Hello Austin! Welcome aboard, and I'm glad to see another relatively close Military Vehicle enthusiast!
Let me share with you a few things that I've learned with owning a deuce in Utah.
Please note, the follow are my
opinions and
experiences and may still contain inaccuracies, please call the appropriate agencies or visit their websites to verify for yourself.
- Don't forget insurance
- I've found that many companies will not insure my Deuce and a Half (Geiko, American Family Insurance, Travelers, Farmers, to name a few) Allstate said they could, but it would be through a "sister company". I wasn't comfortable with that arrangement so I went with a local State Farm office (I wanted something available locally anyway).
- Because of the weight, State Farm would only insure it under a Commercial policy, which is about double rates, however, they let me suspend my insurance for up to 6 months. I do so during the winter months so the wonderful salty-brine UDoT puts on our roads, for the drivers who can't say 'No' to leaving earlier or the gas peddle, won't rust my awesome truck further.
- VERY IMPORTANT: Please be aware that if you suspend the insurance on a currently registered vehicle longer than (I believe) 90 days, you will be sent a letter from Insure-Rite (Insure-Rite Home), stating that the records show that you have a registered vehicle WITHOUT insurance. I'm not sure how it works, how how they can legally do it with no proof of wrong doing, but your registration may be REVOKED or you may be FINED $100. You just need to call the number in the letter and let them know the vehicle is SEASONAL use only.
- I recommend the higher 100/300 liability insurance because, well, regardless at who is at fault, in an accident (unless you flip on your roof), you probably won't be the bigest loser...
- Registration
- I had absolutely no problems registering my 1972 M35A2, using the serial number found on the top of the driver's side frame rail, above the front axle - this is the one you should use because sometimes it doesn't match the data plate in the cab. Bonus if they do match!
- I opted to register my truck for about 18,000 lb gross, because I do not expect to haul more weight than that (that's about 4,000 to 4,500 additional pounds), but I wanted the option to legally do so. This weight costs about $150 (total registration fee).
- This year I looked into registering my truck as an "Antique". I was told that it only need to be at least 30 years old, however there are ambiguous restrictions that apply (such as "Only used for occasional transportation, is primarily a collector's item and used for Events, Parades, Shows, and Public Display"). I wasn't comfortable with "fuzzy" laws, however, I do agree with many on Steel Soldiers that state "Whenever I drive my deuce, it's on public display!" - this is because so many people (even police officers) will go out of their way to talk to you and ask you "Why?" or "What do you do with it?" questions.
- Utah Safety Inspection
- This one has been the hardest for me, not because the truck has trouble passing our many, many laws, but because many shops will try to get extra money out of you, or require modifications that by law, you do not need to do.
- You will need a licensed "Heavy" inspector since the braking system is Air Assisted, and they'll probably place a 2"x3" sticker in the corner of your Driver's windshield or side window.
- My first experience with this problem was King's First Stop Auto in Layton, UT (besides the fact that the fellow told me I didn't have front brakes !?!) he told me that he'd need to take off the tires from a rear axle to check the brakes, which, I believe (I may be wrong?) would break the hub seal and then a new gasket would be needed and I would incur at least $160 in shop labor and parts. And I would need to do that every year for a $17.00 safety inspection? NO THANK YOU.
- I then had Boyce Equipment in Ogden (I see that you know about them) do my safety for the last two years, but I will not go back there again. A very long story short, their inspector staunchly insisted that my M35A2 required additional running lights on the front fenders and rear of the bed, clearance lights on top of the hard top cab, and a light bar on the back center of the bed. He absolutely, 100% positively, refused to listen to reason or call the Utah Department of Public Safety Admin (801-965-4461). I cannot stress to you more that those modifications are not required for a personally owned truck not used for commercial purposes (it may be if you plan to use the truck commercially, you'll have to check). Both the Department of Public Safety Admin and an in-person visit by a county Trooper confirmed this for me.
- I recommend finding a diesel repair shop that works on fleet trucks, such as Transtech Diesel in Clearfield, UT (sadly, probably too far for you...). The owner there informed me that you can check the rear brakes from looking behind and under the truck and you do not need to pull off any tires (FYI: There is an inspection port held on with a single bolt accessible from the exterior of the front wheels that you can open to inspect the front brakes).
- Depending on the shop you go to, you may need to install a license plate light. I bought this 24v one: Licence Plate Light, 1-60151
- My brother fabricated me a plate which I've mounted the license plate and light to. I then mounted the plate on the 2 bolts that hold the Driver's side tail light, and I piggy backed off the wiring there so that the license plate light is powered when I have my headlights on. Ask if you would like some pictures.
- Weigh Stations?
- I'm no professional driver, and was a bit concerned and confused that the sign for weigh stations would say "All Vehicles 10,000 lb+ gross exit". I have personally called the weigh stations in Southern and Northern Utah, and a weigh station in each of our neighboring states that I would likely drive passed some day: Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Each weigh station told me the same thing, that only commercial vehicles need to worry about exiting.
- Need a CDL or a different class to drive a Deuce and a Half?
- In Utah you do not. Your regular Class D driver's license is sufficient. My deuce specifies it has a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of about 23,500 lbs, I only pay the registration fees up to about 18,000 lbs. A CDL (or Class C) is for commercial vehicles and vehicles above 26,000 GVW.
- Cool chart: Utah Department of Public Safety
- You also do not need to worry about keeping some sort of log book or fuel tags/stickers.
- Local restrictions?
- I strongly suggest calling your City office or local police station and asking if there are any vehicle restrictions. Things that may be restricted (ideas to ask about) are: Weight, height, width, length, noise, and even the number of axles. It all depends on how the law/ordinance is written, such as, there may be no restrictions on length or weight of the vehicle, but if you ask about the number of axles the person may say "Oh, yeah, no more than two axles..."
- Talk to you neighbors, or be on good grounds with them. If you're not on favorable terms, buck up, approach them and see if the disagreement can be settled. If you're already having problems with them you wouldn't want to add more salt to the wound or give them "undo noise!!" or "unsightly blemish!" to complain about to your local law enforcement. Tell them of your interested in these cool, and historic, service vehicles. Tell them how you do not wish to cause them inconvenience or irritation and apologize if you need to leave early in the morning. I installed a small Dynomax muffler (see my profile album pictures) that takes the "bite" out of the Deuce exhaust noise.
You may feel differently about Deuce ownership than I do, but I had to go through all that legal research first, as I didn't want to get in over my head or be surprised later by some major requirement or stopping block that would impede or greatly diminish my enjoyment of owning such a cool, fun, and historic truck!
Oh, you were asking about mechanical things to look for?? Well, barking up the wrong tree here...
I can only mention the basics that you'll probably, already know to look for. The truck may drive and run, but here's a few other things that may cause you heartache later: