|
I am a mail man of 5 years. Keeping a vehicle route worthy has been the bane of my existence since day one. I have torn the transmission out of a Dodge Dakota, a Jeep Cherokee (twice) and a Ford Escape. My current main vehicle is a right hand drive 1995 Jeep Cherokee. It has been in the shop for 8 weeks for various repairs. So right now I'm delivering out of a 2004 Ford Escape. So far no major mechanical meltdowns in that one. But delivering mail out of a left hand drive vehicle isn't fun or healthy long term. I'm going to need a new vehicle, and I need advice. My route is rural, I go up and down several large mountains. 70 miles per day, about 15 miles is gravel road. I need a vehicle that can drive up and down snow and ice covered mountains, and will not stay broke down when regular maintenance is performed. I also need it to have as least as much cargo space as a Ford Escape. The new right hand drive jeep wranglers have a bad reputation in the mail world, a carrier I work with has had her engine rebuilt twice in a 2015 model. So the reviews, combined with the price has me very hesitant to purchase one. I own a 1995 right hand drive Jeep Cherokee. I love it when it runs, but keeping it running has been incredibly expensive. Right hand drive Cherokees are commonly available for purchase, but I am hesitant due to my prior experience with them, and also the newest vehicle I could buy is a 2001 model. I have had bad previous experiences with Ford Escapes as well, so I do not want another Escape. They just haven't held up to the wear and tear of a mail route. My first route vehicle, a Dodge Dakota, actively tried to kill me in my first winter as a mailman. It's the vehicle that makes me question getting a truck, solely due to how poorly it handled slick roads. Right now I am debating between purchasing a 4 door Toyota Tacoma with a camper shell or a Subaru Forester, but am open to consider anything. I want to put a right hand drive kit in it, so I am limited to vehicles on this list: http://postalthings.com/vehicle-list A Subaru Forester has about 70 cubic feet of cargo space; would a 4 door Tacoma with a camper shell have at least as much cargo space? I'm having trouble finding figures online. Would a Tacoma with snow tires go in the snow as well as a Forester? Do Foresters really go as well some people say? Most of the snow driving reviews I can find are from people who just drive to Walmart in a few inches of snow. I need to be able to climb up and go back down large snow covered mountains, usually well before the state scrapes and salts/gravels them. Should I consider a different vehicle entirely? To sum it up I need a vehicle with at least 70 cubic feet of cargo space, something that is dependable when taken care of, can have a right hand drive kit installed, and will traverse mountains in the winter time. Thanks
|
#
¿
Oct 19, 2016 20:56
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ May 11, 2024 10:55 |
|
|
InitialDave posted:How much does the right hand drive conversion cost? Would importing a RHD vehicle be cheaper? They are $1,950 for a DIY kit. I know a few people with them and they are happy with it. Not sure about importing, I believe there are issues with getting them approved as far as emissions and such go? I wish there were more choices for RHD in USA, other than just Jeep.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 19, 2016 21:56
|
|
|
Yep, rural carriers supply their own vehicles. And I am just a contract route driver, so I don't get any benefits either. My wife works for USPS too, though, so I get all of it through her. I love my job and my customers, the only real headache is keeping a vehicle running without going broke. I love the Ford Transit Connect and think it's a great idea, but absolutely have to have 4WD or AWD for the winter months. My long term plan is to have a Ford transit connect for the warm months and whatever other vehicle I end up choosing to drive for the winter months.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 19, 2016 23:12
|
|