From your questions, it seems like you are pretty new to military vehicles. Please excuse me if I'm wrong on that, but I'll answer as if you are pretty new. I'm not all that experienced myself, but my father is, and I've driven some of his, and am working on getting two Deuces myself. I've learned the rest on this site.
Fees: GL charges 10% of the selling price for their fee. So if you win an $1100 truck, you'll be paying $1210 for it. Add to that any local sale's tax, and GL does add it in. I had to pay 7% iirc for the one in N.J., but no tax was charged for my Kentucky Deuce.
Don't go by the starting bids for anything except trailers. Deuces seem to go from $900-$4000+ depending on condition, location, luck, and truck options. A3s are the highest priced. You can find a decent Deuce for $1000-$1500 pretty easily. But keep in mind, when bidding through GL, you never know what you'll get. You can save money, but you are taking a chance. Don't assume they are drivable, even if they say they were driven in. Use the description as a rough guide only. Also they often list options wrong. I've seen them say a truck had a winch when it didn't, etc. Go by the pictures.
Driving a Deuce: Have you ever driven one? If not, you are in for a big surprise. They are actually pretty easy to drive, except for 1 big thing- no power steering! On the road this isn't an issue, but moving around a parking lot is a challenge. The first time you need to make a quick turn you'll be quite surprised. They also have a huge turning radius.
Bad weather: If the truck has NDTs (the old-style bias ply tires, Non Directional Tread) then it will suck on plowed roads that are slick. I've heard they can be slippery just on wet roads! Radials are a bit better. For snow driving, you can get better traction by "singling them out". If you've ever driven a 1-ton dually in the snow you'll know how bad a dually is for traction. The rear floats but doesn't bite down. The Deuce is easily set up for single rear wheel by flipping the hubs.
Daily Driver: Forget it unless you like to abuse yourself. To start with the trucks have NO insulation. They are noisy all the time, cold in the winter and hot in the summer. If you can live with that (like me...I, for some reason, thrive on abuse) then you still have the size. Forget parking spaces. You'll take 2. See above comments about navigating around a parking lot. This can be made easier by "bobbing" it...do a search on this site for lots of info about that. That would make it steer better, drive better and easier, fit in regular parking spaces, etc. It would be more like driving a 1-ton truck...except rough, loud, and drafty.
Off Road: That depends on the kinds of trails you have. These trucks are pretty big and don't turn tight. If your trails are tight and twisty, forget a Deuce. But if you have larger, wider trails it would probably work. In stock form with NDT tires, they aren't a tank off road like you would think they are. They are good, but not great. Most 1-ton trucks could do as well. A slightly lifted 1-ton with good tires and lockers will walk all over a stock Deuce off road. Of course by upgrading the Deuce it can do better. Larger radial tires, for example, is a good upgrade.
You can't really compare a Deuce to a Suburban, etc. but I'll try:
Cargo capacity: The Deuce will hold tons more (literally) but unless you have cargo bows and canvas, it will be in the weather. Forget interior storage- unless it fits in the glove box, its going in the bed.
Seating: Obviously the Deuce doesn't compare.
Driving: See my comments above.
Maintnance: Maintenance level on the Deuce isn't too bad, but for just about anything that breaks, you'll be ordering it in and waiting. Parts aren't all that expensive, its locating them quickly that can be the problem.
Insurance: Do some searches on here. Insurance has been a big topic lately. Its not that it comes out all that expensive...and an A3 shouldn't cost any more than an A2...its finding an insurance company that will insure it, especially for daily driver use. Most companies will only insure it cheaply as a collector/antique vehicle, and require that it be kept in a locked garage, and only driven to and from specialty events like parades and shows. Forget hauling home supplies from Home Depot. I got lucky though with a New England insurer.
Your best bet is to ask on here to find someone local to you, and see if they will take you for a ride, or better yet, let you try driving their truck. Only then will you understand.
Good luck, I'm sure lots of others will be jumping in.
Jim
