$38,000 for a military truck - then we discovered how much it really costs to own
After nearly two years with a 1992 M35A3 military truck, the realities of owning an enormous former military vehicle have become impossible to ignore. The roughly 11,000-pound machine uses 46-inch tires, a 6.6-liter Caterpillar turbo-diesel producing around 175 horsepower and can pull approximately 12,000 pounds. Its size makes it impressive in open terrain like Moab, but trees, mud, tire repairs and everyday driving create problems that conventional pickups rarely face. Even replacing a tire can require specialized equipment, while filling its approximately 50-gallon diesel tank adds another major expense. It is loud, slow and uncomfortable, but its extreme capability and unmistakable character explain why the owners still consider it worth keeping.
2026-09-14T14:54:37Z
