This is a legitimate question. Someone is blocking these Mini Trucks from being used in the United States in the way in which they were intended to be used -- i.e., on-the-road vehicles. If we are going to change this, we need to find out where the stumbling block really is. And, as is often the case, the buck usually stops on one desk with one person. So who has the power to unstick these trucks? I know we have lot of members that love off-roadin' with these Mini Trucks, and I've even been stuck in the mud a time or two myself, and there is certainly more mudding in my future. That's what's cool about these trucks. When properly equipped, they can do it all. I just know that the real key to selling lots of Mini Trucks is making them street legal because my wife isn't going mudding anytime soon but she does love the Mini Truck. So who is holding up the process? We need a name! Going to Barack Obama is probably shooting too high but going to plain vanilla Senators is undoubtedly shooting too low. Does anyone one know who the highest ranking official is when it comes to opening up the United States for a Mini Truck invasion?
wow dude! you really need to relax. last time i checked it was against forum rules to discuss ways to circumvent the laws to get these things legalized. i realize they are legal in some states and that's great for them. i also realize some folks have slipped them in below the radar and gotten them registered. i've seen your type breeze through here before, on a mission to set the record straight and get things legalized by hook or by crook... but let it go man, it's against federal law. they don't meet the dot crash test safety standards. they can be brought in and changed to meet the standards much like the smart car. but this is a lengthy and expensive process which pretty much negates the savings they truck might provide. i had one that was street legal, it was a blast to drive and i saved a ton on gas... until they realized they goofed and rescinded my title. now i have an ornament in my garage that is neither legal on road or off. i do occasionally drive it to the gas station with my slow moving vehicle sign... but that's about it.
Might Milt, Don't misunderstand, I'm not talking about going against and/or circumventing any laws. I'm talking about finding the person that can change the dumb policies. It may be that no one here really knows. If that's the case, then so be it. I'm just thinking that based on the collective wisdom that is here, somebody might know who the main mover and shaker is that is preventing these Mini Trucks from being street legalized. I guarantee that there is some insider stuff involved in blocking these Mini Trucks, and it would be great to know the inside story. Just out of curiosity, when did the first Mini Trucks start showing up on the shores of the United States? Where they originally imported as "Farm Equipment" or was that something that somebody came up with to work around the system?
i'm going to try and say this in the best possible way... there is a wealth of knowledge here and most of it can be reviewed with carefully chosen search words. you have been a member only a short time and think you can just shake things up and see what falls out as far as getting these legalized. you aren't asking any new questions, you just have a new found passion. i have extensive knowledge on the legalization of these little trucks and have written about it on several occasions. both victories and follies are well documented in my posts. do a little snoopin' around and see what you come up with.
they never stopped showing up , they just caught on with more folks. anyone could buy a new truck , but most states wouldn't give you a tag. there are a few around here from the early 1970's. and i know of one tractor dealer that has been selling used trucks for many years.
Mighty Milt, Thanks, I appreciate your suggestion. I can say that I have done some searching on the site but I haven't found a name of a person that is high enough in the government to do any good. So if anyone out there has a contact, I'd love to have it. Also, who has the best history of what has happened with the importing and regulations regarding these Mini Trucks? Do we have a timeline anywhere on the site that shows what's happened and when? larryn2o, Thanks for the video clips from YouTube.com. It would be interesting to know how those early trucks arrived and what has changed in the importation process.
Is it possible to buy a Japanese car such as a Toyota Rav4 in Japan and then ship it to the United States without the hassles involved with importing a Mini Truck? Or, is it easier because Toyota provides an EPA and DOT Certification for a Toyota Rav4? If so, does this problem ultimately rest with the manufacturers, and we are all just trying to get around what they need to do? Maybe we should be talking with Toyota or Mitsubishi or Suzuki or Honda or whoever manufactures and handles certification. Does that make sense?
Don, Just to give you another scenario from the Canadian side.... Up in Canada we have lots you young uns bringing in the Nissan Skylines ever since the Fast n Furious hit the movies. It is totally legal to do it in Canada as long as they are 15 yrs or older but if you bring it in to the Dealer to work on it your pretty much out of luck. Even though lots of parts fit from the NA models because it's JDM they get there nickers in a knot. Honda, Toyota, Subaru are all they same they just don't want to deal with JDM's period. Also slightly OT but when then Canadian $$ was high we had lots of Canucks slipping down south to pick up a brand new US DM vehicle because you could save big $$$, the more expensive it was the more you saved. Well guess what? If you brought that US bought Lincoln Navigator into a Canadian dealer for Warrenty work the would laugh at you. As soon as it crossed the border the warrenty goes out the window. Further I have read where US based ATV dealers were having there franchises taken for selling to Canadians who were snapping up good deals to bring north. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the makers are not squeaky clean in this situation either.
Timetripper, Interesting information. It seems like the ultimate answer is to have the manufacturers handle the paperwork and sell these Mini Trucks through the dealer network if we want dealer service. Since we are going around that system, everyone has their nickers in a knot. It would be interesting if someone knew what the manufacturers really think about this issue. Do they even care about what's going on? If we asked Mitsubishi, for example, the following question, how would they answer: * * * * * Do you want your Mitsubishi Mini Trucks sold in the United States? * * * * * If they answer yes, then they are in the best position to fill out the appropriate paperwork and bring these Mini Trucks to the market through their current dealer network or a new dealer network specializing in Mini Trucks. If they answer no, then the best we can do is continue to smooch the government where the sun don't shine and figure out ways to work in and/or around the system.
Is it possible to buy a Japanese car such as a Toyota Rav4 in Japan and then ship it to the United States without the hassles involved with importing a Mini Truck? Or, is it easier because Toyota provides an EPA and DOT Certification for a Toyota Rav4? If so, does this problem ultimately rest with the manufacturers, and we are all just trying to get around what they need to do? Maybe we should be talking with Toyota or Mitsubishi or Suzuki or Honda or whoever manufactures and handles certification. Does that make sense?
I think you will run into the problems that the Skyline junkies do. We did some pretty exhaustive research and posted the findings on my Nissan board. treating these trucks as road vehicles from the start to me would seem to bring with it many of the problems a GT-R does. http://www.nicoclub.com/articles/skyline-import-1.shtml There are ways around things and I find myself routinely in Milt's position, trying to bring an enthusiastic guy out of the rafters. It is BS that it is so hard to get things like this done but it is the reality. I doubt the same legislators that erected the barriers you are railing against would be willing confederates in their demise. Oh, and having looked at a Rav4 I can tell you it ain't worth it, was a POS. Now a Nissan Safari, heck yes. It's a beast.
themadscientist, I actually spoke with a bunch of EPA folks today to get all of my questions answered. I would have thought that people on the forum would share information about what's going on but, in the end, it turned out better to go to the source anyway. As for the Nissan Safari, that's bad!
Mitsubishi USA and Mitsubishi Japan are two completely different companies. As well as the other Japanese car companies. Even if Mitsubishi wanted to import mini trucks to the US they would have to first meet both DOT/EPA requirements. And if and when they did that would not apply to 1995, 1999, or even a 2003 mini truck. Not to mention the whole industry of mom and pop mini truck dealerships would go the way of the hoola Hoop. There is allot more to this i.e. International Free Trade Aggreements etc... By the looks of your last post you must plan to continue this unfound "Conspiracy" of not sharing information. Just my thoughts! Jeff
It's always better to go to the source. To give someone a solid answer the organization would have to not have their head up their butt though and pretty much any large government agency is plumbing the depths of it's rear end most of the time while we suffer from their incompetence. Even if they are competent they rarely give two craps about what anybody outside of their power circle wants, much less a group like those wishing to import foreign-market vehicles. It's not a conspiracy, they are just not interested in helping. The Safari is a heck of truck. Big diesel engine, 24 volt system, could make a hummer sweat in a head to head i am sure and the Japanese military, whoops sorry "self defense force" uses them. http://history.nissan.co.jp/SAFARI/Y61/0408/index.html
Rear wheel steer is cool. Only thing the web site doesnt tell you is mpg. But if you can afford it mpg doesnt matter much.
If you have ever worked for a big company you would realize that nobody is really in charge of anything. Just a bunch of idiots running around having p***ing matches against each other. The only way to get things done in Washington these days is to have yourself a lobbyist who knows how to wine and dine the right person. I for one won't be a part of this, and I think that is what others are trying to say.
talk to your local representative. They are the ones passing local state laws that are legalizing them under certain conditions.
