Going Postal

I'm looking for some information that was unavailable through searching forums. My wife is a rural mail carrier. We're needing to replace her current vehicle, and are considering a mini truck {right-hand drive, decent mileage(?)}. I have two questions (for now). 1. Which mini would be her best bet? I've read some of the forums on this, but would really like some extra input, if y'all don't mind. We live in rural Oklahoma. Most of her route would be on dirt/gravel roads, although she does do some of her route on state highways and paved county roads. We are leaning strongly towards a 4 wheel drive vehicle, perhaps a Subaru or Honda due to rear engine config, and also a deck van or mini mini van because of the packages, etc. she must carry. 2. Does anyone know of others using a mini for going postal {couldn't help myself}? What issues/problems do they face? Such as, ride , mechanical wear, tires, etc. I'd appreciate any help you folks can provide. Thanks for letting me pick your brains.

 

Welcome to the forum

This is the best thread bar none for the comparision of all the kei trucks
See here

The P.U.'s will be easier to find than a deck van I'm guessing, not sure on the legalities for vans vs P.U.'s in the USA.

The manual trannys will give you better mpg than the auto's, and the Sambar's are the quietest on the road.

Also I would look for a 6sp [EL + 5sp] rather than a Hi/Low transfer case with your use for the truck.

You can get canvas covered canopy for the back or they do make funky covered versions with sliding doors like this.

 

Brother I'm not going po-stal or any other kind of "stal" but do I ever like that ride. Really nice looking truck, great pics

 

Hey RoadRanger
I bought a Honda about a month ago and love it. I think that a mini would be perfect for mail delivery. A Honda is 4 wheel drive all the time. A Subaru has the selector on top of the stick shift. Wish my Honda had that. I have seen a Subaru van. It had a lot of room inside it. If I had the exyra money I would have one. I think or a mini truck with sometime of cover on it would be great. I get about 34mpg on average on my Honda.

 

I have got a Subaru Van and a Mitsubishi truck with a canvas cover on it in stock. I've got pictures of the van on my website, but unfortunately I don't have pictures of the Mitsubishi with the cover on the website. The truck alone (no cover) is up there. I can get you some pictures if you want.

 

We have vans and deck vans (see the website for pictures). They work out great for mail carriers we actually have a dealer in OK that sells them to the post office in his town and they love them! PM me and I can get you his info or just give you more info from us

 

I am going to head in a different direction that most. I have an 02 Carry and love it. I too originally thought it would be a great postal unit. The more I drive it, the more I am convinced I would not put my wife in it doing a job that is constantly driving down the road. Just for safety sake. My SIL used to have a rural route here in OK and in just 3 or 4 years had several accidents. I am confident that if she had the same accidents in a mini, she would have been severly injured. You can get a small import car (front wheel drive) brand new for somewhere around $11,000 - $13,000 and have a warranty for all of the miles she is going to drive. My guess is that if you get a 4WD mini (which you would need 4WD if you got one) and use it to deliver mail, you will average around 35 mpg. That little import car will probably get that and she will be better protected in an acident.

Now, before everyone here jumps down my throat, the mini is a whole lot funner to drive, the bed is awesome, they are durable little dudes, and not a cooler looking vehicle IMO. I just wouldn't let my wife drive it as an everyday driver. Now, that also depends on your wife, because I have met some of my buddies wives and I would actually suggest that they drive the mini.

 

If the job entail filling mailboxes from the vehicles seat, then a RHD vehicle would be ideal. How about any of the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) 'regular-sized' vehicles? Such as: the Toyota Surf (FourRunner to us) or if you want a little smaller - the Mitsubishi Pajero? As far as safety goes, install some strobe lights in the rear lenses, a stobe on the rooftop and install a sign on the back end: Caution, Postal delivery vehicle, makes frequent stops. Beyond that, what can you do?

 

Roadranger.....I also live South of Tulsa in Muskogee county. The postal sub carrier here asked me if I thought she could get by with a mini...She drives about 140 miles a day with most of it on dirt roads. She now drives about 40 mph between boxes. The mini truck wont do that. She drives a Nissan now and has lots of front end troubles with it. The mini is too rough riding on the dirt/gravel roads here for a person to drive it every day. The seats are very hard and there is not enough room to put padding on them for a softer ride.I only drive mine about 20 mph on the gravel roads.Your wife probably drives a auto trans vehicle now. Shifting a truck 5 times between boxes will wear out the clutch plus your wife. You can bring her to my home anytime and she can drive mine a few miles on the rough roads and see if she can handle it. Better to test drive before you buy and then be unhappy. If you buy one you will end up taking it away from her so you can come play with the rest of us guys, hehe. Calll me on my cell phone if you want to. ray allen 9186855099 ps I live 1 mile West of Boyntyon, Ok

 

Thanks everyone for your input. My wife currently drives a RHD saturn sw. It's getting the crap beat out of it, plus has over 200K! Saw a 2003 Daihatsu PU in Pryor, OK today that looked great. Had approx 56k on the odometer. They were asking $8200 for it. Also had P/S, heat. Not sure about A/C. Know that automatic would be better than a manual tranny, but that price tag is awful steep for me! Rayallen, I may take you up on that test drive. I'll speak to the boss, and get back to you. Thanks again everyone!

 

I do have a 2wd automatic and a 4wd auto if it needs to be an automatic.