POVs that can be used
- Thread starter CAS43952
- Start date
A Chevy Blazer or GMC Jimmy from the late 90's that has the gearshift and 4 wd button on the column and dash works pretty nicely, without a huge outlay of $$$ to acquire. Also a Honda CR-V with the gearshift on the steering column and a fold-down (or remove it completely) center "table" console from the early 2000's is easy to work from, but you may need a board or some kind of improvised "bench" because the two front seats may feel too far apart to "bridge" with your butt.
Think about your route needs--the volume and size of parcels may make some of the other nice, but too small vehicles more of a pain than it's worth---like Subaru Forester or Outback---super nice and sturdy cars, but you might not fit those giant Wal-Mart and Amazon boxes in there!
Think about your route needs--the volume and size of parcels may make some of the other nice, but too small vehicles more of a pain than it's worth---like Subaru Forester or Outback---super nice and sturdy cars, but you might not fit those giant Wal-Mart and Amazon boxes in there!
olewhatshername
New member
Ford Escapes
heyman1104
New member
I'm with @hardearnedtan, I use a 2002 Blazer. They can be bought cheap, are cheap to maintain, have a decent 4x4 system, and a decent amount of storage space. I've beat the ever-loving snot out of mine and it just keeps going. 178K miles on it, with the last 40K+ miles being for this job.
heyman1104
New member
When I started out I had a 94 Buick Lesabre. Bench seat, column shifter, not horrendous on gas, and a large trunk. I bought it for $500 and it lasted me a year, then I sold it for $325 with a bad transmission and looking like hell.
Oh and I'm going to move this topic to the "Leave Replacements" forum as it's a better fit there.
Oh and I'm going to move this topic to the "Leave Replacements" forum as it's a better fit there.
littlesew&sew
Well-known member
My main route vehicle is a 2002 Dodge Durango. It had 60,000 miles on it when I purchased it four years ago, now has 191,000. It's a beast in the snow. My current backup vehicle is a 2006 GMC Canyon. Both of my vehicles have towing package and off-road package, so they have additional transmission cooler and heavy-duty suspension. My first route vehicle was a 2004 Chevy Venture, great route vehicle 20+ mpg on the route, tons of room for parcels but only front wheel drive and the gravel roads eat up mini-van tires.
Other carriers in our office (all POV on the rural side) use: Honda CRV, Chevy Blazer, Chevy Impala (bench seat), Ford Taurus (bench seat), Ford Escape, and a Kia sedan of some sort. A couple of the regular carriers have RHD Jeep Wranglers. One of our RMPO subs had a dual control installed in his route vehicle, but I don't know what type of vehicle he has.
My suggestion is to use what you have or what you can get really cheap at first. Look for removable console, shifter on steering column, or even bench seat. Think of your height and arm length versus the vehicle. A taller person might be able to use a full-size 4x4 truck. A shorter person (like me) couldn't reach across a full-size truck. This job isn't for everyone, and the hours are usually famine or feast. Make sure you like the job and can handle it before investing a lot of money in a route vehicle.
Other carriers in our office (all POV on the rural side) use: Honda CRV, Chevy Blazer, Chevy Impala (bench seat), Ford Taurus (bench seat), Ford Escape, and a Kia sedan of some sort. A couple of the regular carriers have RHD Jeep Wranglers. One of our RMPO subs had a dual control installed in his route vehicle, but I don't know what type of vehicle he has.
My suggestion is to use what you have or what you can get really cheap at first. Look for removable console, shifter on steering column, or even bench seat. Think of your height and arm length versus the vehicle. A taller person might be able to use a full-size 4x4 truck. A shorter person (like me) couldn't reach across a full-size truck. This job isn't for everyone, and the hours are usually famine or feast. Make sure you like the job and can handle it before investing a lot of money in a route vehicle.
