AJG,
I went from Evansville, IN to Brackney, PA and back and will soon be going to Houston, then back to Evansville for another trip back to Houston. I'd guess about 3K miles or so in all.
man, i thought going from delaware to nc was long. maybe ill get a wild hair and go from wilmington, nc to barstow, ca(picking up parts along the way). thats funny, ajg, holding up the grunts on the interstate!!!!!!!!!!!!
All back roads. I drive 151 north out of madison to oshkosh once and a wile and thats 65, but I can do 60 so its not that bad. Even at 50 or 55 on the hills people dont mind too much. I get tons of honks and waves. ( the good kind) just mash it keep your lights on
My buddy just got on and I told him not to drive it like a new vehicle and baby it but to, "...turn on the lights and drive it like ya hate it!"
I've only driven my deuce about 200mi...then it died. Bad batteries, no juice, no tank pump...dead. I did, however, drive my Rockwell axle'd, 427/3053A urged '67 M715 from Central PA to Western Ky to the LBL. 800mi one way. Four wheeled out on the trails a day, unlocked the big Selectros and drove back. Nearly 1700mi in three days...oops, no four...did 400 and 400 on the way home.
In April 2003 I drove the little tractor from Olney MD to FL. About 1000 miles. That August I drove said tractor from West Palm Beach to Cincy OH and back all with an M35A2 piggybacked on the back. Total miles was 2568. Oh yeah, went by George Bakers place in TN to swap some stuff and check out his M114A1E1. Took Interstates all the way up and back except a few hundred miles on the FL Turnpike. Nice ride and got to see lots of things I've never seen before, I'm assuming because of the 50/55 speed. Would I do it again? You bet! Look for me cruising back to Aberdeen this May for the rally and the east coast convoy. Might even be pulling double trailers!
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3 Trucks
4 Trailers
This Steel Soldier Honors the Living Memory of David Frankenhauser, 1954-2009.
May you Sail in the Grace of Our Lord, Chaplain!
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16.
If you plan ahead, you will do just fine on the road.
I have put over 4,000 miles on my deuce during the last 3 months. Since I was making deliveries for a customer (log cabin kit) across state lines, I had to get a DOT# for my truck. It's all very simple really, just a lot of formalities and it is all for the sake of safety.
I stop at all weigh stations, another safety check. I keep a log for the trips, have insurance, medical card, spare parts for the truck (Light bulbs, including spare head lights), chains, emergency supplies etc.
Driving with a maximum speed of 60 mph in traffic, which averages about 70 requires thinking ahead at all times, especially in merging traffic.
The deuce keeps you awake. The DOT lets you drive 11 hours in a 24 hr period of time and the max I have done is 535 miles coming back from a visit to Kenny in Florida.
I have a VIC-1 intercom system in the deuce and a CB so I can listen in on the conversations. Too much background noise to talk.
Got a noise cancelling mike now, but havn't tested it. Perhaps for the Greenville trip next week.
I have slept in the cab without too much trouble.
Durning these trips I only spotted one (1) other HMV on the road, a CUCV in North Carolina.
Driving the deuce, you are above most vehicles and it's easy to plan your moves ahead in traffic. Good all round visibility (Bikini Top) and good mirrors are a must.
Check lights, brakes, tire pressures, tire temps, wheel bearing temps at all stops.
Make sure that the hand brake works.
With the 1100 tires, my fuel milage is about 9.5 mpg, a little less with the trailer. With a GVW of about 24.000 lb the fuel milage drops to about 8.5.
Below are some images from the trips.
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Bjorn
MEP-018A (needs new generator head)
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, exhaust brake, VIC-1 and more.
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"
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