Fixing an item means you have access to parts. Try calling S&S with a "Im a fire dept, I need part # NSN, and can help me" I bet the last thing you'd hear is laughing as they hung up the phone. Sounds like a page out of the AM General customer service manual.
Hardy. BAE hae been extremely helpful with my truck. I've gotten many parts that I thought might be unobtainium... and there are a few common parts that are unobtainium .
But , BAE also was quite surprise to find such a rare version had been released. It's all on how you present yourself and be patient.
The single item on these trucks that I was worried about is the transmission. Great tranny if working, but I don't want to think of the expense if dead. Everything else can be dealt with. The electrical is my 2nd concern. With 2 voltages in the power distribution box, there are 4 different relays in 12 and 24v and 4 and 5 pin configuration that will easily fit in any of the 20 relay sockets... my one unbreakable rule for anyone helping on the truck is they don't touch the electrics!
I've been reading all the comments on the FMTVs, many are uninformed, and are 2nd hand comments, definately bias.
Think of a mechanic that worked all his life on '60s vintage Ford pickups and suddenly had a late '90s pickup put in front of him... he'll have little nice to say about them.
You'd never buy a Porsche if your mechanic only worked on Hondas
For my personal opinion, they're an overly complicated truck ( blame the spec writers), and some things were poorly done(live and learn
), but I like the trucks overall