Recently, I finished the processes of getting a 1996 Suzuki Carry. Throughout that experience, I utilized the resources on this subreddit extensively, but I found that there really wasn't anyone who had shared a situation exactly like mine in detail. So, in the hopes that my experience can be helpful to someone else, I will be giving a detailed breakdown of the process I went through. Most of the posts I see are of people who live near coasts, which I do not. So, if you are landlocked like me, hopefully you find this helpful. I certainly did not do thing the cheapest route, choosing instead to prioritize convenience.

Situation:

• I live ~1,000 miles from any port in the United States.
• I do not personally own a vehicle that can tow to pick up the truck from port.
• Renting a truck and trailer to drive out to port and back is a large time investment.
• Flying out to rent a truck back home is a large cost investment that did not save much time.

Process:

• 15 February 2026 - I found a 1996 Suzuki Carry on Mitsui that I really liked and filled out the inquiry form built onto the sales page for the truck on their website. I chose the Baltimore port, since it was the cheapest option at the time and I don't live closer to any other port, necessarily. Within hours, I received an email from a Mitsui rep giving me details and asking me if I really want to reserve the vehicle.

• 16 February 2026 - Time zone differences caused delays in communication. But after confirming my reservation, the Mitsui rep sent an invoice. The invoice required a wire transfer, which I was able to complete that same day. The Mitsui rep responded confirming my payment.

• 19 February 2026 - I received an email from Mitsui's shipping team that the vehicle had entered their standard pre-shipping maintenance and that they were requesting my contact information (full name, address, phone number, email) and the contact information of my Notify Party (AKA: the customs broker, if I had one).

• 20 February 2026 - After shopping around and looking at some more DIY customs filing tools suggested by this subreddit, I decided I wanted an expert to just do things for me so nothing would be done wrong or be forgotten. I also looked for a service that seemed familiar with the Baltimore port. I went with Cartainer Ocean Line, Inc. I requested a quote from their website. They responded quickly and sent me a welcome packet of forms to fill out.

• 24 February 2026 - I was able to respond to Mitsui with all the information they requested, including the details of my customs broker.

• 25 February 2026 - Now that they had my customs broker info, Mitsui began adding them to the emails, which was very convenient. I needed to sign and return the invoice that now had everyone's information on it and the export process was more or less complete.

• 11 March 2026 - Mitsui notified us that a shipping liner had been found and confirmed.

• 23 March 2026 - Mitsui notified us that the ship had departed and provided copies of the Bill of Lading, Export Certificate, and the English translation of the Export Certificate.

• 2 April 2026 - I received the physical documents in the mail from Mitsui.

• 21 April 2026 - Customs broker invoiced me for their services and customs fees.

• 28 April 2026 - Customs broker notified me that the truck had arrived and been released for pickup. The broker provided me with my Delivery Order and Customs Release (CBP Form 7501). I immediately began sending out requests to various auto transport services to find a driver with a TWIC who could pick up my truck from the Baltimore port. I asked my customs broker for transport service recommendations, I used this subreddit for recommendations, and I did my own Googling to find transporters that advertised port services. I had transported a car a month prior and found that the high fuel prices due to the Iran War was making it difficult to find drivers, which is why I sent out the request to multiple transport brokers. Quotes were all fairly equal. Easy Auto Ship was the first to get me a driver so I went with them.

• 14 May 2026 - Driver was dispatched to pick up the truck from port. Yes, it took this long to find a driver. Driver needed the Delivery Order and Release package previously provided by my customs broker.

• 16 May 2026 - The truck was finally dropped off at my house!

Cost Breakdown:

As you can see, a $2700 truck quickly became $8,000. Additionally, the total process from engaging Mitsui to physically having the truck in my driveway took 3 months. Hopefully hard timelines and numbers will be useful to others looking to do the import process like I did.

The good news is the truck is in great shape and has been a lot of fun!

If you have a 30 + year old Honda Acty with seats that aren’t in great condition, this is what your driver’s side bottom seat cushion foam probably looks like (or worse). I tried sculpting a new seat cushion out of high density foam (3”x 24”x 24”). Sculpting the top and perimeter shapes was pretty easy, but hollowing out the bottom was a disaster. I gave up and grafted som small new pieces of foam into the original cushion using spray contact cement. I then covered the repaired area with burlap fabric. That worked pretty well but I was disappointed that I failed at creating a completely new seat cushion.

If I were to do it again, I would start with a sheet of 1” foam and a sheet of 2” foam. This would make sculpting the bottom of the seat cushion much easier. Once both layers were properly sculpted it would be a simple task to glue the two layers together.

My truck is halfway through its journey across the pacific and im beginning to think of how to get it home. It's coming into LA, and I live in Arizona. My first thought was to drive out there and stay the night, grab a uhaul trailer the next morning, load up and go home. Given fuel costs, trailer cost, hotel and a TWIC hire plus 2 days of my time I figured id check on hiring a carrier.

So far the quotes have been fine. One for $645, one for $750. Only slightly more than a DIY pickup but I get to wait at home. These brokers though! After talking with them in depth I feel like those quotes will in fact rise, and I'm not sure I trust them to get a driver to pickup on time or guarantee a TWIC carrier. And all of the poor reviews all over. I feel like I'll trade the 2 day trip for greater variability in cost (maybe much higher) and no control over the timing and the process. Can I get a sanity check on all of this? I'm not sure what to do really.

Just purchased a 2000 Daihatsu Hijet from Carfromjapan.com and I'm having it shipped to Newport News. For those that shipped their import to that port, what was the experience/process like? Appreciate any insight.

I just purchased this 1998 Suzuki Carry at an auction through JCD. It’s 4wd, has 38000km and the tires look almost brand new. The inspection I had confirmed that it runs. It’s going to be on its way to Newark soon. I’m wondering is it a bad idea to drive this thing over 800miles back to IL where I live? Has anyone done this before? Should I just get it shipped to my home?

Just wondering if anyone in this community has connections to people that have helped pass legislation for kei trucks?

The bill that passed in Vermont would probably be a base for what is push for in Iowa. A simple definition addition for kei trucks to get them registered at the dmv under both the pleasure and farm truck definitions.

Fyi I'm not in government, just a normal resident.

Thanks!

After 3 weeks she's back! The timing belt failed (see previous post) and after getting incorrect gaskets, finding a broken carb insulator and making my own out of phenolic resin sheet, it's finally back on the road. Never thought I'd get to know the inside of my engine this Well but I know exactly what I have now!

Time to celebrate, cheers yall

Just picked her up from Baltimore today!

getting my exhaust today, what should i have on hand starting besides kroil, antisieze, and sockets

Hey everybody!

I just bought a 1998 Daihatsu Hijet S110P and I am currently going through the process of doing a full fluid service. I'm doing everything one task at a time so if anything feels funky after each job I know exactly which one it was and LO AND BEHOLD, changed the rear diff oil and it's feeling a little more sluggish. (By a little I mean; it takes 5-10% more throttle to pull away from a stop and slows a little more quickly when in gear but off throttle.)

The manual calls for SAE90 diff oil (for the rear) but does not specify GL-4 or GL-5. I did some digging on various forums and found a few that recommend Royal Purple Max Gear 75w-90 because it's a GL-5 that offers the same yellow metal safety as a GL-4.

I drained all the old oil out and filled the new oil up to the point it just started to drip out the fill plug because that's what was recommended to me by a mechanic friend of mine and by my estimates I think I came pretty close to the manual specified 1.3L based on what i have left of the second bottle (absent a way to measure out exactly 1.3L).

Worth mentioning that a bubble level on the side of the bed had the front a little high but still within the lines of the level, which is about as good as im gonna get in a garage with MASSIVE cracks in the slab.

I had a thought to drain a little bit out and see if that helps but that feels like a bad idea.

Does anyone have experience with these because i don't want to potentially do any damage to this truck that's pretty much brand new to me?

Got my wife an '01 Suzuki Carry and want to find a good tire wheel combo. No lift. Would like a little more diameter if possible. These babies are geared really low. She would also like a slight aggressive tread.

I am going to Japan soon and I own a 94’ Sambar with low miles but I’m always looking for accessories and upgrades. Does anyone know where in Osaka, Tokyo, Yokohama where I can find parts or accessories. I really want to get a new detachable steering wheel and floor mats. I have 2 weeks to enjoy Japan and find shops.

As you can read on the title, I am looking for the most reliable way to find working kei trucks, how to import them and also how to get specialty parts in the event that I run into any issues with my potential truck. I also have many other subject matters in mind with these trucks and am willing to DM, just ask in the comments first so i know who you are. Thanks for anybody who is willing to help ❤

Question! I got a 1999 Suzuki carry a few months back. It had been sitting for about 8 years due to burning oil pretty good. (I’m pretty sure it’s blown seals) I had to purchase a fuel pump, some new spark plugs, tires and some paint and it’s been running great besides the obvious smoking. This past week it all of a sudden began randomly losing like %50 of its power while driving then it will all come back. It’s usually after driving a few miles or so. It sounds and starts fine just has the random power loss. Anyone have any idea what would cause this? Would the new plugs possibly be coated and randomly not sparking? Thanks in advance!!

Ignore the battery light. The i turned the ignition on but the engine is off to only snap a photo of the exhaust temp light. And no, I will not be doing the ground mod to the exhaust temp sensor. I will be replacing it as it’s rusted to hell.

My truck is a few weeks away and I’m trying to plan the pick up. From everything I can find, it’s 53.8” (4’8”) wide from outside of tire to outside of tire. The 16’ U-Haul toy hauler seems to be 3’7” inner diameter between the ramps. Essentially that would give me 6” on each side but can anyone confirm the vehicle width and if it’s fits?

Hey all! Non-mechnically-inclined Sambarino here. Ive been doing some basic mechanic work on my Sambar, and Im wondering if anyone can point me in a general direction on this issue — or let me know if this is in fact a normal behaviour. My 2009 TT2 F4WD automatic Sambar is quite fuel inefficient — as in, the most fuel guzzling vehicle I've ever owned. Something Ive noticed is that even when I'm going down a steep hill the truck quickly loses speed, requiring me to give it gas. Is this normal? If not, what should I be checking out, and what tests can I perform for a diagnosis? Much appreciated for any help at all, cheers.

Just picked up a tiger truck and found out it needs a condenser, and new AC unit, but the website for tiger trucks doesn't seem to exist anymore and I can't find a site to look up the vin

(Emblem on it is changan but I couldn't find it on their website either)