Kei truck payload capacity: what 350 kg really means
Kei truck payload capacity is commonly 350 kg, or about 772 lb, on Japanese-certified standard and Jumbo trucks. The individual registration or manufacturer plate—not a blanket assumption—sets the load you can actually carry.
About 772 lb, before cargo accessories.
At 90–120 lb per cubic foot; a cubic yard is 27 ft³.
Curb mass plus occupants and rated cargo.
Dump equipment can change the certified rating.
Kei truck payload capacity by body style
The March 2026 Daihatsu Hijet catalog lists 350 kg for its standard and Jumbo truck grades. Suzuki’s December 2025 Carry specifications likewise show 350 kg for the listed regular and Super Carry configurations. A 2009 Honda Acty spec sheet gives the same figure. That is strong evidence for those variants, not permission to assign it to every older or converted unit.
A dump body, liftgate, plow or other conversion adds mass and may change the recorded cargo allowance. Read the Japanese maximum-load entry and the completed vehicle’s plate. Japanese Safety Standards Article 4 ties maximum load to a vehicle’s certified safe carrying capacity; the road-traffic rule then uses the weight on the registration record.
Kei truck weight, GVW and everyday cargo
Curb weight is the truck without freight; gross vehicle weight includes the vehicle, occupants and load. Do not add the catalog’s payload to the GVW as a second allowance. A 350 kg rating converts to 771.6 lb, usually rounded to 772 lb. Load evenly, stay within tire and axle ratings, and secure anything that rises above the low bed sides.
Material density changes sharply with water content and packing. As planning examples, one cubic foot of water is about 62.4 lb, mulch can be roughly 20–40 lb, and gravel commonly about 90–120 lb. Firewood species and seasoning matter; hay bale weights vary by size and moisture. Weigh the actual delivery or use a supplier’s invoice for a firm number.
What happens when the bed is overloaded
Excess cargo increases stopping distance and loads the rear tires, springs, bearings and frame. A squat rear axle or a tire sidewall near its limit is a warning, not a new capacity figure. Road-use liability can also turn on whether the truck was operated within its certified rating. If your recurring load is near 700 lb, select the truck around that work and allow for tools, people and containers.
The question of pulling a trailer belongs in the towing capacity guide; trailer mass is not bed payload. Explore dump-bed variants for unloading mechanics, then compare actual condition and records among kei trucks for sale.
Plan a bed load before you bid
The material figures are estimates; the individual truck’s certified load and the actual weighed cargo control the decision.
Calculating
What a strong payload candidate looks like
A verified 350 kg plate, straight chassis and unmodified springs are more useful than a seller’s unsupported heavy-duty claim. On a dump truck, compare the completed body’s recorded allowance and look for fatigue at the pivots and subframe.
Find a truck with a verified 350 kg rating in the Mirai Auction Portal
A catalog rating is only the first filter. Mirai customers can access the Mirai Auction Portal after an inquiry and screen candidates from major auctions across Japan by truck type, build date, bed hardware, condition and documents for a U.S. destination. An auction sheet may identify a dump conversion, but the registration record and fitted equipment decide the available cargo load. Send the weight and kind of work you have in mind; we can shortlist units whose documentation merits closer inspection.
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Frequently asked questions
How much weight can a kei truck carry?
Most standard Japanese kei truck catalogs list 350 kg, about 772 lb. The individual truck’s recorded maximum load controls, especially after a body conversion.
Is 350 kg the legal maximum for a kei truck?
Yes. Japanese rules cap a kei truck’s maximum load at 350 kg, and the standard Carry, Hijet and Acty catalogs cited here all list it. A dump or specialty body can be certified for less, so the truck’s own recorded maximum load is the figure that applies.
What is the maximum payload of a Honda Acty?
Honda’s 2009 Acty Truck specification lists 350 kg for the listed grades. Check the period catalog and plate for the exact chassis.
Does a Jumbo cab reduce payload?
Generally no. The March 2026 Hijet catalog lists 350 kg for standard and Jumbo grades, although the Jumbo has a shorter gate-up bed.
Does a dump bed still carry 772 lb?
Generally no. A dump conversion can change the certified load. Read the completed truck’s maximum-load entry rather than using the standard-body figure.
Is it illegal to exceed payload capacity?
Generally yes. On public roads, the recorded vehicle maximum load is the controlling figure in Japan, and U.S. road rules and liability can also penalize an overloaded vehicle.
Does a passenger count against bed payload?
Generally no. The catalog’s gross-weight calculation includes occupants separately from stated cargo load. The truck must still remain within gross and axle limits, so do not treat passenger mass as free capacity.
How much does one cubic foot of gravel weigh?
A planning range is about 90–120 lb per cubic foot, depending on aggregate and moisture. Ask the supplier for a weighed ticket when the load approaches the truck’s rating.
Can a kei truck haul a full cubic yard of gravel?
No. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, far beyond a typical 350 kg truck rating at ordinary gravel density. Divide the delivery or use a larger truck.
Is towing capacity the same as payload?
No. Payload is cargo carried by the truck; trailer towing involves another set of vehicle and hitch limits. Read the separate towing guide for that question.
Sources and verification
- Japanese Road Vehicle Safety Standards, Article 4 — March 2026 consolidation.
- Japanese Road Traffic Law Enforcement Order — current text, checked 2026-10-14.
- Daihatsu Hijet Truck catalog — March 2026 edition.
- Suzuki Carry and Super Carry specifications — December 2025 edition.
- Honda Acty Truck period specifications — 2009 model archive.
- Suzuki Carry cargo information — live page, checked 2026-10-14.
Find a truck that fits the work
Share the actual load, destination state and preferred body. Mirai can screen Japanese auction candidates before you commit to a bid.