Customized Military Surplus Trucks

2010 - Volume #34, Issue #6, Page #28

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Clinton Chitwood specializes in rebuilt customized military trucks that turn heads wherever they go.
"I put in air ride suspension, custom seats, lockout hubs, crew cabs, and lots of goodies like front and rear steering," explains Chitwood, whose company, C&C Equipment, buys and sells surplus 2 ton M35A2 military trucks. "I like doing something different on each of them, but I'll also fix them up to a custom order."
Chitwood says the market for low-priced, standard military trucks has fallen with the economy. However, customized and high-end trucks continue to sell well.
"The ones I customize sell for $20,000 to $55,000, and they sell real well," says Chitwood. "They're real eye catchers. When I take a crew cab style truck out on the road, people take pictures of it."
One of his best selling styles is the bobtail, or shortened, version of the 6 by 6 M35A2. He replaces the stock 12-ft. cargo bed with a 9-ft. M105 trailer bed. One axle is removed, and new rear suspension is installed.
"The first one I did was for a rancher who wanted it to haul hay and feed cattle," says Chitwood. "Most of them are done for folks who want play toys. They are like a big 4 by 4 pickup truck."
Another popular conversion is the crew cab. The cargo bed is shortened by 3 ft. to make room for the cab. Chitwood modifies the original cab with the addition of a chopped cab from another truck. When finished, the crew cab looks factory installed.
"Our trucks are all checked out, serviced and parts replaced as needed," says Chitwood. "Most get new windshields, paint, and other cosmetics. Trucks can also be built to order with options like winches, side racks, bows/tarp for the bed, new steel hard tops, heaters, power steering, lockout hubs, air ride suspension kits and dump beds."
Another specialty offered by C&C is the Super Single 46-in. tire. Chitwood fabricates two-piece wheels to replace duals on the 2 1/2-ton trucks. Stock tires are 900 by 20 and 40 in. tall. The new tires are 900 by 15 and 46 in. tall.
"The taller and narrower wheels give the trucks a more modern look and another 9 mph in top speed, as well as 2 1/2 in. added clearance," says Chitwood. "They make a big difference over duals for off-road performance and looks."
All trucks have turbocharged LDT 465 multi-fuel engines with five-speed manual transmissions and air shift front axles. The rear steering option is electric over hydraulic with a cylinder on the rear axle.
Chitwood also carries a full line of parts for 2 1/2 and 5-ton military surplus trucks.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, C&C Equipment, LLC, 8747 E. State Road 45, Unionville, Ind. 47468 (ph 812 336-2894; dirtdigger_97@sbcglobal.net; www.ccsurplus.com; http://stores.ebay.com/C-and-C-Equipment).

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Customized Military Surplus Trucks TRUCKS Conversions Clinton Chitwood specializes in rebuilt customized military trucks that turn heads wherever they go I put in air ride suspension custom seats lockout hubs crew cabs and lots of goodies like front and rear steering explains Chitwood whose company C&C Equipment buys and sells surplus 2 ton M35A2 military trucks I like doing something different on each of them but I ll also fix them up to a custom order Chitwood says the market for low-priced standard military trucks has fallen with the economy However customized and high-end trucks continue to sell well The ones I customize sell for $20 000 to $55 000 and they sell real well says Chitwood They re real eye catchers When I take a crew cab style truck out on the road people take pictures of it One of his best selling styles is the bobtail or shortened version of the 6 by 6 M35A2 He replaces the stock 12-ft cargo bed with a 9-ft M105 trailer bed One axle is removed and new rear suspension is installed The first one I did was for a rancher who wanted it to haul hay and feed cattle says Chitwood Most of them are done for folks who want play toys They are like a big 4 by 4 pickup truck Another popular conversion is the crew cab The cargo bed is shortened by 3 ft to make room for the cab Chitwood modifies the original cab with the addition of a chopped cab from another truck When finished the crew cab looks factory installed Our trucks are all checked out serviced and parts replaced as needed says Chitwood Most get new windshields paint and other cosmetics Trucks can also be built to order with options like winches side racks bows/tarp for the bed new steel hard tops heaters power steering lockout hubs air ride suspension kits and dump beds Another specialty offered by C&C is the Super Single 46-in tire Chitwood fabricates two-piece wheels to replace duals on the 2 1/2-ton trucks Stock tires are 900 by 20 and 40 in tall The new tires are 900 by 15 and 46 in tall The taller and narrower wheels give the trucks a more modern look and another 9 mph in top speed as well as 2 1/2 in added clearance says Chitwood They make a big difference over duals for off-road performance and looks All trucks have turbocharged LDT 465 multi-fuel engines with five-speed manual transmissions and air shift front axles The rear steering option is electric over hydraulic with a cylinder on the rear axle Chitwood also carries a full line of parts for 2 1/2 and 5-ton military surplus trucks Contact: FARM SHOW Followup C&C Equipment LLC 8747 E State Road 45 Unionville Ind 47468 ph 812 336-2894; dirtdigger_97@sbcglobal net; www ccsurplus com; http://stores ebay com/C-and-C-Equipment

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