A $2,080 electric mini-truck imported from China has continued working on its owners’ Florida property more than five years after it was bought. Used on a 10-acre homestead, the vehicle has hauled mulch, sand, lumber, branches and other materials, and its hydraulic dump bed has helped with landscaping projects and irrigation tasks.
The truck was not purchased for regular road use. It is a low-speed utility vehicle without the safety equipment or regulatory approvals expected of a modern full-size pickup, and it is used almost exclusively on private property. The owner says the total cost exceeded the factory price: international shipping alone was nearly $2,000, with tariffs and customs-broker fees adding further expense.
Several practical upgrades have been made since its arrival. The factory suspension springs were replaced with softer ones, and the original street tires were swapped for off-road tires. A custom tow hitch was also added. The suspension changes improved comfort but mean the rear sags when carrying more than about 500 pounds of sand or other bulk materials.
Most of the truck’s systems still work, including its electric windows, door locks, headlights, backup camera, air conditioning and dump bed. The owner reports no major drivetrain failures and says the vehicle still starts and drives reliably. The main issues include a windshield wiper with a reduced range of motion, a rearview mirror that repeatedly comes loose, minor damage to the driver’s seat upholstery and a decorative door-handle panel that has popped off.
There is some rust, mostly where paint has been scratched or worn away, particularly around the tailgate and cargo bed. A bed-liner coating applied during the first year helped protect the metal, though it has since worn through in places. The truck is stored under a lean-to but still gets rained on, and its rear lights have become cloudy from sun exposure. Its basic structure remains solid, according to the owner.
The owner’s father, who uses the truck more often, describes it as an essential tool for maintaining the property. A Kandi electric UTV now handles some smaller chores, but the mini-truck remains the preferred vehicle for bulky loads and long branches. A full charge costs a little over a dollar in electricity, and the family reports little maintenance over the years.
The truck’s 6 kWh battery is usually charged every couple of weeks, but its range and battery degradation have not been measured. It has no proper odometer, so the owner cannot report how far it has travelled. The family says range has not been an issue for their work around the property, but it could be different for someone relying on the vehicle for longer daily journeys.
After five years of use, the owner says there is no clear sign the truck is nearing the end of its working life. His father believes it could last another five to ten years, though that remains uncertain.
Sources: Electrek.