History of USPS Mail Delivery Jeeps

[@chicoyayoo7211]

I love my 1994 Grumman LLV. Thanks for the interesting video on its history.

[@RyanTreks]

I worked for the USPS for a few years, and during that time I bought a DJ5 for my route (we had to provide our own vehicles - 660 mailboxes on an 80 mile route....the DJ5 couldnt handle it, so I had to buy a RHD converted XJ). I still have the DJ5; it's a 1983 AMC (AM General written on the back instead of Jeep) DJ5. It has an iron duke, 904 transmission, and an AMC 20 rear axle. My brother has a 1975 DJ5 (he wanted one when he saw mine), which has the inline 6, 747 transmission, and an original Dana 44 rear axle. They are quite fun to drive, but you do have to be careful because of the narrow wheelbase and top heaviness (very top heavy), though as mentioned in the video; my later model is has less turn roll problems). If not raised, they are fairly stable as long as the shocks are good and the leaf springs are not shot.

[@mikethrapp]

Thanks for doing all this research and providing it to us in a quick summery.

[@Camofodge]

In 84 Alaska needed 4wd mail Jeeps with a larger cargo area for remote areas. They ended up getting 320 rhd cj8 scramblers with a full steel top. This is what I want to see at my mailbox.

[@DEInTheGarage]

What?! That is awesome... I change my answer to that

[@dannywalker1635]

Became a mail carrier in Daytona Beach in 1973 and went to 2003 for my 30 years. Started in the old jeeps that actually had a knob you lifted to open and shut the door. Moved through a couple of upgrades and I believe around 1980 or so they actually put a overhead cam Audi engine in one series. I remember that they oiled plugs very easily. We got our LLV's and boy were carriers complaining with visibility issues. They tried to solve that by hanging more mirrors which actually created a blind spot in the front that had to be dealt with. I became a driving instructor for our area and trained many city as well as rural carriers. The LLV suited my residential delivery area very well with the interior heat being my only major complaint. Really enjoyed your video. Thanks.

[@dwlopez57]

Yeh, real smart of them to adopt a vehicle with no rear windows or ones on the side of the cargo area. And then when you mentioned interior heat, my first thought was to reply interior heat they had that? It's an exaggeration but not much of one.

[@brendanjames7122]

Cool little bit of history with the Grumman canoes. They were, and still are, produced where I live in Marathon, also built nice boats. After the boat division was sold to OMC, a bunch of former Grumman managers and money backers formed the Marathon Boat Group to continue the Grumman line. Who still make the Grumman boats and canoes.

[@allenbaker_music]

I drive LLVs every day and it's my favorite vehicle I've ever driven! I'm rooting for Oshkosh for the new contract, but I really wish Grumman and GM would have gone in on another joint venture to bid on it...

[@alexsalim2024]

I don't see a reason for defense companies to build these. This should be made by auto manufcture with worker health and load capacity in mind

[@mtndewman1022]

The Grumman trucks were actually my first favorite car, which is probably why i love square body jeeps and trucks now! Also, anyone wanna turn an LLV into a gambler?

[@servicerifle16]

My local post office still used DJs until the mid-90s before finally replacing all of them with LLVs. Now they mostly still use LLVs, they have some new vans but they don't use them on most of their routes yet.

[@chrisreed26]

I had a friends mom in the 80's here in the Tampa FL area..she was a postal carrier but Rural route which then meant she had to provide her own vehicle.. She started out with an old used mail jeep then bought a new Jeep Cherokee(?) the smaller Jeep suv back then with a V-6.. with a duplicate steering wheel and controls on the right side..as a teen I though this was soo cool! It was about 1988?

[@razor_wuff]

In my area of Virginia, we still use the Grumman and Chevrolet LLV to this day, and some the ones they replaced are the FFV mail carriers!

[@RyanWithAviators]

Definitely would love to see a righthand drive XJ come and bring my jeep parts to my mailbox.

[@00THOMPSON00]

There's a young girl who delivers mail by me in a old-school postal jeep

[@bentboybbz]

@ 9:55 i have an 86 s10 2.5 4 spd and its the most reliable vehicle ive ever owned. Its ecu has been laying on the floor board so long i dont remember where its supposed to be mounted lol the fuel pump is on a switch and it starts the first time everytime always. The odo quit working around 240,000 many years ago. The upper control arm bushings have been missing for around 6 or 7 years maybe i should get some.

[@jaythatguyyouknow5135]

I randomly had a thought before watching this video “what is a mail truck made of and who makes them?” and this is the first video I found after searching for that info. I’m glad I did, as a mechanic it was nice to hear a brief overview of some of the specs and very interesting to find out all the info you relayed in this video. With that said I am thinking of making a small service truck out of a LLV. Definitely got the gears spinning in my head.

[@DEInTheGarage]

I had the exact same thought which is what led to this video. I saw one on the road and though.. "I would kind of like to own one of those.. wonder what they are all about". If you ever make that service truck I would love to see it!

[@jaythatguyyouknow5135]

I’ll keep you posted. I’m looking for one now. Would like to get one that is fresh from service and not sitting in a junkyard for a few years. It would be nice to get a few of them and start a little business using them to provide jump starts, tire changes and other small roadside emergency services that don’t need a tow truck.

[@MC-yy2bx]

Just before I retired from the U.S. Postal Service in Buffalo, Ny at the end of 2020, I saw, over in our Vehicle Maintenance Facility ( V.M.F. ) a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van that they are going to be using for deliveries of parcels and packages. They were sending our mechanics to the local Mercedes Benz dealership for training on how to work on and maintain these new vehicles. The Auto Mechanics that the U.S. Postal Service employ have been trained on how to work on and replace the engines, transmissions and rear ends - the entire drive train and EVEN the FRAMES of the LLV's. They're VERY highly trained and skilled mechanics and technicians. That's a key component to why the LLV's have lasted so long. one thing overlooked in the video was that the LLV's are TOO light in weight and they are prone to spinning out in winter. The Postal service, at one point, had CONCRETE parking lot forms BOLTED down on the inside just over the right and left side, rear wheels to increase traction. I guess they didn't take into account the SHRAPNEL effect that would occur in a collision. The FIRST number in the identifying number that's displayed across the top and back of each LLV is the last number of THE YEAR the LLV was manufactured. LLV # 0214253 shown in the video would be an LLV manufactured in 1990, 2000, 2010 or 2020. I often thought that if I bought a surplus LLV, I could just put blue number stickers on it and I wouldn't have to register or insure the damn thing ! It would even decrease ( if not eliminate ) the chances of you getting pulled over for a ticket ! BUT if you ever got into an accident - the jig would be up, and you'd get charged with a Felony for impersonating ( counterfeiting ? ) an official government vehicle.

[@kingofthepod5169]

I remember when I was in Blue ridge Georgia near copper hill tennessee. My family's 2011 jetta sport wagon (2wd) was having trouble navigating a road called strawberry lane, a gravel path road so narrow that trees were brushing the sides. We stopped at a 4 way junction and realized we were lost. Then I saw a postal jeep (not a jeep expert, but it was a short wheelbase one) accelerating up the hill. We followed that jeep all the way to the state route. Had it not been for that jeep our day would have been ruined.

[@deephoenix83]

I’m a brand new mail carrier and the driving experience in the LLV is very interesting. I personally love keeps and would love to drive a right handed JL to deliver mail.

[@sludge4125]

Good luck in your career, Dee.

[@sumdumguy2648]

There is insulation in the LLVs. In the headliner and in the kick panels. They also have limited slip rears. I've been working on these trucks for over 18 years and every single one that I've worked on has had the washer squirters in the cowl. There will be remnants of the old system but I've have never seen them in use in our district and that is going back 18 years. The old FFvs were made in 2000 and 2001. They are based on a 4 door 2 wheel drive explorer with a Utilitymaster body. They have the 4.0 engine in them.

[@jasoncassel364]

I live in Denver Colorado and parking Management still runs right hand drive jeep Wranglers for writing parking tickets. Keep up the awesome content love the channel.

[@Folfumis]

They do? I don't spend much time in Denver but I always thought they had some type of EV.

[@ericphantri96734]

Thank you for this presentation...very nice

[@alexandragoodale827]

Thank you for such a comprehensive and concise video. Entertaining, well researched, and exactly what I was looking for when I searched for US Mail trucks. Love that li’l Grummy!

[@Zomby1Woof]

I have a bias toward the LLV because I was involved with them at Grumman Aerospace when they were being made. I got to make the assembly sketches on CADAM for the methods dept. That was back in 1984 or so. I still see them on the road. I have a brochure for them too, like a new car brochure.

[@michaeledwards8267]

I was a USPS Mailman from the mid 70s to the early 2000s i first had a AMC/Jeep DJ5 that was reliable but in 1988 we got the LLV or as i called it the mail brick it was nice but there is no ac and yes we had some "mishaps" with fires caused by leaks i am retired now but i still have the same DJ5 that i used as my main transport

[@pr3ttysus922]

I feel bad because I order a small thing from amazon and it comes from ups I order a giant thing and it comes in USPS

[@MC-yy2bx]

Yes, that's good that you noticed that. FedEx, UPS and Amazon ALL use the U.S. Postal Service for their "Last Mile" delivery. You'll see the big brown UPS trucks in large cities and places of "exposure" and "high visibility" for psychological effect BUT it's the Postal Service that delivers between 60 and 75% of those companies packages and parcels. That's because only the U.S. Postal Service has the INFRASTRUCTURE in place to go to EVERY address, EVERY day, 6 and sometimes ( usually in December ) 7 days a week. It's CHEAPER for UPS, FedEx and Amazon to pay the Postal service CHUMP CHANGE to deliver their packages and parcels - especially the LARGER and HEAVIER ones. This is a good lesson. WHY go to FedEx or UPS and PAY THEM for shipping when you can go directly to your local Post Office ( hell...the Post Office will even pick up at your home or business for FREE ) thereby cutting out the MIDDLEMAN - It's cheaper too. This is why greedy corporate interests want to break up YOUR Postal Service - it's the last, major money making business in America. The corporate fat cats are already having all their products manufactured in China for slave wages to maximize their profits. They don't want to pay U.S. citizens a LIVING wage. Once their products are here in the U.S. they NEED to be delivered. If we lose OUR Postal Service to PRIVATEERS the first thing they're going to do is increase shipping costs drastically, and eliminate the good, well paying jobs of you and your fellow citizens.

[@angang8438]

exactly our trucks arent big enough

[@williamkerchner5772]

@@angang8438 I heard that our Jeep’s weren’t big enough. So we got LLVs. And more work. Now you will get bigger trucks. And more work. Dumb ass

[@georgecoffman377]

I’ve got a P30 mail truck with a 6.2 diesel that has 109 thousand miles on it and it’s still going strong carrying my tools for construction.

[@jtmoffroad]

Kaiser jeep one of course for me. Man what a huge info dump that I never knew about. You could def be a history teacher

[@DEInTheGarage]

That was my original intended path in life until I realized I liked tattoos and hated kids. HAHA

[@armron94]

1:18 I have seen one of these vehicles before. But it wasn't a mail van. It was a milk truck

[@m2003h]

D. In the 90's I Rust proofed and Under coated everything going to Alaska. For a couple years We would Have the Mail cars about 200 at a time come through...and I'm sure that alot are still in use....as far as the body is concerned. They got the Full treatment.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Nice! That is what you do for work?

[@m2003h]

@@DEInTheGarage That was My younger days...started the family...the Hungry days.lol. My career is A Cryo Driver..but I did that for Ryder for many yrs.

[@sludge4125]

What a great presentation!!

[@DEInTheGarage]

Thanks!

[@42luke93]

15:14 Inaccurate. The FFV is based off of the mid to late 1990’s Ford Explorer.

[@preppinglife624]

I always love your Jeep history lessons!

[@DEInTheGarage]

Thanks buddy!

[@GoatyHerps]

..and here we are. Still running the LLV. Lol

[@TheBeardedJeeper]

We just got some new mail trucks in our town. But we have JKs for rural delivery.

[@TheBeardedJeeper]

Ours look different from all those they look like sprinter vans

[@DEInTheGarage]

Dang buddy.. It is that rural out where you are? Pretty cool. Do you know if the town owns the JK or is it their personal vehicle?

[@jacobcornelius9273]

My office drives the FFV and that's my favorite truck, they're more common than you're passing too believe. I bet every letter carrier in the country has driven at least one time the FFV. I get in a debate with a friend of mine about which is better, but each one has good and bad, it's all about what you need in your area. My city has a lot of hills and it's a fairly high end area so they order Amazon A LOT and the FFV just fits more in it. But I can never get over the turning radius of the LLV. Another winning factor for the LLV is the room for the driver, I'm over their comfortable height at 6'5" but it's still more comfortable than the FFV where my knees get squished. But the biggest thing for me is the room in the cargo area and the 6 cylinders that's why it wins for me. Thank you for this video though, I've never seen so much history of the organization I work for.

[@rhodesianwojak2095]

Is the ffv the Ford joint partnership vehicle?

[@dwlopez57]

@@rhodesianwojak2095 Ford engine, etc.. Utilimaster body

[@dwlopez57]

One thing about the LLV, the bodies lasted without falling apart. In the 80s, no matter if it was a Jeep, half ton, one ton, after a few years all of the vehicles just rattled rattled rattled sounding like they were going to fall apart. After 30 years the LLVs never developed that rattling noise. And its true, the past several years LLVs dont have enough room for parcels especially at Christmas. The CRV/FFVs have more room for cargo, but with the brake handle on the floor you lose a lot of usable space. Plus being longer and a little higher it can be worse delivering cul de sacs and other places where a tight turning radius is required

[@LJSW-rp6xm]

The Kaiser Jeep rocking up to deliver my mail would be pretty sweet.

[@anthonydwyer1783]

A person was selling a right hand drive 96 xj I should Have bought it still had the postal graphics on it. But around my rural area the postal service will use anything they can get their hands on wether it is a mini van to a xj to a llv

[@jeeper390]

I get to drive an LLV every day! Although they originally supposedly got 10 mpg I get about 4 mpg and that's just driving in town around my walking route, I don't wanna know what they get on a driving route! This was the most accurate account of an LLV I have seen but I do have a correction: I've never seen the washer reservoir leak, but every one I've ever driven has had the windshield leak onto the fuse pane l when it rains

[@DEInTheGarage]

Interesting... I guess I found some conflicting information in my research. Thank you for the correction! So I have to ask... will you miss the LLV when it is gone or are you looking forward to the upgrade?

[@jeeper390]

@@DEInTheGarage being a car nerd I will miss it in a way. Like any old clapped out vehicle they all seem to have their own personality and quirks. I'll get over it real quick once that cold AC hits me though! Where I live the heat index gets up to 120 in the summer.

[@austinwagoncompany]

I'd love to see an old DJ-5 delivering my mail. I had one that I bought for $75 and played around with. It had a 258ci AMC engine with a fluid drive transmission.

[@DemonCat-hp6dv]

Unfortunately as a mail man you left out the replacement to the s10 LLV (LIFE LONG VEHICLE), it’s the 1998 and on Ford Explorer dubbed the FFV (flex fuel vehicle), Wayyyyy better that the log but Still no ac and a rear passenger window to see traffic, and the heat is wayyyyyy better in the winter, also has over 200hp and scoots when floored lol We have no clue when the next era of trucks are coming!!

[@donairsauce2496]

all canada post urban carriers drive ford transits or sometimes dodge promasters we also still have step vans and rural and suburban carriers drive their personal vehicles

[@mtadventures5006]

Its August 2020 and we got Mercedes mini Van's coming next year I hear. I saw 1 while at academy and they are nice.

[@DEInTheGarage]

No kidding! Wounds like a heck of an upgrade

[@jeremyf9124]

My sister started at the USPS recently, and she says they have some Mercedes vans and Ram Promaster vans. She likes the backup cameras in them and says that the LLVs have poor rear visibility. She said the LLVs break down often, that they need starter replacements often.

[@miker7233]

I guess it was never thought of to test the LLV in snow. Since there are parts of country where they are used in snowy conditions.

[@armron94]

In rural areas people still use our personal car.

[@thebigj8691]

The FFV sits on a Ford Explorer chassis and has a 4.0 6 cylinder. The LLV info is incorrect about the leaks around the fuse panel. Its the body joints failing and windshield seal leaking. The wsher bottle is on the other side. The battery sits in front of the fuse panel, I know because Ive rebuild dozens of the panels. (I am a Postal Automotive Tech.) I love the job, Ill miss the LLV when they are gone. I was not around during the Jeep era.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Thanks for the correction and input. I apologize for the misinformation

[@matthewtwright84]

I know I keep commenting on old videos, but they are new to me. My mail lady drives a RH drive JKU and the backup rural route driver we have drives an XJ. But today he was in a white Patriot. Thought that was different. Either way, they use Jeeps.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Hey, we appreciate it! Comments really help us as it shows people are engaging with our content, so you are this months D&E All Star!!! That is wild about the Patriot. This is the first I have heard of that one, but it makes sense I guess

[@matthewtwright84]

@@DEInTheGarage they are all using their personal vehicles so it's not a fleet thing. You see alot of rural mail carriers around here using jeeps, mostly XJs. My uncle included.

[@ryanroberts1104]

Now I understand why my mail man has a new Wrangler. :)

[@greg1268]

Being a Jeep guy, I’d like to bring the Jeep back

[@TheTarrMan]

Can I make a prediction and say the next mail-truck isn't going to be electric. > Batters are only good for so many charge cycles before they need to be replaced. > It takes too long to charge although I'll admit improvements have been made. > The postal service would also have to invest money into each and every post-office to add a charging station for each vehicle. (It would probably double the price of what they're expecting to pay.) > Severe temperatures can cause your range on a full charge to diminish. > If you're a vehicle short (perhaps because of a breakdown) you might not be able to double up a route because of range issues. > Technology is too new so other unknown/currently-inconceivable issues could pop up. That AM General looks promising. It's about the same size so the parking spaces can be left alone not to mention the familiar shape so we the public would hopefully know to be carful when driving past. I'm sure they deal with enough crazyies already so a completely different vehicle would probably make it worse.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Those are all very good points. Maybe you are correct. Hard to say. It seems the near future of electric vehicles is uncertain some companies seem to be backing away from them a bit

[@pattycarljackson]

They should go with an American company.

[@sludge4125]

Like Chrysler?

[@apolloisairborneoldchannel8920]

All of them suck though

[@trainzmarcel2074]

they should clearly go with a russian company

[@sulaimanashraf1823]

The second or the third mail trucks that are going to replace Grumman llv are the ones I would like to see. Great video though😀 Edit: oh yeah and the Grumman llv since I haven't seen them in person since Canada post does not use them anymore

[@davidvoinier6008]

I deliver newspapers and my boss had a right hand drive Subaru Legacy station wagon (hatchback) that was fantastic in the snow! He said he got a deal on it because it was ordered by a rural mail-carrier who decided not to buy it. I've seen mail carriers up here driving S10 Blazers by sitting in the middle and straddling the trans tunnel. Not very safe to say the least!

[@DEInTheGarage]

Seriously?? that is nuts!

[@jeremyf9124]

I remember rural mail carriers in Idaho using right hand drive Subarus in the 80s and 90s. It makes sense, due to the good gas mileage, all-wheel drive, and right hand drive being the normal thing for the Japanese market. Eventually, it seemed like they all switched over to RHD XJ/Cherokees. I’m guessing that the XJ got more fuel economy & price competitive over time. I also remember the DJ Jeep being used as an ice cream truck.

[@davidhong6152]

Looks like they finally got a new one today

[@bartricky5894]

I remember bicycles with big baskets and the big mail bags they would carry on their shoulders..

[@mikethrapp]

Now that makes me wonder? How old you are? Lol

[@BlueEagle23]

Here's video of the LLV testing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5LLeql4e5iXbck As a rural carrier, my first POV around 1999 was a '74 Jeep DJ5C. Apart from being old, I loved it! The straight-six engine provided plenty of power for the small vehicle (versus the four-cylinder in the bigger LLV), there were vents on sides by my legs and on the roof, and all the mail was within reach of the driver's seat. Current day, only my route's letters and flats would fit inside and there would be no room for parcels (that fill up the LLV.) I upgraded to a '91 Jeep Cherokee with a RHD conversion kit, and later to a factory RHD 2000 Cherokee. It wasn't mentioned in the video, but the PO did not purchase Cherokees. They were all personally owned vehicles that the carrier purchased to deliver mail (rural carriers receive equipment maintenance allowance for using a POV.) Around 2006, my route was assigned a government owned vehicle, an LLV that was salvaged from Hurricane Katrina (still had a mud line half-way up the inside.) The Long-Life Vehicles were great, but are now way past their intended lifespan. Upkeep is very expensive because all of the parts are worn out, fires are becoming common, gear shifters are worn down and come out of park, parking brakes have to be adjusted frequently or they won't work. Despite the seat belt being the only safety equipment, the vast majority of fatalities are because the carrier was not wearing the seat belt. My favorite feature of the LLV is the narrower front wheel span; it really does help to make tight U-turns!

[@DEInTheGarage]

That is crazy! they really beat the heck out of that thing!

[@wildbill23c]

My mail carrier actually drives a right hand drive XJ.

[@ProjectDanH]

There is 2001 right hand drive XJ for sale on my local let go. It's patriot blue but they're asking 7000

[@DEInTheGarage]

$7K??? Thing better be clean as hell!

[@wildbill23c]

@@DEInTheGarage People are over-pricing the XJ's and other "offroad" capable Jeeps because people are dumb enough to overpay for them, even if its falling apart.

[@bigd3721]

LLV’s breakdown all the time

[@platec4798]

Thank you for the post on Jeeps and postal vehicles. I found it to be very informative. To answer your question as to what each of us would like to see, unfortunately the vehicle that I would like to see does not appear. I think that a Wrangler (JL) based platform could be modified for postal delivery. It would not be hard for FCA to create a right hand steer Wrangler (JL) and they could use the new EV technology that they have planned for the JL -or- stick with traditional Pentastar V6 or even the diesel engine. Unfortunately, FCA seems to be out of it for what ever reason. My second choice is to support Ford and Oshkosh. I like the idea the that the vehicle is built domestically, just like the Jeep. I am a believer that charity starts at home and domestically built automobiles should be atop of the list. Besides, the domestic car builders have come along way and build some decent vehicles these days. Thank you again for your video. Plate [C]

[@DEInTheGarage]

That is a crazy take, but I like it! Thanks for sharing!

[@liamdonnelly5742]

In my town we’ve got a right hand drive XJ that the post office uses when the LLVs are broken down. I’ve always thought my XJ was the perfect all around vehicle so i see no reason it shouldnt have been a top pick for the USPS of which my father is an employee.

[@MajorWeakness]

Same here

[@ScottaHemi440]

funny enough the city i went to college at had wrangler mail carriers that i saw working around the city. but out here in the country where I live the rural carriers prefer their big tanky Buicks. specifically the Lucerne.

[@DEInTheGarage]

The mail carrier drive Buick Lacernes? I have never head that one before!

[@RyanTreks]

Honestly, the Honda Element would be very ideal as a mail vehicle. Their 2.4L Honda engines last a VERY long time. Granted, looking at the future vehicles you showed, the Element is smaller. But it's not too large and certainly not too small (so much can be fit into one). As for "what would I like to see pull up in my yard to deliver mail?". I'd like to see a Jeep of some sort (older model is better...hence I still have my DJ5) or as mentioned the Honda Element. But perhaps there should be dedicated package vehicles and dedicated mail vehicles. I'm not sure how cost effective that would be, but it could be something to consider.

[@DEInTheGarage]

I never thought about the element! That makes a ton of sense!

[@RyanTreks]

Yeah, I bought my 2003 Honda Element in 2014. I put over 100,000 miles on it doing my daily driving (251,000 miles now) and it hasn't had any significant problems. Plus, mine is EX, which has the "real time 4 wheel drive"). I've tried muddy slopes and areas on my property and have never been able to get it stuck). I've only replace superficial things thus far...the most expensive being the AC compressor :( but it works great now. So, the suggestion comes from experience. I really it though I will be upgrading the front seats to heating and cooling seats from a 2016 Kia Sorento (some of the most durable leather seats I've ever known; the leather is thick and firm, and the cushion is stiff and doesn't become soft over time like what happens in most other car brands). Element seats aren't worth re-upolstering...and my wife finds them uncomfortable, so upgrading that. :)

[@apolloisairborneoldchannel8920]

This video just further proves my point that Chevrolet is in the Top 5 best car companies.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Yea bud, I will go top 5 for chevy! Agreed

[@Cherokee-sz7xi]

My ex-wife is a mail carrier and we had three of the dj’s back in 88-95 , damn I hated those things! They broke down every week. Hope I never see another one ,,ever! Or her as far as that goes! Lol

[@DEInTheGarage]

LOL.. really? That is a bummer to hear. Does she drive an LLV now?

[@the_real_drwhoroblox1935]

7:22 they forgot to feature in the list the design flaws that the winning vehicle had (grumman llv).

[@cdy291]

Oh my god, stop start on a mail truck. That will go well.

[@mikethrapp]

😂 right 😂

[@QuantumPlayz]

mike thrapp that would actually save a f**k ton on gas

[@fatalfromabove8943]

This is cool as hell!

[@armron94]

4:26 In World War II Willy's & Ford Made Jeeps The only way to tell the difference is Jeep made 5 slat. In Ford made 7th slap Grill that's all I can tell the difference

[@dwlopez57]

Actually, I believe a company called Bantam made the first ones

[@sludge4125]

Contemporary to the Dispatcher, the postal service had a box truck. I would be interested in that story. Whether it was accurate or not, I think the Jeep was referred to as a quarter ton, and the box truck as a half ton.

[@sludge4125]

Evidently, the truck I am thinking of is a beefed up dispatcher called an AM General FJ-8. I drove a postal service stepvan for four years, and I think that was the AM General FJ-9.

[@dwlopez57]

In the 80s we had a couple different half tons. I believe AMG was one, dont recall the others. Also the LLV is considered a half ton

[@sludge4125]

@@dwlopez57 Thanks. Of course, the LLV replaced both the quarter ton, and the half ton, so there wasn’t any need to call it either one. Have you seen the postal vehicle of the future?

[@dwlopez57]

@@sludge4125 I've seen pictures of the vehicle the Postal Service chose, but naturally, there's a lawsuit from at least one of the losing bidders. Plus some Congress people aren't happy that it isnt an electric vehicle, so I'm not holding my breath that it will be deployed soon.

[@sludge4125]

@@dwlopez57 Thanks for that information. 👍

[@sighpocket5]

Nice!!!!( good job!!)

[@ProjectDanH]

I saw a male Jeep yesterday! I could tell because it had balls 🤣🤣🤣. It would be weird to see those other things deliver mail.. my whole life I've only known the LLV.. I'd love a gladiator mail carrier! You gotta go a history of jeep in law enforcement next.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Oh dang Dan... That is a really good idea! I imagine Ford will be the biggest name in that game, but we all know the XJ had a police edition and likely back in the day some other models got the thin blue line treatment

[@briannalamb2192]

A lot of Rural Carriers who weren't given a FFV or LLV still use Jeeps! Granted the '21 seems to be giving everyone some level of hell.

[@matt88876]

I was born in 1969 so the 80's are a fond memory

[@michaelstalker3981]

I've pulled one out that was stuck in snow 😂

[@tylork8025]

Do you Recommend shocks? I love your videos and opinion. I have a 2000 Xj and 96 Zj. Both ride extremely rough.

[@mikethrapp]

Bilstein or doesch tech.

[@mikethrapp]

Ironrockoffroad.com has a great selection. And there bilstein kit comes with stem eliminators for the front.

[@DEInTheGarage]

What Mike said, If you can afford them, Bilstein. If you have to go budget, I have always had luck with ProComp, but you get what you pay for

[@19772001corey]

The post office is also using dodge promasters

[@robtheroadie2240]

I want to see a Good Humor tricycle guy deliver my mail!!!... Ahhh, the good ole days! Also, Im pretty sure we now have a ton of ex-military Hum Vees sittin around. Why not use them?? Thanks for the memories LLV!!

[@Folfumis]

I kind of want a surrey trim DJ, take my SO out to a date in my frilly top doorless oversized golf cart.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Right?? In an odd way they are very cool looking

[@shattered0717]

Did any of these new designs happen?

[@johnschlenker3509]

What about the 3 wheeled postal vehicle called the jeepster. I drove one at Amherst n.y.top speed about 25 mph. This was circa 1967. The LLV’s was so poor in the snow that they installed cement pylons over the rear tires. They were still terrible in snow, worst vehicle in s now that I ever drove.

[@skigdividerx4991]

Hey man great video on the mail trucks. I work on the LLV's and FFV's every day. The FFV's were put in service in 2000 and built on a 2WD Ford Explorer. We don't have any of the new converted Transists in our area as of yet. I agree that the LLV's get a bad rap. They have done a good job considering most of the union minded people that run them beat them to death and the idiots that run Amazon on Sunday blow them up all the time!

[@sludge4125]

Union minded people beat these to death???? WTF is that? As a great tennis player liked to say, “you can not be serious.” These trucks were/are in EXTREME service. But the employees are beating them to death? I’m calling your comment ignorant.

[@MajorWeakness]

Elvis had a Pink DJ

[@josefnocera4414]

I’m searching for a photo of a USPS truck I saw in the 90s with the full realistic looking bald eagle on the side. I think it was an 18 wheeler. If anyone can help I’d appreciate it. Can’t find a single thing on Google.

[@DEInTheGarage]

I will keep my eyes out, bud

[@sludge4125]

The “standing eagle” was a great logo!

[@sludge4125]

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Usmailcontractor.jpg/220px-Usmailcontractor.jpg

[@matt88876]

I remember the jeep mail truck

[@ericphantri96734]

Mail delivery vehicle is classified items including part and specifications and need extra security measure and design

[@anthonylembo4040]

do the FFV'S that the mailmen are driving now have air conditioning?

[@DEInTheGarage]

I believe they do, yes

[@sludge4125]

The ffv definitely does not have air conditioning. The postal provided vehicles for managers DO have air conditioning. Because the managers work so much harder than the mail carriers. 🤪

[@dwlopez57]

When I started in 1984 the unions had to fight like hell, because the USPS didnt even want to put fans in the vehicles. As far as I know no delivery vehicles have AC, although now the bigger trucks (5ton, etc. Do)

[@e102em]

Can you provide the source of this information?

[@holton345]

I have a JK. I like it *okay* I guess. (I dislike the JL. Not my cup of tea, or whatever, so I won't discuss it here.) I own a TJ, too. This is a great platform. So maybe a "TJ5" with an aluminum hardtop with Toyota Land Cruiser wrap-around corner windows and rear door, and DJ5 sliding doors? I think that would be very cool, and really great as an already proven rural Postal RHD vehicle. It could be redesigned to be that platform with a USPS-specific tub and interior. The TJ platform/frame with the current 3.6L Pentastar (with heat/ac) and the stock TJ 4WD driveline would be very good, I think.

[@MikeyWoomer]

What about all these new lime green jeeps ? Who owns them? The mail men? Or the post office

[@ericphantri96734]

Should p.o. box as standardized mail delivery so safety for official of mail delivery and security of mails and save money

[@ricardocapriles6243]

Where can a civilian buy an LLV ?

[@DEInTheGarage]

Could be different in various parts of the country, but understanding is that you can own one, but getting your hands on one is the hard part. The USPS uses them until they are absolutely 100% used up and destroyed. They are not like cop cars which get phased out ever few years and come up for auction

[@dwlopez57]

Contact the General Services Administration. Sometimes they do go on sale to the public

[@indridcold8433]

Does anybody remember the electric mail Jeeps of the 1980s. They were in the news and there were billboards that showed the electric mail Jeep with the headlights lit up on the sign. The billboard read, "Changing the post office today and tomorrow the world." One would be hard pressed to find even one of these electric mail Jeeps in pieces, much less a complete one. Decade after decade, the electric cars are pushed and they fail over and over. It is doubtful any of the electric cars of today will be around in ten years also. Why is such a bad power source for automobiles always pushed? It is constantly rejected. Maybe more battery development is needed instead of electric vehicle development.

[@DEInTheGarage]

ZIt suits a certain type of narrative, so E-power will never go away regardless of how awful it is

[@314_ENJOYER]

To be honest I know it's not very reliable anymore but I dont wanna see the LLV retire

[@sludge4125]

I agree. The entire country has been seeing these for 30 years!! How many other 30 year old vehicles are still being driven.

[@jaydendiaz9128]

What about the ram

[@JoeKyser]

Electric? I don't know much about them. Thought the motors don't last that long.

[@brucehalleran1149]

The iron duke 4's in the LLV last about 40k in a service that is a case study for how to destroy an engine. The electric motor, cooled properly, has to be better. And since the delivery cycle is "floor it...2...3...4 stamp brake until stopped, wait 5 seconds, repeat."...5 to 7 hundred times in 6 hours. Regenerative braking is made for mail delivery. If you could save 1 gallon per day on 100,000 mounted delivery routes, 300 days a year, well it adds up.

[@stevenmichaeli8472]

You forgot the FJ6 Jeep Vans

[@justinwhitehead8866]

What about the jeep fj3?

[@DEInTheGarage]

You are correct. The tiny FJ-3 was one of the vehicles like the Jeepster which was employed for local delivery before the DJ line

[@michael_anthony_]

The interesting story of The canoes is Probably more a collaboration with the native American Indians, mexicans the bracero program, flappers the church and buddhists... I'm 40+ and don't know all the story there's issues in the USA physically and spiritually passed today related to this... Im calling it problems.. from my experiences today..

[@mtnvortex]

I really do hate to be THAT guy, but aluminum canoes are generally not LITERALLY bullet proof. They are good canoes though. I have a 12 foot aluminum boat that my grandfather and his fishing buddy bought new in 1956. I still use it, but not for target practice. :^)

[@robertdrayfahl6632]

I'm first comment, so I'm going to take this opportunity to say...."Hello"

[@DEInTheGarage]

Well hello! Thanks for watching!!

[@molaroismorais8068]

,wow