I am so excited that I bought my deuce. I bought it off government liquidators for $2600 with a hard top, winch, and a heater with 400 hours. All it doesnt have is a whistler. Can I modify the turbo to whistle or do I need to buy one that does? Another thing, what tools/stuff do I need to bring when I pick it up. I live in Texas and I am driving to Kentucky to pick it up.
Congrats on the awesome deal! Next you going to tell me its a drop side too?
Excuse some of the less polite responses, but they do have a point. Has anyone inspected the truck for you? No brakes is a real problem and will be difficult. You only have 10 days to remove your purchase after your EUC clears, so if you plan to drive it, lets say it takes only two days to be ready to go, and another 2 days to get there, you now have 6 days remaining. GL may only allow load out on certen days (My local yard is only Monday Tuesday and Friday.)
If you find it is not able to drive home, you have only 6 days to find a way to get it off the base, then possible storage costs, ect. It can become a mess, VERY fast.
Now, lets say that your brakes feel awesome or just need bled, the truck runs well, and the tires hold air (Less than 30% of the trucks from GL) you still have to consider some things.
Ill start with the simple ones. Battery's may be garbage, that's a large expense, and you don't have time to shop around. Belts are not too much of a problem, but assume they will need to be replaced. Lets say a few of the tires are in terrible shape, just so long as you have six that will hold air, you can pull the bad ones and toss them in the bed.
Have you driven a Deuce before? How many hours experiance do you have? If you are experianced driving one of these, then you COULD (Not saying you should) get a 24v jump start the first time to verify the truck is ready to go, then if your wife/best friend/dad/butt buddy/ect is driving a large pickup or SUV you could plan on bump starting with a strap each time you shut down the engine after leaving. Let me say again, this is only after starting it once with a 24v jump, to verify that the engine runs and is safe to bump start.
A list of common fail parts that could really hinder you:
Battery's
Alt
Tires
Brake lines (Only have a service life of 7 years)
wheel cylinders (Also have rubber pieces that brake down over time and can fail WITH NO WARNING!!!!!!)
Clutch
Fuel pump
Starter
These are just what comes to mind. If you sit down and add up the "What ifs" and the time away from work (Which may or may not apply to you) you will likely decide that you should just have it towed. The risk is your life, the lives of everyone else on that freeway, and if nothing else, you might loose the truck to GL.
That being said, since I know you will not listen, this is what I would do. I would find a member in your area that is the helpful sort, and have them tow you from GL to someplace you can work on the truck. (They may even be awesome enough to tow your truck and then let it sit in their yard till you have time to come get it) Plan 2 days or more for prepping it. You want to pull all six brake drums off, thoroughly inspect all rubber components, adjust and or bleed the brakes, change your fluids and filters, and then assuming your lucky, you'll be almost ready to disembark.
Having a friend riving a full size truck or suv is nice, because they can run block for you, and or they can slowly tug you off the road if necessary.
You now need insurance, and to get a plate for the truck. (Or buy trip permits.) Everything to change a tire, which is not a small job, a spare tire, which you may or may not have. Who knows what lights do or do not work... Ect.
Now, if you have the ability, it will be so much more fun, and so much less trouble, and SO SO SO SO SO much SAFER to have it towed to your home. You will be MUCH happier, check out prices on Uship.com. Even after having it shipped, you have still gotten one insanely good price for that truck.
Best of luck, hope this didnt come out too "Preachy" I did drive mine home after buying it from a private seller, whom told me I should not drive it home. It was 1200 miles, and then within the next month after getting home, I had fuel delivery problems, and then lost all brake pressure. Thank the good Lord for my good fortune on the recovery, but it could have gone horribly wrong. I say this about a truck I had been able to test drive before buying.