Military deuce and a half what is it rated for

old · Sep 15, 2011

Friend just got one and I get the fun of helping him bring it home. He says it will not take a CDL to drive it and be legal but I am thinking it will be rated at over 26,000 which would mean a CDL to drive it. So what is a deuce and a half rated for??
Thanks

bill mart · Sep 15, 2011

i have been led to believe under 26,000 . bill m.

RyanTN · Sep 15, 2011

Here is a link with specs...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M35_2½_ton_cargo_truck

HELO · Sep 15, 2011

The M35 2 1/2 ton truck is called a "deuce and a half" because it's rated to haul two and one half tons (5,000 lbs) of cargo cross country or five tons (10,000 lbs) on prepared roads. The basic weight of the truck is 13530 lbs if it has a winch and assuming it has the standard 8' X 12' bed and canvas tops. (not a dump box or some other configuration) Sooo, if you add some fuel and driver(s) and put 10,000 lbs on it, it will not come up to 26,000 lbs. Overloading?? A different story. They'll hold together with a lot more on board. But, do some damage to an overloaded truck and you could face court martial and $$$$$.

Doug in Illinois · Sep 15, 2011

I agree with previous replies, should not need a CDL.

What year is it, meaning what engine and transmission? The fire dept I was on back in Nebraska had one for a tanker with a 1500 gallon tank. Top speed was about 45 MPH, climbing out of the valley we were in took about a mile to reach 30 MPH.

The newer ones are better from what I have heard, but none of them set any speed records. Hope it is not too far away or it will be a long day bringing it home.

Just curious, what is it going to be used for? Farm truck, water wagon, parade truck, trailer puller or ???.

Wish I could go with you to get it, I miss driving the old girl even with all her faults. There was no place she wouldn't go within reason. Nearly perfect grass fire fighting rig. DOUG

Jimmy King · Sep 16, 2011

I drove one from the get on at St Roberts, MO to Springfield, MO with my foot on the floor, trying to catch the convoy. Speedometer was on 59MPH.

El Toro · Sep 16, 2011

We tested those trucks back in the late 50's and into the 60's. They had a Continental multifuel engine. I think they were 465cid engines. Germany outlawed their use do to the heavy smoke when in convoy. We ran drawbar on them using three different fuels gas, diesel and cite. Hal

Welding man · Sep 16, 2011

Don't know what he is going to use it for but if he licenses it as an antique or historical vehicle he doesn't need a CDL, in most states. If it is for farm use some states also have farm exemptions. It he is going to use it commercially he may need will need one.

oldtanker · Sep 16, 2011

The last of em, rebuilt in the early 70's and later in good condition would run about 65 WOT in good condition. If it's the turbo model (clean air engine) it's diesel only. They did away with the multi fuel engines in the 80's and due to the draw down in the 90's when the Army went from 800,000 to 450,000 then to 400,000 were replaced with the "new" 5 ton.

Nothing really wrong with em except the ride, seats, steering and lack of AC....ROFL!

RIck

David Goode · Sep 16, 2011

I have a good friend who owns one in Illinois, has driven it to Iowa and Wisconsin before and knows for a fact you do not need a CDL. Easy and fun truck to drive.

oldtanker · Sep 16, 2011

(quoted from post at 19:09:36 09/15/11) Friend just got one and I get the fun of helping him bring it home. He says it will not take a CDL to drive it and be legal but I am thinking it will be rated at over 26,000 which would mean a CDL to drive it. So what is a deuce and a half rated for??
Thanks

That's going to depend on how it's licensed. In my state if regular plates are put on it requires a class B license because its tandem axle. SO check the type of plates going on it and the state/states it's going to be driven in.

Rick

greygoat · Sep 16, 2011

You'll find some good photo's and information on
the web site www.steelsoldiers.com. I, for one,
would like to have a "Bobtailed" one, where they
go to only 1 rear axle, and shorten the box!
I put my share of miles on a REO, with a multi-
fuel Continental engine, in Korea.

old · Sep 16, 2011

This truck from what my friend told me has a Cat. engine and an Allison automatic transmission with a high/low which I figure is part of the 6 wheel drive system. Guess I will know a lot more about it on Tuesday when I get to see it in person and most likely drive it to my place to see if I can make it into a dumb truck

larry@stinescorner · Sep 16, 2011

my friend has one here in nj and has hitorical plates on it and no cdl, he made a camper out of it

shaun wallace · Sep 16, 2011

If Missouri still tags trucks as they did 30 years ago you could put 24,000# plates and might be good. I couldnt drive tractor dealership F600 taged for that without chauffers lisence.

old · Sep 16, 2011

Ya I have had a chauffeurs license since I was 16 year old due to what I drove back then and then when the CDL came out I grand fathered into a class A and the only thing I am not legal in is a school bus and haz-mat

Military deuce and a half what is it rated for

old

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bill mart

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RyanTN

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HELO

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Doug in Illinois

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Jimmy King

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El Toro

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Welding man

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oldtanker

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David Goode

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oldtanker

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greygoat

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old

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larry@stinescorner

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shaun wallace

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old

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