• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

M49 or M50 in Covington, GA?

rubicon_in_ga

Member
40
0
6
Location
Covington, GA
Anybody seen this bright schoolbus yellow one for sale on Brown Bridge Rd in Covington, GA? I took a look at it, but seeing as I'm still learning, I'm not sure what problem areas to look for. Some obvious things I noticed were the 'top' looks more like a color faded white tarp that was thrown over the cab, the exhaust seems to have been rerouted underneath the truck and exited above the rear wheels, and ALOT of visible rust (not sure if surface or rust-through). They want $2800 for it now (down from $3500 a month ago) but I have no idea what problem areas to look for. I'd love to pick it up if it was worth the effort to fix up, but at that price, it's got me worried. Either way, it'll be a good couple or three months before i'd have the cash anyway. Figured I'd look this one over closely in the mean time and use it as a learning experience on how to spot problems on a Deuce for sale.
 

gunboy1656

Active member
3,587
22
38
Location
Beaver Falls, PA
Stop and take a more thorough look at it and get us pics.

The exhaust nay not have been rerouted, but could belong to the early family of trucks.

Easy way to tell the difference in trucks is look at the tank, if it has hose holders on the side, it is the M49.
 

rubicon_in_ga

Member
40
0
6
Location
Covington, GA
Got a good look today. The data plate is nearly un-readable, but the for sale sign on it said it's a 1962 Whites, and the gas tank has a big sticker above it reading 'gasoline.' Looks like the exhaust is stock cause there's no obvious place for a stack to exit the passenger side. Tires look good, the tank has a large 1, 2, 3, 4 stickered along the top, and there's ALOT more than surface rust. Passenger side under the door has alot of rust through. Looks like somebody started to fix up all the rust, cause the truck is schoolbus yellow with the exception that nearly every rust spot has a reddish primer looking paint surrounding it. I assume some kind of rust-stop. Gonna take alot more than rust-stopper to fix the sheet metal problems. He's only asking $2800 for it, down from $3500 a month ago, but being that I'm interested in buying my 'first' deuce, I want something I can learn as I play and drive, not fix up from the ground up. If I had some body work/patching/welding/painting experience I might jump on it, but I don't, so I'm gonna have to pass. I'd rather have a later model multifuel anyways. I did notice what looked like some kind of rebuild plaquard on the passenger side dash that (barely readable) looked like it had the date 1985 on it though. It doesn't have any hose holders either, yet there's a Flammable sticker on the front bumper. I'm guessing this one was used as a construction refueling truck at some point post-military and it doesn't look to be very well maintained. Ah well. Maybe somebody can give her a good home, I just fear I wouldn't be able to give her the love she needs.
 

clinto

Moderator, wonderful human being & practicing Deuc
Staff member
Administrator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
Supporting Vendor
12,596
1,129
113
Location
Athens, Ga.
You would be MUCH better served either buying a truck from GL (after you do a LOT of reading and research) or a serviced truck from a private seller.

I've seen a few water/fuel trucks that had been used to service equipment at construction sites and they were universally trashed. You could put it "back together" but it would be a steep learning curve.

Plus, most guys want a cargo truck or a shop van-not much use for a tanker unless you are a collector who likes having an unusual variant of the M44 series.

This article (see attachment) will probably help you along.
 

Attachments

Makincold

Member
317
0
16
Location
Mansfield, GA
I drove by that truck a few months ago (when it was still $3500) and thought how rough it looked even from the road driving by. After going to the rally a few weeks ago and seeing a truck that was 10 times better WITH a winch for sale there for $2500 and seeing its condition you would be much better served by buying one from a SS member or GL.
That truck is NO WAY worth what they are asking unless you have some very specific need for it or want for it
Just my opinion after seeing it
 

wreckerman893

Possum Connoisseur
15,626
2,039
113
Location
Akenback acres near Gadsden, AL
I traded for a tanker a few years ago that had major rust issues......I ended up scrapping it out and recovering my money (the tank on mine was stainless steel).

You can't gold plate a turd.

Just my opinion for what it is worth.
 

rubicon_in_ga

Member
40
0
6
Location
Covington, GA
Thanks for all the advice guys! Yeah, I'm totally in agreement with you guys that this one should be passed up. I just saw the $2800 price tag and thought "Really?? A 62 gasser M49? That's gotta be rare! But when I took a close look and saw just how extensive the rust damage was, I knew I was going to pass. I'm taking my time saving up and learning more about what I'm getting into, so there's no need for me to rush into a bad purchase. I can take my time and do that! LMAO

Most of the decent deuces I see for sale online are in the $4000+ range, which is about what I'd expect to pay, so anything less than that, I'm very suspicious of problems. However, i have gotten several leads on some in the $2500-$3500 range from people just looking to sell one of their toys, so I'm gonna keep up on the classifieds and keep reading and learning. :) Got a few months and I'll be ready. My Jeep gets paid off next month (my Christmas present to myself!) so I'll be able to save for my next toy!

Now if I could just find an original M275..... ;-) lol
 

hndrsonj

Senior Chief/Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
7,584
363
83
Location
Cheyenne, WY
Notice he didn't deny it will be unnecessarily messed up at some point if it stays there long enough!:beer:
 

rubicon_in_ga

Member
40
0
6
Location
Covington, GA
LMAO Ya'll ain't right! lol Na, I'm looking for my first one to be a runner/driver that I can fix as it breaks, not fix cause it's already broke. LOL Besides, I'm still broke! LOL
 

hndrsonj

Senior Chief/Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
7,584
363
83
Location
Cheyenne, WY
All you have to say to Wreckerman is Lacquer thinner!:driver:Now we just need a driving smilie with the MV leaking everywhere!!!!
 

rubicon_in_ga

Member
40
0
6
Location
Covington, GA
FE, I haven't seen that truck in quite a while. Not sure if somebody bought it or if he took it off the market and moved it back behind the house. The guy has a gate across his driveway with trees lining the fence, so even though the house is near the road, the only thing you can see from the street is directly into his carport. Even for the price he was asking, I doubt seriously an enthusiast bought it, since it was a gasser/tanker and had alot of obvious rustthrough all over the truck. Just didn't appear to be a good candidate for a restoration or anything other than a construction site water sprayer or fueling truck until the end of it's lifespan.
 
Top