The brakes are decent for the vehicle, as long as they are properly adjusted. These are not auto adjusting brakes. They are bendix style brakes with two adjustments on the backplate. When properly adjusted, my CJ2 will lock all 4 tires with relative ease on the stock drums. Adjustment is not hard and doesn't take long to do.
Another great vehicle that was tested in battle was the Dodge Power Wagon. A lot of GI's came back home and wanted the rugged, dependable and capable truck for farm use, logging and construction applications. Dodge saw a domestic market and made it available to the public as "The truck that doesn't need roads" . Maybe TFL can find an old Power Wagon from the '40's and give it a workout on Colorado's trails.
There's a reason Colorado trails are called "Jeep trails". You two look like you've been transported back to Belgium in 1944 with the weather that day! What a great video!
I used to have one of those old beasts, and there was not much that could stop one. A favorite trick was to put it in 4WD, low range, 1st gear. Then let out the clutch, and get out and walk beside it while it climbed a steep grade.
Proof, if any were needed, that light weight and compact size rule off-road. What a fantastic design that original Jeep was. I am so envious of you guys getting to use it out there!
Depends man, depends. In a mud bog, you need size. & a longer wheelbase can be better on some climbs. Look at the Jeep TJ vs the Jeep LJ for a good example of that.
My nearly stock Samurai was smaller, lighter, and more powerful than the MB. But there are some places like mud and creek banks, where weight and size just smashes light and small. But I will take the light and simple off roader every time.
@@sofloflow I mean, that's a fair comment. It always depends! I guess I was meaning that you can pick your route better with a compact size and not be forced into bludgeoning an obstacle to death. As a general purpose all around off-road vehicle, I think this Jeep has a a huge bandwidth of capability.
Cool to see an 80 year old WWII Jeep still serve its purpose off road. Without the Jeeps, WWII would have had a different outcome. They played a big part in the success by the Allies.
@@giovannibonifati Yes, and also the GMC CCKW troop and cargo transport. My great uncle unfortunately died in Vietnam in 1966 when a M35 “Deuce and a half” that he was riding in the back of rolled over.
... not to mention the different outcome WWII would have had without Lucky Strike cigarettes, Sherman tanks and the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But seriously, @nathanieladams7624 , I think you tend to overestimate the importance of "military light utility vehicle cars" a bit.
If you were an infantryman in WWII and you were offered a ride in a jeep versus a truck outfitted with wooden slat seats, or walking, you'd take the jeep ride in a second. Unless that seat is in the back. The back is so ridiculously uncomfortable that guys would prefer to walk. There's a famous story where a jeep showed up at an MP checkpoint. In the front were two NCO's. In the back was an officer. The MP immediately shot the officer and the two NCO's immediately put up their hands. The officer in charge was screaming that the MP shot an officer, and the MP replied that he shot a German spy. How did he know? No officer would sit in the back while an NCO sat in the passenger seat, unless that officer was German used to riding in the back of a typical German staff car.
There was a lot of that going on during the battle of the bulge where front lines were murky and the Germans had so much captured soldiers and equipment. Challenge and pass words were crafty to possibly catch Germans infiltrating allied defensive lines.
@@michelle-lz8tgthis seems unlikely as many american servicemen brought lugers home and I doubt that it would’ve been so common if the penalty were “death”. tell me you have no freaking clue what you’re talking about without telling me.
My grandfather bought a couple of surplus Jeeps after the war to work the ranch. Got lots of stories of him teaching my mom and aunt how to drive in those. He kept using those things until he retired in the 1960s.
As a Brit it really is impressive to me that it spawned an icon of our own, the Land Rover Defender. Which was pretty much a modified Jeep to start off with.
On old steering we used to adjust the gap between the gears to tighten the steering. There is a screw with a nut, loosen the nut and then turn the screw inward to tighten it, then tighten the nut. You had to constantly check the steering to make sure you weren’t getting it to tight.
One reason this old jeep does so good with open diffs is the skinny tires, people nowadays want a 12.5" wide tire, a skinny tire in most situations will provide more traction, I installed the Mickey Thompson 35x10 Baja cross tires on my 2022 Bronco base with open diffs and it made a world of difference on the trails, I can't think of maybe one time I wish I had locking diffs.
I had a 43 GPW. It did great due to two things: 1) flexy frame, it gives it more articilation than you would expect, and 2) relatively high transfer case gearing, it is like a YJ in second gear in 4 low, so the MB is going kind of fast (momentum).
I'm blown away. How does a skinny tire provide more traction? If I have a 12.5 inch tire and I air down a bit, I should have tons of grip. Please explain how you figure.
I'm impressed they were using a Renegade (like mine!) as a camera car! A hardcore Jeep owner told me that she went on really hairy trails in NC and there were always a couple of folks with Renegades keeping up with the Wranglers.
In USAER during the 70s my platoon leader didn't have a cover for his jeep. After riding in an open jeep half the winter, we finally got a cover for it. We were in the motor pool putting on the cover ,when George Patton III announced he was so impressed with Lt.......s dedication that all jeeps would remove the canvas covers!
When the military commissioned the Jeep the specifications were so strict engineers were actually shaving the ends off of bolts to make the weight. Ford and Bantam both submitted designs and the Bantam was actually superior than the Ford but the military was concerned about Bantam being able to handle the order and so they turned Bantams plans over to Ford and there wasn't anything Bantam could do since this was war time. Bantam was commissioned to build a utility trailer for the jeep (big whoop). It's an amazing vehicle and truly helped us win the war.
Uncle had one he used on tge farm. Fond memories of that old Willis. Interesting fact, a GM V6, not sure which one but beleive the 2.8 from tge 80's will bolt directly to the transmission of a Willis. Power increase should be outrageous but because of the gearing unfortunately you still won't go very fast.
light weight, zero electronics, fully mechanical, simple engineering, narrow and compact proportions are the qualities which define the unrivalled success of this vehicle in its natural habitat
I had a 1950 3A. Very capable in stock form. Mine had the 225 V6 swapped in with the matching t-case (same base t-case but with single stick due to the V6.
Love the jeep! In the late 80's, I was stationed on the USS Enterprise home-ported at Alameda Naval Air Station. I bought a '58 Willys to get me and my shipmates around the bay area. It was great around Alameda and CAL univ. 55mph top speed on the freeway with a sloppy steering wheel was a challenge. Lol
Always enjoy your shenanigans. There are parts of your country and mine that take the old vehicles (1910-1930s) and pound them on back roads. Or virtually no roads. Keep up the good work.
I built a Ford GPW last year for a buddies nephew and it was so cool, I really enjoyed driving around in it. Well other than me being 6,4' and not fitting behind the wheel very well lol. But another buddy has a Brit desert spec GPW and a Willys that is sitting waiting for restoration.
Guys- I remember reading an article where Mr. Willys stated he used his last name for the company and was discouraged it was mispronounced as ‘Willy’s’ My grandfather purchased new a 50’s Willys truck on his ranch until he retired from ranching/harvesting in 1992… that truck had practically no floor board, but it still climbed those 500acres of hills effortlessly. I loved driving it too. So reliable and fun. It was basically a Jeep with a bed.
I drove this trail two days ago in my stock FX4 Expedition. It was steeper than I was expecting. I have newfound respect for any vehicle that can make it up without 4L.
I was raised around WW2 Vets. They said the best way to drive the Jeep was to set the gears and let it crawl where you wanted to go. If you tried to power force it then you had issues.
My late father actually had an old 1946 Willies jeep, that he bought off a family member and got running. He painted the thing a god awful shade of yellow, found what was left of that can of yellow paint in his shop after he died. That can of paint was 40 years old, when I found it.
They built things to work and last back then. Best of all NO electronics to fail. Using a restored Jeep is fine, you know what you have then just be careful with it, your definitely not hurting it. That is why I like this show, you guys take care of your stuff but use it.
I don’t remember a willys having that much play in the steering but maybe I was enjoying the ride too much to notice. Would love to have one of those today! Great video!
Back when I was young, I knew folks in Colorado who took those vintage Jeeps over 4WD trails that would destroy most modern 4WDs. Those Jeeps rode horrible, but could go almost anywhere. One old trick--a lot of times the carburetor would starve for fuel on steep upgrades. Knowledgeable Jeepers would just turn the Jeep around and back up the steep grade. Problem solved.
The fact they got a jeep renegade to go on the same trail is quite interesting as people say it has no off-road quality's and never should see dirt and never should have been trail rated
So cool to see the '45 version. I was in the Army in 1965 - 1968. I don't remember what version I drove but it looks the same. The only difficulty I had with it was in deep sand. I didn't know about airing down at that time. But it was light enough a couple of us could push it out far enough to get going again. I have thought about getting a military jeep (1/4 ton) and trailer for hunting. Now I may have to think harder and actually look for one. Thanks for the reminder.
Love your Sunday classic video's. The only thing that seemed to change in this one is that a lot seemed to be edited out. I thought u guys usually made these videos closer to 30 minutes. I'm sure most of the fans of this series like the longer videos but all is well. Great Video. Great Jeep. Also if you guys are looking for any idea's for video's I think you should take the A35 to David's range for the day and see how a 1935 1/2 ton makes out working on the ranch for the day. Just a thought. Cheers.
My Dad was Navy in WWII. One of the first things they did was go to the arctic, grab a bunch of vehicles (army jeeps, tanks, trucks, etc.), load them on the ships, then steam south as fast as they could. The idea was to see if the jeeps in Northern Europe could be re-purposed to the Pacific theater. What they found out was the tires would explode, the belts all failed, basically any rubber part was useless if you took it from those bitter cold environments to a hot, steamy climate. So, they had to get all new jeeps and such for the Pacific theater. Interesting stuff. I love these old vehicles. Thanks for that little trip down memory road!! :)
My deceased Grandfather was a permanent driver of one of these in the Norwegian military. when my father was a newborn in 1951. heard many stories about that car
I grew up a few miles (but 3 or more hours) from Mt. Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi. I went to visit one time, and the day was beautifully clear. We saw a ranger there, and they said that we were very lucky to have a clear day because it was only clear up there about 1 day out of 10. So, you having fog on the top of a mountain is NOT surprising! ;) Awesome driving, awesome drive!
I read an article on a concept that AMC was working on called the Jeep JJ. It was going to compete against the Suzuki Samurai. Basically a Jeep that was 3.5 inches longer on wheelbase then the CJ5. But with an overall length of just 131 inches. The excuse given to why it never made production was it couldn't pass the Rubicon. Despite the argument the neither could a military jeep. So instead we got the Grand Cherokee. Just watching this little guy do its thing makes me wonder why. It's pretty capable and I like these. Got to see a 1948 CJ2A in person when I was Camp hosting in the Unitas. Older gentleman had it out for the grandkids to ride in while camping. 😊
2:51 My old XJ would go right up that hill, And even steeper. Of course it wasn't built-in the 40s. Lovely view from the top! Just like home.. In Washington State!
should try it in an m35 deuce and a half. of course the jeep will do it but you'll be amazed when you make it in something hauling 5 tons of gear. meant 5000 lbs of gear. not 5 tons. though I have heard stories.
7:48 I feel that by taking an old Jeep, or really any old vehicle, out into the world and driving it gives it more history and character… Every new dent and scratch is a new story, a new little piece of history that gives every vehicle a slightly different personality than any other one that came before it, even if it was the same model.
Awesome video again guys! May I do a suggestion? Try to get your hands on a Dutch army vehicle built by DAF. It would be great if you guys can test an YA126 or an Y300-series
My grandfather loved the jeep. He said many times that it was the jeep that kept him alive in WW2. He was attached to the 86th chemical mortar battalion and was just behind the lines lobbing shells at the Germans. Every once in a while, they would break through and the jeep allowed him and his buddies the ability to escape. He never bought one after returning home, but he sure had a soft spot for them.
My 42 Willys is a daily driver to the beach and dump, and around town in Rhode Island. Eventually, it will end up in the Boulder area. I’m looking forward to trying the Switzerland Trail. I just finished the yearly routine maintenance, and it is running amazingly well, and so much fun to drive! My father-in-law used to say about the Willys, “I like the ride out, but I hate that long walk back.” I’ll see you on the trails. Thanks for the video.
M141 or M141-A2. Army should still be using these. You can install a heater in between the seats running the hot water lines to it and voltage. It works well and can be a life saver!
I do wonder why we replaced jeeps with Hummers they are a decent replacement for the power wagon but the jeep is ment for speeding through ruff terrain these jeeps are monsters when people put small block Chevy's into them so just imagine how much more effective jeeps could be with modern engines and modern off road suspension
@@flight2k5 do explain how hummers are better. the jeep is lighter and smaller, allowing for better maneuverability and improved fuel economy in harsh terrain. the Hummer is basically a tank with tires which is better for long road trips and towing but they get stuck easier in harsh terrain and suck up valuable resources. hence why i said they are a good replacement for the power wagon.
I know someone who insulated their so called Mobil home with those jeep seats. The old surplus store i use to work for had tens of thousands of those seats.
Considering how they were built and maintained back in the day i guess there can be considerable differences from one Jeep to another, but after having done a good bit of driving in a 1942 Jeep in completely original, unrestored (but maintained/rebuilt as required) condition my experience is that considering the age of the vehicle the brakes isn't bad at all, provided they are properly adjusted and in overall good condition. The gear shift is also nice and tight, but of course it's not synchronized. The steering has a play of maybe 45 degrees at worst. The flathead 4 starts right up even after sitting for weeks, the original 6 volt DC generator and mechanical regulator still works perfect and all the gauges on the instrument panel still works. Regarding the ride, i can confirm that they are not very comfortable. The seats are primitive and the suspension is very stiff. Safety equipment is of course non-existant. The one thing that really annoys me is that the 1st gear and reverse is a bit high, and it can only be put in low range when the 4 wheel drive is engaged. So for precision driving, towing and other situations where you need high torque and good control you have to put it in 4WD to be able to use low range. It's beyond me why they made it like that. The best would of course have been a 4 speed gearbox with a low 1st gear. And besides the off road capabilities they're also great for picking up girls on a nice warm friday/saturday night...
The KubelWagen did have a 4WD version - the Schwimmwagen which also had a waterproof tub and prop, sorta similar to the Sea-Jeep (GPW), but not so heavy and hence useful
I think you guy's should do a comparison video between case's old cj2 and your military jeep kinda showdown to see the evolution between the civil version and the military version of the same jeep
My uncle served in the Army during WW2 and drove these in Europe. We grew up in apple country in Washington State and the jeeps, wagons and trucks were a plenty. But not once did he ever refer to them as a “Wyllis ,” hey always called them “Willys.”
That definitely looked fun! Thanks for doing that and showing us what it was capable of. How far do you think the Model A could have gone on that trail? How about the Model T?
I have a friend who lives in northern Minnesota and who was driven everything in the world of four-wheel drive (or so he claims) and he claims the World war II era Jeep is the best vehicle he knows of for driving in deep snow.
You're not taking the value out of it by using it - that's what they were made for. Always sad to see something living in a garage under a cover because its "too nice". Vehicles were made to be used. Use them.
I drove Jeeps in the 80s as part of a forward maintenance company; some had mfg. dates in the 50s. Not much room, and with radios installed, even less. Not a very stable platform as we hauled many away hanging from the boom of our 5-ton wrecker after they rolled down hills, and yes, there were injuries and fatalities.
Only in a Jeep...Hello from Butler Pennsylvania the Birth Place of the Jeep. If you are a True Jeeper you have to visit the Original Bantam Jeep factory and stop to see the original Bantam Jeep Prototype.
8:51 Kase is shook by Tommy saying this. Lol 😂 His gasped dramatically. What a great actor 11:46 incredible part of the video. Alex you did magnificent bud. With your brothers I see you got in the back seat what was that like for you bud ?
I was in before they switched to the HMMV. While in I thought the jeep was okay. It still had a risk for turning over. I think the Dodge M37 was superior to it in many ways. Really the Jeep only over shadowed the M37 by how low cost it was. The new JLTV I see as going back to a more M-37 type of vehicle. Would love to see you guys try an old M-37 all stock with maybe only the addition of the Hummer sized tires. They do make a difference for clearance and toning down the 5.87 gears down a bit. They crawl ridiculously slow in low lock 1 st gear.
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
"This thing is unstoppable!"
A few minutes later...
"The brakes are... not good."
Are those two statements related? 😅
🤣🤣🤣 too good
We don't need brakes where were going
Yes
The brakes are decent for the vehicle, as long as they are properly adjusted. These are not auto adjusting brakes. They are bendix style brakes with two adjustments on the backplate. When properly adjusted, my CJ2 will lock all 4 tires with relative ease on the stock drums. Adjustment is not hard and doesn't take long to do.
@@jeepinbanditrider they were meant to be
Another great vehicle that was tested in battle was the Dodge Power Wagon. A lot of GI's came back home and wanted the rugged, dependable and capable truck for farm use, logging and construction applications. Dodge saw a domestic market and made it available to the public as "The truck that doesn't need roads" . Maybe TFL can find an old Power Wagon from the '40's and give it a workout on Colorado's trails.
Finding a power wagon isn't hard, finding the disposable income is lol
There's a reason Colorado trails are called "Jeep trails". You two look like you've been transported back to Belgium in 1944 with the weather that day! What a great video!
I used to have one of those old beasts, and there was not much that could stop one. A favorite trick was to put it in 4WD, low range, 1st gear. Then let out the clutch, and get out and walk beside it while it climbed a steep grade.
Proof, if any were needed, that light weight and compact size rule off-road. What a fantastic design that original Jeep was. I am so envious of you guys getting to use it out there!
Depends man, depends. In a mud bog, you need size. & a longer wheelbase can be better on some climbs. Look at the Jeep TJ vs the Jeep LJ for a good example of that.
My nearly stock Samurai was smaller, lighter, and more powerful than the MB.
But there are some places like mud and creek banks, where weight and size just smashes light and small.
But I will take the light and simple off roader every time.
@@sofloflow I mean, that's a fair comment. It always depends! I guess I was meaning that you can pick your route better with a compact size and not be forced into bludgeoning an obstacle to death. As a general purpose all around off-road vehicle, I think this Jeep has a a huge bandwidth of capability.
You guys need to join the flat fender fun run at Moab during Easter Jeep Safari. It is a fun time and amazing to see where these old Jeeps go.
Cool to see an 80 year old WWII Jeep still serve its purpose off road. Without the Jeeps, WWII would have had a different outcome. They played a big part in the success by the Allies.
Don't forget the master of supply chains, the Dodge and Studebaker trucks
@@giovannibonifati Yes, and also the GMC CCKW troop and cargo transport. My great uncle unfortunately died in Vietnam in 1966 when a M35 “Deuce and a half” that he was riding in the back of rolled over.
@@nathanieladams7624 oh man, I'm sorry
... not to mention the different outcome WWII would have had without Lucky Strike cigarettes, Sherman tanks and the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But seriously, @nathanieladams7624 , I think you tend to overestimate the importance of "military light utility vehicle cars" a bit.
If we lost the war, you would see a lot more kubelwagens running around. I have a 1944, she keeps up with the new jeeps real well.
If you were an infantryman in WWII and you were offered a ride in a jeep versus a truck outfitted with wooden slat seats, or walking, you'd take the jeep ride in a second. Unless that seat is in the back. The back is so ridiculously uncomfortable that guys would prefer to walk. There's a famous story where a jeep showed up at an MP checkpoint. In the front were two NCO's. In the back was an officer. The MP immediately shot the officer and the two NCO's immediately put up their hands. The officer in charge was screaming that the MP shot an officer, and the MP replied that he shot a German spy. How did he know? No officer would sit in the back while an NCO sat in the passenger seat, unless that officer was German used to riding in the back of a typical German staff car.
There was a lot of that going on during the battle of the bulge where front lines were murky and the Germans had so much captured soldiers and equipment. Challenge and pass words were crafty to possibly catch Germans infiltrating allied defensive lines.
Awesome story!
@@michelle-lz8tgthis seems unlikely as many american servicemen brought lugers home and I doubt that it would’ve been so common if the penalty were “death”. tell me you have no freaking clue what you’re talking about without telling me.
Yeah, I’ve heard that story. And the one about a service man in the U.S. Military mailing a jeep back to his house in the states one part at a time.
@@GenderSkins there was a Mash episode where Radar tried to mail one back...mind you that was the Korean War.
If it can't do something now, it never could. A well kept and properly maintained machine is never out of its prime.
My grandfather bought a couple of surplus Jeeps after the war to work the ranch. Got lots of stories of him teaching my mom and aunt how to drive in those. He kept using those things until he retired in the 1960s.
The design of that jeep is timeless. If I had to guessed not knowing I would've said it's from the 60s or 70s not 40s
Since 1941. The one, the only, Jeep. Often immitated, but never duplicated.
An American icon
As a Brit it really is impressive to me that it spawned an icon of our own, the Land Rover Defender. Which was pretty much a modified Jeep to start off with.
On old steering we used to adjust the gap between the gears to tighten the steering. There is a screw with a nut, loosen the nut and then turn the screw inward to tighten it, then tighten the nut. You had to constantly check the steering to make sure you weren’t getting it to tight.
One reason this old jeep does so good with open diffs is the skinny tires, people nowadays want a 12.5" wide tire, a skinny tire in most situations will provide more traction, I installed the Mickey Thompson 35x10 Baja cross tires on my 2022 Bronco base with open diffs and it made a world of difference on the trails, I can't think of maybe one time I wish I had locking diffs.
It helps and hinders, depending on terrain.
On most terrain, the larger the tire, the better.
@@deejayimm Nope
I had a 43 GPW. It did great due to two things: 1) flexy frame, it gives it more articilation than you would expect, and 2) relatively high transfer case gearing, it is like a YJ in second gear in 4 low, so the MB is going kind of fast (momentum).
just look at the legendary fiat panda 141 4x4... even completely bone stock you can go nearly anywhere you want no problem
I'm blown away. How does a skinny tire provide more traction? If I have a 12.5 inch tire and I air down a bit, I should have tons of grip. Please explain how you figure.
I'm impressed they were using a Renegade (like mine!) as a camera car! A hardcore Jeep owner told me that she went on really hairy trails in NC and there were always a couple of folks with Renegades keeping up with the Wranglers.
In USAER during the 70s my platoon leader didn't have a cover for his jeep. After riding in an open jeep half the winter, we finally got a cover for it. We were in the motor pool putting on the cover ,when George Patton III announced he was so impressed with Lt.......s dedication that all jeeps would remove the canvas covers!
When the military commissioned the Jeep the specifications were so strict engineers were actually shaving the ends off of bolts to make the weight. Ford and Bantam both submitted designs and the Bantam was actually superior than the Ford but the military was concerned about Bantam being able to handle the order and so they turned Bantams plans over to Ford and there wasn't anything Bantam could do since this was war time. Bantam was commissioned to build a utility trailer for the jeep (big whoop). It's an amazing vehicle and truly helped us win the war.
Uncle had one he used on tge farm. Fond memories of that old Willis. Interesting fact, a GM V6, not sure which one but beleive the 2.8 from tge 80's will bolt directly to the transmission of a Willis. Power increase should be outrageous but because of the gearing unfortunately you still won't go very fast.
light weight, zero electronics, fully mechanical, simple engineering, narrow and compact proportions are the qualities which define the unrivalled success of this vehicle in its natural habitat
Very impressive for a vehicle that age! I'm also pretty impressed by the little Renegade also making it up the hill.
Agree! The Renegade was more capable than its lower ground-clearance allowed...that was it's main issue, not its drive system.
-- BR
selec-terrain is aggressive enough
Narrow chunky tires help a lot too, but still impressive for an eighty year old car.
You guys make me smile.
I love to see the vintage stuff out on the trail.
You should get your hands on a Sherman tank, and take on Tumbleweed.
I had a 1950 3A. Very capable in stock form. Mine had the 225 V6 swapped in with the matching t-case (same base t-case but with single stick due to the V6.
Love the jeep! In the late 80's, I was stationed on the USS Enterprise home-ported at Alameda Naval Air Station. I bought a '58 Willys to get me and my shipmates around the bay area. It was great around Alameda and CAL univ. 55mph top speed on the freeway with a sloppy steering wheel was a challenge. Lol
Thanks for the info!
Always enjoy your shenanigans. There are parts of your country and mine that take the old vehicles (1910-1930s) and pound them on back roads. Or virtually no roads. Keep up the good work.
Another great video thank you Tommy and kase
I built a Ford GPW last year for a buddies nephew and it was so cool, I really enjoyed driving around in it. Well other than me being 6,4' and not fitting behind the wheel very well lol. But another buddy has a Brit desert spec GPW and a Willys that is sitting waiting for restoration.
Guys- I remember reading an article where Mr. Willys stated he used his last name for the company and was discouraged it was mispronounced as ‘Willy’s’
My grandfather purchased new a 50’s Willys truck on his ranch until he retired from ranching/harvesting in 1992… that truck had practically no floor board, but it still climbed those 500acres of hills effortlessly.
I loved driving it too. So reliable and fun. It was basically a Jeep with a bed.
This is an excellent series!
I drove this trail two days ago in my stock FX4 Expedition. It was steeper than I was expecting. I have newfound respect for any vehicle that can make it up without 4L.
Keep driving it and showing what it can do!!! It can be restored again and put in a museum someday.....but not yet!!!!
I was raised around WW2 Vets. They said the best way to drive the Jeep was to set the gears and let it crawl where you wanted to go. If you tried to power force it then you had issues.
My late father actually had an old 1946 Willies jeep, that he bought off a family member and got running. He painted the thing a god awful shade of yellow, found what was left of that can of yellow paint in his shop after he died. That can of paint was 40 years old, when I found it.
Must have been a "keep it around just in case" item. lol.
They built things to work and last back then. Best of all NO electronics to fail. Using a restored Jeep is fine, you know what you have then just be careful with it, your definitely not hurting it. That is why I like this show, you guys take care of your stuff but use it.
I don’t remember a willys having that much play in the steering but maybe I was enjoying the ride too much to notice. Would love to have one of those today! Great video!
Back when I was young, I knew folks in Colorado who took those vintage Jeeps over 4WD trails that would destroy most modern 4WDs. Those Jeeps rode horrible, but could go almost anywhere. One old trick--a lot of times the carburetor would starve for fuel on steep upgrades. Knowledgeable Jeepers would just turn the Jeep around and back up the steep grade. Problem solved.
Respect for the Great-Granddaddy of today's JEEP. The OG Willy's Jeep. I wouldn't mind to learn to drive this WW2 icon.
Remember most of todays off road trails were pioneered by these Jeeps.
The fact they got a jeep renegade to go on the same trail is quite interesting as people say it has no off-road quality's and never should see dirt and never should have been trail rated
i guess we will see how the Renegade survives in 80 + years .
@@rodgood that jeep is a resoration. nothing drives 80 years and survives.
What an awesome Jeep. It really proved what they are capable of in an offroad environment. Thanks guys!
So cool to see the '45 version. I was in the Army in 1965 - 1968. I don't remember what version I drove but it looks the same. The only difficulty I had with it was in deep sand. I didn't know about airing down at that time. But it was light enough a couple of us could push it out far enough to get going again. I have thought about getting a military jeep (1/4 ton) and trailer for hunting. Now I may have to think harder and actually look for one. Thanks for the reminder.
Love your Sunday classic video's. The only thing that seemed to change in this one is that a lot seemed to be edited out. I thought u guys usually made these videos closer to 30 minutes. I'm sure most of the fans of this series like the longer videos but all is well. Great Video. Great Jeep. Also if you guys are looking for any idea's for video's I think you should take the A35 to David's range for the day and see how a 1935 1/2 ton makes out working on the ranch for the day. Just a thought. Cheers.
My Dad said some had a pto on them,they were hooked up to water pumps, turn generators etc. Just search uses for willy's jeeps during WWII.
Never underestimate the power of short wheel base and skinny tires
My Dad was Navy in WWII. One of the first things they did was go to the arctic, grab a bunch of vehicles (army jeeps, tanks, trucks, etc.), load them on the ships, then steam south as fast as they could. The idea was to see if the jeeps in Northern Europe could be re-purposed to the Pacific theater. What they found out was the tires would explode, the belts all failed, basically any rubber part was useless if you took it from those bitter cold environments to a hot, steamy climate. So, they had to get all new jeeps and such for the Pacific theater. Interesting stuff. I love these old vehicles. Thanks for that little trip down memory road!! :)
My deceased Grandfather was a permanent driver of one of these in the Norwegian military. when my father was a newborn in 1951. heard many stories about that car
those mud holes have a nice hard bottom.... that jeep aint gonna have any problem, even with those skinny tires... been driving them all my life,
Way way better than a regular today's Stellantis
I grew up a few miles (but 3 or more hours) from Mt. Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi. I went to visit one time, and the day was beautifully clear.
We saw a ranger there, and they said that we were very lucky to have a clear day because it was only clear up there about 1 day out of 10.
So, you having fog on the top of a mountain is NOT surprising! ;)
Awesome driving, awesome drive!
Love this! I have a 42 I started the restoration process on. (The tear down atleast)
I wanna see you move some logs offroad with it! Its shockingly capable pulling a load offroad!
I read an article on a concept that AMC was working on called the Jeep JJ. It was going to compete against the Suzuki Samurai. Basically a Jeep that was 3.5 inches longer on wheelbase then the CJ5. But with an overall length of just 131 inches. The excuse given to why it never made production was it couldn't pass the Rubicon. Despite the argument the neither could a military jeep. So instead we got the Grand Cherokee. Just watching this little guy do its thing makes me wonder why. It's pretty capable and I like these. Got to see a 1948 CJ2A in person when I was Camp hosting in the Unitas. Older gentleman had it out for the grandkids to ride in while camping. 😊
2:51 My old XJ would go right up that hill, And even steeper. Of course it wasn't built-in the 40s.
Lovely view from the top! Just like home.. In Washington State!
This thing just looks like its always smilling, I cant help myself but watch it do its thing
should try it in an m35 deuce and a half. of course the jeep will do it but you'll be amazed when you make it in something hauling 5 tons of gear.
meant 5000 lbs of gear. not 5 tons. though I have heard stories.
I love your videos when its only you two, chemistry is crazy
7:48 I feel that by taking an old Jeep, or really any old vehicle, out into the world and driving it gives it more history and character… Every new dent and scratch is a new story, a new little piece of history that gives every vehicle a slightly different personality than any other one that came before it, even if it was the same model.
At 12:40 the Jeep feels right at home.
Awesome video again guys!
May I do a suggestion? Try to get your hands on a Dutch army vehicle built by DAF.
It would be great if you guys can test an YA126 or an Y300-series
Thanks for saying Willys the right way!😁 I get so tired of people saying Willeees.
My grandfather loved the jeep. He said many times that it was the jeep that kept him alive in WW2. He was attached to the 86th chemical mortar battalion and was just behind the lines lobbing shells at the Germans. Every once in a while, they would break through and the jeep allowed him and his buddies the ability to escape. He never bought one after returning home, but he sure had a soft spot for them.
Keep making these iconic videos, bravo!
The classic jeeps are still the best! Ok, maybe not everyday but the best even still.
You know things that go off road. 1970's vw bug, 1980's amc eagle, 1940's jeep. :)
WW2 Jeep is my favorite thing on this channel.
This video honors the greatest generation, and makes me want to salute.
My 42 Willys is a daily driver to the beach and dump, and around town in Rhode Island. Eventually, it will end up in the Boulder area. I’m looking forward to trying the Switzerland Trail. I just finished the yearly routine maintenance, and it is running amazingly well, and so much fun to drive! My father-in-law used to say about the Willys, “I like the ride out, but I hate that long walk back.” I’ll see you on the trails. Thanks for the video.
Hello Dad, fancy running into you here! Can't wait to see how our Willys handles all the trails around Boulder.
Would be a lot of fun to see a comparison between this and the M151.
M141 or M141-A2. Army should still be using these. You can install a heater in between the seats running the hot water lines to it and voltage. It works well and can be a life saver!
M141? You mean m151?
@@flight2k5Doh! My bad.
I do wonder why we replaced jeeps with Hummers they are a decent replacement for the power wagon but the jeep is ment for speeding through ruff terrain these jeeps are monsters when people put small block Chevy's into them so just imagine how much more effective jeeps could be with modern engines and modern off road suspension
@@creditcrazy597 hmmwvs are better? That’s why
@@flight2k5 do explain how hummers are better. the jeep is lighter and smaller, allowing for better maneuverability and improved fuel economy in harsh terrain. the Hummer is basically a tank with tires which is better for long road trips and towing but they get stuck easier in harsh terrain and suck up valuable resources. hence why i said they are a good replacement for the power wagon.
I know someone who insulated their so called Mobil home with those jeep seats. The old surplus store i use to work for had tens of thousands of those seats.
That thing looks way better than modern Jeeps.
Awesome thanks for sharing and taking us along.
Considering how they were built and maintained back in the day i guess there can be considerable differences from one Jeep to another, but after having done a good bit of driving in a 1942 Jeep in completely original, unrestored (but maintained/rebuilt as required) condition my experience is that considering the age of the vehicle the brakes isn't bad at all, provided they are properly adjusted and in overall good condition. The gear shift is also nice and tight, but of course it's not synchronized. The steering has a play of maybe 45 degrees at worst. The flathead 4 starts right up even after sitting for weeks, the original 6 volt DC generator and mechanical regulator still works perfect and all the gauges on the instrument panel still works. Regarding the ride, i can confirm that they are not very comfortable. The seats are primitive and the suspension is very stiff. Safety equipment is of course non-existant. The one thing that really annoys me is that the 1st gear and reverse is a bit high, and it can only be put in low range when the 4 wheel drive is engaged. So for precision driving, towing and other situations where you need high torque and good control you have to put it in 4WD to be able to use low range. It's beyond me why they made it like that. The best would of course have been a 4 speed gearbox with a low 1st gear.
And besides the off road capabilities they're also great for picking up girls on a nice warm friday/saturday night...
The KubelWagen did have a 4WD version - the Schwimmwagen which also had a waterproof tub and prop, sorta similar to the Sea-Jeep (GPW), but not so heavy and hence useful
Awesome video bro
Pretty sure I saw this out front of city star earlier! Looked super clean
Excellent video thank you. You could have brought that two door JL Sport your friend has as a comparison.
I think you guy's should do a comparison video between case's old cj2 and your military jeep kinda showdown to see the evolution between the civil version and the military version of the same jeep
My uncle served in the Army during WW2 and drove these in Europe. We grew up in apple country in Washington State and the jeeps, wagons and trucks were a plenty. But not once did he ever refer to them as a “Wyllis ,” hey always called them “Willys.”
My Grandfather always said his back was really messed up from all the driving Jeeps in WWII and Korea.
That definitely looked fun! Thanks for doing that and showing us what it was capable of. How far do you think the Model A could have gone on that trail? How about the Model T?
Tommy looks like Patton in Sicily.
I've got a 1970 CJ5 with the V6 seems like many of the same issues.
I learned to drive on a little Wyllis jeep here in South Africa. It was a lhd vehicle.
Awesome video, would yall ever do a off road video with the model a truck. Also you should go back there when it’s winter with the jeep.
LOVE this Willy’s series!!
LOLZ our camera car is a Jeep Compass, the MB can go anywhere a grocery getter goes.
im so envious of you i want to ride that out in the field!
Gotta love shenanigans videos😅
Case looks like young Tom Cruise with those sunglasses on. 😂
11:30 badass shot in the fog
My gf usually complains when I watch anything having to do with cars, but I noticed she doesn't say anything when Case is reviewing 😂
I have a friend who lives in northern Minnesota and who was driven everything in the world of four-wheel drive (or so he claims) and he claims the World war II era Jeep is the best vehicle he knows of for driving in deep snow.
You're not taking the value out of it by using it - that's what they were made for. Always sad to see something living in a garage under a cover because its "too nice".
Vehicles were made to be used. Use them.
Also, vehicles don't do so well sitting. Seals still go bad, things can still leak, and in general vehicles can still use some good exercise.
I drove Jeeps in the 80s as part of a forward maintenance company; some had mfg. dates in the 50s. Not much room, and with radios installed, even less. Not a very stable platform as we hauled many away hanging from the boom of our 5-ton wrecker after they rolled down hills, and yes, there were injuries and fatalities.
I'm in my happy place thanks guys🎉
Only in a Jeep...Hello from Butler Pennsylvania the Birth Place of the Jeep. If you are a True Jeeper you have to visit the Original Bantam Jeep factory and stop to see the original Bantam Jeep Prototype.
8:51 Kase is shook by Tommy saying this. Lol 😂 His gasped dramatically. What a great actor 11:46 incredible part of the video. Alex you did magnificent bud. With your brothers I see you got in the back seat what was that like for you bud ?
I was in before they switched to the HMMV. While in I thought the jeep was okay. It still had a risk for turning over. I think the Dodge M37 was superior to it in many ways. Really the Jeep only over shadowed the M37 by how low cost it was.
The new JLTV I see as going back to a more M-37 type of vehicle.
Would love to see you guys try an old M-37 all stock with maybe only the addition of the Hummer sized tires. They do make a difference for clearance and toning down the 5.87 gears down a bit. They crawl ridiculously slow in low lock 1 st gear.
I've always wanted an MB! If you guys ever want to sell it....