Ex army trucks - Are they worth it?

[Peter_n_Margaret]

“Disaster” is perhaps a slight exaggeration.

OK.
Some guys I know were 3/4 of the way across the Simpson in a big rig after having wrecked 3 tyres with stakes with a couple of hundred km to go. Pretty stressful, particularly as there would not be a tyre available for their rig within a couple of thousand km.
We have been across the Simpson several times and never damaged a tyre.

Earlier this year we travelled the southern half of the Canning. No tyre damage. But this was a Dodge Ram. It was the only wider vehicle we saw.
Coincidence? I don't think so.

It stands to reason that if you are wider than most other vehicles then you are at greater risk of tyre damage and that is doubly the case if you are also long which is the case with the vehicles in question, more so than a U500 style vehicle.

Elsewhere, I posted a pic of the Simpson recovery vehicle. Here it is again. This vehicle was purchased new and was originally converted to a motorhome. The owner and his family travelled in it for a year and then removed the motorhome body and converted it to a recovery vehicle because it was too restricted as to where it could go in Oz.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[charlieaarons]

Do you remember the “Watchayoucallit” or something like that?
Pretty sure it was built on a huge ancient British chassis, maybe a MAN-KAT? Really huge.
I will add that Hutchinson wheels are miraculous in terms of being able to change a 100kg tire + 10kg beadlock in the field, with 75yo me directing 4 enthusiastic (incentivized) Namibian cowherders. I highly recommend Astroglide, a silicone lubricant intended for X rated purposes. I used a whole tube.
I cannot imagine the anxiety level that would occur if one had exactly 1 spare and irreversible/unfixable damage were to occur to a tire, in “the middle of nowhere”.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Do you remember the “Watchayoucallit” or something like that?

Yes, I do. Can't remember the name either.
I do recall that the owner re-built it at one stage, taking a couple of metres out of the wheel base.
Not seen or heard of it for many years.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[lost1]

I kinda know that feeling. Middle of nowhere N. Mexico with sidewall gashes from blast rock on a washed-out discontinued route (thanks google maps).

 

[mog]

Sometimes more tires = more flats

 

[frabraha]

Sometimes more tires = more flats
View attachment 861688

Ouch

 

[frabraha]

I kinda know that feeling. Middle of nowhere N. Mexico with sidewall gashes from blast rock on a washed-out discontinued route (thanks google maps).

Where you able to fix it there in the middle of nowhere?

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Sometimes more tires = more flats

One decent stake can destroy every tyre on one side of the vehicle. And you don't need to be on some serious 4WD track either.
I once saw a Porsche towing a tandem glider trailer drive over a tent peg in a camp ground.
Instant destruction of 4 tyres.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[lost1]

Where you able to fix it there in the middle of nowhere?

limped it into a village and then some poor temporary repairs until a vulcanizer was found and it was professionally repaired. The biggest issue is when those giant tires decide that they don't want to stay on the rim bead then you are in for some explosive fun or some very creative inflation strategies. Motorcycle on the bumper makes for a lifesaver but it won't push, pull or carry a punctured truck tire... I should have had 2 spares and inner tubes and some big patches.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Here is an "Ex army truck" that lives in Oz that would be good value.


Check the rear windows........ Probably not original?

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[Tudor Tanase]

Here is an "Ex army truck" that lives in Oz that would be good value.
View attachment 861864

Check the rear windows........ Probably not original?
View attachment 861865View attachment 861866
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

First five kms driving it would be fun... not so sure after that!

 

[charlieaarons]

I think, but not completely sure, that’s an “AEC Matador”.

 

[frabraha]

Looks like a Chevrolet badge at the front.

 

[frabraha]

Here is an "Ex army truck" that lives in Oz that would be good value.
View attachment 861864

Check the rear windows........ Probably not original?
View attachment 861865View attachment 861866
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Our plan is to live in it full time, so those small land rovers and what ever that is, is to small for us.

And for our plan, a 4x4 truck or 6x6 is needed.

Looking at STEYR 1291.320 4x4 or a STEYR 1491.320.P40 6x6, they seem to be a lot cheaper then those Man ex army trucks.

Anyone know how those Steyr trucks are compare to a similar MAN truck?

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Our plan is to live in it full time, so those small land rovers and what ever that is, is to small for us.
And for our plan, a 4x4 truck or 6x6 is needed.

Be careful what you wish for.
The bigger they are, the fewer places they can go.

We are 6m total length 2.2m wide, 4x4, with all comforts, permanently off grid and remote for a month+ at a time.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome