At the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, a custom-built Daihatsu Hijet Truck Jumbo—dubbed the "Grasshopper SEMA Show Edition"—has emerged as a stark contrast to the event’s typical lineup of V8-powered pickups and oversized tires. While the show floor is dominated by massive machinery, the Grasshopper demonstrates how a 660-cubic-centimeter Kei truck can be transformed into a functional camper, according to reporting by vanlifemag.de.
Engineering a Kei Camper within Strict Limits
The vehicle is based on the S510P model year 2026, a member of the tenth-generation Hijet series that Daihatsu has produced since 2014. Under Japanese Kei-car regulations, the truck must adhere to stringent constraints: a maximum engine displacement of 660 cc, a length of 3.40 meters, and a width of 1.48 meters. The Jumbo variant features an extended cabin, providing a small amount of space behind the seats.
The Hijet’s three-cylinder engine produces 48 horsepower, paired with an automatic transmission and a top speed of 120 km/h. While sufficient for urban environments or secondary roads, the addition of a camping structure—which catches significant wind—limits the truck’s practical use on highways.
Managing Payload Limits with Stainless Steel Components
A critical factor for any camper conversion is the maximum payload, which sits at 350 kilograms for the Hijet. This limit must account for passengers, water, provisions, and the camping equipment itself. The Grasshopper build includes significant amounts of stainless steel, such as a front brush guard, side steps, a rear bumper, battery covers, and an adjustable roof rack. vanlifemag.de notes that the weight of these components, combined with the cabin structure, requires careful monitoring of the vehicle’s total load to ensure it remains within its 350-kilogram capacity.
Integrating the Living Space
Built by Kyoritsu Industry in Hiroshima, the living module is constructed from glass-fiber-reinforced plastic to maintain a lower weight profile than steel. The conversion features an opening in the truck’s rear wall, allowing for a direct interior passage between the cabin and the living quarters—a design choice that enables access to the kitchen module without exiting the vehicle in poor weather.
The core of the living space is a cabinet module containing eleven drawers and a kitchenette. This design maximizes utility in a confined footprint, as the drawers pull outward rather than requiring the interior space needed for hinged doors. An integrated 270-degree awning with built-in LEDs extends the living area to the exterior of the truck, turning the space beside and behind the vehicle into additional usable living room.
Upgrading Suspension and Tires for off-Road Performance
To improve the truck’s off-road stance, the builders installed an adjustable coilover suspension that increases ground clearance by 50 millimeters. The Hijet sits on 15-inch WORK Equip 40 wheels wrapped in Nankang FT-9 M/T mud-terrain tires. While these tires provide a rugged aesthetic, they also increase rolling resistance and road noise, which vanlifemag.de suggests is more noticeable on a 48-horsepower engine than on larger, more powerful trucks.
Importing Vehicles Under the Federal Twenty-Five-Year Rule
While the 2026 SEMA model showcases modern customization, import regulations for these vehicles in the United States remain tied to the 25-year rule. Under this federal exemption, vehicles that are at least 25 years old may be imported, bypassing U.S. safety standards. As of October 2026, any Hijet manufactured in October 2001 or earlier is eligible for import.
The Hijet nameplate dates back to 1960, and the platform has seen various iterations, including the transition from the narrower pre-1998 Kei size limits to the current, larger chassis introduced in the 1999 model year. While newer models like the current S510P are not yet eligible for U.S. import, the compact utility concept continues to draw interest.
Maximizing Limited Space with Drawer Storage
What is the primary benefit of the Grasshopper’s drawer-based kitchen?
The drawer system is designed to maximize limited space by allowing the user to access storage and kitchen utilities from the outside. This avoids the need for hinged doors that would require extra interior clearance and make it difficult to reach items in tight quarters.
How does the Hijet Jumbo differ from a standard Hijet truck?
The Jumbo version features an extended cabin design. This provides additional space behind the seats, which in the case of the Grasshopper conversion, facilitates a walkthrough connection between the driving cabin and the rear living module.
Are all Daihatsu Hijet trucks eligible for import to the U.S.?
No. Eligibility is strictly governed by the 25-year rule, which calculates the age of the vehicle based on its month of manufacture. As of October 2026, only units built in or before October 2001 satisfy the federal requirements for import.
Keep reading