As operators of a retirement property in Colorado that required us to travel some distance around the facility, we were faced with finding a more economical mode of transportation than our van. Following the lead of other farmers and ranchers in the area, we blindly made an expensive purchase of a new ATV. It was a decision I would later regret.
Over the past 15 years, the basic ATV has become a staple on many large ranches, farms, and retirement properties. People who work in large estate operations need to be able to get around their extension quickly and efficiently to make repairs, check fences, grow crops, irrigate, and many other tasks. In years past, the vehicle of choice was the base pickup truck. It was reliable and could carry enough supplies without making multiple trips.
When companies like Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and others began producing recreational vehicles called ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles), large owners and businesses immediately saw the advantages of having a smaller utility vehicle. The basic ATV could get a person to a job site quickly and could carry a small number of tools or other necessities to get a job done.
However, the ATV was not created to be the optimal utility vehicle, but rather the optimal ‘recreational’ vehicle. With its narrow profile and 4-wheel drive capability, the ATV was incredibly well-suited for negotiating mountain trails, steep terrain, and effectively getting someone back into the hill country with a bit of fun. In a pinch, you could carry two people along with a rifle or fishing rod, and maybe a bag of lunch.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the ATV was showing some limitations. Its inherent fun factor design was great for taking a man to a job site to check something out, but he couldn’t carry much more than a bottle of water and a knife. Some ATV manufacturers have addressed this by creating small cargo hauling options. While that helped some, it didn’t really recreate the ATV into a vehicle that had much cargo capacity.
And there were a couple of other not-so-small issues that showed the ATV’s weakness as the optimal rancher. Not only could it not carry much cargo, but what it did carry, including the rider, was often left out in the weather. On rainy, snowy or cold days, the ATV driver had to suffer the inclement weather, while his tools got wet.
Perhaps the ATV’s biggest disappointment was its fuel economy…or should we say, lack of fuel economy. When we purchased our ATV for retirement, I was excited to start saving money instead of driving the truck all over the property. What a disappointment to find out that our little ATV couldn’t generate better gas mileage than our old Toyota truck. In fact, it was worse. Many ATVs are heavy, tipping the scales at around 800 pounds. Add a passenger and a little cargo, and now you’re asking a ‘one banger’ to propel over a thousand pounds on little gas. It’s not going to happen.
A better alternative
Under the heading “If I’d Known Then, What I Know Now…”, we wouldn’t have bought the ATV. While the initial ‘fun factor’ was exciting enough, the previous weaknesses of the ATV were soon realized. But at that moment, he knew of no other alternative.
But recently I became aware of what is called the ‘Japanese mini truck’ or Kei truck. The term Japanese mini truck only meant one thing to me… your basic Toyota or Nissan type ½ ton pickup truck. But that is no longer the case.
Japanese mini trucks are smaller vehicles that seat two people, have an enclosed cab with heating and sometimes air conditioning, and feature a van that has about the same payload capacity as larger Japanese trucks. However, the entire vehicle is much smaller and much more maneuverable on the ranch or farm property.
Also called Kei Trucks (“Kei” means “light”), the Japanese Minitruck has other features that make it stand out from the ATV like “ranch hand.” They are capable of achieving phenomenal fuel economy using a small but powerful 3-cylinder engine. The driveline setup, which also comes with 4-wheel drive, is more of a standard layout and therefore often more reliable and easier to ride than an ATV. Anyone who has ever taken their ATV to the shop for repairs can attest to the incredible cost of maintaining ATVs.
Buying a Japanese mini truck usually has to be done through a local importer, who brings in these used vehicles from Japan in containers. Kei trucks are generally not sold new in the US and in most cases the mini truck is considered a farm vehicle rather than a highway vehicle. But some states allow their use on the highway.
Think of a Japanese mini truck as a replacement for an ATV, not a replacement for the truck you use to take to the store. But oh what a replacement it is for the ATV. I am in awe of its functionality for driving to the job site, carrying the right load, keeping us warm and dry, and the incredible fuel economy and reliability. These trucks are generally made by major manufacturers such as Suzuki, Mitsubishi, and other well-known vehicle producers in Japan.
Newer models feature fuel injection, air conditioning, and some significant upgrades over older vehicles. Most units come with a 5-speed transmission. Some feature a drop-down bed or other options that provide incredible utility value on your farm or ranch property.
Bottom line, if I had to do it all over again, I’d give up the ATV and buy a Japanese mini truck. If you spend more time working on your property than in recreation, look to the Japanese Kei Truck.
Once you know where to look, there is a lot of information available on the web. I found this website at http://www.startruckenterprises.com, run by Dan Buzzell in the Rocky Mountain area. There were many photos of the trucks, as well as useful information.