The M35 is a 2½-ton 6×6 cargo truck that began life with the United States Army and was later used by many nations. It inherited the nickname “Deuce and a Half” from the wartime GMC CCKW, and over the years it grew into a family of specialised vehicles.
AM General M35 at a glance
| Class | 2½-ton 6×6 cargo truck |
|---|---|
| Origin | 1949 REO M34 design |
| Payload | 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) off-road, 10,000 lb (4,500 kg) on road |
| Cargo bed | 8 × 12 ft (2.4 × 3.6 m) |
| Engines | petrol six in early trucks; LDS-427-2 turbo in the A1; LD/LDT 465 multifuel in the A2; Caterpillar 3116 diesel in the A3 |
| Gearbox | five-speed manual; Allison four-speed automatic in the A3 |
| Dimensions | 112 in high, 96 in wide, 277 in long (M35A2 with winch) |
| Weight | 13,000–16,000 lb (5,900–7,300 kg) empty |
| Top speed | 56 mph (90 km/h); about 48 mph cruising |
| Range | 400–500 miles on a 50 US gal tank |
| Nickname | Deuce and a Half |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the M35 series, which covers the whole family; the article does not describe every contractor in detail.
History of the AM General M35
The M34 and the switch to ten wheels
The M35 started as a 1949 design by REO Motor Car Company for a 2½-ton 6×6 off-road truck, the M34. That original six-wheel truck had a single-wheel tandem and used 11:00×20 tyres, which required a wheel well in the cargo bed. It was quickly superseded by the ten-wheel M35 with a dual-wheel tandem and smaller 9:00×20 tyres, which did not need a wheel well. The basic cargo truck is rated to carry 5,000 pounds off-road or 10,000 pounds on roads.
Petrol, multifuel and diesel
The standard M35 had a REO “Gold Comet” or Continental OA331 inline-six petrol engine, and Studebaker also held a manufacturing contract from at least 1951 into the early 1960s. The A1 used the Continental LDS-427-2 turbo engine of about 140 hp, which was not reliable and suffered frequent head gasket failures. The first A2 trucks received the larger LD-465-1 naturally aspirated 478-cubic-inch multifuel engine, later turbocharged as the LDT 465. The turbo was added more to clean up the black exhaust than to add power: output rose only from about 130 to 135 hp. Multifuel engines ran on diesel, kerosene, heating oil or, in an emergency, petrol.
The M35A3 rebuild programme
From 1994 until 2006 the M35A3 was introduced as part of the Extended Service Program. The A3 vehicles received a Caterpillar 3116 diesel engine and an Allison 1545 four-speed automatic transmission, along with a redesigned front. No new manual-gearbox A3 trucks were built: all were upgraded from earlier vehicles during rebuild.
Design and features
- Ten wheels: a dual-wheel rear tandem gives the M35 its distinctive stance and its load rating.
- Multifuel engine: the LDT 465 of the A2 can run on diesel, kerosene, heating oil or petrol in an emergency.
- Two cab roofs: the M35A2 was available with a canvas soft top or a metal hard top for cold climates.
- Self-recovery winch: an optional 10,000 lbf PTO-driven Garwood front winch added about 500 lb and 15 inches of length.
AM General M35 versions
- M34: the 1949 six-wheel original with a single-wheel tandem.
- M35 and M35A1: petrol and LDS-427-2 turbo versions.
- M35A2: the most common version, with the LD/LDT 465 multifuel engine.
- M35A3: 1994–2006 rebuild with Caterpillar diesel and Allison automatic.
The M35 was followed in service by the heavier M809 series and then the M939. The same REO-designed cab later appeared on the M809. More military vehicles are in the AM General collection.
Video: AM General M35A2 M35 military cargo truck
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- M35 series 2½-ton 6×6 cargo truck, English Wikipedia: design, dimensions, engines, variants
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