesota did this until they were excluded for being over weight for this class.Now they are forcing guys to register them as home builts and acquiring a title which then makes minis legal for all road use in Minnesota.There is NO good reason why minis should not have limited road use and the individual states should decide NOT THE FEDERAL BOYS who can not get much right except pay raises for themselves.Again I am speaking for Minnesota only.Just my thoughts. Steve
     
  30. Colin

    Colin Member

    I agree. Although my truck is now set up with a normal automotive registration, I'd never take it on the interstate. It's perfect for running into town for some errands and commuting to work, though. :)

    Colin
     
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