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Can the Suzuki Carry Mini Truck Survive the 4×4 Alpine Loop in Colorado : Video of the Week

We were piloting our classic Land Rover Defender a few years ago through the rough and secluded Rif Mountain range in Morocco. It was there that we witnessed little Suzuki Super Carry Kei trucks and vans hauling cargo while mountain goating across wet and undulating high-altitude trails. Therefore, it was no surprise to us to see that Glen Shelley’s 1992 Suzuki “mini truck” could successfully take on the Alpine Loop in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The Achilles’ heel of the little truck is the 657cc three-cylinder motorcycle engine that is perfect for bouncing around doing important things in Japan (and across the tight streets and trails of the Global South) but is perhaps less than ideal for high-altitude trails. Despite the tiny engine, and thanks to a low body weight and almost no cargo, the Super Carry and an accompanying Delica were able to complete the trail with a minimum of fuss and with a huge amount of charm and character.

This video is well-made and entertaining; the little Kei truck is most certainly the show’s star. In fact, we are tempted to fly down south or across the pond and source our own little Super Carry (also branded as the Chevrolet CMV), slap on a set of ATs and some ventilated brakes, and drive the little car that could all the way back home.

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Graeme Bell is an author and explorer who has dedicated his life to traveling the planet by land, seeking adventure and unique experiences. Together with his wife and two children, Graeme has spent the last decade living permanently on the road in a self-built Land Rover based camper. They have explored 27 African countries (including West Africa), circumnavigated South America, and driven from Argentina to Alaska, which was followed by an exploration of Europe and Western Asia before returning to explore the Americas. Graeme is the Senior Editor 4WD for Expedition Portal, a member of the Explorers Club, the author of six books, and an Overland Journal contributor since 2015. You can follow Graeme's adventures across the globe on Instagram at graeme.r.bell