Tank Restoration Facility

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

The Tank Restoration Facility (TRF) crew would like to say HAPPY 250th BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!

In this update I’ll be talking a little about our process to maintain our parade vehicle fleet so the Founder and Chairman of the National Museum of Military Vehicles can pick through over fifty wheeled and tracked vehicles used for unique events including the annual 4th Of July Parade held in downtown Dubois, Wyoming.

Throughout the year we monitor the well-being of our fleet and track any issues as they arise during scheduled checks and operation of the vehicles. As I write this, we are enjoying a 95% available vehicle rate, and before the 250th Birthday, I expect it to be 98% available. That last 2% to be operational will probably not make it due to the (un-obtainium) nature of parts that we hope to come across someday.

Out of the 50+ vehicles we’re focusing on for the parade there will be fifteen tracked vehicles and ten wheeled vehicles. We will have Sherman Tanks, Patton Tanks, Halftracks, Armored Personnel Carriers, a Self-Propelled Howitzer, and a Chieftain just to name a few.

For the wheeled vehicles we’ll have WWII Staff Cars, a Deuce and a Half, Jeeps, HWMMVs, Vietnam Gun Trucks, Fast Attack Vehicles, a Grizzly MK1 APC and a few vehicles from across the pond.

From now until the 4th of July we will be focusing on exercising, repairing, and cleaning all vehicles assigned to the parade as well as some back-up vehicles to ensure we have as many vehicles we are allowed.

Other projects are still ongoing like the M4A2 Sherman and M36 Tank Destroyer restorations. We have made great progress on both tanks but still have a long way to go.

We have completed our repaint of the M48AVLB (bridge launcher) and it turned out great! I’m hoping it will be added to our parade line of tanks this year.

Hope to see you all in Dubois for the 250th Birthday of our great nation and our 4th of July events. Don’t forget that all are welcome to stop by the shop on the 4th to see these vehicles as they are staged for the parade.