THE PORTAL HUB - Pinzgauers, Haflingers, Volvo 303s and more!

GenevaPinz wrote:The issue with EPA is not ownership of these trucks, it is driving them in their current condition. But why can't they let people buy them and park them in a museum (or in their front yard... ), or install a cleaner engine, or -let's be crazy here- drive a limited number of miles per year?

Interesting comment. I agree that it seems to be EPA pollution concerns that have created the current ban on sales. I find myself in the unpopular position of believing that climate change is real and at least partially a result of human activity. But regardless of whether it caused by humans or simply a natural phenomenon, I think that if we can do anything to address it, we should be doing it.

That's a hard choice. I love my V-8's and my less-than-ultra-efficient Pinzgauer, but I recognize that they use more fuel per mile, and likely emit more pollution per mile, than my daily driver Subaru. That's a conundrum.

Currently, there are plenty of inoperative ex-military vehicles that people can buy for lawn art, and there will be more as citizen-owned vehicles wear out. It's unlikely the government would want the inoperable trucks, even in the unlikely event they started to confiscate privately-owned vehicles.

I'm not sure about installing cleaner engines. Too expensive to do to a cheaply purchased surplus vehicle, and who wants a Shelby GT-500 with a four-banger?

But many former military (and collector) vehicles are used extremely rarely, and already drive a limited number of miles. I know mine do. Other than my daily drivers, my vehicles haven't travelled more than about 100 miles each per year for the past few years. I don't drive them in the winter due to the salt on the roads, and I've been too busy otherwise.

I know nobody wants to see their vehicle rights be restricted, and I'm with them. (As many of you know, I fought for years to retain vehicle rights here in Wis.) But if given the options of: A - no trucks, B - mandatory engine-replacements, or C - limited annual mileage and a requirement to report that mileage, I could most easily live with option C.


Okay, I've admitted that I believe in climate change and have spoken up for mileage limits. Fire away everybody...

I would not have any reservation in agreeing with your view on climate change.
I do feel that this country is not the only contributor to that issue, and in saying that I really do not feel that the amount of civilian owned post-military vehicles is the great contributor that it is touted to be. I have gone to great length, as many of military vehicle owners have, to ensure that the vehicle I own is as efficient and gas saving a vehicle as is humanly possible. As it concerns my dollars spent on petrol, oil and the preservation of that vehicle. I am not a collector with many vehicles as I have no place to keep them or the dollars to insure them. I am just a person that wants to have a unique vehicle and enjoy the personal rewards it can offer.

I think climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution. Ships, airplanes, power boats, motorhomes, full size pickup trucks, SUVs and golf course mowers all contribute to that change. And let's not forget coal and bunker fuel-burning electric generator plants that work 24 hours a day to provide electricity for our homes and electric cars. I don't understand why a few old, less efficient vehicles should be an issue. That would be like banning incandescent light bulbs. I would bet more fuel gets burned in speedways than in ex-military vehicles, but if 20,000 people drive for hours to a race track and get a thrill out of the same then I guess it's OK with everybody. It's also OK to build cars that can do 200MPH on highways with a speed limit of 60.

We, as Mankind, should be planting more trees, reducing waste, and producing our own food in those beautiful lawns of ours. In my home I don't water the lawn in the dry season; parched and dry is the natural color at times, up to seven or eight months out of the year where I live. I do not ride a bicycle because distances here are great and the risk of death is high, but we as a race are growing lazy, and that is the real problem. Sorry for the rant.