Ex army trucks - Are they worth it?

[frabraha]

I have looked at ex army trucks in Europe, many of these are barely used in terms of mileage.
Those who sell these have very high prices for them, they can be 30 - 40 year old trucks that cost 80-90% of what almost new trucks are sold for (Euro5).

Take this one for example:
https://ljacksonandco.com/product/man-kat-a1-6x6-cargo-truck/
They want 65000 euros ex VAT for that one.

And this one they want 52000 euros for:
https://autoline.info/-/sale/military-trucks/Scania/113-320-6x6-2x-IN-STOCK---23103122290381087800

So the question that arises is, are these trucks worth it?
Has anyone bought such old army trucks from these dealers?

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Those who sell these have very high prices for them, they can be 30 - 40 year old trucks that cost 80-90% of what almost new trucks are sold for (Euro5).

I think you are comparing apples and oranges?
Where, exactly, would you need and take such a truck?
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[frabraha]

I think you are comparing apples and oranges?
Where, exactly, would you need and take such a truck?
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Not exactly correct comparison. Those are very similar to "normal" trucks, they just have a little more ground clearance and beefier tires.
And there are plenty of places where you can take such a truck.
But it's not the question I asked.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

To answer your question,
they are worth what someone is WILLING to pay.
Nothing more .

 

[rruff]

So the question that arises is, are these trucks worth it?

I would not buy one for use in North America. I don't know if they are common in other parts of the world... but I've seen MAN chassis under expo campers built in Europe and Australia.

 

[MogsAndDogs]

I have looked at ex army trucks in Europe, many of these are barely used in terms of mileage.
Those who sell these have very high prices for them, they can be 30 - 40 year old trucks that cost 80-90% of what almost new trucks are sold for (Euro5).

Take this one for example:
https://ljacksonandco.com/product/man-kat-a1-6x6-cargo-truck/
They want 65000 euros ex VAT for that one.

And this one they want 52000 euros for:
https://autoline.info/-/sale/military-trucks/Scania/113-320-6x6-2x-IN-STOCK---23103122290381087800

So the question that arises is, are these trucks worth it?
Has anyone bought such old army trucks from these dealers?

Do you mean that the 30 year old army ManKat is being sold for 80-90% of what a new Man Kat costs?

or

The 30 year old army ManKat is being sold for 80-90% of the new non-army Scania?

 

[Gravelette]

If you are a person who has the ability and facilities to deal with one of those, you'd know it already.

 

[MogsAndDogs]

I would not buy one for use in North America. I don't know if they are common in other parts of the world... but I've seen MAN chassis under expo campers built in Europe and Australia.

If you are a person who has the ability and facilities to deal with one of those, you'd know it already.

Do either of you have experience with these trucks?

 

[rruff]

None. Never seen one in the US that I recall.

 

[Gravelette]

None at all. Way beyond my expertise.

 

[Tudor Tanase]

They USED TO BE cheap as chips, because there was very little demand in Western Europe for something like an old, high fuel usage, slow, uncomfortable, heavy, limited payload vehicle for most commercial uses one can think of. Demand then increased markedly (East Europe e.g. for logging, energy projects, etc) and Africa. And more recently the "Expeditionsmobil" guys in Germany etc. A lot of what usually went on sale to the public is now donated to Ukraine. I'm no expert but I'm comfortable to say supply is down and demand is up.

They probably WERE worth it, probably not any more. In Europe at least you can do 95% of the job (100% in Western Europe where there's basically no offroad) with a civilian 2WD truck, even more so if it's construction site spec and has some good traction tyres and chains. For the other 5% pack a trail bike. If you get stuck (in Europe) walk 5km to the nearest village and ask who would have a tractor sitting idle, or wait for the next logging truck or skidder driving past, they'll pull you out for free.

In Australia they may still be worth it, with sand beaches and deserts you can (sometimes) access. Downside is doing the huge Australian distances in a Unimog at it's cruising speed of 80km/h or so, and fitting a wide and high truck on wilderness tracks exclusively used by Landcruiser size vehicles.

 

[frabraha]

They USED TO BE cheap as chips, because there was very little demand in Western Europe for something like an old, high fuel usage, slow, uncomfortable, heavy, limited payload vehicle for most commercial uses one can think of. Demand then increased markedly (East Europe e.g. for logging, energy projects, etc) and Africa. And more recently the "Expeditionsmobil" guys in Germany etc. A lot of what usually went on sale to the public is now donated to Ukraine. I'm no expert but I'm comfortable to say supply is down and demand is up.

They probably WERE worth it, probably not any more. In Europe at least you can do 95% of the job (100% in Western Europe where there's basically no offroad) with a civilian 2WD truck, even more so if it's construction site spec and has some good traction tyres and chains. For the other 5% pack a trail bike. If you get stuck (in Europe) walk 5km to the nearest village and ask who would have a tractor sitting idle, or wait for the next logging truck or skidder driving past, they'll pull you out for free.

In Australia they may still be worth it, with sand beaches and deserts you can (sometimes) access. Downside is doing the huge Australian distances in a Unimog at it's cruising speed of 80km/h or so, and fitting a wide and high truck on wilderness tracks exclusively used by Landcruiser size vehicles.

Thanks, just the answer I was looking for!

 

[frabraha]

Do you mean that the 30 year old army ManKat is being sold for 80-90% of what a new Man Kat costs?

or

The 30 year old army ManKat is being sold for 80-90% of the new non-army Scania?

The last

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

In Australia they may still be worth it, with sand beaches and deserts you can (sometimes) access. Downside is doing the huge Australian distances in a Unimog at it's cruising speed of 80km/h or so, and fitting a wide and high truck on wilderness tracks exclusively used by Landcruiser size vehicles.

In my experience, wide tracked larger vehicles are a disaster in Oz, BECAUSE the tracks are made and used by Landcruiser sized vehicles. Wider tracked vehicles will pick up many tyre stakes that do not bother 90% of the other traffic.

I did see many of this type of vehicle in Allrad, the biggest 4x4 show in Germany. The Germans love these big vehicles, but I think that most of them travel from 4WD show to 4WD show and rarely anywhere else.
A bit of rain in the camp ground and this one was well bogged.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[charlieaarons]

In my experience, wide tracked larger vehicles are a disaster in Oz, BECAUSE the tracks are made and used by Landcruiser sized vehicles. Wider tracked vehicles will pick up many tyre stakes that do not bother 90% of the other traffic.

“Disaster” is perhaps a slight exaggeration. We traveled in Oz in our U500 for an elapsed time of of about 30 weeks. No, I didn’t do the CSR, but we did visit Rudall River, Cape Range area, Cape York and some other out of the way places. Absolutely zero tire problems.
Now I did destroy an XZL2 much more recently in NW Namibia. It had nothing to do with track width, but the entire track did consist of sharp hard basalt shards.
No problems on overgrown sandy tracks in Central Kalahari Game Reserve undoubtedly made by Landcruisers. Just drove slowly and blessed Unicat’s recent addition of aluminum protection pieces for solar panels.