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Steel Soldiers MV of the month 2022 - October VOTE HERE!

Please vote for MVOTM


  • Total voters
    45
  • Poll closed .

patracy

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
14,575
4,588
113
Location
Buchanan, GA
Welcome to the MV of the month poll sponsored by Consolidated Press. If you need decals, magnets, stencils, or anything printing related, please give them a call!




Now, onto the vote! Please vote for MV of the month! Feel free to campaign in this thread, but please keep it here and not via PM.

1. fuzzytoaster


2. m715mike


3. DeMilitarized


4. ChuckG


5. 71deuceAK


6. HanksDeuce
 

HanksDeuce

Well-known member
1,077
229
63
Location
Prairieville, LA
I purchased my M35A2 in March 2011 from a member on this site that lived in Georgia. It had already been singled out and the hubs were flipped.



From 2011 to 2016, I modified this M35A2 to my liking. I bobbed it back in 2012 with sky crane help from local member Tim.




Waterloo Specialties supplied the power steering. Black Rock Fab supplied the frame lift and disc brake conversion.




Front lockout hubs went on next, followed by a Black Rock Fab 28" rear drop hitch.




Next, I sold the multifuel engine and 5 speed transmission to member Doug. I then installed a Cummins 6BT and Allison AT545.




Tons of other mods to speak of can be found on my build thread or on my personal deuce website found in my signature below.

Honorable mention: Saved over 200 civilians during the flood of 2016 in Louisiana. Drove through over 5 ft of water. No issues.

 

fuzzytoaster

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
4,208
2,876
113
Location
Fort Worth, Texas
2022-07-13 18.05.45.jpg

My M113A4 is vehicle #1 made of the A4 family, the most recent domestic production M113. It was the proof of concept and tooling vehicle at the BAE factory and was never in Uncle Sam's hands. It was one of six initial vehicle produced and the only one left intact of that bunch. Three were sent downrange for penetration tests, one ended up a failed hazmat unit, and the other was an modified escape vehicle for astronauts that ziplined off the launch tower into the rear of the vehicle. Truly one of a kind.

The M113A4 variant is 4' longer with an additional set of road wheels. It has a silver top 6v53TA DDEC putting out 400+ hp and a new generation transmission/cross drive combo. Everything is beefy. Fortunately for this unit, it has yoke steering and all inputs for driving are mechanical. The production A4 models were all digital much like the FMTV so it's simple to repair and will run its heart out. The rubber tracks are quiet.. too quiet. If the Detroit didn't wake the dead it could sneak up on you. It's smooth on pavement too.

I took this unit to the 2021 Steel Soldier Rally and barely made it due to logistical conflicts. I was informed it was driven on close courses and never truly worked hard. Those who know Detroits know they like to be worked. I got TXDOT and the county commission office to issue a parade permit to drive the M113 on the highway for the convoy down to the Museum of the GI and back. I never thought I'd own a M113 none the less be cruising down the highway at 40 mph. Oh was it satisfying.
pacha_edits_meme.png


We had an issue in route where a fuel quick disconnect popped loose but the convoy was quick to recover her. m715mike can confirm that when she started up during the flat tow his deuce came to an instant stop. Smoke and noise reigned from the exhaust and she was back in action. No further issues all weekend.

Upon return to the BVORR (Brazos Valley Off Road Ranch) we had permission to take it on the Jeep trails. Yes, Jeep trails. I was instructed which obstacles to avoid and which to take. She is 22,000 lbs so it would simply crush smaller obstacles. It didn't hesitate through mud, swamp, dirt, or improvised obstacles like sharp drop pits and broken concrete slabs. There's no forgiveness to it either. It's a metal box on tracks with some shocks but without a combat load it's too light to have much flex in those shocks. It will climb 60 degree surfaces if not more (operator limits). My passengers can testify it's a wild ride and both ear and head pro is required.

The most daunting obstacle was the hill trail that the video camera doesn't portray well. The Polaris couldn't climb it and the angle was too steep for most military 6x6's. When you factor in the crest of the hill, no suspension, "that sinking feeling" when you crest, and having never pushed this machine this hard it was an exhilarating experience like no other I've had in the Green Iron world. Little did I know that both the 42 mile convoy and the off road exercises were the hardest it has ever been pushed in its life. All in all it's a stellar machine with unique history that I want to share.

It has a date to escort the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (Vietnam Wall replica) as well as a Veterans Day event at a local elementary school. The City of Denton has requested it be parked at the courthouse for November events too. It will be out and about all the time, it even has a chance at on road registration due to the rubber tracks and it's wired for turns signals, etc. A VIC3 system, new optics, and more will be installed to improve the vehicle and its operational capabilities.





Hill climb video link isn't cooperating. It's on my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXEwU0DuRWv1W1KJNAgJ6A
 
Last edited:

DeMilitarized

Well-known member
317
882
93
Location
Gainesville, GA
Y’all don’t even know how much time I have in my m932a2 :ROFLMAO:. I’ll have to find photos later but had to take the 5th wheel off, swap from g177s to 395s on lmtv wheels. Rebuilt all the wheels and drilled and tapped all the valve stems for a Schrader valve on the back side of the wheel so I could hook up ctis on the back wheels. Bought all new ctis systems for the rear and had to custom make ctis components for the front axle because lmtv wheels are very different than combat wheels.
Had to add the winch kit to the truck from an a0 m925 which required lots of modification.
Swapped out the hood because the old one had rust.
Designed the entire lmtv bed dump system for the back which can theoretically lift up to 25,000 lbs.
Painted the truck before I got the bed on.
Turned up the Fuel on the truck with a pyro and boost guage and clicked the gov springs to be able to cruise 68mph on 395s
Rebuilt some axle seals.
And probably some more I'm forgetting in the past 2 years.
 

Attachments

swiss

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
2,698
688
113
Location
Oakwood, Ga
Y’all don’t even know how much time I have in my m932a2 :ROFLMAO:. I’ll have to find photos later but had to take the 5th wheel off, swap from g177s to 395s on lmtv wheels. Rebuilt all the wheels and drilled and tapped all the valve stems for a Schrader valve on the back side of the wheel so I could hook up ctis on the back wheels. Bought all new ctis systems for the rear and had to custom make ctis components for the front axle because lmtv wheels are very different than combat wheels.
Had to add the winch kit to the truck from an a0 m925 which required lots of modification.
Swapped out the hood because the old one had rust.
Designed the entire lmtv bed dump system for the back which can theoretically lift up to 25,000 lbs.
Painted the truck before I got the bed on.
Turned up the Fuel on the truck with a pyro and boost guage and clicked the gov springs to be able to cruise 68mph on 395s
Rebuilt some axle seals.
And probably some more I'm forgetting in the past 2 years.
And it gets dirty in the WOODS and goes to the GREAT Southern Rally

:driver:
 

chucky

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
6,447
18,476
113
Location
TN .
I purchased my M35A2 in March 2011 from a member on this site that lived in Georgia. It had already been singled out and the hubs were flipped.



From 2011 to 2016, I modified this M35A2 to my liking. I bobbed it back in 2012 with sky crane help from local member Tim.




Waterloo Specialties supplied the power steering. Black Rock Fab supplied the frame lift and disc brake conversion.




Front lockout hubs went on next, followed by a Black Rock Fab 28" rear drop hitch.




Next, I sold the multifuel engine and 5 speed transmission to member Doug. I then installed a Cummins 6BT and Allison AT545.




Tons of other mods to speak of can be found on my build thread or on my personal deuce website found in my signature below.

Honorable mention: Saved over 200 civilians during the flood of 2016 in Louisiana. Drove through over 5 ft of water. No issues.

Yea im pert near sure ! We need to see more pictures of your little tan helpers !!!! Maybe puttin sun tan lotion on each other and some camo make up on their faces ! That will cause mass voting for hanks truck and your great big heart for taking care of them poor poor homeless things like you have!!!!!!!
 

kendelrio

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
2,601
8,203
113
Location
Alexandria, La
Here's a few more pics as requested. No sun tan lotion bottles were harmed in the process.

Just a few more votes in my favor and we will surpass the fuzzy little kitchen appliance.





Is that the one in BR? We could probably get together with @Trailboss , @Soupermike @juanprado @timntrucks and a few others for a calendar shoot.... err... mini S/S Rally..😁
 
Last edited:

HanksDeuce

Well-known member
1,077
229
63
Location
Prairieville, LA
Is that the one in BR? We could probably get together with @Trailboss , @Soupermike @juanprado @timntrucks and a few others for a calendar shoot.... err... mini S/S Rally..😁
Definitely is the Twin Peaks in Baton Rouge off Siegen Lane. I can guess with almost 100% certainty that none of those females are still there. The pics were taken in 2015, and they were all "getting a college degree". I bet they are all doctors now. LOL.

I'm up for a MV takeover of Twin Peaks. Let me know. Folks, don't forget to vote for me! :D
 

chucky

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
6,447
18,476
113
Location
TN .
Definitely is the Twin Peaks in Baton Rouge off Siegen Lane. I can guess with almost 100% certainty that none of those females are still there. The pics were taken in 2015, and they were all "getting a college degree". I bet they are all doctors now. LOL.

I'm up for a MV takeover of Twin Peaks. Let me know. Folks, don't forget to vote for me! :D
It might be a great time to ease back over to Twin Peaks this week and take a TWISTER game mat and put it up in the bed of your truck and your camera ! You might get MVOTY with those shots !!!!!!
main-qimg-f85723e870f467d6a9a09d1f0f0b8a82-lq.jpg
 

fuzzytoaster

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
4,208
2,876
113
Location
Fort Worth, Texas
Here's @Barrman's video from the 2022 TX Steel Soldiers Rally as we depart the BVORR (Brazos Valley Off Road Ranch). It was almost as much fun explaining to TXDOT and the Brazos County Road Department that I owned "a tank" and wanted to drive it in a parade. These comments are ingrained in my mind:
  • "I don't believe we've ever had this request. *snickers*"
  • "Since California let you drive it on the road I don't see a reason we shouldn't. I'd feel bad saying no."
  • "A tank? Or a tank-er? " (tank with rubber tracks ma'am) "This is a first. You said tank, right?"

 

chucky

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
6,447
18,476
113
Location
TN .
No body thinks about the 400 gallon fuel cart until they are stranded on the side of the road with an empty tank.

It’s a tough crowd this month…. Or maybe the fuel cart is up against some stiff competition! I’ll go with the latter.
Nobody loves ya till they need ya !!!!! And a little note to self (If your up against young girls half dressed just pick up your toys and go home or stick around for the Party !!! And hire them same girls for your next contest !
 
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