One of the changes I've made to the truck was installing a 10,000lb winch. I purchased the winch complete off e-bay from a seller in the mid-west. The frame had been torch cut right behind the radiator, and I received it complete from the frame ends forward, along with the bumper, extensions, PTO, driveshaft, and linkage. The hardware holding the bumper to the extensions and supports were badly rusted, requiring a can of PB Blaster, a sledge hammer, drift punch, and a lot of patience to get the bolts removed. Got everything sand blasted and primed, then picked up new hardware from Fastenal. It took almost a year to rebuild the winch and PTO, (learned a lot, TMs) the drive shaft and u-joints were new.....go figure. When it came to installing the PTO, I did some digging in the Steel Soldiers archives on shimming the PTO. Glad I did!! Got new data plates from Big Mikes, and getting the cable spooled on wasn't as difficult as I anticipated. Last was a good quality canvas winch cover from Steel Soldiers member, John Tennis (JATONKA). Now out on the highway I get tired of trying to hold a flashlight to read a map. It's not real safe, and sometimes the flashlight battery is dead. So I purchased a APC interior light from CARNAC several years ago when he was at the April meet at Tower Park. I opened it up, replaced both bulbs, cleaned it up, and gave it a coat of OD. All you need is four 7/8 hose clamps to attach to the light, and clamp it to the soft top rails, and wire it up. Just reach up and turn it on, it's easy to use. (See pic) You can also install a dimmer switch, it makes the light more convenient to use. You can get them at a hardware store. I don't know how to install the lights if you have a hard top, but I'm sure there is a way to do it. I rebuilt the front end on my truck a couple years ago, and when it came to shocks, I installed Monroe Gas Shocks. One of our MVCC members used them on his Deuce and liked them. They make highway expansion cracks, potholes, and railroad crossings a little more pleasant than with the stock shocks. I installed a pair of Lollipop lights on the front to make my lane changes safer, and they do. They were the last purchase I made from Saturn Surplus before they closed. I also added a front bumper mount for my tow bar using axle clamps. Due to physical limitations, I can no longer remove and return the tow bar to it's place in the truck bed. Mounted up front, it's convenient, easier for me to use, and doesn't require modification of any kind, to any of the parts used. The markings on the front bumper. (6A FO/TMP-9) Sixth US Army-Fort Ord/Transportation Motor Pool-Truck 9. Old memories. My Brother did his basic at Fort Ord in 1964.
