WarCloud

Really? I'm amazed. Well, it seems the engine / drivetrain is hefty enough to take it, although 50 mph on the 75 mph Interstate 40 would make me a big fat green target for some half asleep long haul trucker. 7 to 8 MPG..my Avalanche with the 6500 engine package only gets 10, considering the 15,000 lb truck the M35A2 is that's not terrible. I'm assuming this is all running commercial pump diesel?

My other question, and getting out of Colorado this one is important...how do your BRAKES hold up in the mountains? The stretch of Highway I-25 starting at just south of Walsenburg Co.all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico has a couple of very hairy 6% grade downhills..this is a big truck with old school shoe brakes..who's got some good brake stories for me?

toddm

With 11.00-20's on my truck and checking speed with my GPS I am traveling between 45-52 at about 2,200 RPM. I don't want to stress out my almost 40 year old truck too much.

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nhdiesel

I just got home from a Kentucky recovery last night, did 1140 miles overall, including the trip from the base to my friend's in Louisville, then home to N.H. 1100 series Goodyear radials, 9.5 mpg (calculated by GPS, not the slightly off odometer) and ran like this the whole way:

HPIM0775.jpg

I did the trip non stop, except for meals and food. The truck handled it without a problem. I need a chiropractor. The trip was pretty uneventful, no issues except for a lack of heat (decided not to install my new heater, it was near 70 in Kentucky) and the snow/ice buildup on the windshield going across I-90 in N.Y. I'll be posting the trip report soon.

Jim

1962 M35A2, LDS 427, 11.00-20 Goodyear radials, For Sale
1971(?) M35A2, NDTs, may get bobbed
1 M105A2, rough, work trailer

cranetruck

Figure a mpg reduction of about 10% with bio/veggi fuels, but the engine seems to love it and runs quieter.
About long downhill runs, like from Reno to Sacramento, I used the exhaust brake and only needed to tap the service brakes from time to time to maintain speed. Emits an intense hissing sound when the exhaust is partly closed off.

If you don't have the exhaust brake and don't mind driving slowly, get more out of engine braking by placing transmission in a lower gear. Shouldn't be a problem going down those mountains at about 35 mph with engine braking alone (what little there is).
The exhaust brake adds perhaps 30 or more hp of braking power.

Bjorn
Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains

(Link to PS magazines: http://old.steelsoldiers.com/index.php?name=gallery)

Avatar: XM757 in OK prepared for 1,000 mile trip home. Part of 6,000 mile journey in 2006.
1968 M49A2C modified with 1960 M756A2 truck bed and 1975 HIAB 765A knuckleboom. Heated dual tank system for biodiesel/veggie oil use.
1969 Ford XM757 8x8, 5-ton Pershing 1A truck tractor, the "improved" MV.
"Some things can't be made better, just differently......a lot of things actually"

GoHot229

Serriously, nothing but short hops of about 25 miles, mabe 50, the longest single was when I first got it, from Gastonia to my place, about 80-90 ish miles, but the guy I got it from drove from Lajune on the coast to Rock Hill SC., about 280-90 miles aprox. I think the axles and transfer are due for new fluids, then I'm confident on taking a trip from south central NC. to mabe anywhere of a distance of say 450-500 miles. After succeding in that I'd likely feel safe on a trip to Yellowstone WY. as is my intention this Spring.

wolf-dose@t-online.de

The US Army run with the M-Series truck in question in Germany as a standard between 55 and 60 mph. They did not care for fuel consumtion. But the trucks are made for that. So I do not a see any hassard to go at 45 or somethoing lower. Run them, they need it.
Keep them rolling!
Wolf

saddamsnightmare

November 22nd, 2009.

WarCloud:

As to your trip out of Colorado, my truck used to live at Fort Carson with BullDogMack13, and I'm pretty sure he drove it now and then like he stole it..... (Yes, Jay, that means you, when you forded the creek I'll bet you didn't put the flywheel drain plug in, did ya? It's still painted in place.....:>) ???? In any case, the experience with these trucks in construction and logging work back in the West Virginia hills, are that if you gear it down and let the engine carry you down the hill, your brakes will hold up really well.... BUT if you let the speed get up, one of two things WILL happen:1) you'll throw a rod or 2: you'll loose the truck, as deuce brakes are high capacity low speed brakes, these aren't road trucks, although they can do the distance. WATCH the bolts on the short driveshaft that goes from the tranny to the transfer case, if you let these get loose or thrown you have a very good chance of the driveshaft eating your foot through the cab floor. This little driveshaft can be the biggest pain in the --- when running on the road.
The M35A was a huge improvement, however, over the M135 and M211 in terms of power and reduced maintenance, i can't begin to image what they were like brand new.....!
Good luck, be careful, and watch out for 84 year old ladies in Toyota pickups....


Cheers,

Kyle F. McGrogan

Nogueremuseum

I bought an incredibly sweet always garaged, former National Guard M35A3 with 625 miles on it since the 1999 remanufacture outside of Detroit in October 2009. It had fresh oil changes and a fresh lubrication. and I was able to jump in it and run close to one thousand miles down to Pensacola in 2 days at 50 - 54 mph. No leaks, no problems.
Cheers, Dr. No

tm america

i ran from chicago to southern ohio about 700 miles straight thru pulling a trailer there and back running 2600 on the gov the hole time they are governed at 2600 which is the safe rpm for them thats why they set the gov to that they will run on the gov all day everyday

m35a2c dump winch 15.5s
expandible camper trailer
m105 soon to be camper
97 ram 1500 4x4
ih2410b with 130hp mercedes turbo deisel

maxim

I went to Duluth Minn and back, 1380 miles ,11mpg , in November through the UP of Michigan with portions in the snow. Very detailed maint. before leaving. A neat experiance but I would not do it again . When it is snowing like mad outside Ironwood Mi. you feel very much alone....
But then, it makes a couple of hundred miles seem like a walk in the park.
Around 2300 rpms, 48-50 mph.