- 1,651
- 1,665
- 113
- Location
- Nova Laboratories, WA
The name WeenieWagun came from a play on words from one of the other forums I frequent, WAguns. We would refer to one of the moderators Tahoe's as a glorified station wagun, word play on wagon....and when it came time for my projects, I found my screen name, and type of vehicle fit, so WeenieWagun was born....
The first WeenieWagun was the M1010. It was great because it got 14-16MPG, and fit in a normal parking spot.. I had it outfitted with a bed, cooking, TV, heat, and a head. Everything but a shower. Downsides were it was just too low, with an interior height of only about 5'8" or so, means no room for a shower, and I had to duck/twist my head any time I needed to move. Not gonna lie, I loved it. I had my ups and downs with it, and ended up selling it to my mom, whom I recently sold it for.... If the roof was a foot taller, I probably would have kept it.
![frontpassenger.jpg frontpassenger.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/604/604767-e776afbc6f2f898c9d7bbae07575e5ea.jpg)
Second WeenieWagun was an M934.. A behemoth.. a 3 axle, 10 tired, 6x6, pushing 40K lb, 5 ton, expansible van. As much as I loved it, it was sorely impractical. @ 5mpg, it just wasn't easy or cheap to take it places. The interior layout was compromised because while the sides fold out, they do so in a manner that makes it impossible to place anything on the walls, as the walls are the floor and ceiling when expanded. So not only does it block any way of mounting things, it blocks the sides with the windows and doors. I thought I fixed that by removing the folding portion, but then realized I just lost a bunch of space and hauling a 17' box with only 12' easily available due to side doors, and issues parking in urban areas with a 32' long 35klb chassis getting 5mpg just wasn't sustainable, so I sold it.
When I bought it....
![1234.jpg 1234.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/604/604768-37bb47d4313598de3aa2d0232ed85c00.jpg)
and just before I sold it...
![20190524_122030.jpg 20190524_122030.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/604/604769-739815277cfdb4300edb5837b4aab6fc.jpg)
Yes, that big boy. For size/context, it's towing a full size Chevy 1 1/4 ton pickup with a service body on it (M1031).
-------
So, the current plan..
I bought a deuce and a half.
![e5r6yg.jpeg e5r6yg.jpeg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/604/604770-ceaa2fbc1d3285f591407dffc87d5724.jpg)
There are some key advantages/disadvantages on choosing a deuce, but I think the positives outweigh the negative.
Big + is it's 22' long, which is the length of a full size 4 door pickup with 8' bed.. So, fitting in a parking spot isn't that hard.
It's multifuel, which means it'll run on pretty much anything you toss in the tank.
Bad, it's 60 years old, and will need to be gone through, stem to stern, to make sure it's ready to hit the road. Another potential downside is it's a stick, which I haven't driven in over 25 years...
Plan is to get a box (which I already have) and seal it up, and outfit it to live in. I've already started work on both the box, and the truck, and still compiling parts for both....
The first WeenieWagun was the M1010. It was great because it got 14-16MPG, and fit in a normal parking spot.. I had it outfitted with a bed, cooking, TV, heat, and a head. Everything but a shower. Downsides were it was just too low, with an interior height of only about 5'8" or so, means no room for a shower, and I had to duck/twist my head any time I needed to move. Not gonna lie, I loved it. I had my ups and downs with it, and ended up selling it to my mom, whom I recently sold it for.... If the roof was a foot taller, I probably would have kept it.
![frontpassenger.jpg frontpassenger.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/604/604767-e776afbc6f2f898c9d7bbae07575e5ea.jpg)
Second WeenieWagun was an M934.. A behemoth.. a 3 axle, 10 tired, 6x6, pushing 40K lb, 5 ton, expansible van. As much as I loved it, it was sorely impractical. @ 5mpg, it just wasn't easy or cheap to take it places. The interior layout was compromised because while the sides fold out, they do so in a manner that makes it impossible to place anything on the walls, as the walls are the floor and ceiling when expanded. So not only does it block any way of mounting things, it blocks the sides with the windows and doors. I thought I fixed that by removing the folding portion, but then realized I just lost a bunch of space and hauling a 17' box with only 12' easily available due to side doors, and issues parking in urban areas with a 32' long 35klb chassis getting 5mpg just wasn't sustainable, so I sold it.
When I bought it....
![1234.jpg 1234.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/604/604768-37bb47d4313598de3aa2d0232ed85c00.jpg)
and just before I sold it...
![20190524_122030.jpg 20190524_122030.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/604/604769-739815277cfdb4300edb5837b4aab6fc.jpg)
Yes, that big boy. For size/context, it's towing a full size Chevy 1 1/4 ton pickup with a service body on it (M1031).
-------
So, the current plan..
I bought a deuce and a half.
![e5r6yg.jpeg e5r6yg.jpeg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/604/604770-ceaa2fbc1d3285f591407dffc87d5724.jpg)
There are some key advantages/disadvantages on choosing a deuce, but I think the positives outweigh the negative.
Big + is it's 22' long, which is the length of a full size 4 door pickup with 8' bed.. So, fitting in a parking spot isn't that hard.
It's multifuel, which means it'll run on pretty much anything you toss in the tank.
Bad, it's 60 years old, and will need to be gone through, stem to stern, to make sure it's ready to hit the road. Another potential downside is it's a stick, which I haven't driven in over 25 years...
Plan is to get a box (which I already have) and seal it up, and outfit it to live in. I've already started work on both the box, and the truck, and still compiling parts for both....