What's the catch with GL?? - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

silverstar · 08-11-2009, 02:39

I have been looking on the GL website and I see piles and piles of M35A2's that look pretty decent, even a few that look almost new. Most of them say "won't start" which is probably just dead batteries because the engines look like new on alot of them. I see them with 2 days left on the auction and not one single bidde rand it says that the starting bid is $150. There has to be a catch there because there is no way you're gonna pick up a nice Duece for $150! Is it that everybody waits till the last few hours?

Also I plan on buying my first duece when I move to PA next summer (I don't want to get one now because I don't want to have to move a duece from FL to PA!). I'm going to be about an hour (in normal car time, not duece time. HAHA) from Indiantown Gap which I have heard alot of good things about and that they usually have a good selection there and many other places in PA. What do I need to do to register, bid and buy on GL? Also what's a good price to pick up a nice M35A2 from GL? Is it true that people are getting them for as little as $1,500? That would be sweet! My plan would be(if/when I win a bid on one) to drive down with my dad (who spent many years driving dueces and 5 tons in the Army) and change all fluids and check it over along with taking 2 new batteries to throw in it and driving it home. Thanks for any help or info you can give on this.

Chevytruck · 08-11-2009, 02:48

I'm guessing that its time till auction starts if nobody has bid on them at all.

they can easily go up to 2k, if its your first truck might want to go private party since everything is all ready. But if you want to go the GL way, your bidding on trucks that may look good but hide major problems. or you may get lucky and get one of the good runners.

i hope that helps.

silverstar · 08-11-2009, 03:14

Yeah i've read some really shady things about GL on here and it does have me kind of worried but I really don't want to (nor can I afford to) pay $6,000+ for my duece from a private party. Can you go inspect the trucks before you bid? I'll be only an hour from Indiantown Gap so I could drive down there and inspect the trucks. And the one's i've seen that were really cheap were started auctions, just that nobody had bid on them.

clinto · 08-11-2009, 08:34

Hmmm...... the catch

In no order.......

A lot of people do wait till the last minute to bid

Here's the difference:

Bid on a deuce from GL. First, go through the paperwork hassle. Then wait for the paperwork to be approved. Then schedule a time that is bad for you and good for them (sorry, you have no say in this matter) to pick it up. Get there and who knows what you will find. GL, the military or other auction winners have stolen Lord knows what from your truck. Good luck getting any resolution from GL. It might run or it might have a hole in the transfer case (don't laugh-if it can go wrong it will). It might have no brakes, a dead hydraulic head, who knows. Now you have a 14K lb paperweight you have to find a way to get home. Or you can take another deuce and a towbar and tow the thing home. Then get it home, pay for the SF97, get it inspected, get your tag and title, etc.

Or buy from a private seller. Test drive it, you get your paperwork right now, you know what you've got, etc.

For that, you pay a premium.

I've done it both both ways. Both ways (GL and private sellers) have their pros and cons.

And fwiw, I've seen a ton of auctions that had no bids on the morning of their end date and by the end of the day, had exceeded what I thought was their retail value.

zb39 · 08-11-2009, 09:55

Key words.......The pics Look good............I couldn't see the bad head gasket in the pics.......GL says truck starts and drives.......yes it does, but only on 5 cylinders. also you might want to keep the windows down because it blows in the cab........

drgreg · 08-11-2009, 10:38

By next summer you will probably have to buy from a private seller, some indications are that most all M35 series trucks will be out of the GL system late this fall.

bryan70546 · 08-11-2009, 10:43

I paid 3500 for my deuce and purchased it from a forum member , did a test drive and everything .My advice for you go private party .You dont need to pay $6000.00 for a deuce You can get them for less.You can get a really nice truck for a whole lot cheaper .Just take your time
and look around .Good deals are out there you just have to find them. Good luck buying your deuce .

M725 · 08-11-2009, 10:56

You need to inspect the truck before you bid, just like you would buying anything else. To see if there to a hole in motor, trans and anything else. Oil leaks, oil in motor, fliud in the brakes. Leaks at the wheels etc..........

frodobaggins · 08-11-2009, 11:12

I look at it this way, if you don't inspect it, prepare to part it out to make your money back. If it's better than a parts truck, you did good !

gunboy1656 · 08-11-2009, 11:23

why not get one now...yeah it would be a slow trip, but you would not have to get a moving truck to haul your stuff.