The Deuce and a Half has gotten complicated with all the generations, sub-models, and engine swaps flying around. As someone who owned one for years and spent countless hours wrenching on it in my driveway, I learned everything there is to know about these legendary trucks. Today, I will share it all with you.
“Deuce and a Half” isn’t just a nickname. It’s become its own category. For over six decades, 2.5-ton trucks hauled everything from ammo to troops across every theater of war from World War II through the Persian Gulf. Today, thousands of them live in civilian driveways, and their owners swear by them. I’m one of those people.
The Origin of a Legend
The story starts in 1939. The Army put out requirements for standardized tactical vehicles, and the result was the GMC CCKW. It hit production in 1941 and immediately got thrown into the deep end: World War II.
Over 800,000 CCKWs were built during the war. Eight hundred thousand. They stormed Normandy, crossed the Rhine, ran the Red Ball Express, and kept operations going across North Africa, Italy, and the Pacific. The concept worked so well that the basic formula — 2.5-ton, 6×6 — persisted for the next 60 years.
The name comes from the 2.5-ton (5,000-pound) rated payload capacity. Cross-country capacity, mind you. On good roads, these trucks routinely carried way more than that. The soldiers loading them didn’t always read the specs.
Evolution Through the Generations
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. You can’t understand the Deuce without knowing how it evolved over time.
GMC CCKW (1941-1945)
The granddaddy. GMC straight-six gasoline engine pushing 91 horsepower. Sounds pitiful by today’s standards, but it got the job done. The 6×6 drivetrain with live axles could crawl through terrain that stopped two-wheel-drive trucks cold. Open cab, flexible cargo bed, endlessly adaptable.
M135/M211 Series (1950s)
The Korean War generation updated the formula with better engines and transmissions. These trucks served through the 1960s, including early Vietnam deployments. Many got rebuilt multiple times, lasting way beyond what anyone originally planned.
M35 Series (1950-1999)
This is the one. The definitive Deuce and a Half. Originally had a Continental OA-331 gas engine, but later got the legendary LDT-465 multifuel diesel. That engine could run on basically anything that burned — diesel, JP-4 jet fuel, gasoline, heating oil in a pinch. Beautiful engineering for a battlefield where supply chains break down.
The M35 spawned a whole family:
- M35A1: Automatic transmission upgrade
- M35A2: Multifuel diesel, the most common version you’ll find today
- M35A3: Updated diesel engine, improved cab
Over 200,000 M35s were built. Production ran until 1999, and trucks stayed with Guard and Reserve units well into the 2000s.
M44 Series (1950s-1980s)
The Air Force had their own version, the M44 series. Different bodywork optimized for ground support at airfields. Same heart, different clothes.
Technical Specifications (M35A2)
The M35A2 is the most common variant in civilian hands, so these are the numbers that matter:
- Configuration: 6×6, all-wheel drive
- Engine: Continental LDT-465-1C multifuel diesel, 134 horsepower
- Transmission: Spicer 5-speed manual or Allison MT-643 automatic
- Transfer Case: Two-speed, high and low range
- Payload: 5,000 pounds cross-country, 10,000 on paved roads
- Gross Vehicle Weight: 23,000 pounds
- Maximum Speed: 55 mph
- Range: 300+ miles
- Fuel Capacity: 50 gallons
- Fording Depth: 30 inches without preparation
The multifuel engine is fascinating from an engineering standpoint. Continental designed it to run on whatever fuel showed up. The injection system automatically adjusts for different fuel types. You trade some power and efficiency for that flexibility, but in a combat zone where the wrong fuel might arrive, the tradeoff makes total sense.
Body Configurations
One chassis, many personalities. Each body configuration got its own M-number:
M35 Standard Cargo
Twelve-foot steel bed, removable stake sides, canvas top. Fold-down troop seats along the sides could technically hold 24 soldiers, though “comfortable” isn’t the word any of them would use. Tie-down rings throughout for securing cargo.
M36 Long Wheelbase Cargo
Fourteen-foot bed for bigger loads or more troops. Slightly less nimble than the standard, but more stable on highways.
M49 Fuel Tanker
1,200-gallon fuel tank where the cargo bed normally sits. Kept convoys fueled and forward units running. Essential but never glamorous.
M50 Water Tanker
Same concept, potable water. Critical in arid environments and anywhere the local water would make you sick.
M108 and M109 Shop Vans
Enclosed van bodies turning the truck into mobile maintenance shops or comms stations. Mechanics could fix stuff in the field without sending vehicles to the rear. That saves time and keeps units in the fight.
M60 Wrecker
Crane and winch setup for light recovery work. Couldn’t handle the big trucks, but it could pull Jeeps, trailers, and smaller vehicles out of trouble all day long.
Combat History
The Deuce served in every American operation from WWII through the early 2000s. That service record is basically a timeline of American military involvement worldwide.
World War II
CCKW trucks carried supplies from the Normandy beaches across France and into Germany. The Red Ball Express — that legendary non-stop convoy system feeding the Allied advance — ran on Deuce and a Half trucks. Without them, the advance stalls. Period.
Korea
Korean winters and mountain terrain tested everything. Deuces hauled supplies to the front, evacuated wounded, and provided mobility in conditions that challenged every vehicle the military had.
Vietnam
Convoy duty through ambush territory. The truck’s height actually gave some protection against early improvised mines, which is a grim sort of advantage. Drivers ran hot through dangerous stretches, counting on the truck’s toughness to get through.
Desert Storm and Beyond
By this point the Deuce was showing its age. Newer trucks offered better performance and protection. But Deuces were still in inventory, particularly with Guard and Reserve units, and they kept working through Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom before finally retiring.
Civilian Life for the Deuce
That’s what makes the Deuce and a Half endearing to us military vehicle owners — it transitions to civilian use better than almost any other military vehicle out there.
Farm and Ranch Use
The 6×6 drivetrain eats muddy fields for breakfast. Cargo bed handles hay bales, feed, fencing materials, and equipment that would overwhelm any pickup truck. Farmers love these things. I know several who consider theirs indispensable.
Off-Road Recreation
High clearance, aggressive tires, and unstoppable drivetrain make the Deuce a beast on trails. It goes places that stop dedicated 4x4s. Not fast, but it gets there.
Overlanding
Adventure travelers discovered the Deuce as an expedition platform. Build living quarters in the cargo bed, point it at somewhere remote, and go. No RV park required.
Collection and Restoration
Collectors prize original-condition trucks, especially rare variants and documented service histories. Restored Deuces show up at military vehicle meets, parades, and living history events all over the country.
Emergency Preparedness
The multifuel capability appeals to preppers and emergency responders. When specific fuel types may be unavailable, running on whatever’s handy becomes a real advantage.
Buying a Surplus Deuce
The market’s pretty accessible. Here’s what matters.
Pricing
Running M35A2s typically sell for $3,000 to $15,000. Projects under $2,000. Pristine restored examples can clear $25,000. Wreckers and rare variants command premiums.
What to Look For
The multifuel engine needs someone who knows what they’re looking at. Common issues:
- Injector pump problems — expensive to rebuild
- Combustion chamber cracking
- Hard cold-weather starting
- Excessive smoke at startup
Beyond the engine:
- Frame condition and rust
- Axle seal leaks
- Transfer case operation
- Brake system air leaks
- Cab floor and structural rust
- Bed condition and hardware
Automatic vs. Manual
Both transmissions are reliable. The automatic simplifies city and stop-and-go driving. The manual gets slightly better fuel economy and is simpler to maintain. Pick based on how you plan to use the truck.
Living with a Deuce
Speed: 55 mph governed. You’re not winning any races. Plan extra time for everything.
Fuel Economy: 8-12 mpg. The 50-gallon tank gives adequate range, but filling up stings.
Noise: The multifuel engine is loud. Cab insulation is basically nonexistent. Hearing protection for long drives isn’t optional — it’s necessary.
Size: Smaller than heavy tactical trucks, but still demands careful navigation. Turning radius requires forethought.
Parts: Common stuff stays available through surplus and aftermarket. Major components like injector pumps need specialist rebuilding.
Engine Swap Options
Some owners ditch the temperamental multifuel for something more conventional:
- Cummins 5.9 (6BT): The Dodge pickup diesel fits with adaptation. Reliable, modern, parts everywhere.
- Detroit Diesel 4-53: Period-correct, maintains military character, better reliability than the multifuel.
- Ford/International diesels: Various truck engines work with custom mounting.
You lose multifuel capability but gain dramatically improved reliability and performance. Most regular-use truck owners consider that trade worth making.
The Bottom Line
The Deuce and a Half earned its legendary status the hard way — decades of service in every condition imaginable. Normandy to Afghanistan, these trucks hauled whatever needed hauling wherever it needed to go.
For civilian owners, the combination of affordable acquisition, real utility, and genuine military heritage creates something no civilian vehicle can match. The truck that helped win World War II can now haul your stuff, tackle your muddy back forty, and turn heads at every gas station.
Thousands of owners have figured out that a well-maintained Deuce has decades of service life left. It’s not just history sitting in your driveway. It’s a working machine that still earns its keep. And honestly, that’s the best tribute a military vehicle can get.
