Deuce Games

[rwoods]

I'm looking for ideas for some simple and safe activities to do with a M35A3. I have about two dozen middle age guys and teenage boys coming over Sunday to experience driving a deuce. The instructor will be an active Tennessee NG Sergeant First Class with instructor certification. He will run them through the basics including an offroad run for a mile or so through an open field with hills. We also will have a short challenge course weaving through the woods, a small mud pit with a few small whoop-da-dohs, a log or two to drive over and possibly a "mine field" of balloons or watermelons to maneuver through. There will be no out of the cab passengers. I have several logs and round bales of hay that could be used for other activities as well as a rented tracked Bobcat to dig some holes and arrange obstacles. I can also borrow a paintball gun or two. Events must be fairly short in duration or spectator friendly to keep the crowd from getting bored. A timed event of some sort would be great so long as it is safe. The truck will likely be driven by some of these guys in future for church work so I'm not interested in anything that may inspire a false sense of confidence in the driver or damage the truck. The goal is to have fun and introduce some of the men to driving the deuce so we can select some for further training. I'm also not interested in any winch activities as I consider this too dangerous for a novice and for a spectator activity. Thanks in advance for your ideas.

On behalf of all the non-veteran members of SS, I give our heart-felt thanks to each veteran who has serve us and helped secure and maintain our freedom. Please enjoy the Fourth, we'll be saluting and thanking God for you.

Ron Woods

 

[flmudder]

sounds great , how about some exercises while backing up , with a ground guide . i e have them back up into some cones etc. have fun and stay safe This is a great idea

 

[Haven alot of fun]

You need to have a water ballon launcher. Let them lauch the ballons at the truck. Kinda like if some one was throwing garnads at it. Here a like to what launcher I'am talking about.
water balloon launcher slingshot water balloon slingshot, blow guns, gags, pranks, flasks, rubber band guns, funny tshirts - FratToys.com
Have fun get wet stay safe.

 

[Speddmon]

On behalf of all the non-veteran members of SS, I give our heart-felt thanks to each veteran who has serve us and helped secure and maintain our freedom. Please enjoy the Fourth, we'll be saluting and thanking God for you.

I don't have any ideas for your activities, but I wholeheartedly agree with your last statement. It's those brave men and women who make it possible for us non military guys and gals to enjoy this great hobby. I hope everybody has a wonderful and safe Independence Day!!!!

 

[wreckerman893]

It sounds like you have a pretty good handle on what to do.......military units often had drivers "rodeos" where drivers could show off their skills.

Your SFC might want to give a short Preventitive Maintainence Checks and Services (PMCS) class to acquaint the prospective operators on how to check oil and other fluids, operation of all controls (turn siginals, on off and fuel shut off switches, etc.). Also proper care and inflation of tires is a good idea with military equipment.
Sounds like a good time will be had by all.

 

[cattlerepairman]

One good exercise is to have a corner element made of two or four sheets of plywood (standing up). Mark a short length of lane and put the "corner" at the end, simulating a building, loading dock etc.

The objective is to back the truck into the "corner" as closely as one dares without hitting the plywood. It shows how aware you are of the length of your vehicle and also whether you remember that there is stuff sticking out at the rear of your truck that you cannot see in the mirrors.

Have a guy record the measurement from either side and add them together for total distance.

 

[ChrisW72971]

tug of war

 

[WillWagner]

Tire changing. How to properly and safely raise, support the truck, remove the spare, check the inflation, R&I the spare and stow the "flat". It would suck to get out on the road and not know how to do that. See attached pic. That happened in the middle of the desert. There were 2 or 3 flats that trip, and there have been flats on about every trip since. I got one in Tehachapi!

 

[Armada]

How about an exercise in vehicle cleanliness? With a couple hoses, some brushes, soap, buckets, and a group of guys, that baby will be clean in no time!

 

[powerhouseduece]

Tire changing. How to properly and safely raise, support the truck, remove the spare, check the inflation, R&I the spare and stow the "flat". It would suck to get out on the road and not know how to do that. See attached pic. That happened in the middle of the desert. There were 2 or 3 flats that trip, and there have been flats on about every trip since. I got one in Tehachapi!

NASCAR pit crew challange? that would be funny, 2 groups, 2 trucks and see who can change a inner tire the fastest. Not just by a few pumps of the jack but they have to put it on a block before they can pull the tires.

 

[rwoods]

Thanks for all the replies. Here are some photos. 1 - LISTEN UP! (SFC A. Castle gives an orientation to the M35A3); 2 - LET'S GO. (headed out through the woods); 3 - KEEP IT BETWEEN THE FLAGS (Learning to follow instructions); 4 - OPEN FIELDS AHEAD. (Cross-country begins); 5 - FRESH AIR! (Headed home with cross ventilation). More to come. R Woods

 

[ChrisW72971]

Is that swampers on that thing?? What size tires are they?? Did you need special rims?? Theres no longer 2 side by side in the rears??
Sorry newb here but will be getting a Deuce hopefully and I like them tires

 

[rwoods]

More photos. 6 - WHY ARE WE STOPPING HERE? (Engage front axle and low range); 7 - NOW I SEE. (Approaching the first obstacle); 8 - SARGE, ARE YOU SURE WE'LL MAKE IT? (Sarge should know, he dug the hole); 9 - WHEELIE? (You got no proof); 10 - HOW ABOUT ME? (Still no proof); 11 - RIDES LIKE A CADILLAC! (Some actually follow instructions); 12- LIKE FATHER LIKE SON (SFC Castle and son, Chris); 13 - CLASS OF 09 (They all passed); 14 - HI, MOM. (They all grow up too quickly).

Lot of fun had by all. No damage either, although first driver tried to remove winch reservoir by running too fast into first obstacle.

R. Woods

 

[airmech3839]

how bout use paint ball and have them drive course while passenger tries to take out targets ! timed and on precision. sounds like a hoot! Could be a blast! nother good one would be use water ballons and have passenger try and hit inside trash cans along course! time it and award prizes. make some cheap plauqes and give away 1st, 2nd and 3rd place!

Then post pics!!

 

[airmech3839]

Didnt look at second page before reply. sorry. Looked like fun had by all!

 

[rwoods]

Chris, you can't get much newer than me. I got this in late May. The tires are standard issue Michelin 14.5 R 20's. The rims are also standard A3 rims which are 11" x 20". These tires are in the 'super single' family which just means a single tire designed to replace dual tires. My pictures may have thrown you off. I had to replace all of the tires except the spare. After changing one, I decided to let the local Farmer's Coop do the rest. That is why the stone shields are not on the wheels and the rear CTIS plumbing is not installed (as well as why the tires are all mounted directionally - standard NG practice seems to be to mount all tires as if they are going on the right side which means the left side tires are actually mounted in a reverse direction). I hope to get it all back together soon so I can get it on the highway (the wheels each have a counterweight bolted to them to balance the plumbing and the stone shields so right now none of my wheels are even close to being balanced. Probably more information than you wanted. Thanks for your interest. R Woods

 

[rwoods]

Airmech, that sure would be fun. But SFC Castle put in a lot of seat time just running each one of these guys through his course and I didn't want to wear him out. He actually had one young man who had never driven a car or truck - not many can say their first drive was in a deuce.

I'm sure we'll have a another go at it. Several have already inquired about taking it to a local paintball facility.

R Woods

 

[Flea]

Hey, just a heads up, there's a couple of us in Kingsport... perhaps we can get an East TN rally going soon!