Most of you need no introduction to the wonderful, weird world of Kei trucks. But in case you do, they’re a type of miniature cab-over pickup truck made specifically for the Japanese market since 1959. They were designed for urban as well as agricultural use with an eye on maximum practicality with minimum expense and upkeep. Limited to 58 inches wide and 134 inches long, their footprint and use cases are similar to UTVs.
They’ve become a cult thing here in the States, with 25-year-old and older models easily importable. Common brands include Honda (discontinued in 2021), Daihatsu, Subaru, Suzuki, Mazda, Autozam, and Mitsubishi. Initially imported for off-road use, they found homes on farms, worksites, and even a fire department or two. And for the fun-minded, they got creative. The smaller something is, the more fun it seems. Right?
Enter the Rich Rebuilds YouTube channel. Not content with off-the-shelf camper or RV options, Rich took a standard-issue second-generation Honda Acty, refreshed everything on the top end before building and installing a custom camper top. And he installed solar panels on it to power things like heat. Then he put ATV tracks on it because the world might end someday. He’s not wrong. Both sides of the aisle have competing views on how it happens, but the end result is the same. Whatever you’re escaping from, it’ll likely involve woods, narrow trails, and the need for increased suspension travel.
Rich cleverly solved this with a simple lift kit and ATV tracks off Facebook Marketplace plus a bunch of talented fabrication. Total cost? $1100 plus time, energy, and video editing. Check out this great build and follow Rich Rebuilds for more fun. You might not think Kei trucks are proper UTVs, but it’s hard to argue with lifted Kei trucks with ATV tracks.
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