We brought Setesh with us this year to the Jimmy Buffett concert in Bristow VA. We gave countless tours of the truck and had a blast! Everyone walking by stopped to take a look. We’ll be back again next year with even more things for the truck.
I plan to use the truck primarily as a mobile computer networking center with the additional use of functioning as emergency relief. The idea for the networking setup is to be able to drive just about anywhere and instantly have a computer network setup to play video games with a bunch of people. Using some Linux scripting, a custom router, a portable server, and my cell phone it is even capable of having an internet connection. Eventually John and I plan to have all of the internet acquisition function automatically and add the ability to be a mean War Driving machine.
We got somewhere in the neighborhood of 22 inches this past weekend (the “Snowpocalypse” according to the media) which effectively immobilized all of the vehicles on my street… except for my Deuce. The snow plows don’t usually come down my road until well after the storms so I decided to take maters into my own hands. Using the 18,000lbs of the truck I compacted the snow to a much more manageable 2 inches so that other cars and trucks could drive again.
Throughout the course of the day John and I also helped pull/push/winch a car to safety and helped a lady in another part of the neighborhood get to work. We also had a lot of fun in the process.
John and I spent most of this past weekend working on the truck. The primary goal that we accomplished was connecting the alternator to the rear battery pack (henceforth referred to as the “Atomic Pile,” a reference to Batman). In order to tap into the 60 Amp output of the alternator we had to run some wire from the Atomic Pile and into either the stock battery box or the engine compartment. John thought it would be nice to be able to disconnect and monitor the power flow from the cabin, so we decided on routing the cable under the cab, through the engine bay, and into the cab. Once inside the cab the circuit runs through a 60 Amp fuse, an ammeter, and (hopefully soon) a heavy duty switch. We weren’t able to get our hands on a switch this weekend, but we’re going to keep looking for one.
I have a new project. I introduce to you my future mobile “command center”. I plan to rework the shop area of the truck to contain a modern computer network, perfect for use on a job site and LAN parties alike.
This beast of a truck is a military M185A3, similar to a M109A3. This type of truck was used to repair electronic equipment (such as RADAR systems) in the field. It weighs 17,300 lbs empty (17,800 on the last scale I took it over). Powered by a 130 HP multifuel Diesel engine, this truck will go just about anywhere using almost any flammable liquid. It has a top speed of 55 MPH and a cruising speed of 49 MPH. The fuel economy is, at 9MPG, surprisingly good for a vehicle of this size. It has a 50 gallon fuel tank, which gives it a range of between 400 and 500 miles. It also costs over $130 to fill up.
More after the jump.