This page is dedicated to information about my deuce-and-a-half. It is equipped with a normally
aspirated multi-fuel engine, air lock transfer case, spring-ride drivers seat and a hard cab.
Yet to be added is a winch, a heater and a double M16 rifle carrier as a more useable toy here
in the north woods. It should do those chores the M37 just cannot quite handle.
The truck still does not have the winch, heater or rifle racks installed, though it does have the
hard top and complete rear canvas with improved troop seats and top bows. In the last couple of
years this truck has seen more miles than any of my other military vehicles. It has participated
in three 'Camp Grayling Color Tours', a few other static shows and has been used for hunting trips
and hauling misc. materials around the state.
Here I am taking the truck around a soft spot to avoid slowing up the rest of the trail ride too
much. On these sandy uphill grades, you have to be prepared to go slow and keep churning to the
top to minimize axle hop, it is not 'if' they will make it, but 'when'. You really have to
drive one of these beasts on the trail to realize what a wonderful piece of engineering they
represent. So far I have driven my M35 series trucks in soft sand, 3 feet of powder snow,
through water and well over a thousand miles of public highways and it continues to amaze me
with its abilities.
One of the interesting features of the M-35 series is the ability to shift between high and low
range while moving at virtually any speed. This feature is something that commercial light-duty
trucks are just beginning to be able to do, the M35's have been doing it since 1951. Another
nice feature of the later M35 series trucks is the air-shift transfer case, this allows the
driver to positively engage the front axle by flipping a lever under the dash. This is much
more reliable than the automatically engaging sprag units used in the older trucks.
The reliable ease of the transfer case to use, the spring-ride drivers seat and the strong LDS465
multi-fuel engine make this truck a real joy to drive on the trail. It has also been very nice
to have a true 'full size' pickup truck around when it comes time to haul things like jeeps,
duece and 5-ton cargo boxes, duck hunting gear and boats, lumber, etc.... Kids also get a real
kick out of riding in it as well.