.MIL VEHICLES

[Papa]

At Tankfest Saturday saw a number of privately owned WWII Jeeps, Kubelwagen, and halftracks (tanks, too, including a T34).

Any on WT have direct experience with running, feeding and maintaining WWII Jeeps and Kubelwagen? How tough to keep 'em running? Are they worth the trouble?

[Ted Demosthenes]

At Tankfest Saturday saw a number of privately owned WWII Jeeps, Kubelwagen, and halftracks (tanks, too, including a T34).

Any on WT have direct experience with running, feeding and maintaining WWII Jeeps and Kubelwagen? How tough to keep 'em running? Are they worth the trouble?

P-Deppity
I know old VW and Porsche systems pretty well. If you buy a half-track, I’ll learn!!

[Greg Nichols]

WWll jeeps are just pan head 4cyl, and the kubelvagon was marketed domestically as the VW Thing for years. Both are pretty easy to maintain, have factory and aftermarket parts.

[choirboy]

Papa,

I was a big kid who went through puberty circa 5th grade, mid 60 ish. I worked my Uncle Mike's farm. A mere 7 miles by bicycle from home. Uncle Mike did some logging on the side. Unc's rule was your feet had to reach the pedals to run equipment-- what were child labor laws?-- Unc had two WWII Halftracks and one APC that had the top burned off. All had home built booms working off of the PTO winches. Yep I was a 5th grader who ran halftarcks. Unc did not trust my loading on his flatbed, but I could stack logs after I was done "topping".

I am "Offended" by two TV commercials by insurance companies that have a broad praising her carrier because they had a service for "little Johhny" to come home safe because HE COULD NOT CHANGE A FLAT. WTF????

Perhaps my EOW is more of a Blessing than I want to consider.

Choirboy

[Papa]

P-Deppity
I know old VW and Porsche systems pretty well. If you buy a half-track, I’ll learn!!

Was Sd.Kfz. 7 fixated. How would this look in black and white?

55776

[Papa]

Papa,

I was a big kid who went through puberty circa 5th grade, mid 60 ish. I worked my Uncle Mike's farm. A mere 7 miles by bicycle from home. Uncle Mike did some logging on the side. Unc's rule was your feet had to reach the pedals to run equipment-- what were child labor laws?-- Unc had two WWII Halftracks and one APC that had the top burned off. All had home built booms working off of the PTO winches. Yep I was a 5th grader who ran halftarcks. Unc did not trust my loading on his flatbed, but I could stack logs after I was done "topping".

I am "Offended" by two TV commercials by insurance companies that have a broad praising her carrier because they had a service for "little Johhny" to come home safe because HE COULD NOT CHANGE A FLAT. WTF????

Perhaps my EOW is more of a Blessing than I want to consider.

Choirboy

No way, brother. We need you here.

When I lived in Indiana I found a White halftrack rusting quietly next to a covered bridge on a country road. I remember from some unremembered source that Indiana banned private ownership of AFVs under Dillinger-days law.

[choirboy]

The motors were all White buck and a half horse. There were many deuce & a halfs floating then; that is where Unc got engine parts.

A muddy boot slipping off of both track brakes caused a nasty turn which is why Unc did not have me loading logs to the only "reasonably" street legal truck in his inventory.

I remember a Copperhead coming out of a salvage engine block that I was drawing down on with my "K-22". Unc blocked and refreshed my memory on "splash" and whacked it with a tire iron.

To be young again.
Choirboy

[EDELWEISS]

I went through some serious jonesing for an armored vehicle. I came really close to dropping coin on a Brit Saladin. In the end getting British parts was what stopped me. The EASY Button for military vehicles is the Deuce (M35 2 1/2 ton), they are cheap as in under $5K in running condition. No they aren't WW2, if that matters but still pretty cool, especially if you wanna build one into a gun truck. When I was looking, to get insurance, it was either full coverage as a regular work type truck or if you wanted "Historical/Show vehicle" insurance it had to be garage kept--which wasn't so easy with a Deuce.

I ultimately decided to build a modern version of a SAS style gun Jeep. I used a 2006 Wrangler (ordered from the factory with Right Hand Drive) then added a MG pedestal, a second spare tyre mounted on the hood and a rear facing double MG mount (for twin AKs with a Gatling crank), and lots of gas cans. I re-painted it flat tan. Not MilSurp but cool and waaay easier to get parts. IF I were doing it again, Id do a 4Dr Pick Up as more practical--still might someday

[Ted Demosthenes]

WWll jeeps are just pan head 4cyl, and the kubelvagon was marketed domestically as the VW Thing for years. Both are pretty easy to maintain, have factory and aftermarket parts.

Yup; a Thing would be reasonably easy to Kubel-up!

[callmebubba]

I went through some serious jonesing for an armored vehicle. I came really close to dropping coin on a Brit Saladin. In the end getting British parts was what stopped me. The EASY Button for military vehicles is the Deuce (M35 2 1/2 ton), they are cheap as in under $5K in running condition. No they aren't WW2, if that matters but still pretty cool, especially if you wanna build one into a gun truck. When I was looking, to get insurance, it was either full coverage as a regular work type truck or if you wanted "Historical/Show vehicle" insurance it had to be garage kept--which wasn't so easy with a Deuce.

I ultimately decided to build a modern version of a SAS style gun Jeep. I used a 2006 Wrangler (ordered from the factory with Right Hand Drive) then added a MG pedestal, a second spare tyre mounted on the hood and a rear facing double MG mount (for twin AKs with a Gatling crank), and lots of gas cans. I re-painted it flat tan. Not MilSurp but cool and waaay easier to get parts. IF I were doing it again, Id do a 4Dr Pick Up as more practical--still might someday

Somewhere I have a picture of the trucks the Afghans supported by 3 letter agencies had. It was a 4 door Toyota Hilux with a basic bench seat across the front of the bed and a MG pintle centered on the bed. I’ll try and run it down.

[EDELWEISS]

Yup; a Thing would be reasonably easy to Kubel-up!

There used to be Thing conversion kits, to make them look more Kubel; but they aren't the same--if that really matters. Also keep in mind the Thing had a limited run. Parts aren't the easiest to find.


Somewhere I have a picture of the trucks the Afghans supported by 3 letter agencies had. It was a 4 door Toyota Hilux with a basic bench seat across the front of the bed and a MG pintle centered on the bed. I’ll try and run it down.

Yep that was my idea. The Hilux isn't US approved for import; but there are other do-able options, especially since it doesn't have to be an exact match of a particular issued vehicle. Back when I was toying with the build, I ran across a used civilian H2 Hummer at a really good price. My son was still too young to drive; but knew it would eventually be his if I bought it for the conversion project. We went to take it for a test drive and he said, "No Dad this isn't for us". I couldn't understand why, then he pointed out that the sun roof was too far forward over the front seat and it wouldn't be possible to mount/use an MG pedestal...

[45Smashemflat]

Power wagons can still be found....

[steve_k]

You going to get one ready for display for the East County open house?

[Papa]

You going to get one ready for display for the East County open house?

Maybe the Sultan Shindig...

I had a 181 (Thing) in the late 70s. It had the gasoline heater, timed to malfunction just as soon as I got into the mountains in PA. I have never been so cold in my life, even when I fell through the ice in an upstate New York lake or when I swam in Lake Superior.

I couldn't afford the 3-motor rotation (one in the car, one in my garage, one in the shop) so I sold it. They're still out there, including FROG surplus. But GI Jeeps are, too--sometimes cheaper.

[chad newton]

If you are going to get a Jeep, get a new one. Not only do they work better and longer, they 4x better. Half tracks and stuff like that I have no idea. I always thought a Duce and half(or whatever you call them) would be pretty cool to have. Parts would be the hardest part with any of the old stuff, just because they are military dosnt mean they won’t break, they are old.

[steve_k]

Maybe the Sultan Shindig...

I had a 181 (Thing) in the late 70s. It had the gasoline heater, timed to malfunction just as soon as I got into the mountains in PA. I have never been so cold in my life, even when I fell through the ice in an upstate New York lake or when I swam in Lake Superior.

I couldn't afford the 3-motor rotation (one in the car, one in my garage, one in the shop) so I sold it. They're still out there, including FROG surplus. But GI Jeeps are, too--sometimes cheaper.

Will you be at the open house in Sultan? Might have to swing by.

Things are cool! But still carry a hefty price it seems.

I use to help out a friend with his 68 Unimog radio truck. Easy to work on and service for the most part. And a blast to cruise around town.

[Papa]

Will you be at the open house in Sultan? Might have to swing by.

God willing, and the river don't rise, and if I can keep the lid on the King beat that Friday afternoon.

[M1A's r Best]

I always thought those "5/4" trucks (Kaiser built, look very similar to the Jeep Gladiator 4WD pickups) would be nice to have. Just never got around to buying one.

I also really like the looks of the 2&1/2's with one axle removed, the frame shortened and one of those big trailer beds bolted to the frame. I saw one awhile back while taking a drive through the country and almost stopped to take a look.

However, if I get another truck to replace that 1/2 ton Chevy 4WD I'm working on now (the more I drive it, the more it breaks, or so it seems) it'll be a Ford crew cab diesel with an 8 ft. bed. A truck is meant to haul stuff and I'm not interested in the "short" bed trucks for hauling stuff.

[H60DoorGunner]

Old Jeeps are easy to work on, the problem is finding parts. They exist, but they're expensive and you have to hunt them down.

A "best" all around option would be to find an M38 and put a Cummins R2.8 in it and a Muncie 4spd. You'd have a jeep that looks classic army(or whatever your service of choice is), but keeps up with modern traffic and is easy to work on.

Those old jeep repro tires you see are bias ply... so they look cool AF, but they aren't as durable as radials, nor as smooth a ride.

If you want a jeep, buy one, build it up and drive it. The cons to driving an old car can be shrugged off if you enjoy it enough. All JMO though... I like old cars

[H60DoorGunner]

...The Hilux isn't US approved for import; but there are other do-able options, especially since it doesn't have to be an exact match of a particular issued vehicle. Back when I was toying with the build, I ran across a used civilian H2 Hummer at a really good price. My son was still too young to drive; but knew it would eventually be his if I bought it for the conversion project. We went to take it for a test drive and he said, "No Dad this isn't for us". I couldn't understand why, then he pointed out that the sun roof was too far forward over the front seat and it wouldn't be possible to mount/use an MG pedestal...

My brother has an 86 Toyota Pickup, that we swapped a Cummins 4BT into. It looks as similar to an overseas Hilux as you can get, and the turbo 4BT outperforms the Toyota 3B and 4B motors IMO. Also an option if you want a similar look with equivalent performance.

[jesselp]

How about this:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-land-rover-shortland-armored-car/

[Johnny C!]

I had a 1942 Ford Jeep for a few years.
45 mph was top speed for me on the
road. I sold several years ago. I have a
'97 Wrangler now. The '42 was fun, but
having a fully road worthy modern jeep
is way more practical.

I also have 2016 Honda Pioneer 1000
3 seater. It's a tank in itself. Point it
where you want to go & gas it.

I took this photo for the convertables
thread & just remembered it.55788