In this week’s spotlight, we introduce you to Brady, a proud owner of a Suzuki Carry Kei truck. Residing in the Midwest, USA, he shares his journey of discovering the perfect utility vehicle for his acreage, where he tends to horses and donkeys.
Dive into his story to learn about his adventures with this unique truck, its modifications, and why he believes Kei trucks are the ultimate choice for barn and utility vehicles.
How did you first encounter the Kei truck greatness?
My wife and I recently purchased an acreage where we keep our horses and donkeys and we were looking for a utility vehicle to use around the property. We wanted something with an enclosed cab, 4WD, and a heater if possible (we live in the midwest, USA, where we can get some pretty brutal winters). I was doing some searching online and I couldn’t believe how expensive enclosed utility vehicles were. Everything I saw, even used vehicles, cost around $20,000. Then during my search I found a used Mazda Scrum for around $5,000 and was immediately intrigued. After doing a deep dive into the Kei truck universe I knew I found what I was looking for.
Tell us how you acquired your badass ride?
Unfortunately the Scrum I mentioned above was already spoken for when I contacted the seller, but he mentioned he knew of a guy selling a Suzuki Carry a little up north in South Dakota. I contacted that seller and he said it was still available so I immediately got in my truck and my flatbed and made the trip to pick it up. Little did I know at the time I would find one of the most well kept 2009 Suzuki Carrys I could hope to find. Only 15,000 km, and only cost $10,000. Half of what a similarly spec’d UTV costs! It was a no brainer for me and I was on my way home with my new Carry within the hour.
Any mods or plans?
It can get pretty dark out on my acreage, so put some LED auxiliary lights on the headbar. I also had a spray in bed liner installed to protect the bed. Finally, I replaced the radio with a cheap little unit I found on Amazon since the Japanese radio wouldn’t work with US radio bands. Other than that I don’t have any future plans for any mods. It’s already the perfect little truck for what I use it for.
What do you mainly use your Kei Truck for?
I mostly use the truck for hauling out hay and grain to feed my animals. I also have a large water tank that I load into the bed to refill my donkeys’ water trough since it’s too far away from any water source. I have also used it to haul out tools and building materials when I need to fix a fence or build a new shelter. It’s really handy to be able to drive out from the back of my acreage directly onto the nearest road if I need to pick up a new tool or something from the nearest hardware store.
Have any wild Kei Truck tales or fun facts about your ride?
I suppose the most surprising thing about my Carry is that it’s in the United States to begin with. In the US, you can’t import foreign vehicles until they are 25 years old, and my Carry is a 2009. I have no idea how it ended up in the US. My working theory is that it was imported into Canada and was driven or hauled over the border into the US. What’s even more surprising is that I was able to register and title it in Nebraska without any issues. I really lucked out.
Favorite thing about owning a Kei truck?
My favorite thing about my Carry is knowing just how much more capable it is than many UTVs. It has an enclosed cab, heat, A/C, 4WD, a larger bed, is road legal, and costs half as much! I honestly don’t know why anyone who is looking for a barn or utility vehicle would consider anything other than a kei truck. It’s also a lot of fun driving down the road and getting all those smiles and stares from other drivers. It’s a great little truck and I can’t imagine ever not owning a kei truck.
Where can we follow you for your Kei truck action? Tell us your socials!
Instagram: @Godboo
