military 2.5 ton as a log hauler

[EricR]

I currently use a international low pro as a log hauler and i am tired of getting hung up and stuck and am thinking about a 2.5 ton military truck as a replacement.  I know the legal payload isnt great and there slow but i dont really do any highway traveling and very rarely go more then 20 miles away.   Im just wondering if there as good as they seem on youtube, or are they really just for fun and not a every day machine

[pineywoods]

You probably won't like the fuel consumption. I'd ask around, those deuce-and-a-half's were built by several different manufacturers. i've always heard that the best ones were the old studebakers..

[mad murdock]

When I was in Alaska I owned a '56 deuce, even had a Ramsey 20,000 lb win h on the front an arch behind the cab and a large manual winch to attach to a bipod that mounted off the front frame/bumper. It got maybe 5 mpg, had a 300 cu in inline 6 cyl. The truck was a GMC, the axles I think we're all Rockwell, the transmission was an Allison automatic. Brakes were hydraulic over air. It was a fun go anywhere truck.  I had plans to make it my go in the woods and get logs truck, but plans changed, new job, moved to the states and had to sell it. If you were not going long distances, it would probably haul 4-5 cords easily. Do t know if there is enough bridge between the steer and front of real duals for a pusher axle, if so, you could set it up to haul even more. The frame sure could take it no problem.

[MJD]

A guy I know bought one at a auction (dont know model just that its army) and found out it was wider than standard and would need speical tag/permit or something and never put it in use, might check that before you buy.

[Mooseherder]

I have a 1953 REO that used to belong to a local municipality as a water tanker.
It had been property of the Navy but I don't know for how long.  The speedometer reads about 6 thousand miles.
It currently doesn't have a bed on it and I am considering putting a log loader on or using it to pull the log loader around because I have one not being used.
I did manage to get it stuck in the woods on a slight to medium graded road that was wet and had to get pulled out with a tractor because with no weight on it the duals were just floating on top of the mud.  I'm not sure the front drive was working properly either.  The front drive splines are supposed to kick in automatically and I don't think they did.
Needless to say, I was disappointed with it in the woods.
I do like the truck other than that.

[beenthere]

a 1953 REO that used to belong to a local municipality as a water tanker.

Our school bus was a 1953 REO. Remember it well, but it didn't have front wheel drive. However, it would get stuck on a banana peel... no problem. And when us boys decided to all move to the other side of the bus when turning a corner that was snow covered, we found out we could slide it right off the road and nto the ditch. What power!!  big trouble too.  ;D

[MikeON]

I use a 2.5 ton to haul logs.  Mostly I just go after one tree at a time, so the small size is OK.  A 5-ton might be more practical.   Here i am parbuckling a white oak log using 2 winches.  I have a 5,000 lb hydraulic autocrane but haven't found time to mount it yet.
This truck has the dropsides, which is a valuable feature for loading logs or anything with a forklift from the sides.   

 

[gwilson]

I've seen them around as set out trucks and there was one locally used to pull a tub grinder around. there are several different types and some of then have high road speeds, but i would think that they would be bad on the highway but great on dirt.

[curdog]

I've seen quite a few guys use five tons to bring there log trailers from the deck to the paved road and drop the trailer and have a road tractor pick it up from there. This works well if the haul road is a good distance from the paved road to the deck.

[Mooseherder]

With the low range and high range options you essentially have a 10 speed.
That covers both woods or road needs.

[sealark37]

You don't say how much you know about M-series trucks.  The 2&1/2 tonners have six lugs.  They can be had in gas, multi-fuel, and diesel.  There are short bed and long bed versions.  The 5 ton trucks have ten wheel lugs, and also come in gas, multi, and diesel.  Both are rated as 2&1/2 and 5 tons on cross country dirt and mud, so their actual capacity is MUCH more.  Fuel consumption ranges from poor to fair, and if you have to drive very far on the roads, you will get tired of it pretty quick.  They are simple as a stone, and parts, while not cheap, are cheaper than commercial trucks, and very available from many sources.  If you do happen to come across a ten tonner, just marvel at it and leave it alone, unless you have a very specialized job for it, like pulling a tub grinder.  It is not impossible to get an M-series vehicle stuck, but you do have to work at it.   Regards, Clark

[gspren]

  While working for the Army I had a few occasions to ride in the 2.5 tons both in the cab and in the bed and they are loud, I think the sound in the cab was worse but it's probably been 15+ years.

[MikeON]

Check out the www.steelsoldiers.com website.  They have answers to practically any question you might have including some recent threads about use as log trucks.  Some of the users there get a bit testy if you ask the same questions that have been answered many times before, so I suggest becoming familiar with the search function there.
Regarding the noise, there are several options for easily installing mufflers (I did).  The multifuel trucks had 2 kinds of turbo.  The C turbo whistles very loudly.  The D turbo is much quieter.  I switched my C turbo to a D that I got off ebay.  Most owners of these trucks are collectors and prefer the whistling sound of the C, so it is easy find someone to swap with.