Right-Hand JKs Deliver Through Rain and Sleet and Snow
They are rare, in a sense that these JKs are not driven normally. On the outside, if you resist peeking in, you’d see a Jeep Wrangler in both two-door and four-door and you wouldn’t think much of it. But then you look in the driver’s door and notice that the steering wheel, while not missing, isn’t where it’s supposed to be. And then you look on the right-hand side and realize you just found yourself a mail Jeep JK.
But wait, aren’t most of the mail trucks built off of a modified S-10 chassis by Grumman? What’s the deal here?
Well, the Postal Service in the U.S. and the Canada Post both employ special carriers known as “Rural Letter Carriers.” This service, known as the Rural Free Delivery in the U.S., wasn’t adopted by the USPS until 1902. Before then rural residents would have to go to a remote post office or hire someone out. For that service, you can’t exactly use a left-hand drive vehicle and deliver mail from it. Well, you can, but it is particularly unsafe when you are facing traffic head on.
The USPS requires a rural carrier to “furnish all vehicle equipment necessary for safe and prompt handling of the mail.” However, the USPS does offer a lease vehicle if a carrier doesn’t have one. While there are many requirements, the vehicle must be large enough to accommodate normal mail volume and be constructed to protect the mail from loss or damage.
The Wrangler has had a right-hand drive option for several models and the JK is no different. The Wrangler X is available in right-hand drive just for this reason, but in 2007 to 2008 you could only get a short wheelbase version. Then in 2009 it was replaced by the RHD version of the Wrangler Unlimited. It’s actually not restricted to mail carriers; it’s available to anyone who needs to do something from inside the vehicle or get out without risk of being hit by traffic. So it’s pretty useful for couriers and many other services.
Unfortunately, you can’t find information on the Jeep website. At least we couldn’t, though a Google search will turn up many dealers who specialize in these vehicles, with 2016 RHD Wranglers ready for you to buy. Used ones will fetch a premium, considering how little they are ordered.
So, if you own one of these peculiar Jeeps, let us know how they drive, or even the looks you get when your passenger isn’t the one doing the steering.