What happens to old Royal Mail vans?

[A500leroy]

A few for sale on Ebay. A lot of the ones that die are used as donor vans for parts, Generally they get disposed of every 12 years.
If your buying on any cv stickers stands for courtsey van,So will have had hundreds of different drivers, ie its a workshop van loaned out while the route van is being repaired/rebuilt. Its not uncommon for a van to got through 4 gearboxes and 2 engines.

Curently the best vans for not going in the workshop are the partners, then the bippers, then the doblos. The big city offices are offloading them quickly now as ulez comes in and are going electric.

[Bobupndown]

Vauxhall Combos in faded pink with bright red Royal Mail bits where the stickers were removed used to be a common sight.
Must say something for the Corsa underpinnings the abuse these vans put up with.
I love the preserved Minor and Mini post vans.[url]

[Snow and Rocks]

I noticed today that our postie had a shiny new VW Caddy instead of his usual knackered Peugeot Partner Trek.

Not sure if you get a 4x4 Caddy but he'll miss the Trek in the winter I imagine.

[Mickey6toes]

Not long bought ex RM 11 plate combo .only 50k on clock drives spot on .but not one straight panel 🤣

[Southerner]

Mickey6toes said:

Not long bought ex RM 11 plate combo .only 50k on clock drives spot on .but not one straight panel ??

Go on then, ‘ow much?

[A500leroy]

Mickey6toes said:

Not long bought ex RM 11 plate combo .only 50k on clock drives spot on .but not one straight panel ??

Ah, but 50k at 2k rpm over rural potholed lanes at 60mph and only repaired on the cheap, for heavens sake change the tyres from the ones RM use!

[ARFBY]

These guys in Bristol, seem to have all the local supplies in stock.

[pingu393]

I've had an Escort.

I've also had an old Ford Royal Mail van.

[Triumph Man]

Isn't it the law with RM vans that you switch off the engine whilst doing at least 5mph, then stop the van using the handbrake. Bonus points if the driver's door is open before you stop.

[A500leroy]

Triumph Man said:

Isn't it the law with RM vans that you switch off the engine whilst doing at least 5mph, then stop the van using the handbrake. Bonus points if the driver's door is open before you stop.

Fully correct, with practice you can be walking before the van stops.

[sherbertdip]

A500leroy said:

Triumph Man said:

Isn't it the law with RM vans that you switch off the engine whilst doing at least 5mph, then stop the van using the handbrake. Bonus points if the driver's door is open before you stop.

Fully correct, with practice you can be walking before the van stops.

I actually saw our postie doing that, I thought what a chump, now I see it in a different light, he's obviously been on a course

[ACCYSTAN]

Talking of big UK public sector fleet vans, an old mate used to buy Network Rail vans when they used to own them, they world have similar bodywork and suspension issues to royal mail vans from driving along narrow lanes and alongside railways but where always highly mechanically maintained.
The combo crew vans where his best buys as he sold them on at a pretty premium, outdoor families and surfers would buy them.

At some point network rail started to lease vans and the auction sales dried up.

[GolfDragon]

ARFBY said:

These guys in Bristol, seem to have all the local supplies in stock.

There's a massive royal mail depot on the A38 going out of Bristol with hundreds of royal mail vehicles. Makes sense to sell them on to a local second hand car/can dealer