71DeuceAK
Well-known member
- 1,493
- 346
- 83
- Location
- Fairbanks, Alaska
Another newbie to the Deuce and 5-ton hobby here. Got "hooked" about six months ago, which is kind of funny and ironic since I've been around Deuces in the past (Rode in one once) and thought absolutely nothing of them at that time. Been 'Lurking' here for about a week and a half, and joined a few days ago.
Spent most of my childhood in Atascadero, CA. Then my life slowly evolved to spending more and more time in southeast Alaska (Sitka area mostly). I've seen several other members here are from California and Alaska; that's interesting to me to say the least.
In about a year I MIGHT, emphasis on MIGHT, be ending up with a 1971 Deuce and a Half. Ah, the things you "discover" when talking to people you've known for years already. Story behind it is somewhat amusing. (to me anyway). Someone I know (who is an avid by-the-book yardsaler and collector of just about anything useful, just like I am) was going through the newspaper classifieds about five years ago and sees an ad for a truck for 600 bucks. For 600, you'd think a used pickup, right? He did. No pictures, no phone number, just a street address. Goes out there and it turns out to NOT be a pickup at all. I remember commenting "I bet the look on your face was priceless!". Apparently he didn't let on that he was surprised and bought it thinking it'd be something to re-sell. New tires, new bed (well all new 5 years ago now but never really used), but I'm told the muffler is wrapped in a piece of flashing. Apparently the guy had one too many trucks for his company (I think it was used for hauling lumber, once!) Anyway, he had it for sale for a grand, then the 600 he got it for, and still has had absolutely no interest. (And this has been going on for about 5 years now). Had it on Craigslist for months, posted ads in all the organic-food places in Port Townsend, WA (Where it currently sits), and still no interest. Soooo...long story short, I MIGHT be ending up with it more or less given to me in a year from now. (Currently writing as of June 2015).
Funny thing is, in the conversation leading up to this I was joking about how much firewood, etc. I'd be trying to fit in the trunk/backseat/passenger seat of a small Sedan. I mentioned, warning that it was one of my many wildly bizarre ideas that may never fly in the real world, that I'd like to someday own a Deuce. And it went from there.
So I may end up with it in a year...we'll see. I'll need at least that long to prepare; I don't even have my driving instruction permit and have never even gotten behind the wheel of a car although that will hopefully change in the next few weeks.
IF this actually pans out I may have less sank into this, at least initially, than a car. (And I can burn alternative fuel). It's more or less being given to me if it happens. But of course there's practicality reality checks:
-Getting it (initially) from Port Townsend, WA to Sitka, AK, and, later, Fairbanks, AK: to drive the whole way or ship? From PT to Sitka I'd probably take the ferry from Bellingham either way. From the reading I've done, the 'recovery' road trip can either be a walk in the park or a total disaster. I've read stories of both.
-Insurance...how well does that go? Done a little reading on that but I imagine it's somewhat interesting.
-And, I might add, it would likely be a daily driver; but it would be a very practical one IMO with the hauling capacity, multifuel, cold-starting (It'll possibly have to endure 4 years of winters in Fairbanks, Alaska!) I'm sure I'm doing it somewhat strangely by jumping in with one as a first/only/daily driver vehicle, bur that hasn't scared me off (yet).
I'm probably moving to Fairbanks, AK for 4 years of college. I'd like to live off-campus. Cheapest rent in that city is about 400 a month for a "Dry Cabin", with no indoor plumbing and (probably) wood heat. Hauling a month's worth of firewood at a time would be really nice. Same for if I end up moving every six months, or helping friends move, and/or the perfect yardsale vehicle.
Things I could use advice on, though, are: (And I know I can search around on the site too):
-Block heater (Every car up there has an extension cord sticking out of the radiator grille, they're essential in the winter at -40F)
-Alternative fuels at such cold temperatures...or any fuel for that matter...the current owner and I were thinking I'd need to heat it somehow, especially if it was used motor oil or used vegetable oil
-Speaking of alternative fuels: Anyone have experience with successfully getting used oil from fast-food places? I'm thinking that could be a never-ending source. How about oil/transmission shops?
-And cold-weather operation, period: I bet those cabs would never get above freezing even with the added heater option in those temps.
-And how well do batteries do in terms of cranking amps at those temps?
And another biggie: I'd like to move back to California eventually and my understanding from reading here on SS is that California has some very strict emission laws; that by 2015 (now) any commercial trucks over a certain weight (forget exactly what at the moment) had to replace their engines with 2010-or-newer approved models. So goodbye multifuel option, right? How are they with driving into the state and then back out in less than, say, 90 days if it's not registered in California. Also, how about registering a Deuce for personal, drive-to-school-and-work-and-run-errands type use...would that get around the emission laws, especially in California?
Thanks in advance for any and all advice/suggestions; I'm a total newbie to this but have already learned a lot from this site and it's resources (TMs, etc).
Spent most of my childhood in Atascadero, CA. Then my life slowly evolved to spending more and more time in southeast Alaska (Sitka area mostly). I've seen several other members here are from California and Alaska; that's interesting to me to say the least.
In about a year I MIGHT, emphasis on MIGHT, be ending up with a 1971 Deuce and a Half. Ah, the things you "discover" when talking to people you've known for years already. Story behind it is somewhat amusing. (to me anyway). Someone I know (who is an avid by-the-book yardsaler and collector of just about anything useful, just like I am) was going through the newspaper classifieds about five years ago and sees an ad for a truck for 600 bucks. For 600, you'd think a used pickup, right? He did. No pictures, no phone number, just a street address. Goes out there and it turns out to NOT be a pickup at all. I remember commenting "I bet the look on your face was priceless!". Apparently he didn't let on that he was surprised and bought it thinking it'd be something to re-sell. New tires, new bed (well all new 5 years ago now but never really used), but I'm told the muffler is wrapped in a piece of flashing. Apparently the guy had one too many trucks for his company (I think it was used for hauling lumber, once!) Anyway, he had it for sale for a grand, then the 600 he got it for, and still has had absolutely no interest. (And this has been going on for about 5 years now). Had it on Craigslist for months, posted ads in all the organic-food places in Port Townsend, WA (Where it currently sits), and still no interest. Soooo...long story short, I MIGHT be ending up with it more or less given to me in a year from now. (Currently writing as of June 2015).
Funny thing is, in the conversation leading up to this I was joking about how much firewood, etc. I'd be trying to fit in the trunk/backseat/passenger seat of a small Sedan. I mentioned, warning that it was one of my many wildly bizarre ideas that may never fly in the real world, that I'd like to someday own a Deuce. And it went from there.
So I may end up with it in a year...we'll see. I'll need at least that long to prepare; I don't even have my driving instruction permit and have never even gotten behind the wheel of a car although that will hopefully change in the next few weeks.
IF this actually pans out I may have less sank into this, at least initially, than a car. (And I can burn alternative fuel). It's more or less being given to me if it happens. But of course there's practicality reality checks:
-Getting it (initially) from Port Townsend, WA to Sitka, AK, and, later, Fairbanks, AK: to drive the whole way or ship? From PT to Sitka I'd probably take the ferry from Bellingham either way. From the reading I've done, the 'recovery' road trip can either be a walk in the park or a total disaster. I've read stories of both.
-Insurance...how well does that go? Done a little reading on that but I imagine it's somewhat interesting.
-And, I might add, it would likely be a daily driver; but it would be a very practical one IMO with the hauling capacity, multifuel, cold-starting (It'll possibly have to endure 4 years of winters in Fairbanks, Alaska!) I'm sure I'm doing it somewhat strangely by jumping in with one as a first/only/daily driver vehicle, bur that hasn't scared me off (yet).
I'm probably moving to Fairbanks, AK for 4 years of college. I'd like to live off-campus. Cheapest rent in that city is about 400 a month for a "Dry Cabin", with no indoor plumbing and (probably) wood heat. Hauling a month's worth of firewood at a time would be really nice. Same for if I end up moving every six months, or helping friends move, and/or the perfect yardsale vehicle.
Things I could use advice on, though, are: (And I know I can search around on the site too):
-Block heater (Every car up there has an extension cord sticking out of the radiator grille, they're essential in the winter at -40F)
-Alternative fuels at such cold temperatures...or any fuel for that matter...the current owner and I were thinking I'd need to heat it somehow, especially if it was used motor oil or used vegetable oil
-Speaking of alternative fuels: Anyone have experience with successfully getting used oil from fast-food places? I'm thinking that could be a never-ending source. How about oil/transmission shops?
-And cold-weather operation, period: I bet those cabs would never get above freezing even with the added heater option in those temps.
-And how well do batteries do in terms of cranking amps at those temps?
And another biggie: I'd like to move back to California eventually and my understanding from reading here on SS is that California has some very strict emission laws; that by 2015 (now) any commercial trucks over a certain weight (forget exactly what at the moment) had to replace their engines with 2010-or-newer approved models. So goodbye multifuel option, right? How are they with driving into the state and then back out in less than, say, 90 days if it's not registered in California. Also, how about registering a Deuce for personal, drive-to-school-and-work-and-run-errands type use...would that get around the emission laws, especially in California?
Thanks in advance for any and all advice/suggestions; I'm a total newbie to this but have already learned a lot from this site and it's resources (TMs, etc).
