[sellmesoap]

Another advantage for off-road kei trucks is they are narrow, allowing you to drive around obstacles that you would need a lot of clearance (big tires/lift kits.) A lot of trails in the PNW get overgrown and a narrow vehicle that weighs less causes less trail erosion and can squeeze past obstacles rather then going over them. My understanding is that in Japan insurance cost is based on your odometer, and there are strict inspection and maintenance requirements (mandatory replacement of suspension after so many KMs) so most of these vehicles are lightly used before export. I notice saber rattling by the auto industry here in B.C. trying to limit imports, I see this as a regulatory capture move, I'm not impressed!

[yomlica8]

Trucks used to be cheap utility vehicles with fairly basic mechanics, but they've turned in giant luxury land yachts with a price to match. They aren't even a good fit for a lot of kinds of work anymore.

If we allow motorcycles to drive on roads I don't see why we couldn't have some sort of limited road use exemption for these simple vehicles. At the very least you should be able to just buy them for farm use.

[damascus]

You can drive whatever you want on private property. It's the 'going on the road' part that adds on the government oversight.