Will the M35 Be enough?

[Godspilot]

Hi All,
So glad to be on here, I've been reading for many hours on this site and love all the info I am finding. I do not own any MVs yet but have been looking at them for a few years and I am hoping to buy one this year. I believe that a M35A2 with the LTD 465 multi-fuel engine will work for my needs, but need some input on this. Definitely want a Multi fuel.....but mainly because I think they are cool. Will probably be using black diesel filtered with a centrifuge to keep costs down, so a regular diesel will work. Things I plan on doing with the truck: Tow service for my shop (flat bed or trailer?), Plowing out the parking lot in the winter (haven't found any plows or plow mounts yet), pulling my farming friends out of wet fields (Need Winch), Back up power (can you hook a Generator up to the PTO?) and Handling and transportation of 40FT shipping containers (will this truck be big enough for this or do I need a 5 or 10 ton?).
ANY input will be greatly appreciated. I don't know whitch truck I need to be looking for based on all the things I need to do. I would rather not buy two trucks but don't want one so big that its hard to get around.
Thanks in advance and I will be looking forward to Y'alls input.

 

[Coffey1]

5 Ton but I am bias the 5 ton is auto and power steering heavier truck for pushing snow not multi-fuel but a great truck. had deuce before 5 ton and don"t get me wrong I loved it too but I could not go back to it.

 

[Godspilot]

I really don't like autos. Me and autos just never seem to get along. Do they make a 5 ton in a manual?

 

[Coffey1]

yes the older ones and still have a deuce look

 

[RodUSMC1962]

Can`t go wrong with either, suggest buying both. Tell wife to get over it. Have heated garage just in case.

 

[rosco]

Welcome to the sight. You have a big bill of needs for either. Be cautious about trying to do everything with one vehicle. Either will fill the bill, but keep in mind that a 5 Ton, will make a Deuce look like a Town Car. Be selective when buying & beware of "deferred maintenance", even on the best of them. You will have plenty to do to them, to get them into dependable status. For back up power, just get a MEP 002, or 003. You will be happier. And don't buy anything, that doesn't have a clear title! You will probably have to pay more for a Deuce. You will most likely need (best to have one), a CDL, for the 5 Ton. Good Luck!

 

[Godspilot]

Not worried about looks as much as function and cheap parts. How will the M35A2 do pulling a 40ft conex?
Did they make a M35 size in a tractor type? I am wondering if this might be better for all the different jobs I will be using it for. A tractor with a snow plow might look a little funny. Also, a tractor and all wheel drive might be hard to find........I need to do some more googling.

 

[Coffey1]

A tractor alone I don"t think would be a good plow no weight on rear = no traction And The tractors as far I know are all 6x6

 

[Godspilot]

.....but keep in mind that a 5 Ton, will make a Deuce look like a Town Car.

Were you referring to towing capability, maneuvering capability, or both?

 

[rosco]

Were you referring to towing capability, maneuvering capability, or both?

Parked side by side! The big one will do more -- no question, but you should have lots to do with it to. The Deuce will probably be a better starter truck for you to gain experience in, with better economy too.

 

[Sephirothq]

sent pm

 

[Godspilot]

Thanks for all the info guys. This type of prospective is hard to just get on Google. I think i will go with a M35A2 with a M1022 conex dolly unless there is another conex dolly that is older/cheaper. Next I need to find a land dolly with a pintle hitch. (really expensive)
Most military trailers are so high off the ground that a normal car will bottom out trying to pull them on. Any suggestions?

 

[gimpyrobb]

If you want to haul a trailer, TMamerica here on the site, just over in Indy sells "hitch kits" for the deuce.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?90898-deuce-receiver-hitch-kits&highlight=hitch

 

[wreckerman893]

If you try to pull a 40 foot connex with a deuce and dolly you are going to be very unhappy.

The standard deuce engine has around 140 HP on a good day. Even if you swapped an LDS that has around 200 HP you are still going to be a toad in the road.

Unless you have a lot of ballast in the bed a loaded connex will shove you all over the road. A cargo truck does not have a "Johnny Bar" or "Hand Valve" that allows you to apply the brakes on the tow dolly separately from the truck.

The first time you drop off a big hill, check your rearview mirror, and see that rig trying to pass you will immediately suffer from "Pucker Factor 10", explosive defecation or both. And backing up is almost impossible, you do not want to get a rig like that in a bad place.

I pull a 32 foot van trailer with my M927 and a tow dolly and I always think way ahead of where I am to keep from getting in a bind.

A long wheel base truck may be an issue plowing snow due to turning radius. You might consider a tractor and have some way to set a few thousand pounds of ballast on the 5th wheel. The advantage with a tractor is that you can pull a step deck or rail trailer to haul the connex on.

I have an M275 Deuce tractor for sale if you're interested. Also have a LDS engine for transplant. PM if interested.

 

[Sephirothq]

an LDS is 170 hp at best. You can add a johnny bar to a deuce if you have the parts from a tractor. I have seen one installed It just takes a little bit of work.

 

[Godspilot]

If you try to pull a 40 foot connex with a deuce and dolly you are going to be very unhappy.

The standard deuce engine has around 140 HP on a good day. Even if you swapped an LDS that has around 200 HP you are still going to be a toad in the road.

Unless you have a lot of ballast in the bed a loaded connex will shove you all over the road. A cargo truck does not have a "Johnny Bar" or "Hand Valve" that allows you to apply the brakes on the tow dolly separately from the truck.

The first time you drop off a big hill, check your rearview mirror, and see that rig trying to pass you will immediately suffer from "Pucker Factor 10", explosive defecation or both. And backing up is almost impossible, you do not want to get a rig like that in a bad place.

I pull a 32 foot van trailer with my M927 and a tow dolly and I always think way ahead of where I am to keep from getting in a bind.

A long wheel base truck may be an issue plowing snow due to turning radius. You might consider a tractor and have some way to set a few thousand pounds of ballast on the 5th wheel. The advantage with a tractor is that you can pull a step deck or rail trailer to haul the connex on.

I have an M275 Deuce tractor for sale if you're interested. Also have a LDS engine for transplant. PM if interested.

Thanks for the info. The 40FT conexs would be moved rarely and never full. I plan on using a few stacked together for an auto shop. If the place I am working at goes under or I decide to move south or west I can fold up and take everything with me. I will have to make more then one trip, but that is a lot better then rebuilding. I hope to have a nice system up in about five years. fold-able and all, like SeaBox. I will need a nice enough setup so that I can take the whole building down and set it back up again by my self. The other option would be to Haul all the conexs to the nearest rail yard and have them shipped while I haul one of them with the house hold goods.

 

[m16ty]

Will the shipping containers be empty? It's going to be a slow go with a deuce pulling even a empty container, if it's loaded you can forget about it.

 

[Godspilot]

Will the shipping containers be empty? It's going to be a slow go with a deuce pulling even a empty container, if it's loaded you can forget about it.

To be honest the conexs will not be empty. don't plan on having them chocked full either. I'm guessing 5-8k each. lots of shop tools.

 

[Godspilot]

The whole conex thing is a big pipe dream. but if it ever does come true then I would like to have the truck to move them.

 

[Godspilot]

Excuse me for asking but what is a johnny bar? All Google gave me was a bunch of gay bars in Chicago.