warning for NoVA drivers
 

Well, I've been terrorizing Virginia roads in cars and light trucks for about 9 years now, but the ante has just been upped. The US gov't this week signed me off to operate Humvees and trucks with a payload of 5,000 lbs and less. :shock:

And if anyone's ever driven one of them Deuce-and-a-half beasts, they are a royal pain to operate. Your knee is up next to your ear when moving the clutch, no power steering, the most ass-backwards shift pattern, and the transmission makes a 915 feel like a miata. The track mentality of looking ahead and planning turns helped though, since you have to start turning the wheel about 75 feet before the usual turn-in point to avoid running over grass on the outside of the curve.

This warning goes double for DR, since I know he's sometimes on Belvoir, which is where I'll be doing most of my terrorizing.

http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/imgs/m35.jpg

I've driven a deuce in a half several times. Yes, they are BEASTS. Best part is they clear anything in their path. They are loud as hell so you'll need hearing protection --as in the big hearing muffs.

We would make a clearing in woods by backing it up--it pushes away anything in its path. Just don't get it stuck. You're totally screwed if you do. they'res no digging one out. You'll need a few other deuces or a tank retriever to get out of deep mud. if you are in sand, let some air out of the tires to expand their footprint. this will help prevent getting stuck. if stuck, see beginning of this paragraph.

one more thing: don't trust the fuel gauges. always open up the tanks and visually see how much fuel you have before you drive any long distances. always carry a couple of jerry cans of additional fuel.

finally, they make excellent gun trucks. weld steel plate on, add kevlar patches and these things are invincible.

Duce and a halfs are cool!! Almost nuth’n will stop them but poor maintenance. Only thing better is a tank!
If you’re too much of a gurl to handle one park it and get a gurl’s car… something like… Oh yea a BMW.

Hummers suck, plain and simple. Only ones that make any sense are the troop carriers. Or any with a 50 cal mount! Want some real fun try shooting a 16 on full auto out the window of a covered one sometime. It just be rain’n hot casings

I am making note of the warning though!

Deuce's suck balls. I've never driven one, but have ridden many miles in the back, getting covered in dust and inhaling diesel exhaust. We used to do drills, jumping out the back of them. They're pretty damned high off the ground. Not a luxury ride by any means.

Indeed. For such a large vehicle, there's barely any room in them. I always wondered how the designers managed to pull that off...

Even with the extra gas and metal plates it's still faster than your 944. Ha! Guess who?!

Hummers dont suck. Lay of that crack pipe. Have you ever gone off raoding in one. They can practically off road anywhere. Now, the gM versions are a different story. They suck!

man, being a regular to short guy at 5'5"/5'6", i find hummvee's easy to drive.well to an extent.
but damn, that payload really REALLY effects the attitude of the vechile.


have fun :)

Ahh... Deuce and a halfs.... I've spent some time in the back of those. I especially enjoyed our six hour commutes from Baltimore to Quantico in the middle of winter for rifle qual. The coldest I've ever been!!! Good times!!!

Let me know if you ever need an "escort" when you go out. I'll drive point in my M151A2 with my M60 mounted on the pedestal--ready to rock and roll. Anyone care to ride shotgun or be A gunner?

Something about having a machine gun mounted on your vehicle that causes people to get out of your way.