Ted
The pilot formerly known as Twin Engine Ted
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2007
- Messages
- 30,006
- Display Name
Display name:
iFlyNothing
It's no secret that I like weird and unusual vehicles. The odder it is, the more attracted I am to it in many cases. But I also like capability and, as you all know, I do some unusual things to make up for living the first 20 years of my life in the concrete jungle (New York City).
The old military trucks (deuce-and-a-halves and 5-tons) are naturally appealing and always have been. In fact, when I bought the semi truck a few years ago, I had also been considering a military 5-ton. At the time, I decided that I wanted the semi for a few reasons - one being having a top speed higher than 55, another being having the extra space of a sleeper cab. Basically something that could, potentially, have a use actually driving on a distance longer than around town. So, I did the "practical" decision and bought the Kenworth.
The Kenworth wasn't a very good truck and I was happy to see it go. That said, it had its own level of fun and the kids miss it. I, too, have had a hankering for another larger truck for a while. I've also come to realize that I just don't drive long distances hardly ever anymore, so top speed is really not a consideration so long as it can actually drive on the highway (even at a lower speed). And while the sleeper was fun for the kids to sit in back of (they actually took a lot of naps while we drove the thing around the backroads), these days I think a wide front seat would be plenty because, again, I've established a vehicle of this nature isn't used for traveling purposes.
But I have things I'm doing like clearing trees on my property, potentially building a hangar, picking up random pieces of equipment, and all of those are things for which a military truck with winches (and some have booms on them) could be useful, and driving an old 6x6 on backroads would be the kind of fun thing my kids and I miss doing. Even several years later, all three of them talk about the semi truck and say they wish that we didn't sell it. Those drives made some big impressions. Plus, it would check another tick off the vehicle bucket list. Cargo capacity in terms of having a utility bed I really don't care about. I have a pickup truck and trailer(s) for that. What I'm interested in more would be the 6x6 capability they all have, definitely want winch(s) for pulling things (like trees) out of the ground. Having a boom crane would undoubtedly be useful for projects I'm doing.
I know a few things about those trucks, but really not a ton (pun intended) so maybe some folks can help enlighten, especially those who've got military background and know how these were actually used.
My thinking on what I want and some questions:
- Manual transmission: I'm Ted. 'nuff said. Seems like the newer ones (from 1990 onwards) had Allison automatics. That's fine if that's your thing, it's not mine.
- Winches: It seems that certain 5-tons had a 20k lb winch on front and 45k lb winch on the back. I would definitely want those. Although we have a bulldozer, there are a few trees where I think that would help
- Cargo bed: Definitely don't want that. It doesn't help with anything I want to do
- 5th wheel vs. Boom crane: It looks like most of the 5-tons had a 5th wheel on them for towing trailers of some sort. I don't own any 5th wheel trailers, but having the ability to buy one could be useful given my other hobby of picking up old heavy equipment (something I could see using this truck for). I sort of view this as neutral, but the boom trucks do seem to fetch a premium
- Multi fuel engine: some of these I note are considered "Multi fuel" engines, which I understand to be "Will run on anything flammable you put in the tank" while some are not, which I understand to mean "Diesel or JP-8 fuel". Is that understanding correct?
- 5-ton over Deuce-and-a-half: My thought is a 5-ton for a couple reasons. For one, given one of my intended uses (winches on trees), the 5-tons seem to have that while the deuces don't, and the 5-tons also are heavier, so in other words more capability for doing something like pulling a tree out with a winch. It also seems like the vast majority of deuces are equipped with no winches and a cargo bed of some sort, which again, not what I want, and lower towing capacity on the deuces should I want to haul bigger stuff.
- 10 wheel vs 6 wheel: Seems like the ones configured for hauling trailers are mostly 10 wheel while the others are 6-wheel, including boom trucks. I think I'm more neutral on this. 6 wheels would be nice since fewer tires to worry about, but 10 wheels would have more traction and more weight capacity if hauling a trailer. For this I figure it's just a matter of what it comes with.
I notice there are all of the different Mxxx variants, and some people list them as just the Mxxx variant vs. just a 5-ton or Deuce-and-a-half when searching. What I don't know is enough to know where one Mxxx is better than another. I'm thinking no (so long as it's in the appropriate category), it's just configurations.
Timeframe for buying one? Not a clue. Probably when the right thing comes up after I get a bit more educated on what I want. I'm probably not wanting to buy something this quarter just due to other expenses unless "the right truck" pops up for sale at the right price.
Alright PoA, go to town. Any of you selling yours?
The old military trucks (deuce-and-a-halves and 5-tons) are naturally appealing and always have been. In fact, when I bought the semi truck a few years ago, I had also been considering a military 5-ton. At the time, I decided that I wanted the semi for a few reasons - one being having a top speed higher than 55, another being having the extra space of a sleeper cab. Basically something that could, potentially, have a use actually driving on a distance longer than around town. So, I did the "practical" decision and bought the Kenworth.
The Kenworth wasn't a very good truck and I was happy to see it go. That said, it had its own level of fun and the kids miss it. I, too, have had a hankering for another larger truck for a while. I've also come to realize that I just don't drive long distances hardly ever anymore, so top speed is really not a consideration so long as it can actually drive on the highway (even at a lower speed). And while the sleeper was fun for the kids to sit in back of (they actually took a lot of naps while we drove the thing around the backroads), these days I think a wide front seat would be plenty because, again, I've established a vehicle of this nature isn't used for traveling purposes.
But I have things I'm doing like clearing trees on my property, potentially building a hangar, picking up random pieces of equipment, and all of those are things for which a military truck with winches (and some have booms on them) could be useful, and driving an old 6x6 on backroads would be the kind of fun thing my kids and I miss doing. Even several years later, all three of them talk about the semi truck and say they wish that we didn't sell it. Those drives made some big impressions. Plus, it would check another tick off the vehicle bucket list. Cargo capacity in terms of having a utility bed I really don't care about. I have a pickup truck and trailer(s) for that. What I'm interested in more would be the 6x6 capability they all have, definitely want winch(s) for pulling things (like trees) out of the ground. Having a boom crane would undoubtedly be useful for projects I'm doing.
I know a few things about those trucks, but really not a ton (pun intended) so maybe some folks can help enlighten, especially those who've got military background and know how these were actually used.
My thinking on what I want and some questions:
- Manual transmission: I'm Ted. 'nuff said. Seems like the newer ones (from 1990 onwards) had Allison automatics. That's fine if that's your thing, it's not mine.
- Winches: It seems that certain 5-tons had a 20k lb winch on front and 45k lb winch on the back. I would definitely want those. Although we have a bulldozer, there are a few trees where I think that would help
- Cargo bed: Definitely don't want that. It doesn't help with anything I want to do
- 5th wheel vs. Boom crane: It looks like most of the 5-tons had a 5th wheel on them for towing trailers of some sort. I don't own any 5th wheel trailers, but having the ability to buy one could be useful given my other hobby of picking up old heavy equipment (something I could see using this truck for). I sort of view this as neutral, but the boom trucks do seem to fetch a premium
- Multi fuel engine: some of these I note are considered "Multi fuel" engines, which I understand to be "Will run on anything flammable you put in the tank" while some are not, which I understand to mean "Diesel or JP-8 fuel". Is that understanding correct?
- 5-ton over Deuce-and-a-half: My thought is a 5-ton for a couple reasons. For one, given one of my intended uses (winches on trees), the 5-tons seem to have that while the deuces don't, and the 5-tons also are heavier, so in other words more capability for doing something like pulling a tree out with a winch. It also seems like the vast majority of deuces are equipped with no winches and a cargo bed of some sort, which again, not what I want, and lower towing capacity on the deuces should I want to haul bigger stuff.
- 10 wheel vs 6 wheel: Seems like the ones configured for hauling trailers are mostly 10 wheel while the others are 6-wheel, including boom trucks. I think I'm more neutral on this. 6 wheels would be nice since fewer tires to worry about, but 10 wheels would have more traction and more weight capacity if hauling a trailer. For this I figure it's just a matter of what it comes with.
I notice there are all of the different Mxxx variants, and some people list them as just the Mxxx variant vs. just a 5-ton or Deuce-and-a-half when searching. What I don't know is enough to know where one Mxxx is better than another. I'm thinking no (so long as it's in the appropriate category), it's just configurations.
Timeframe for buying one? Not a clue. Probably when the right thing comes up after I get a bit more educated on what I want. I'm probably not wanting to buy something this quarter just due to other expenses unless "the right truck" pops up for sale at the right price.
Alright PoA, go to town. Any of you selling yours?
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