Known by the acronym HMMWV, the aluminum-bodied Humvee became the icon of half a dozen US military interventions. It conquered foreign battlefields and suburban soccer fields, but it’s now entering a new phase of its life. Contact Street Legal Exports now!
The Defense Logistics Agency, which manages the sale of surplus equipment, received an official determination from the Department of State and Commerce stating that two of the earliest models, the M998 and the M1038, can be sold without the restrictions of export control laws.
The military Humvee, or HMMWV as it’s known, is more than just a light truck. The multi-purpose vehicle satisfies several different needs within the military, including cargo transport vehicles, patrol vehicles, ambulances, and shelter carriers. It’s also a powerful combat vehicle that can be armed to the teeth with everything from a pop-up gun turret to a TOW antitank missile and even a helicopter-launched Hellfire missile.
The Army’s jack-of-all-trades light utility vehicle was developed in the 1970s after the service realized it needed better-performing vehicles to deal with new threats like IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and car bombs. The military-drafted specifications for a new light vehicle that could replace its fleet’s M151 Jeep, M561 Gama Goat, and other 4×4 trucks. Three companies were awarded contracts to produce prototypes for testing and AM General was the winner.
After undergoing numerous modifications, the Humvee was rolled out in 1984 and has since been used in many campaigns worldwide. The funny-looking workhorse has conquered mud, sand and rocks and even snow. It’s climbed over mountains, pulled trailers on the highway and evaded detection in deserts and jungles. The versatile light vehicle has sat inside the belly of CH-53s and been slung from helicopters to be dropped in hostile territory.
Military Humvees are essentially just light trucks with some extra armor. They are capable of carrying more weight than standard vehicles and can climb 60 percent incline and traverse 40 percent slopes. They can also ford 2.5 feet of water without a snorkel and 5 feet with one.
The vehicle has a robust chassis and four-wheel drive and can carry up to 18,000 pounds. Its engine can be upgraded to a more powerful and fuel-efficient model. It has an automatic transmission and a full suspension that ensures it can handle off-road obstacles.
The Humvee is a highly customizable vehicle that can be modified to fit the specific needs of its crew and mission. Depending on what type of missions are required, the interior can be outfitted with everything from a communications system to medical equipment and weapons. The vehicle’s versatility is the reason why it has stayed in use as long as it has. Although the JLTV is better at some things than the Humvee, the military will probably continue to hang on to its fleet of these hard-working vehicles as an insurance policy against the next big fight.
It’s Armored
HMMWVs are designed to fill several needs in the military, including light cargo transport, patrol vehicle, ambulance and service truck. They also serve as armored personnel carriers. When it comes to defending soldiers from the threat of roadside bombs, however, even uparmored Humvees can fall short. The problem is that the vehicle was originally built to be lighter and less expensive than other vehicles of its kind, requiring it to sacrifice some level of protection in order to meet performance requirements.
The military has had to hastily uparmore select HMMWVs for the Iraq War, and the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is replacing front-line Humvees in the United States. Unlike the uparmored Humvees, the new JLTV is designed from the ground up to protect its passengers. Its internal components are separated from the engine, so an explosion under the vehicle doesn’t directly send vibrations through to the occupants.
In addition to providing better protection, the new vehicles are also expected to be cheaper to buy and maintain than uparmored Humvees. They use less fuel, require fewer maintenance hours, and have more options for customization. The Army plans to offer three different versions of the JLTV, with each configured for a particular function.
One of the reasons that the JLTV is expected to be more durable than uparmored Humvees is that it doesn’t have any electronic engines, brakes or other controls that an enemy could hack with malware, scramble with directed microwaves or fry with an electromagnetic pulse. The underlying aluminum frame is also more rigid than the original Humvee’s fiberglass parts, which are more susceptible to damage in a crash.
The Humvee gained popularity in the 1980s after Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted them on a military convoy while filming “Kindergarten Cop.” Today, they are an iconic symbol of America’s modern conflicts. They are a familiar sight in Afghanistan and Iraq, where they act as combat taxis to bring troops into danger zones. But if you don’t want to go through the hassle of getting your hands on an actual military vehicle, you can buy a civilian version from companies like IronPlanet and other online heavy equipment auction sites. They are often sold for a fraction of their military price and come with a host of extras, such as shock absorbers, runflat tires and luxury features.
It’s Street Legal
Many of the military Humvees that are sold as surplus vehicles can be made street legal. However, the process of making a Humvee street legal can be long and expensive. It can also require a large amount of patience.
Most states allow you to drive a military Humvee on public roads if it’s been properly inspected. In most cases, this involves having the vehicle inspected by the Department of Transportation.
Once the inspection is complete, the DMV will issue you a title for the Humvee. You’ll need to register the vehicle and obtain insurance for it, which can be a challenge because insurance companies often don’t want to insure a vehicle that’s designed to go through war zones.
The most important thing to remember when considering a military Humvee is that it’s built for war and not road driving. You’ll need to be willing to put a lot of time and money into modifying the vehicle for road use. This will include adding proper turn signals, brake lights, and seat belts. It will also involve converting the vehicle to a standard gasoline engine and making sure it meets all state emissions requirements.
Some military Humvees are regulated by both the State and Commerce departments. The difference is that the latter’s regulations apply only to parts and equipment that have been removed from the armored vehicle, while the former’s rules cover all items on the vehicle.
For example, if you buy an armored Humvee from GovPlanet and remove the armor, the vehicle will be moved to Commerce’s list. You can then sell or donate the vehicle, as long as any other restricted parts are also removed from it.
You won’t find a Humvee for sale at your local dealership, but you can get one by going to an auction site. Some of these sites, such as GovPlanet, offer a variety of different models of the vehicle that are available to be purchased by civilians. You can even choose the model that suits your needs the best. Some of the most popular models to choose from are those that were used in both Iraq and Afghanistan, which means you’ll be able to take your new car on some tough off-road trails.
It’s Cheap
Military Humvees aren’t cheap vehicles. They’re the kind of truck that is built to do one thing and do it well, without any frills or distractions. That means that they’re also not for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to off-roading. These trucks were built to conquer sand, rocks and snow, and they’re not afraid of going over them either. That’s why they have such a unique design system. Their axles are connected to the top of the tires rather than the center, which allows them to ride much higher than other trucks without becoming too tall. The high ride height allows for a smoother off-road experience, and it also prevents damage to the undercarriage.
Unlike regular fleet vehicles that get replaced in a standard rotation, the military’s HMMWVs are kept in a different rotation and only replaced when they’re needed. That means that there are plenty of these vehicles available for private sale. If you want to own a Humvee, there’s no better time to do it than now.
If you’re thinking of buying a Humvee, it’s important to note that you’ll probably need to have it shipped to you. Most of these vehicles are sold through online heavy-equipment auction sites like IronPlanet, and they’re not easily transportable on their own. However, last summer, IronPlanet began offering Standard Form 97, which is the United States Government Certificate to Obtain Title to a Vehicle, for its buyers. That’s a big step toward making it easier for people to buy and legally register their Humvees.
As the world continues to battle threats that are both familiar and unknown, it’s important that we have the right vehicles for the job. That’s why it makes sense that so many companies are turning to these rugged and durable military vehicles. From hot-rodded off-road vehicles to armored trucks, these light tactical vehicles have proven that they can do the job and do it well. As a result, they’re quickly becoming a popular alternative to the standard vehicles that are typically found in fleets across the country and around the world.
