M35 "Duece and a Half"

[Robstar]

SO i finally had the pleasure(or displeasure depending on your experiences) to drive an M-35 Army truck. A "duece and a half" affectionately called.
Old Army guys will remember this monsters of the road and off-road. Some buddies of mine bought five of them at auction , so we had to drive them from Fort Sam Houston (San Antonio) to Houston, TX.
So we headed out in convoy for 300 miles at its top speed of 50 mph.
I tell you it took all my truck driving skills (I have driven 18 wheelers) to handle this beast.

Here is the green monster i drove. What an adventure!

[jim777]

Why did your buddies buy 5 of these?!

[Robstar]

They bought restore them repaint them and use them as promotional vehicles for events and advertising.
There is a large following of M-35 enthusiast. Who knew?
But also to refurbish and sell they bought them for about $900 a piece, so they go about 4 times that.
I think they will keep one for themselves.
Here in Houston(and along the coast)we get hurricanes so there is also a need for this kind of vehicles whenever we have to deal with flooding. We do volunteer rescue also
and this vehicles can go almost anywhere (full wheel drive) and can run on almost any kind of fuel.

[UV-7-BK]

Damn, what a beast!!!! Id love to have a go at driving one of those!!! What sort/size engine powers that behemoth?! You think chicks will dig it?!

[Robstar]

There are different versions but this particular truck has a turbo charged 6 (inline) cylinder multi-fuel engine. It can run on almost anything combustible from jet fuel to kerosene, gasoline,heating oil, and of course diesel. They are all wheel drive( front and rear axels can be engaged) and can go off-road like a champ. They weigh 13,000 pounds empty! Plus some have a 10,000 pound winch in the front bumper.
If anyone gets a chance i say try your hand at driving one. you will never forget it.
As far as chicks diggin them well... at least they can't ignore you when you pull up in one of these.

[UV-7-BK]

Is it right to assume the performance will be vary with the different types of fuel used?? Gotta try the jet fuel dude..... that would be interesting!!! Whats the max rpm? Are these the trucks that were on the t.v show called M.A.S.H?? that was a cool show too btw
You would feel like king of the road in that machine!!! dayum thats heavy too!!!!!!!
let us know how you go with the chicks
it would be really cool if you could put some more pics up too!!!