Show me a single kei truck that can haul a full crew, 3,000lbs, and go 70mph on the highway without frying its transmission.
pro tip: you can’t.
You do know they have full size pickup trucks in Japan, right? Kei trucks are pretty much only used for extremely light duty in the cities and within jobsites (as in, between two warehouses on the same site) because they’re so small and underpowered. They’re cool, but completely impractical in America
Again, it’s a small truck, with the advantages and limitations that come with that.
But let’s ignore the size, since a kei style truck can be sized up or down to fit. There’s a different conversation to be had here. American pickup trucks are focused on being fashion accessories for insecure suburbanites, which involves creating these theoretical numbers and making those numbers as big as possible. Is carrying 5 people and towing however many tons at 112 km/h a common use case? No, and I’m terrified that it’s legal to travel that fast while towing a trailer in some places. In inflating these pointless numbers, it neglects being a practical working vehicle, because that was never the goal.
A simple flatbed like the kei truck is so much more practical. It’s low to the ground so it’s easy to chuck things in and out of, the bed is easily replaceable when it gets damaged, the bed is much bigger for the size of the vehicle.
There are plenty of small trucks running around in the US. A 2023 Ford Maverick is just 1" longer than a 90s Nissan Hardbody and much safer with better fuel economy.
but let’s ignore the size, since a kei style truck can he sized up or down to fit.
You don’t know what you’re talking about. “Kei” is a strict legal term in Japan, for keijidōsha or “light duty” and are regulated in size (no longer than 3.4m / 134in) and displacement. What you’re describing is a cab-over design, which we have plenty of in the US but are known for being fuel inefficient and unsafe.
American pickup trucks are focused on being fashion accessories for insecure suburbanites, which involves creating these theoretical numbers and making those numbers as big as possible
Truck larpers have always been a thing. It still doesn’t change the fact that when you need to haul things (like millions of people do every single day), a truck is the only vehicle platform that can do it.
Is carrying 5 people and towing however many tons at 112 km/h a common use case?
I do it 5 days a week. You’ve also just given out the fact that you don’t live in the US, so I’m not even sure why you entered into this conversation about the American car market.
Show me a single kei truck that can haul a full crew, 3,000lbs, and go 70mph on the highway without frying its transmission.
You do know they have full size pickup trucks in Japan, right? Kei trucks are pretty much only used for extremely light duty in the cities and within jobsites (as in, between two warehouses on the same site) because they’re so small and underpowered. They’re cool, but completely impractical in America
Again, it’s a small truck, with the advantages and limitations that come with that.
But let’s ignore the size, since a kei style truck can be sized up or down to fit. There’s a different conversation to be had here. American pickup trucks are focused on being fashion accessories for insecure suburbanites, which involves creating these theoretical numbers and making those numbers as big as possible. Is carrying 5 people and towing however many tons at 112 km/h a common use case? No, and I’m terrified that it’s legal to travel that fast while towing a trailer in some places. In inflating these pointless numbers, it neglects being a practical working vehicle, because that was never the goal.
A simple flatbed like the kei truck is so much more practical. It’s low to the ground so it’s easy to chuck things in and out of, the bed is easily replaceable when it gets damaged, the bed is much bigger for the size of the vehicle.
There are plenty of small trucks running around in the US. A 2023 Ford Maverick is just 1" longer than a 90s Nissan Hardbody and much safer with better fuel economy.
You don’t know what you’re talking about. “Kei” is a strict legal term in Japan, for keijidōsha or “light duty” and are regulated in size (no longer than 3.4m / 134in) and displacement. What you’re describing is a cab-over design, which we have plenty of in the US but are known for being fuel inefficient and unsafe.
Truck larpers have always been a thing. It still doesn’t change the fact that when you need to haul things (like millions of people do every single day), a truck is the only vehicle platform that can do it.
I do it 5 days a week. You’ve also just given out the fact that you don’t live in the US, so I’m not even sure why you entered into this conversation about the American car market.
At that point you want a Mitsubishi Fuso or something, they’re up to the task of doing real work while a US style pickup truck is for posing.
Hell, even a little Ute with a flathead is more practical for actually loading up with stuff