Anyone buy military surplus?

[Terry]

I was thinking of buying from military surplus for my next set of tires and was wondering if anyone else has purchased tires and/or other items.
What has been your experience?

Is this site legit and are there other sites to consider?

https://www.govplanet.com/jsp/s/search.ips

They have various trailers that would be great for an overlanding adventure.

The purchaaser needs to keep in mind that the Military does not pay too much attention to weight, and these trailers, for all their worthiness, tend to be very heavy.

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[AmosMoses01]

OMG ... I did not need to know about the govplanet website. Must delete ... oooh, look, M1084's!

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Likely a situation where USDOT code fills the space, so a state won't have it codified. Same thing as headlights and taillights, I'd reckon.

I don't think so. The State vehicle code is what police enforce.

 

[bgenlvtex]

This is not true in Michigan. There is no reference to DOT in the vehicle code, tires section.

I'm pretty sure this is true for most other (all?) states too.

Any tire operated on the highway must carry a DOT approval stamp in the form of a manufacturers serial number.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Any tire operated on the highway must carry a DOT approval stamp in the form of a manufacturers serial number.

Got a source for this?

 

[dcmdon]

Even the little ones designed to be towed behind a HMMWV weigh like 1500 lbs.

If you had a F350 and were going to be overloading it and pulling it off road, its worth it.

But I think you can get something much better suited to the Gladiator on the commercial market. My own 5x8 STS utility trailer is all galvanized steel and aluminum, it weighs about 300 lbs and its official maximum capacity is 2500 lbs.

But its got a 2 ton axle and the manufacturer told me (over the phone, not in email) that its good to 2 tons, but they can't say that because once its over 3000# it needs brakes and this little trailer doesn't have brakes.

 

[ShrimpHappens]

Got a source for this?

49 CFR 571.139

Hijacking the thread, but like I said it's federal code that tires used on public roads must be compliant with these standards, and the DOT stamping on the sidewall indicates that the tire is. If you're running a tire that's not USDOT-certified, it was either manufactured before 1975 or you're operating unlawfully, whether or not your state police choose to enforce it themselves.

General Tire Tire Rack

 

[MyRight]

49 CFR 571.139

Hijacking the thread, but like I said it's federal code that tires used on public roads must be compliant with these standards, and the DOT stamping on the sidewall indicates that the tire is. If you're running a tire that's not USDOT-certified, it was either manufactured before 1975 or you're operating unlawfully, whether or not your state police choose to enforce it themselves.

General Tire Tire Rack

I would imagine that vehicles designated for farm use are exempt, as they use public roads getting their gear to the various locations.

 

[InvertedLogic]

I've never heard anyone say good things about surplus tires - except that they're cheap 37s. They're heavy, ride poorly, suck in about any mud/snow/rocks, and you need 16.5" wheels (which are fun to find, and debatably won't clear your brakes).

 

[bgenlvtex]

I would imagine that vehicles designated for farm use are exempt, as they use public roads getting their gear to the various locations.

Agricultural equipment fitted with Agricultural (low speed)tires are. On highway equipment licensed for road use including "farm tags" are not exempted.

 

[dcmdon]

OMG ... I did not need to know about the govplanet website. Must delete ... oooh, look, M1084's!

Its insane. During the ammo shortage of 2013 after Sandy Hook, a buddy and I bought 600 lbs of .223 brass. ha. I went and picked it up with my trailer. After we each took a lifetime supply, we still had about 400 lbs. ha.

 

[TNJeeper]

The only downside to these military trailers is their weight.

+1 This was going to be my reply to you. Its heavy as hell for what it is and also, overpriced. As someone else posted, its hard to win the bid because things go pricey.

 

[dcmdon]

+1 This was going to be my reply to you. Its heavy as hell for what it is and also, overpriced. As someone else posted, its hard to win the bid because things go pricey.

I don't know anything about pricing. But they are probably worth a fair amount to the right person. I would bet its hard to get something more tough and durable. That's worth something to someone.

But for a Gladiator, its just not a good fit.

Of course I may be wrong. They may just get bid up because they are "cool" ex-mil stuff.

 

[Papa Jawa]

I was thinking of buying from military surplus for my next set of tires and was wondering if anyone else has purchased tires and/or other items.
What has been your experience?

Is this site legit and are there other sites to consider?

https://www.govplanet.com/jsp/s/search.ips

They have various trailers that would be great for an overlanding adventure.

Found a Jeep on there!

 

[ShrimpHappens]

Found a Jeep on there!

Now that I have seen that, I feel like my quality of life will be forever diminished, ever so slightly.

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