OEM RHD US SPEC

[Eizenjin91]

First off, not sure if this is in the correct section but I think it is. I'm interested in info on vehicles for sale in the US direct from manufacturer in RHD. Any input would be appreciated I've tried to search but haven't come up with much. I know that rural mail carriers use multiple vehicles in RHD but not sure where they get them from and what manufacturers offer it.
I know I can buy used JDM spec vehicles etc but I am looking for new not 25-29 years old (Although an HDJ81 would be fun). The Wrangler Unlimited is available from dealerships as RHD but only can be ordered in the sport base trim not rubicon and only with the 4 cylinder. The reason is to build a vehicle to ship to Southern Africa where all of the southern countries are RHD. I have spent lots of time working over there and it's a pain to drive a LHD vehicle in an RHD country and vice versa. Too legally complicated to purchase a vehicle in my name in SA/Bots/Nam so easiest would be to purchase here, kit out, and ship over for a year. I already have vehicles kitted out for LHD countries overseas so I am only interested in RHD for Southern Africa before everyone starts talking about how LHD works and some countries don't allow RHD etc. I appreciate everyone's knowledge and input and info. Thanks!

 

[billiebob]

If you are importing to license and drive it here the can of worms is open. If you are importing strictly to outfit it and ship it back... without registering it in North America your golden. That said, any new import will have to meet current EPA emissions regulations. USA safety standards. Maybe CAFE regulations. The RHD thing is a red herring compared to the rest of the red tape. Plus dofferent states address the issues differently.

 

[Eizenjin91]

If you are importing to license and drive it here the can of worms is open. If you are importing strictly to outfit it and ship it back... without registering it in North America your golden. That said, any new import will have to meet current EPA emissions regulations. USA safety standards. Maybe CAFE regulations. The RHD thing is a red herring compared to the rest of the red tape. Plus dofferent states address the issues differently.

That was my question/goal billibob, not to import any vehicle but to purchase straight off the lot from a dealership here in the states. I know that Jeep sells 0 mile factory brand new RHD vehicles in the states (mainly JLU but i've seen RHD gladiators, theres one in Illinois right now). But looking for other manufacturers besides jeep. That's definitely my intent is no buying overseas or importing etc. Purchase here, register here, outfit here, then ship overseas on CDP. Agreed way too much effort with trying to import to meet standards and not have issues on newer vehicles.

 

[billiebob]

I know that Jeep sells 0 mile factory brand new RHD vehicles in the states

ahh yes, specifically for rural mail service, and most are 2WD
they have the postal contract to do it, I've never heard of anyone but the postal service buying them new
I am curious but I doubt there is a market for any manufacturer to import them... or any domestic manufacturer to build them

Find the RHD truck you want, walk into a dealership selling the LHD version here, see what they say.
I'm betting it would be a special order "imported"..... with a premium price.

 

[1stDeuce]

As far as I know, your only option to buy RHD in the states is a Jeep of some sort... Go talk to the nearest Jeep dealership and see what they can offer. At one time, you had to actually prove you worked for the postal service to order a RHD Jeep. I wouldn't be surprised if that isn't still the case, so buying one used off a postal worker may be your only option, aside from getting a job with the USPS for a while...

FWIW, I believe that most RHD Jeeps are not actually ordered by the USPS itself, they're owned by rural mail carriers. I've not noticed that they're mostly 2wd. The ones I've seen here in Colorado are most all 4wd, but most of them are also JK's, not JL's or JT's so things may have changed...

I wouldn't discount a sport package, as a Rubicon would be my last pick for overlanding anywhere. While the lockers are nice, the 4:1 transfer case is useless for normal offroading, IMO. I pulled the one in my TJ out and sold it and went back to the 242 that I originally installed... I also don't care for the wider axles that the Rubicon uses... Making an already big and wide Jeep even wider seems counterproductive to me...

Good luck in your quest!!