When a cheap vehicle arrives from overseas, the internet usually has opinions. Five years ago, one man paid $2,000 for a Chinese electric mini truck and had it shipped to the United States. Many commenters predicted it would fall apart almost right away.
Now Mike, who posts as @EbikeSchool, has gone back to see how that electric mini truck has aged. It has spent those years as the work truck on his parents’ homestead in Florida. So he asked a simple question: were the critics right?
Five Years Of Real Work
The truck has done far more than sit in a garage. According to Mike, it hauls mulch, sand and fill dirt, and its hydraulic dump bed works like a small dump truck. His dad also uses it for trash runs and as an irrigation truck, with a water bladder in the bed during dry spells.
Early on, the pair added a tow hitch, since the truck did not come with one. They also swapped in softer springs because the stock suspension felt rock hard. As a result, it rides better, although he now keeps loads to roughly 400 or 500 pounds. They also fitted knobby mud tires, which rub a little at full lock.
What Still Works And What Doesn’t
Most of the basics still work. The power locks, fast power windows and lights all function, and the air conditioning still blows cold. In fact, a thermal camera showed the vent air at about 55 degrees.
Still, five years in Florida have left marks. The wiper now sweeps a shorter arc, and the tail-light lenses have fogged where the truck sticks out from under its shed roof. Meanwhile, rust has started where the painted bed liner chipped. A trim panel also worked loose, and the driver’s seat shows some tears.
Then there is the rearview mirror, which keeps falling off.
“We just have had to keep gluing it back on.”
Another quirk is the dash. It only has a trip meter, so he has no idea how many miles the truck has covered. He also says it probably is not street legal, so they rarely take it on the road.
Dad’s Verdict On The Electric Mini Truck
Because the truck lives on his property, Mike’s father has the most seat time. He remembers commenters saying it would not last a month or would rust away quickly.
“Here we are, believe it or not, 5 years later.”
According to him, it still performs almost exactly as it did on day one, and in some ways better thanks to the upgrades. He also says it has almost no rust and costs very little to run, at a little over a dollar per charge.
“The AC still works after 5 years and actually blows very cold.”
Lessons For Anyone Eyeing A Cheap Import
Here is our take for anyone tempted by a bargain work vehicle:
- Check local rules first. A truck that is fine on private land may not be legal on the street.
- Plan on upgrades such as a hitch, springs or tires to fit the work you need.
- Store it under cover if you can. Sun and rain age plastics and lenses quickly.
- Touch up chipped paint and bed liners early, before rust takes hold.
- Keep a log of use, especially if the vehicle has no odometer.
Where Things Stand
After five years, the truck has some wear and tear, but Mike says the bones are still good. His father sees no reason it cannot go another five or ten years.
For now, it remains the family’s first choice for hauling branches, dirt and anything bulky around the property. Whether it looks the same five years from now, Mike says, will take another video to answer.
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