Start with the frame, not the paint
Kei trucks spent their lives on Japanese farm roads, so surface rust is normal. Structural rust on the frame rails, spring hangers and bed floor is not. We reject trucks with frame rot before they ever reach our lot.
Confirm the drivetrain actually engages
Most buyers want selectable 4WD and a rear diff lock. Both should engage with a firm click at low speed. A truck that only pulls in two-wheel drive is a repair bill, not a bargain.
Ask for the timing belt history
The 660cc three-cylinder engines are famously durable, but the timing belt is a service item. Ask when it was last changed and budget for it if nobody knows.
Read the odometer correctly
Japanese odometers read in kilometers. 60,000 km is roughly 37,000 miles — low by American standards but the truck is still 25-plus years old, so condition matters more than the number.
Match the bed to the job
Standard beds haul and fold down on three sides. Dump beds pay for themselves in landscaping and gravel work. Vans and specialty builds suit vendors, campgrounds and municipal fleets.
Paperwork is the deal breaker
No export certificate and customs entry means no title. Every Shivers truck ships with a complete paperwork packet and a flat $510 nationwide delivery fee.