You can have your stinkin' deuce!

[BlizzardX23]

Im new here, this is my first post...but this was an interesting thread to read! Educational to say the least! So Im currently looking for a Deuce...but was thinking about a 5-Ton as I wanted something massive! Plus, I like to get the most out of a vehicle..meaning, if a 5-Ton can tow more, quicker, easier to drive...I'd get that

however, I was reading all the cons as well as the pros...

Im 23 and I did 4 years in the Army as a 63B - Wheel Vehicle Mechanic
So I know what driving a 5-Ton is like...no problems at all...since the M985 - HEMTT was my daily driver for 15 months. (Best vehicle I've ever driven!!!!!!) EASY to drive!!!! It was a blast..Driving the HEMTT was as easy as driving my Denali after a while..

Anyways...This may sound like a dumb question coming from an Army Mechanic, but...I've never seen a deuce...its old technology in the Military so I never needed to work on one...our unit didnt even have one..

What makes the 5-Ton bigger then the Deuce? ..is the body/cab and bed the same size?

 

[lonegunman]

Buy an M35A3 and you get 12 mpg most days, better mpg and you look good driving it.

 

[m816Buch]

Just get one of each........there, settled that

 

[R Racing]

The deuce is rated at 5000 LBS of tow or weight in its bed. the 5 ton is rated 10000 in bed off road 20000 in bed on road and has a towing capabilty of 30000 lbs on road 15000 lbs off road, three times that of a deuce . it also has power steering and power brakes. the deuce is easier to manuver around the city than a 5 ton. the deuce and 5 ton share the same cab. the 5 ton is taller and longer than a deuce.

 

[jaxsof]

I started life as a 12B, to you young guys, thats kinda like a 21B . I was licensed to drive anything Uncle had on tires, including loaders and forklifts. My main ride was an M35A2 NA, which was a bear, and really liked fuel points. HEMTTs are really sweet, and I liked getting beaten up by the Duece, but Im getting older now and really appreciate the finer things in life a bit . Thats why I decided on the 813. Was seriously considdering an 818 being offered by one of our fellow SSers, but he didnt seem to really want to sell it. I am happy with my choice. When I drove it home from off-loading from the semi, it was topless, and wasn't half as loud as my old duece was with a hard top. She doesnt smoke, even cold, and I think I have found a new friend. My friends(I've decided on a name) I give you Princess Fiona

 

[Makincold]

First off, I have never owned a deuce...
I bid on and won an M818 sight unseen, 67 days later my EUC cleared and I had someone tow it off base and store it for me for several more weeks before I could get there to recover it.
I spent the entire time wondering if I had made the right decision, everything I read here about, to big, to loud, to much of a good thing....
All I can tell you is for me I knew within the first 20 miles I knew I had made the right choice for a 5 ton! 200 miles home of sheer bliss! There is a deuce bed and singles in her future but I know for me the 5 ton was the only way to go!
Take what younread here as a guideline, your mileage may vary....

 

[JasonS]

That's impressive. Do you know the diameter of 15.5s? Maybe I should purchase a set. They must be larger than the 395s.

With my 46.7" Dia 395/85R20s I'm only traveling @ 61 MPH @ 2,500 RPM. I'd have to run 2,800 RPM to get up to 70 MPH.

13 MPH @ 70 MPH pulling a 105 trailer is outstanding.

According to my speed calculator, you should be at 65 mph at 2500 rpm and 70mph at 2690 rpm.

 

[BlizzardX23]

The 5-Ton being so much heavier...would be prone to getting stuck in mud/snow situations? much more so then the Deuce?


ALSO, I would register it as historic...as it wouldnt be used for commercial use....just personal...would I need a CDL to drive it in California? I know if its over 26,001 lbs...your supposed to have a CDL...IIRC

 

[rchalmers3]

According to my speed calculator, you should be at 65 mph at 2500 rpm and 70mph at 2690 rpm.

Going from a 9:00x20 to a 15.5x20 would make the uncorrected speedo read a lower road speed at 2500 RPM, correct?

My vote on the subject of which series truck is better: BOTH or NEITHER.

Rick

 

[davidkroberts]

well im about to say something that going to make me sound like a school teacher passing out participation trophies but here goes

I think all military vehicles are just awesome.

Some are just better at somethings than others. Ive picked kids up at school in the Iltis and Unimog. Gotten groceries in an icestorm in a m35a2, and drove humvees and LMTV's all over iraq and afganistan. Different trucks all have pros and cons.

That being said the only reasonable way to approach it is to get a different truck for every conceivable situation you might be in. I mean if you get a m35a2 stuck you NEED a 5 ton to pull it out.

Honestly with the cost of MV being very reasonable there really isnt any reason to not own at least three. One smaller CUCV type or Jeep, one M35 series, and something bigger (M818, M916, M813) If you play your cards right you will have less in them than a nice UTV cost and they hold their value...... (feel free to use this or other points taken as fact when swinging it to the wife)

 

[Westech]

Just get one of each........there, settled that

Come next week I will have one of each again.

 

[eldgenb]

well im about to say something that going to make me sound like a school teacher passing out participation trophies but here goes

I think all military vehicles are just awesome.

Some are just better at somethings than others. Ive picked kids up at school in the Iltis and Unimog. Gotten groceries in an icestorm in a m35a2, and drove humvees and LMTV's all over iraq and afganistan. Different trucks all have pros and cons.

That being said the only reasonable way to approach it is to get a different truck for every conceivable situation you might be in. I mean if you get a m35a2 stuck you NEED a 5 ton to pull it out.

Honestly with the cost of MV being very reasonable there really isnt any reason to not own at least three. One smaller CUCV type or Jeep, one M35 series, and something bigger (M818, M916, M813) If you play your cards right you will have less in them than a nice UTV cost and they hold their value...... (feel free to use this or other points taken as fact when swinging it to the wife)

Man..your good!! if I give you my wife's # will you call her and run that past her?

 

[eldgenb]

I started life as a 12B, to you young guys, thats kinda like a 21B . I was licensed to drive anything Uncle had on tires, including loaders and forklifts. My main ride was an M35A2 NA, which was a bear, and really liked fuel points. HEMTTs are really sweet, and I liked getting beaten up by the Duece, but Im getting older now and really appreciate the finer things in life a bit . Thats why I decided on the 813. Was seriously considdering an 818 being offered by one of our fellow SSers, but he didnt seem to really want to sell it. I am happy with my choice. When I drove it home from off-loading from the semi, it was topless, and wasn't half as loud as my old duece was with a hard top. She doesnt smoke, even cold, and I think I have found a new friend. My friends(I've decided on a name) I give you Princess Fiona

thats funny, I too was a 12B "Combat Engineer" for those who are not cool enough to be one. We were infantry with explosives and APC's. I know what you mean about having a license for everything, I always had a soft spot for the see trucks and the deuces. In my opinion, the deuce with power steering and super singles is the cats meow for a do it all truck. That being said and m35a3 would be the truck of choice if I could just get passed that snob nose on that truck, just turns me off. I started with a deuce, thought that I had to have a 5 ton so I bought an 813, than an 816, than an 818 and now I have a m920 and a bobbed deuce. I will repower the deuce with a cummins and an allison some day but I find it way more enjoyable to sling the deuce around than any of my 5 tons. And yes I have sold all of them except the 920 and the bobber.