Building the Ultimate Kei Truck: Behind the Scenes at Oiwa Garage

At first glance, the Suzuki Carry looks like a cute little workhorse — practical, minimal, and built for utility. But step into Oiwa Garage, and you’ll realize it’s so much more.

Here, tucked behind rows of tools, parts bins, and half-finished projects, the team at Oiwa is turning stock kei trucks into custom-built monsters. Off-road rigs. Overland-ready campers. Show-quality JDM gems.

We spent a few days in the garage, documenting the process — and the passion — behind building what might just be the ultimate kei truck.

🔧 The Vision: Utility Meets Personality

“Anyone can slap parts on a truck,” says Toshi, lead fabricator at Oiwa. “We build stuff that feels alive.”

Every build starts with intention. Is this Carry going off-road? Becoming a micro-camper? A low-and-slow street cruiser? That vision shapes everything — from tire size to the paint finish.

Oiwa’s motto: Form follows function — but never forget the fun.

🛠️ Step 1: The Foundation (Lift, Suspension, & Frame Prep)

Once a fresh donor Carry rolls in, it’s stripped down. Old suspension? Gone. Rust on the undercarriage? Sanded, treated, sealed.

The team installs a custom 3" lift kit, Oiwa-designed to retain drivability without sacrificing strength. Upgraded bushings, shocks, and camber correction plates ensure it’s ready to handle more than just city streets.

“The goal’s always balance,” Toshi says. “We want it to look wild but drive like it’s factory.”

🛞 Step 2: Wheels, Tires & Armor

With the new stance dialed in, it's time for shoes. Think 12” steelies with aggressive M/T tires, paired with beadlock-style rims and fender trimming for clean articulation.

Next: a custom bull bar, LED light bar, and front skid plate — all fabricated in-house. Every part is welded, painted, and test-fitted before it sees the trail.

🧰 Step 3: Bed Rack & Modular Utility

Oiwa’s signature bed rack system is more than cool-looking steel — it's a modular utility platform. Mount a tent, carry lumber, or hang recovery gear. Want solar panels? A 270º awning? This setup handles it all.

The team even added quick-swap brackets, letting customers switch between work, camp, or show modes in under 10 minutes.

🪑 Step 4: Interior Overhaul

The cabin gets love too — usually starting with sound deadening and a fresh spray of Raptor liner on the floors. Next come Recaro-inspired bucket seats, a new digital cluster, and Bluetooth head unit.

Every build features custom touches: suede trim, engraved shift knobs, even a mini fridge in one build. It’s comfort and creativity, packed into one tiny cab.

🎨 Step 5: Paint, Detail, & Delivery

Finally, the aesthetic. Some go with full camo or matte earth tones; others opt for glossy JDM color schemes or retro decals. Every detail is intentional — right down to the badging and tire letter paint.

Before delivery, the truck gets a full shake-down test and a photoshoot. The vibe? “Something between a factory brochure and a Fast & Furious deleted scene.”

🔥 The Result: A Kei Truck Like No Other

Every Oiwa Garage Carry is one of a kind. Built not just to turn heads, but to do work — on trails, in campsites, at meets, or on the daily grind.

"The ultimate kei truck isn’t the biggest or the flashiest," Toshi says.
"It’s the one that makes people smile and actually gets used."

And honestly? We couldn’t agree more.

📸 Want More?

• 👉 Build gallery coming soon

• 🎥 Full behind-the-scenes video on YouTube

• 🔩 Interested in a custom build? Contact Oiwa Garage for a consult