I can buy a humvee for less than $10,000---------- a 'golf cart' ( Polaris,
etc) cost more than that. Has anyone used a humvee and can tell me why no one seems to be using them?

Loud, slow, uninsulated, underpowered, uncomfortable, and driven it's whole life by 18 year old kids who don't have to pay to fix them. I've got a buddy who's a mechanic in the army, he jokes about the amazing ways in which these kids tear them up. I asked him his opinion:

"Getting parts for it (which will be needed) are tough to get. Things like hub seals. Electric system is 24-volt, which can be tough to get parts for. If something like the 24-volt generator (alternator) quits working you're done. At least that's what I've heard about the ones that have made it into the civilian market. The bed size sucks, too. Much much better off with an early 80's chevy truck."

The ones that do make it to market are generally the ones deemed unfit to be refurbished and put back in use. So basically, you're getting the worst of the leftovers.

That not necessarily try. Yes they can be slow, but you're quail hunting, not running the Baja. They aren't really that loud, in fact they will be quieter than a Ranger. They can be expensive to repair, but have you seen the price of of a Ranger axle? $$$. Parts are easy to come by, eBay and a company in Oklahoma has everything you could need for one. Underpowered is a relative thing, they have enough gearing in them to climb walls, and getting one stuck can be a challenge since they have dual locking diffs. Also, you can air down/up the tires from inside the cab and you have an internal bead lock that means if you panties the tire you can still drive it back to camp. I say go for it. It would def have the cool factor. One downside is width, they are wiiiiiiiide

Couple more messages from him:

"The geared hubs require a special tool, too. Might be hard to get. I'd personally avoid a hmmwv like a single hot chick with four kids."

And re: the 18 year old drivers:

"After they've been abused by an 18-year old kid, they get fixed by a 21-year old hung over and pissed off mechanic that secretly hopes it blows up the next time said 18-year old starts it. And he only fixes it good enough to limp home or until he moves to a new unit."

I would change it over to 12 volt for sure. They are tough reliable and capable off-road vehicles, not really something I would want to drive to the lease but.... For a hunting vehicle probably more reliable than a brand new Polaris and cheaper to fix.....

Expect problems they have been abused by almost everyone who touched them.

I forgot this... The single most important feature, it had a heater and you can add A/C. I know I will catch static for this but it also has real seats....

Has not had

Thanks to you all --------- the auction is tomorrow----- I have lot to think about before then .

if anyone wants to see the site,, here it is,,, I think there are 3 or 4 at Ft. Hood, which is next door to me. I called and you are not allowed to inspect them in person,which I would have done today,, only bid on the computer. Again thanks for the insights.

Gov Auction

A UTV will stay on top of the soft sand. A heavier vehicle will sink. Most quail hunters have gotten away from Jeeps and heaver vehicles. You can buy a good used UTV for around $5,000. I sold my last Gator for $2,500. I can leave my Gator in the field and take my dog box with me.

It's NOT that I am shallow,,, but "" . I'd personally avoid a hmmwv like a single hot chick with four kids." It would depend upon her cup size.

I Like the flat bed truck in the background

id buy one and change gearing if they would allow use on street but they make u sign a paper stating you wont

Why change the gearing? They will run 55-65 as is

How do you plan to get it to the quail pasture? Where will you keep it offseason?

I have gone about 80 MPH in one at the red river depot in about 1990.... CWO3's don't play by the same rules as everyone else.... And no I was not a warrant officer....

I think it'd be freakin sweet... Go for it!!

I sent shotgun Willie's response to my partner (NOT in the San Francisco sense of the word!!), who is 32 and was a mechanic in the marines. His response is interesting and somewhat amusing.
""" That's a different perspective for sure. I agree that it's young punks driving them, but, that is also why the mechanics work diligently on them. There are safety standards that vehicles must make to stay in service, being a mechanic I saw what was done and also how perfect they had to be put back together. Maybe this was the difference in a marine and army mechanic. We had hand me down trucks from the start so we had to repair them as best as possible to keep us in the fight. This is not a new website jut a new o me, so with the thousands of trucks that they have and continue to sell you would think If they were duds than people would not continue to buy them at the rate and prices that they do. There is an auction every Wednesday for the next few weeks let's hold off and study it a little more. I do have a few things I am gunna try and get though out of Kansas and Colorado. ""

This^^ What are you going to haul it with? Or do you plan to drive it to and from your lease and use it for hunting while there? That would be a bad idea IMO for quail hunting. You would keep it stuck at our place and who is gonna come pull that big sumbish out of a mud hole for you? At least with a UTV, you can jack it up & get some logs under the tires so you can get out. Last place we stuck our Mule Quail rig, you would still be there with that thing. I like Humvee's, but don't see it as useful for a Quail rig.

The only thing worse that an old piece of junk is a BIG old piece of junk.

^^^^^^^^^Take it from some bonafide quail hunters, this is not the ticket. What can you do in the field that CC and I can't do on our Kawasaki Mules? There would be nothing nimble about this vehicle and the expense to run it would be insane. Like CC stated, if we get stuck we have a pretty good chance of getting ourselves out with a jack and/or a come-along. You have bout a snowball's chance of getting out that day if this beast goes down. And let it be said, you will get stuck at some point.

I concur.

The auction was yesterday,,,, on the 5 vehicles that we were looking at they sold for between $11,500 and $14,000 ,, which was more than I had expected, plus 10% fee plus sales tax. I leave it on the lease year round ,, but after reading the last 4 posts,, I may go to plan B, which is keep the chevy blazer that I am using now. Thanks for everyone's input.

I'd like one as a sweet daily driver! But not for 3x what a decent, old pickup costs.