I just came back from some work travel in California. I extended my stay and joined a few co-workers on a trip to Catalina Island. It is a fun and pretty place but what I found most interesting is that the majority of the vehicles on the island are these Asian Micro-trucks. It was the coolest thing to see whole streets lined with them. It really has me wanting one.
Apparently, the local island rules are that you have to have a permit for a real car on the island and these are very expensive. To get around this the island allows golf carts to be driven (with road going lights.) It seems the work around is that they get these micro trucks classed as golf carts.
http://www.riomesaenterprises.com/Catalina_Island.htm
There is some real creativity put into these trucks. Many with canvas systems enclosing the back and many with additional seats bolted to the bed of the truck.
Some even have 4wd.
UVA (the local school of higher learning) has a good number of those that are used by grounds and maintenance. I like.
It turns out in Minnesota they can be licensed as ATVs. A friend of mine owns a resort and he bought one mainly for utility use around his property, but he can legally drive it on the shoulder of some secondary roads. His is a Honda with four wheel drive, I guess it can get around in the snow and ice pretty well. The engine is located in the center of the vehicle underneath the bed, so it has a low center of gravity and is well balanced.
The air force base here is flooded with these things. They are pretty cool.
They're street-legal here in IL & IN, seems like they go for around $4k.
petegossett wrote:
They're street-legal here in IL & IN, seems like they go for around $4k.
Completely street legal, or do they have some sort of special license? It's one thing to drive them around town at 30mph, but I can't imagine they let them out on the Interstate...there's pretty much zero crash protection in those things.
The one driver I spoke to said it was registered normally(IN). I've seen them on the highway, but never the interstate & I too think that sounds suicidal.
ddavidv
SuperDork
1/18/10 4:29 p.m.
Not legal here in PA, or I'd own one. The Subaru version has a supercharger. 
They are called "Kei" trucks and are $4-6,000 used from lots of sellers/importers here in the US. Just google them. Popular alternative to the horrifically overpriced Gator type ATV vehicles and way cooler IMO.
Teqnyck
New Reader
1/18/10 5:01 p.m.
Believe it or not, I have full on drifted one of these trucks through the gravel at an old work sight i did some work at. I always was trying to talk the owner into letting me throw the engine out of a wrecked motorcycle he had on the property too. It was a honda Dohc 650cc, and I'm pretty sure it would have hauled ass.
Most (all?) of them that come in to the US are imported from Japan, because of their rigorous inspection laws people tend to get rid of vehicles when they're still fairly new. As a result all the ones you see here have right hand drive. They do build them for left hand drive markets (I rode in one in Taiwan) but there they drive vehicles until they're totally worn out so there's not much of a resale market.
alex
Dork
1/18/10 11:08 p.m.
A couple of the college campuseseseses here use them, and I see them on the streets going to and fro occasionally. I don't know if they're licensed or if the 5-0 looks the other way so long as they seem to be on official business.
Yeah, I'd much rather have one of these than a UTV, or whatever those Gator/Mule/overgrown-go-kart things are called.
Luke
SuperDork
1/18/10 11:19 p.m.
Those little kei trucks can do neat 'stoppies' when you slam on the brakes.
alex wrote:
A couple of the college campuseseseses
that's funny...
We have a toro made one at the park where I work. Expensive! I think it was like 18 grand. Three speed. Needs a five or six speed. Would probably really move with more gears.
Joey
http://www.toro.com/grounds/vehicle/workman/heavy/wkm_HDX.html
sort of like that only ours has a cab.
Joey
I don't recall seeing them in Catalina (saw lots of golf carts) but I did see them in Tahiti and 3rd world countries. They're typically 800-1000cc Suzuki trucks. You'd think that with that size motor they couldn't have put out more than 50hp but yet they are loaded down with stuff and live a hard life and still survive all the abuse with minimal maintenance.
I doubt they would go more than 50mph with those small motors and probably why you can't get them registered for highway use in most states.
as mentioned, used a lot on military bases... i've seen a few around here setup for hunting duty.
RussellH wrote:
I don't recall seeing them in Catalina (saw lots of golf carts)
Maybe it is a new thing but i lifted this off wikipedia:
The main method of transportation in Avalon is by small gasoline or electric powered motorcars referred to as "autoettes." These include numerous golf carts and similarly sized vehicles. Vehicles under 55 inches (140 cm) wide, 120 inches (300 cm) long, and less than 1,800 pounds (820 kg) may qualify as an autoette. Any resident may acquire an autoette permit with the restriction of one permit per household. It is very difficult for a private citizen to get a permit to have a full-size vehicle in Avalon. The permit is issued to the individual as opposed to a specific vehicle, is surrendered when residency on the island ends, and is not transferable except through petition before the city council. Only one new vehicle permit is issued for every two permits that become ineligible to be renewed or are voluntarily surrendered.
seeing this thread reminds me of "The Catalina Wine Mixer"
Confirmed while there; the Catalina Wine Mixer did not actually happen on the island of Catalina.
ddavidv wrote:
Not legal here in PA, or I'd own one. The Subaru version has a supercharger.
Millersville University has one (or had). Sat in back of the lot because (!) they couldn't title it...
Your (and mine, I guess) tax dollars at work...
did someone say...
Boats N Hoes?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8T095mFdW8 (NSFW)
Prestige Worldwide.
