Just Cool Cars: Ex-military truck is now SUV
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — When an ordinary SUV just wouldn't cut it, Kurt Noble took a big step up: He bought a surplus, hulking 5-ton U.S. military truck.
"I found it on eBay," says Noble. "I bought it to go camping."
Given its impressive size — 26-feet long, 10-feet high — some might see acquiring a military troop truck for camping as somewhat akin to using an Uzi submachine gun to go hunting. But Noble says the 1988 M923 is actually plenty practical, a big improvement over his old GMC — and it even gets better fuel economy.
He uses the 26-foot long truck to haul his off-road "toys" out to the California desert, where he says the truck's 6-by-6 all-wheel drive ensures he'll never get stuck. He says he can tow 5 tons off-road or up to 10 tons on the road. Plus, it's the ultimate in flag-waving patriotism on wheels.
Support the troops? Heck, Noble could give them a lift to the front lines.
"I've had people literally cut me off to lean out the window and give me the thumbs up," he says.