71DeuceAK
Well-known member
- 1,513
- 416
- 83
- Location
- Fairbanks, Alaska
Nearly a decade ago, I had my first ride in a deuce, a M109A2 made into a propane truck. It was loud, rough, the passenger seat was a pair of ammo cans, and the 14-year-old me thought it was neat but didn't give it much more thought. Up and down the rocky beaches where I grew up, Port Alexander, Alaska.
Fast forward a couple years, and I learned what those trucks really were- and instantly knew I wanted one. Joined SteelSoldiers after watching about every YouTube video about them there was at the time. Learned of the existence of the M939 and M809 series 5 tons.
A year later, I got to ride in one again, and sat in my first M939 series, an M929 on G177s. I knew then and there that cab was home. It was Christmas break, senior year of high school. I had purposely gone out to a friend's place where they had some of these trucks to experience them again. First thing I ever really did on my own once I was 18. Muddy River/Thomas Bay, Alaska. Same guy as my first deuce ride.
Later that spring, through Steel Soldiers, I started talking to someone who, as it were, later became my first college roommate that fall after some small-world coincidences. Fairbanks, Alaska.
Christmas break that year (Freshman year of college) I met (through S/S) a member in my childhood hometown who had some M939s and had been stationed where I was going to college. Got together, grabbed lunch, talked trucks, climbed around on trucks. Around the same time I started talking through the Facebook groups to someone who had an M929A2- incidentally, the very truck I am now acquiring. Visit back to Atascadero, California where I spent my childhood. On another visit, met another member.
Started meeting more people. Met a local member that fall who took me for my first ride in an M923. I knew then and there I wouldn't want anything but...as a vehicle, period. Met another member who had since PCS'ed to Alabama and then North Carolina who came up for a DMV errand.
My extended family started becoming mostly army truck owners.
The next summer, I house-sat for the friend I first went to visit to climb around on trucks with. Bought an M928 in Oklahoma I became well-known for, the yellow ex fire truck that didn't run. It was literally the first vehicle I ever owned. Period. "My first vehicle was a forest service army fire truck that never ran is one of those random crazy things I tell people. Truck was in Skiatook, Oklahoma.
While there, I started talking (on S/S) to someone back where I went to college who, as it were, ended up renting me their spare bedroom to get me off campus. They had an M923A2. Fairbanks, Alaska.
The next fall, with an all-online course schedule, I found myself traveling all over the United States going to events- with other members. It was a crazy time. Met lots of members of S/S at such places. By then, probably more than half the people I knew were army truck people.
That Christmas break (senior year of college) went to work for someone in Glenburn, North Dakota I met through the Facebook groups trying to rescue an M925 where I was going to college.
That next summer, went commercial fishing with the individual I initially had my first Deuce rides years ago with. Later quit and went to work for the guy who had an M929A2 for their tree service outfit (He's an arborist). It was a get-on-a-plane-today move, with the clothes I was wearing and not much else. Felt like going to another rally or MV related job- because it was. Mason City, Illinois.
He brought me here over the truck. Literally. All the way from Alaska. I went from cutting herring bait to feeding a wood chipper in less than 72 hours. Had to rebuild my life from scratch. Just bought a house in June, while I still have my home in Alaska.
Finally, as it happens, I am buying that particular truck. The truck is what I blame for moving me here in the first place. God sure works in some interesting ways. It's been an interesting last year or two. Haven't seen home in Alaska in nearly a year.
Cashier's check in the bank, going to pull it back out on Tuesday and acquire 29,000 lbs of green, Prius crushing American steel. Someone who knows these trucks and lived many of the places I did (Here, as well as a couple in Alaska, go figure) told me I must be doing well. "You bought a house and a dump truck, good choices!"
Truck has a bad shutdown solenoid that needs zip tied to keep running (easy fix), CTIS doesn't work and is currently disabled, one fuel tank is still full of JP8, tank selector switch stuck on the other tank, could use tires, leaking axle seal or two and by now is starting to really be able to use some paint.
In this state I need a Class B to legally drive her without going historic, so planning to get mileage plates eventually. Money and licensure no object, I may just end up with the thing as a semi daily driver. As luck has it, I've always lived car-less, even now, so it'll be the first vehicle I own that actually runs. I've never owned a civilian vehicle. "My first running vehicle, at 23 years old, was a 30 year old army dump truck".
If it wasn't for some initial rabbit-hole-diving in late 2014, all of this would have never happened to me.
Some special thanks due, in no particular order: 98G, RKrug, MwMules, 19Kilo, 86M1008, Jeepsinker, and some others that aren't on here.
Not sure what highest priorities are on the truck at first, as she'll probably sit for a bit and hopefully not annoy the neighbors or the city code officer (Luckily, I am on really good terms with them, as a neighbor down the street, and they're happy I bought the previously empty for years, blighted house and am fixing it up).
I need a dump truck anyway for some of the dirt work I will have to do- breaking concrete and digging up the sewer line and filling in an old septic come to mind. Besides, since I'd like to move out of Illinois, the truck will be what carries my belongings when I move elsewhere- hopefully for something related to army trucks, as has caused most of my other moves.
I am sure lots of searching Steel Soldiers and asking of questions will follow shortly. I should own this thing in like 48 hours if all goes well. Exciting yet nerve racking.
Code here requires either plate it or cover it. Any suggestions on covering one of these trucks? Might stop the rain anyway which is a plus on these. Large car canopy maybe? Anyone on here have any suggestions? What did the military use besides the obvious camo netting? For now, I have to shove it next to my 2 story, hip roof Craftsman on a postage-stamp lot in town.
Fast forward a couple years, and I learned what those trucks really were- and instantly knew I wanted one. Joined SteelSoldiers after watching about every YouTube video about them there was at the time. Learned of the existence of the M939 and M809 series 5 tons.
A year later, I got to ride in one again, and sat in my first M939 series, an M929 on G177s. I knew then and there that cab was home. It was Christmas break, senior year of high school. I had purposely gone out to a friend's place where they had some of these trucks to experience them again. First thing I ever really did on my own once I was 18. Muddy River/Thomas Bay, Alaska. Same guy as my first deuce ride.
Later that spring, through Steel Soldiers, I started talking to someone who, as it were, later became my first college roommate that fall after some small-world coincidences. Fairbanks, Alaska.
Christmas break that year (Freshman year of college) I met (through S/S) a member in my childhood hometown who had some M939s and had been stationed where I was going to college. Got together, grabbed lunch, talked trucks, climbed around on trucks. Around the same time I started talking through the Facebook groups to someone who had an M929A2- incidentally, the very truck I am now acquiring. Visit back to Atascadero, California where I spent my childhood. On another visit, met another member.
Started meeting more people. Met a local member that fall who took me for my first ride in an M923. I knew then and there I wouldn't want anything but...as a vehicle, period. Met another member who had since PCS'ed to Alabama and then North Carolina who came up for a DMV errand.
My extended family started becoming mostly army truck owners.
The next summer, I house-sat for the friend I first went to visit to climb around on trucks with. Bought an M928 in Oklahoma I became well-known for, the yellow ex fire truck that didn't run. It was literally the first vehicle I ever owned. Period. "My first vehicle was a forest service army fire truck that never ran is one of those random crazy things I tell people. Truck was in Skiatook, Oklahoma.
While there, I started talking (on S/S) to someone back where I went to college who, as it were, ended up renting me their spare bedroom to get me off campus. They had an M923A2. Fairbanks, Alaska.
The next fall, with an all-online course schedule, I found myself traveling all over the United States going to events- with other members. It was a crazy time. Met lots of members of S/S at such places. By then, probably more than half the people I knew were army truck people.
That Christmas break (senior year of college) went to work for someone in Glenburn, North Dakota I met through the Facebook groups trying to rescue an M925 where I was going to college.
That next summer, went commercial fishing with the individual I initially had my first Deuce rides years ago with. Later quit and went to work for the guy who had an M929A2 for their tree service outfit (He's an arborist). It was a get-on-a-plane-today move, with the clothes I was wearing and not much else. Felt like going to another rally or MV related job- because it was. Mason City, Illinois.
He brought me here over the truck. Literally. All the way from Alaska. I went from cutting herring bait to feeding a wood chipper in less than 72 hours. Had to rebuild my life from scratch. Just bought a house in June, while I still have my home in Alaska.
Finally, as it happens, I am buying that particular truck. The truck is what I blame for moving me here in the first place. God sure works in some interesting ways. It's been an interesting last year or two. Haven't seen home in Alaska in nearly a year.
Cashier's check in the bank, going to pull it back out on Tuesday and acquire 29,000 lbs of green, Prius crushing American steel. Someone who knows these trucks and lived many of the places I did (Here, as well as a couple in Alaska, go figure) told me I must be doing well. "You bought a house and a dump truck, good choices!"
Truck has a bad shutdown solenoid that needs zip tied to keep running (easy fix), CTIS doesn't work and is currently disabled, one fuel tank is still full of JP8, tank selector switch stuck on the other tank, could use tires, leaking axle seal or two and by now is starting to really be able to use some paint.
In this state I need a Class B to legally drive her without going historic, so planning to get mileage plates eventually. Money and licensure no object, I may just end up with the thing as a semi daily driver. As luck has it, I've always lived car-less, even now, so it'll be the first vehicle I own that actually runs. I've never owned a civilian vehicle. "My first running vehicle, at 23 years old, was a 30 year old army dump truck".
If it wasn't for some initial rabbit-hole-diving in late 2014, all of this would have never happened to me.
Some special thanks due, in no particular order: 98G, RKrug, MwMules, 19Kilo, 86M1008, Jeepsinker, and some others that aren't on here.
Not sure what highest priorities are on the truck at first, as she'll probably sit for a bit and hopefully not annoy the neighbors or the city code officer (Luckily, I am on really good terms with them, as a neighbor down the street, and they're happy I bought the previously empty for years, blighted house and am fixing it up).
I need a dump truck anyway for some of the dirt work I will have to do- breaking concrete and digging up the sewer line and filling in an old septic come to mind. Besides, since I'd like to move out of Illinois, the truck will be what carries my belongings when I move elsewhere- hopefully for something related to army trucks, as has caused most of my other moves.
I am sure lots of searching Steel Soldiers and asking of questions will follow shortly. I should own this thing in like 48 hours if all goes well. Exciting yet nerve racking.
Code here requires either plate it or cover it. Any suggestions on covering one of these trucks? Might stop the rain anyway which is a plus on these. Large car canopy maybe? Anyone on here have any suggestions? What did the military use besides the obvious camo netting? For now, I have to shove it next to my 2 story, hip roof Craftsman on a postage-stamp lot in town.
