Deuce Drop sides

[Recovry4x4]

I'm not a huge fan of the dropside. They are rattletraps for sure. I have one, will probably keep it as when you need it there just isn't a way around it but I do miss the rigidity of my fixed side bed.

 

[firefox]

What if you took a BF piece of angle and bolted it to the bed and the side. It would be a lot easier
to unbolt the angle then to swap the bed.
Also, in a lot of cases, you would only have to unbolt the side.
Bruce

 

[Ord22]

very covenient and handy for loading and unloading.

 

[unclemikey]

For my deuce project, I would have given anything to have had a drop side! Have even considered a change over some time in the future, who knows. I think they are cool, but did not know about the tailgate issue. Still, I could live with that.

 

[m16ty]

As a dropside owner, I will say this - They are kind of a pain if you don't use or need them. The tailgate closure is not simple like the non dropside, and if there are people sitting on your troop seats, it can be very difficult to close the tailgate sometimes.

No argument from me about the tailgate latches. They are alot more aggravating than the standard bed.

I have the troop seat problem also but I thought it was because I don't have the braces that go on the rear of the troop seats? Do you have the braces?

 

[Avn-Tech]

Group,

My understanding is the Air Force first addopted the drop side, and did not need the winch. The Air Force seldom does cross country trecks on a normal bassis (like we did when I was in the Army).

On the later M35A3, I see most have drop sides after the rebuild. Now all I need is the $10K + to upgrade.

I also have an M35A2C, drop bed and love it. Mine did not come with a winch, but I now have a winch setup to put on when I get time.

Laterrrrr
Avn-Tech

 

[Castle Bravo]

No argument from me about the tailgate latches. They are alot more aggravating than the standard bed.

I have the troop seat problem also but I thought it was because I don't have the braces that go on the rear of the troop seats? Do you have the braces?

I do. Maybe they aren't adjusted right.

 

[gimpyrobb]

As a dropside owner, I will say this - They are kind of a pain if you don't use or need them. The tailgate closure is not simple like the non dropside, and if there are people sitting on your troop seats, it can be very difficult to close the tailgate sometimes.

I've seen a bunch of guys have their tailgates flop open from the standard bed hooks bouncing out. I know a few guys that put the drop side latches on a regular truck to avoid this.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Me dropside came out of TN ant it had hooks on the tailgate chains instead of the T-Bolts. A good friend provided me with a set of T-Bolts that stay in the tool box for those times when they are needed.

 

[kwiksilver]

I'm going to make a cam lock t-bolt for mine. chain is a pain in the a$$ too. If I bob mine I will offer up the drop side for a non drop. No sense in cutting up a drop side for a bob job. Sounds like some good trading material for a spring set

 

[clinto]

..

 

[FABRIC8TOR]

So, what are the drop side beds worth?
anyone know.
I have a 6x6 here that has one on it
wouldnt take much to part it out.

 

[steelandcanvas]

The tailgate closure is not simple like the non dropside, and if there are people sitting on your troop seats, it can be very difficult to close the tailgate sometimes.

Do you have the required support braces on both sides? Without the braces, the sides tend to lean out, making closing of the tailgate difficult if not impossible.

 

[kwiksilver]

Here's a pic with the sides dropped, can't drive with the sides down due to them rubbing the tires. With the sides down it makes it handy to load with a fork truck.

Mine has rubber bumpers that come off the mud flap brackets to keep the sides off the tires.

 

[Katahdin]

Group,

My understanding is the Air Force first addopted the drop side, and did not need the winch. The Air Force seldom does cross country trecks on a normal bassis (like we did when I was in the Army).

Laterrrrr
Avn-Tech

FYI, here's a 1969 Army M35A2 Dropside in Vietnam circa 1970, so they were at least making them back then. Mr. Doyle did the registration number check in another thread.

 

[pwrwagonfire]

Theres a couple local FDs that have dropside deuces, one of them is a w/w model. The dropside works out really good for them, because they can lower it and take out the fold-a-tank relatively easy

 

[kwiksilver]

FYI, here's a 1969 Army M35A2 Dropside in Vietnam circa 1970, so they were at least making them back then. Mr. Doyle did the registration number check in another thread.

Hijack on... is there a picture thread with stuff like this? hijack off...

 

[gimpyrobb]

Hijack on... is there a picture thread with stuff like this? hijack off...

This is your best bet:

Steel Soldiers :: Military Vehicles Supersite

 

[kwiksilver]

This is your best bet:

Steel Soldiers :: Military Vehicles Supersite

Let me rephrase... vintage military pics.

 

[swampzr2]

Thanks for all the pics of the drop sides Deuce. I will get great use out of it!!!