Owning a historic military vehicle such as a 2 1/2-ton truck, commonly called a deuce-anda-half, or simply a deuce, in both the military and HMV hobby — a nickname apparently coined during the early 1950s — means different things to different people. Some folks enjoy all the time and energy that goes into doing a complete restoration. For others, the primary reason for owning a deuce is to drive it; and one doesn’t have to drive the Burma Road to enjoy the experience: it can be just as much fun for some people to drive their GMC CCKW, Studebaker US-6 or Reo M35 20 miles to a swap meet or show as it is for others to spend a week exploring the desert in their M35A1, A2, A3, GMC M211, or International M-5-6.
I’ve put many happy miles on various HMVs over the years and learned a lot about keeping them mission capable. One of the most important things is that an HMV owner should be as self-sufficient as practical when it comes to on-board tools and spare parts. They should also possess — or learn — basic mechanical skills, including how to troubleshoot, service, and repair their vehicle. It’s also important to fully prepare the vehicle before embarking; and the longer the proposed journey, the more thorough that preparation should be. No matter where or how far you’re going, you’ll be traveling in a fairly rare and vintage vehicle; and replacement parts and components — such as water and fuel pumps, generators, starters, fan belts, tune-up items, and even head or tail lamp bulbs —-won’t be found at most auto-mart stores along the way. This scarcity of parts is offset
