How to get it home?

[EMD567]

I went through all off the above when I went to retreve my 5 ton. I had a list of every major trucking company and towing concern from NJ to SC. I also had appox. 90 days from the end of bidding to EUC clearing to plan. With EUC's getting down to the 20-30 day period, you need to get on the ball. Since your recovery is so short, I would just get a towing company to hook it and move it.
For the steel soldier with the fried clutch- It was an honest mistake. Just ask my dad when I filled the crankcase with the water hose. At least my father caught that one before he started the engine. And the fact that Pontiac 389's were tough motors.

 

[Westech]

its not smart to jump in to a 14K pound anyting with out doing a little reading first. I reseacrhed my first buy for MONTHS. I got the paper tm's and just started reading. The only question I had when I got mine was what is that buzzing sound (low air buzzer) and off I went. Just because you got a good deal on it does not mean your ready.

 

[porkysplace]

Also don't believe the gauges the hour meter looks to have been replaced . 3943 miles in 47 hours equals a little over 83 miles an hour . 50 mph in a stock duece with stock tires is pushing the safe rpm range for a multi-fuel ,so you can count on at least the hour meter has been changed out .

 

[Warthog]

I'm optimistic about these trucks.. unless I see a rod through the side of the block I'm willing to PM it and drive it. I live 70 miles from my truck and plan to drive it home.

My first recovey of a Deuce (never driven one before) at Tinker AFB was only 7 miles from the shop. I was able to spend a couple of hours (newbie) doing a PM check and gettin aquianted to the truck.

The second one was 150 miles away and I took 1-ton with a gooseneck. Glad I did because the truck looked good but was in bad shape. It barely rolled onto the trailer. After a few weeks of fixing things it turned out to be a runner.

So if you are not prepared for the known it will bite you in the b*tt.

After 20 or so recoveries, I will bid on a truck site unseen. But I known my limits and plan accordingly.

I even bought a suburban site unseen in Las Vegas and flew out and drove it home. But I had backup plans in place.

 

[LanceRobson]

Welcome to the web site.

You can drive out of most any GL site. Many vehicles are towed into the lot so the delivering unit has a way to get the driver home. Some vehicles are towed in because they haven't been used in a long time and so they get towed rather than performing the necessary services and inspections to safely drive it. Of course some are towed in because they have a major defect.

If the vehicle is stored at an armory or maintenance shop (as opposed to a GL lot) you may be able to contact the unit and ask if they know anything about the truck.

If you use the SEARCH function you'll find a lot of info about inspecting and diving your truck home. You'll also see a lot of advice about what tools, fluids and parts to bring.

Start by looking under the FORUM tab at the top of the page you'll find an entire forum on pick up issues and questions.

If you do not have a lot of experience in operating and repairing a deuce you will want to take someone with you who does. After you read up on the existing threads on picking up your truck you may want to start a new thread with a title something like "Pick up help at XXXX wanted" and see who replies. Also, consider starting a thread looking for inspection help. Often an experienced member will be picking something up before you make your trip and they can get a good look at your truck for you. Something like "M35A2 inspection help at XXXX?" would work.

Good luck

Lance

 

[Countryboy21]

great info lance. will make sure i start that topic. see you out there!

 

[oddshot]

Sounds like they have given you a pretty rough time. They were all new at one time also.

My best advice is to have it hauled. If it's only 100 miles, it shouldn't cost as much as a wrecker call if something goes wrong while trying to drive it. Get it home where you can crawl all over it and understand how everything works before you get it out on the road.

+ 100 on the above. Many of the guys around here are VERY knowledgeable about MV's ... but dang few of them are "people friendly" when giving advise.

Asking for advice around here is like looking for diamonds thrown out in a field filled with cows ... You are most definitely gonna find them diamonds ... but you are gonna have to sift through a LOT of bulls**t to get them.

BTW ... already you got a TON of diamonds in this thread already ... some GREAT words of advise!



LEARN THESE RULES ... and ALWAYS do these first before asking a question around here ... or woe be onto you Nube!

1) READ THE MANUAL. Period. Don't come here as a nube asking how to turn the wipers on in a Deuce.

2) ALWAYS use the search function ... and do a search of the question you are going to ask, before you ask it. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS.

If you follow these two procedures ... and just post questions that you cannot find the answer to ... things will go a LOT easier for you around here.

Ask me how I know...



anyoldways ...

Are you a mechanic? ... A real died in the wool old timey wrench turner who can fix ANYTHING ... no matter what ... with spit and string?

Have you ANY experience with OLD vehicles? Buying them ... fixing them up and getting them moving SAFELY???

Do you have the tools ... and spare parts needed to get this UNKNOWN vehicle the 100 miles you need to?

Before you answer that ... a LONG time ago when I was a young and brash mechanic ... I bought a car carting 18" trailer to haul my race car.

When I picked it up ... it took me over 12 freakin' tortuous hours to move the dang thing SIXTY (!!!!) miles. A one axle, 18' trailer with nothing on it. I cannot even begin to catalog everything that went wrong on that trip.



If you have answered NO to any of the above questions ... and even if you answered yes to them ... I would FIRST consider towing it home.


This having been said ... I just bought a 68 American General ... site unseen some 667 miles from my home ... and I went up and drove it back.

I did pretty good ... I had a problem with a tire ... and a mystery problem that I got to take pictures of and post here .... BUT ... the whole thing went off with nothing major ... I even got pretty decent MPG's ... and MPH's.
Better than I though I would.



BUT ... I took the time to read the manuals ... I read a number of threads around here about recoveries (Recoveries sounds REAL dramatic don't it? Lissen up ... there's a REASON some of these crusty old farts use that word ... sometimes you gotta drag these things outta the woods kicking and screamin') ...

I carefully packed my chase car with the tools and gear that I thought I would need ... AND I SPENT HUNDREDS of hours with the previous owner ... trying to get the condition of the vehicle ... and gauge his knowledge and honesty. LUCKY for me the seller was a REAL GENTLEMAN and VERY knowledgeable about his trucks.

But also I have done this sort of thing with cranky old British (and other) sports cars ... hundreds of times over 40 years. I got 30 years swinging wrenches as a pro ... and some folks say I can take two pieces of cow flop ... smooch them together ... and drive the result away. That ain't no brag ... it ain't braggin' if you can do it ... and I've done it.


BUT ... I got "zero hours" doing that with a Deuce.

The guys around here busted my ba**s REAL GOOD before I started out. They made me dig in HARD ... and think the wole thing through ... At one point I almost considered having it towed.

This is a LOT of weight ... and you are moving it over public roads. If you squash somebody with this thing .... you make EVERYBODY ON THIS WEBSITE ... indeed ... every MV owner in America look bad.

PLEASE< PLEASE< PLEASE consider the advise I gave you in this (VERY) long post.

And consider the advice you are getting from these guys ... their methods maybe a bit *harsh* but they are REALLY lookin' out for YOU.

Keep your head in the game. Think ... then think again.

If you REALLY want to drive it home ... you better go out to look it over first ... then go home think it over ... pack for the trip ... learn every thing you can ... and do it.

Otherwise ... tow it home.

sorry for the long post ... but this IS important!

oddshot

 

[Countryboy21]

i am sold it is being towed home!

 

[nk14zp]

i am sold it is being towed home!

Good choice.

 

[wreckerman893]

We old timers have a tendency to get cross when we get a post like this.......you have not done anything one or more of us haven't done.....we just don't remember it.

This does beg the question "how much research did you do before you jumped in with both feet?"

There are lots of members in FL that would be glad to give you assistance in many ways. If there is one close to you that has a deuce see if he will give you the "nickle tour" and show you the ropes.

As stated above you have some breathing room till your EUC clears.

Have you filled your EUC forms correctly and sent them in (fax or email)?
You have to send a copy of your drivers license (this can be a bear since it is hard to get a good color copy). It is best to fax or email it. Do not dawdle on doing this....it may be a long process if you have issues that have to be corrected on the forms. Aways reference the Event and Lot number when you send them something.....they get a lot of stuff everyday and if they don't know where it goes it prob ends up in the "round file".

Make sure you watch your GL account under "Check Your EUC Status". It is on you to do the follow up and make sure your account stays up to date. When you see "EUC sent to Battlecreek" you know that everything is good at GL in AZ. If the EUC hasn't cleared in four weeks keep an eye on it....after six weeks start making inquiries. The squeeky wheel gets the grease.

If the sale is voided because you missed something you will lose the truck and some money. Your account will be locked until GL is happy again.....they don't care if you are happy. They have a monopoly and they know it.

The best way to communicate with GL is with the on line chat.....trying to get someone on the phone is an exercise in frustration. Most of the girls on the chat line will work hard to fix your problem....LISTEN to them...they are the first line of defense and the firewall between you and the powers that be in Phoenix. DO NOT contact them with an attitude...be nice and they will help.

If the truck is at a manned site it should be easy to arrange a visit to look at your prize. If it is unmanned you will have to coodinate with the GL office that manages the site and meet a rep there. This will usually be on their time not yours. They may only visit the lot once or twice a month.

They will limit what repairs they will let you do on the lot.....anything concerning fluids makes them paranoid.....even a small spill on a military installation will cause you grief.

As for getting it home this are the options I always look at:

(1) Have it picked up and delivered to your door. You have to send the shipper a Pick Up Authorization and a copy of your Paid Invoice. If the GL rep can't or won't help the shipper get the truck on a trailer you may be screwed and have to pay for an attempted pick up. I did this with my first deuce. GL helped load it and it was worth the money.

I used a "Hotshot Rig" to haul it. The guy did it cheap since he had a load going to the same place my truck was at.....instead of coming back empty he made some bucks to cover his fuel.

Since diesel is prob 3.50 a gallon down there you are going to put at lest 150 bucks in it to get it home....deduct that from your tow rate and the price gets better.

(2) If the vehicle will crank and run you can drive it out (assuming you know how to drive a deuce and can do a pre-trip). A deuce is not rocket science but it can be intimidating until you learn all its quirks and how everything works. Cranking it is not as simple as turning a key, especially if you have never done it.

Do you know how to turn on the lights.....believe it or not many people have called me from a recovery and told me they had no lights....the switch is tricky....turn it the wrong way and you are in "blackout drive"....no visible lights showing in the daylight.

If you drive it off you may need proof of insurance to get it out the gate......you should not drive it without insurance, even a short distance anyway.

(3) If you have a partner in crime with a deuce and a tow bar you can flat tow it home. Flat towing is not for the faint of heart or inexperienced. One mistake and you might see your truck passing you...not good (ask me how I know). You may have to drop the drive shafts to flat tow.....I generally don't for short tows (less than 200 miles).

Have fun and keep us posted.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Towing a truck home is really the best thing to do, I'm glad you chose that route. It is hard to imagine all the things that can go wrong with a deuce. I have found just about every single one as I drive mine a lot and they always happen while I'm 900 miles from home, its 2:00am and -16*. The guys on the site have always helped too. It is a learning curve for sure. Welcome to the site.

 

[oddshot]

i am sold it is being towed home!

You rarely regret a well considered decision.


As a fellow nube ... Its good having you aboard bud ... It gives the gold hands another target to shoot at!!!

Where do you live in Florida?

Do you have any pictures of the Deuce you bought? We LOVE Deuce Porno pictures around here.

And just like a newborn baby ... there just ain't no pictures of ugly Deuces.

What do you plan to do with her oncet you get it home?

Restore it ... a bob job ... Daily Driver (YES, its possible) ... or what?

Did you know that nubes have to buy beer for all hands on Friday nights? What day is it anyways ...

OH ... your in LUCK ... its FRIDAY ... and YOU'RE a nube!!!


I'll have a Bass Ale ... and keep them coming!

oddshot

 

[Pooch1128]

Great info and great history from the great Possum Connoisseur. His post should go into the "must read" file. Thanks

 

[sail-bum]

I will now through my 2 cents in. When you hire someone to tow your truck home, contract it or verify somehow that they are going to tow it! I contracted to have my 2 deuces trailered to me, only to find out about 10 minutes before arrival that the transporters decided to drive them to me! And do you think they did any PM before driving them 70 miles???? Be careful.

 

[Recovry4x4]

What area or city is it going to? Where are you? You could be 500 miles from me and still be in FL. You might be living across town from somebody who has all the stuff you need for a recovery but we just don't know!

 

[ryker725]

Hey I'm new too... I was pondering all of the same questions while considering bidding on the A3's in Pineville last week. In the end there were too many unknowns so I passed on the whole auction.. Instead, I chose to go see a private dealer. Someone who did all of the footwork, and had all of the paperwork ready to take to the DMV. This was a truck I could start and test drive. I paid more, but it was a wash because the tow would have cost $1480 to get it home, and then I still didn't know if it would run.. Some gave me a hard time because I paid $3,500 for a running deuce that I didn't have to do a thing to to drive it home. And right noy these same guys are probably in some GL lot with a truck load of batteries and tools trying to get some piece of scrap metal to start.. I may be at that point one day, but for now I am completely satisfied with my purchase..

Whit that said... Pay the $500 and have it delivered... Just my .02 cents..

Oh.. Nice looking truck!

 

[Countryboy21]

i work and live in Boca Raton, but play around at my family property in okeechobee 30 north of the lake were it will stored and worked on. 2320 - Trucks & Truck Tractors, Wheeled at Government Liquidation

 

[Warthog]

Did you ever think that your post would generate 4 pages of comments?

Oh by the way,WELCOME to Steelsoldiers

 

[Ruppster]

Hello everyone I just got my first military vehicle from GL. It a 1967 m35a2 with 4k miles and 47 hrs and a winch! But I don't know how to get it home. It's 3 hrs drive to see it and 109 miles to the house it will be staying at. I got a quote for havin it towed they said around 550$. Looking for advice on towig methods or try to drive it home Mabey. It said it was towed into the auction so do I have to tow it out?

Well, we now know where it's at. The next question is where's it going (north, south, or west)? This is why I hate it when people only put the state in their location as it makes it hard to tell where they need the help at. Anyhow, I have a truck with a pintle hitch and may be able to help tow it if you can get your hands on a tow bar.


EDIT: Sorry, just read through the rest of the responses and saw the Boca location.



Ruppster

 

[Warthog]

i work and live in Boca Raton, but play around at my family property in okeechobee 30 north of the lake were it will stored and worked on. 2320 - Trucks & Truck Tractors, Wheeled at Government Liquidation

Heading to Okeechobee area