Chris "Crunchy Leaf" SalzmanFeb 23

I need to get three sheets of 1/2" plywood home from Home Depot. If I ratchet strap them to the top of my mazda 5 and take it slow (like 30mph tops) will that work?

I really do not want to have to get a truck. it's like 2 miles away from my house

Show threadRhymes with TurkeyFeb 23
@csalzman I am once again wishing we shared one of those cheap plastic-bodied pickup trucks
Show threadhypomodernFeb 23
@samfirke @csalzman we need someone to manufacture a kei truck here
Show threadChris "Crunchy Leaf" SalzmanFeb 23
@hypomodern @samfirke yet again this pesky day job prevents me from pursuing an excellent idea like “how hard could it be to manufacture a kei truck in the US?”
Show threadmatthFeb 23
@csalzman @hypomodern @samfirke not the same thing but pretty sure I put $50 down for a Slate
Show threadChris "Crunchy Leaf" SalzmanFeb 23
@matth @hypomodern @samfirke even the slate is too much car!
Show threadErich ZFeb 23

@csalzman @matth @hypomodern @samfirke I cancelled my slate preorder for this reason.

Honestly, a kei truck is affordable enough that a group library style purchase isn't really out of the question

Show threadmatthFeb 24
@Erich @csalzman @hypomodern @samfirke what’s the timeline look like on those being road legal?
Show threadhypomodernFeb 24
@matth @Erich @csalzman @samfirke they are road legal in Michigan as of late 2024, but I don't think freeway-legal?
Show threadmatthFeb 24
@hypomodern @Erich @csalzman @samfirke Oh!!! Like you can get tags for them now? We'd contribute meaningful if someone wants to buy. Maybe I can even be the buyer but I don't know what sourcing looks like.
Show threadhypomodernFeb 24
@matth @Erich @csalzman @samfirke ah, I guess it is just vintage models, alas. _Federal_ law prevents import of new models :(
Show threadErich ZFeb 24
@hypomodern @matth @csalzman @samfirke yes, 25 years and older is legal now. So a 2001 model year
Show threadErich ZFeb 24

@hypomodern @matth @csalzman @samfirke in total you are looking at about $4-6k for a kei truck shipped to Baltimore if you import it. There are quite a few here already though so you may also be able to buy one for a little more locally with some patience

https://carfromjapan.com/tags/kei-trucks-for-sale

Show threadhypomodernFeb 24

@Erich @matth @csalzman @samfirke that is so cheap, holy smokes

Although these are all probably right-hand drive; I wonder how long that would take to get used to on US roads 🤣.

Show threadErich ZFeb 24

@hypomodern @matth @csalzman @samfirke

I used to drive a right hand truck daily, it's relatively easy to get used to. Shifting with the left hand might take a little more practice though

Show threadhypomodern
@Erich @matth @csalzman @samfirke I can't drive a manual transmission anyways :)
Feb 24 at 5:59pmWeb
Show threadmatthFeb 24
@hypomodern @Erich @csalzman @samfirke o yea same :-(
Show threadErich ZFeb 24
@matth @hypomodern @csalzman @samfirke best way to learn is to buy a stick shift vehicle! I'd happily teach anyone