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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Samzuki on August 20, 2007, 03:33:46 PM

Title: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: Samzuki on August 20, 2007, 03:33:46 PM
I saw this Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4 on Austin's Craiglist. I have seen these before but i don't know much about them. I would assume they cannot be registered for the street. Any comments?

http://austin.craigslist.org/car/401064233.html
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: g-man on August 20, 2007, 03:49:18 PM
Would be cool but for farm use only in the states. Dont know much about them.
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: museboy07 on August 20, 2007, 04:06:03 PM
that thing is kinda cool looking.  With a 3in lift it sorta looks like it still has no clearance.  And i really dont think its worth 5500 bucks.  Especially with a top speed of 56mph and a 45hp motor??
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: JayN on August 20, 2007, 04:24:47 PM
lots of them on the roads her ein victoria canada. i know a guy with a lift and some bigger meats on it. they also have a suzuki every wich is a small 4wd van instead of the truck.
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: Amilla on August 20, 2007, 04:43:40 PM
Add a canvasback to it, paint it green and it would slightly resemble a unimog/pinzgauer.

Man 45hp is plunty ;D

-Amilla
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: mrfuelish on August 20, 2007, 05:40:11 PM
I read somewhere that a couple of states are trying to pass bills letting them drive on the smaller highways around town to help with the gas crunch and all.
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: daddyizzle on August 20, 2007, 06:10:10 PM
I always thought those were cool as hell. I saw one on ebay a couple weeks ago in Georgia (U.S.A.) that they said was an 84(?) and was street legal there and would be elsewhere in the U.S. because of it's age. I don't know if that's true but I'd drive one in town if I had one and it was legal. It would have to be in mint for that price. I see it doesn't give a year.

-Adam
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: jeff1997 on August 20, 2007, 06:53:53 PM
They are completely "street legal", They just do not have titles for them. If you can get a title through the DMV of the state you live in and have it licensed, you can drive it anywhere. My friend has one with a homemade 8" lift and aluminum rims, 14" swampers and drives it 100+ miles a week. He had a hard time getting it titled but onced he did it was easy from there. His will keep up with traffic on the interstate, 60+mph. His is a Diahatsu Hijet but they are all the exact same. It will go anywhere!! Push button 4wd and about 12" of ground clearance add up to one cool deer hunting machine!! I'll try to get some pics of it on here.
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: Rhinoman on August 21, 2007, 07:02:51 AM
The engine is a variant of the old SJ410 engine, 45bhp isn't a lot but it only weighs 770kg (1700lbs). We have them over here, they were also badged as a Bedford Rascal. The leaf springs give around 2" of lift on an SJ or Sammy  ;D. I don't know much about the 4x4 version, I believe that that option has only been available for the last few years. An 84 would be RWD. The ones we get now have an updated 1300 engine as fitted to the Jimny. Diahatsu Hi-Jet is similar but I don't believe it shares any of the major components. Suburu also had an AWD mini-van version.
Early models were quite a popular base for a mini camper.

(http://bedfordrascal.com/img/danbury2.jpg)
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: Samzuki on August 21, 2007, 07:16:07 AM
I saw a small lot near Dripping Springs, Texas filled with these Suzuki and Mitsubishi mini- flatbeds and pickups. Some were 4WD, some were RWD. When I talked to the man he said that they had a plate that restricted them to 1st gear. He also said this plate was easily removed but did not know of a way to title them in Texas.

How could one go about getting a title?
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: chet on August 21, 2007, 09:03:00 AM
to title any import vehicle in the US it first needs to be 25 years old or older. the ones that are titled down there that are newer than that are grey market.

The engines are also 3 cyl. over so not sure if they share any parts with the sj410? I test drove an every van and it had either a turbo or a supercharger. It went pretty good and even climbed a mountain pass around here (malahat) at a pretty good speed. I decided not to buy one because I have seen better crash protection in a sardene can! A van that small with my legs in front of the wheels? no thanks!
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: Rhinoman on August 21, 2007, 10:19:05 AM
The engines are also 3 cyl. over so not sure if they share any parts with the sj410? I test drove an every van and it had either a turbo or a supercharger.

Was that a Suzuki? the Carrys we get had the SH410 engine. Honda Actys are a 3cyl 660 and I think a few others are too.
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: Samzuki on August 21, 2007, 11:54:28 AM
I think the Suzuki in this ad and the others that I have seen are late model vehicles only a few years old with 60,000 to 70,000 kilometers on them. They were right hand drive. I think they would be a bargain if they could be registered without spending an inordinate amount. If I couldn't register them, I think I would prefer a Yamaha Rhino or Kawasaki Mule.

Of course, my Samurai is still probably better than all of these ;)
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: ack on August 21, 2007, 02:57:55 PM
to title any import vehicle in the US it first needs to be 25 years old or older. the ones that are titled down there that are newer than that are grey market.


This is the case with Pinzgauers.  I a lot of Pinzie enthusiasts are waiting for 25-year-old Diesel units to appear on the market!
Title: Re: Suzuki Mini Flatbed 4x4
Post by: lil_Truck on August 23, 2007, 07:16:19 AM
I read this thread yesterday at work. 

On my way home guess what passed me going the other way????




All I could do was laugh.  ;D

It was a Suzuki Mini Flatbed just like the picture.  It was even white?????