Driving an M35A2 300 miles home

[Crestonean]

Drove to Rio Rancho, NM on Earth Day to pick up my "new" '68 M35A2 with the D turbo. After spending an hour or so pre-tripping and road testing, we started back to Colorado, keeping to older two-lanes as much as possible. The drive through northern New Mexico, through quiet towns on a winding, hilly 45 mph road was perfect for getting to know the truck. The sweet spot seemed to be around 48mph, and with a couple of stops to stretch and get the earmuffs off, we were home in about 8 hours. Looking at the dash plate now, I notice the max speed is listed at 56mph, but I'm kind of glad I took things a little easier.

It's a good truck - it runs great, doesn't leave any drips on the driveway, and looks pretty good sitting in the neighborhood. I'll be getting a road draft tube right away, then putting a cargo cover on, over those unusual steel sides. The center seating framework slides out after removing four bolts, which will make refinishing the seats easier.

I'll be making a lot of use of the T.M.'s and posts here to go through the brakes and fuel systems, and I'm sure a lot of other stuff as well.

Here are a couple of shots, after last night's snowstorm.

Harry

 

[FloridaAKM]

What a great looking truck & it got you home without any problems, congratulations are in order for you. I may have an upcoming trip of just a little further distance than yours was, to do a recovery also. Hope I have the same story by the time I get home.

What's all the white stuff all over your truck & woodpile? Its 90 degrees here in Florida & dry!

 

[M35A2-AZ]

Looks like a great truck!!!

 

[dmetalmiki]

congratulations

Looks like a great truck!!!

nice truck. sounds like that was a satisfactory and rewarding trip
. and yes you are right to say " the unusual sides" neat..a one off.

 

[RodUSMC1962]

Congrats on the truck and recovery!

 

[whiskey357]

your new truc k looks super....Glad to see you hd a fun ride home also ......whats up with the ides?????haven't seen that before>>>>

 

[steelandcanvas]

Congratulations on a successful recovery.

 

[Scar59]

Neat truck, need to research those side panels. Are they steel or wood? As for the snow, you can have it , we're cutting grass now.
JC

 

[DieselBob]

Great looking truck. Interesting bed sides to be sure. Good to hear the return trip went smoothly.

 

[Crestonean]

Thanks for the comments!

That white stuff on the truck is what passes for "spring showers" at 8300'.

As for those sides, they're heavy gauge steel and really well made. There's a window for each of six soldiers to look out of when they're sitting on the center mounted seats. Maybe it was an idea for better outward visibility in convoys. The truck came out of Ft. Sill a few years ago, but I haven't been able to find any more information on it.

Harry

 

[bonedoc]

Congratulations on your recovery. I'll be making one of similar distance, about 400 miles in a few weeks. Glad to hear all went well.