From: Sando (asando@prtc.net)
Date: Fri Aug 15 2003 - 07:55:59 PDT
Damn, you got me drooling!!!! not much I can do on a 100X35 square miles
island.
Sando
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc Strangfeld" <curlyjoe98@yahoo.com>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 3:18 AM
Subject: [MV] 2935 mile duece trip was a success
> Some of you may or may not know I was planning to take
> my M35 to Ouray, CO from Eau Claire, WI. The original
> idea was to tow a 34' camper and haul 4 ATV's on the
> bed of the truck. Well, two of the guys backed out so
> I towed the M105 with two road bikes in that instead
> and only two ATV's in the bed of the truck. I assume
> some list members have done long distance trips with
> their MV's but to me this was quite an adventure.
>
> A summary of Ouray, CO is in order first. Ouray is
> located in the southeast corner of the state in the
> San Juan mountains. It is known for being a beautiful
> vacation spot with lots of hiking trails and many
> miles of Jeep trails. (most of these trails are old
> pack mule trails for supplying the many mines in the
> area.) Some trails are easy with many being rather
> difficult for a jeep to travel. We took ATV's on
> these trails rather than risking a wreck with the
> duece. (many tight switchbacks and no powersteering
> would not be easy) Also, highway 550 also known as
> the "million dollar highway" is got to be the most
> scenic in the US. If you get a chance to drive on it
> don't pass it up. Unless you're afraid of heights.
>
> We made it over several passes on the way out and back
> with most reaching at least 10000 feet. I found that
> 5th in the main and low on the transfer worked the
> best on the 6-8% grades up and down. The turbo
> multifuel hardly even smoked at these high altitudes.
> I couldn't really feel a big power drop either,
> maybe that is because it is underpowered all the time.
>
>
> THE WAY OUT
>
> We took a longer route to get there as we had to stop
> and see Big Brutus in West Mineral, KS (Big Brutus is
> a very large strip mine shovel now a museum)
> Somewhere along the line the temperature gage stopped
> working so I stopped at Ranchers Supply in Lamar, CO.
> These guys were great to work with! A used $12.00
> gage and I was on my way. They have an extensive
> surplus supply and great service so check them out.
> Also the transmission developed a noise when shifting.
> It just doesn't sound like a throwout bearing but
> I'll have to investigate. Either way, it held up for
> the whole trip so I'm greatfull.
>
> IN OURAY, CO
>
> We took the duece on a couple moderate jeep trails
> with no major switchbacks. Yankee Boy Basin and
> Maggie's Gulch to be exact. That was fun and we
> showed up the rock crawling jeeps too. The truck just
> kept crawling away regardless of how loose the footing
> and the steepness. By the way I saw more than a few
> Power Wagons and M37's and yes they were on the
> trails too. One M37 had a 6.2 GM diesel in it and
> really ran good.
>
> THE TRIP BACK
>
> The trip back started with the tach not working but we
> didn't sweat that one. We drove straight through this
> time with one guy sleeping in the "bunk" while the
> other drove. The "bunk" was several layers of carpet
> laid down just behind the cab and was actually guite
> comfortable. I cut the middle out of the headache
> rack and rolled up the back of the canvas cab top so
> we could pass though to the cab without stopping. It
> was also pretty funny to be passed by two trucks
> towing mobile homes UPHILL. Also got passed by a tri
> axle tractor towing a big lowboy with a Cat scraper on
> it. It was also funny to be passed by someone only to
> have them pass you one or two more times because of a
> stop they made. Slow and steady wins the race right?
>
>
> TOOLS AND SUPPLYS TAKEN
>
> 2 spare tires mounted and ready to go
> 1 gallon of DOT 5 brake fluid
> 2.5 gallons of 15w40
> 2 gallons of antifreeze (we also had 10 gals. of
> water)
> 2.5 gallons of 80w90
> extra starter
> extra alternator
> 50' 6" wide nylon tow strap
> grease gun (I greased the throwout bearing enroute)
> an entire assortment of hand tools
> tire changing stuff
> assorted fittings to repair/cobble brake lines and air
> lines
> one liter of Jack, Tennessee's Finest
> and last but not least, true grit and a little
> optimism
>
> STATISTICS AND FINAL THOUGHTS
>
> 2935 total miles
> 350 gallons of fuel approx.
> $1.51 average cost per gallon
>
> I should mention that the front hubs were left on as I
> couldn't get my freewheeling ones done in time but I
> did take off the interaxle driveshaft.
> 8.39 mpg average
> 9.68/6.58 best and worst mpg
>
> 40.3 mph average including stops for fuel and such on
> the way back
> 80 hours total drive time est.
>
> Only "lost" about 1.5 quarts of oil in all them miles!
> I think most of the oil was lost due to a couple
> seeps and through the crankcase breather. Eitherway I
> was impressed.
> Also met a lot of reminiscing veterans and fielded
> LOTS of questions for the curious, ignorant, and
> misinformed throughout the trip. This I enjoyed doing
> and if anybody doesn't like such conversations on a
> regular basis then buying a MV is not a good idea. A
> common question was, "did you DRIVE that thing all the
> way from WI?" My answer was usually, "we were going
> to fly it but we just couldn't figure out the wing
> geometry" I have also been asked if I would do it
> again. My answer is YES, but the cost for fuel will
> keep my from doing it again for a while anyway. I
> enjoyed every mile and never got tired of hearing that
> Hercules singing her song.
>
> I'd like to hear if anybody else knows about Ouray and
> any other comments are appreciated also.
>
>
> Marc Strangfeld
>
> PS Next year we should get a convoy going.
>
>
>
>
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