Connecting the Troopers of Today with the Veterans of Yesterday.

Border Patrol Equiptment...151 "Jeep" vs Hummer. Which was best?

In my time in K-troop, we had both. We used the old 151 jeeps with hard-tops, and also the Hummers.

I remember when we were learning about the Hummers, Sgt Dean (motor Sgt-Cool guy) took us out to the LTA to learn how to drive the Hummers. We found a "little" mudpuddle, and of course, we sunk the thing in it up to the mirrors! That was a nasty surprise. We didnt think that little mudpuddle was that deep. But overall, I found the Hummer to be an excellent vehicle. It worked best with chains in the mountains in winter-time. But it was still good.

The old 151s were really showing thier age by the late 1980s, but they were sturdy little things. I found that we could drive between trees in the 151 where the Hummer would have gotten wedged in tight. The 151s always ground the gears going from 2nd to third, and they used a lot of grease. They would roll over easily, as some of our guys found out, but you didnt have to worry about welding the glow plugs by not waiting for the little light.

So, what do you guys think? Which was better for patroling the grenze? Was it the 151...or the Hummer?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bill Hembree on October 27, 2013 at 7:31pm

The 151's were strong as a 72 VW Beetle. As long as you slowed down around a curve you were fine. The gears did grind, and the rear end differential made a lot of noise. Once I had a jeep that the rear end was going out. We had to stop to transmit and listen to the radio. Later that day going up a hill it went out. My APL had to pull me on up and out of the way. The one thing I never was tickled about was the driver sat on top of the gas tank and the TC rode on top of the batteries.

We never had the Hummer, and I certainly could not see using it compared to the jeep and the places we took that thing.

Permalink Reply by Bill Randolph on December 25, 2013 at 9:07pm

Got broke in as a newbie and was assigned to be the CO's driver, Capt Berry learned real fast, the 151 was a great vehicle, also it was the longest serving of all the jeeps, 1960 to the early 90's. Was support sgt in the guard and had the humvee's, two totally differant vehicle's both have the speciality's which the other can not do.

here's the old man's

and here's the one I just finished this summer, 1972 M151A2 done in Carc tan, driving it does bring back the memories

Permalink Reply by Dennis K. Hansen on December 29, 2013 at 1:02am

Permalink Reply by howard maxwell tritt on December 30, 2013 at 12:15pm

Some time ago there was a similar question posed. My answer had to do with the width of the vehicles, and busted mirrors & fenders. While you could nearly pick up a jeep and move it, Hummers are a far superior vehicle (IMHO). Try rolling one of those babies...

Permalink Reply by Edward (Gene) Beck on December 30, 2013 at 9:49pm

I think the word superior is a little harsh. The jeep was well suited for the job during it's day. The Hummer is a whole new concept and is more advanced but that has nothing to do with how the M551 performed. I have driven through snow that nearly buried us. It fit through those planted pines on the border and if it flipped, two guys could flip it back. Easy to maintain too. If I had to do the same job now as we did back then, I'd take the jeep. In the sand box, the Hummer.

Permalink Reply by howard maxwell tritt on January 3, 2014 at 12:14pm

Fair enough Gene. They both have their pros & cons.

Permalink Reply by Joe Sellner on May 11, 2016 at 5:18pm

Have a great day

Permalink Reply by Joe Sellner on May 11, 2016 at 5:18pm

I loved the 151. At Ft. Riley as a Pfc and then Spec. 4 I took on the job as company armorer and drove for the 1st Sgt. Lot of stories with that. Very dependable and never got stuck. Comfortable no. While at the Rock I was tasked one weekend to go and pick up a transfer. Dead of winter. Gave me a CJ5 for the mission. Roads were extremely icy. I was driving around 30 mph on the highway when I had a comrade come flying up behind me. He passed me and made the crazy sign. Looked angry .About 10 minutes later I rounded a curve and there he was in the ditch buried in snow. I made the crazy sign back at him . Just a smiling!

Hup Hup Cavalry Ho!

Permalink Reply by Joe Sellner on January 1, 2021 at 6:38pm

They were a work horse! Never experienced the Hummer! The M151 was very simple and easily fixed ! No protection like the hummer has for personnel! Fond memories! Quick and easy to hide!!

Permalink Reply by David M. Gray on November 21, 2022 at 3:08pm

I performed border OPs using M151's from 1976-1981 with G TRP 2/11 ACR at Camp Wolbach/Lee. I served with C TRP and D Co 1/2 ACR from 1987 through return of the 2 ACR stateside in 1992. With 2 ACR we had HUMMVs when conducting border OPs, which for me was from 1987 through December of 1990 at Camps Gates and Hof.

My method of conducting border OPs along the FRG/GDR border was to try to observe without being observed. I found that produced more observations, and more useful information to report up the chain.

Given that method my preference was the M151 over the HUMMV for border OPs in Germany. It was considerably more effective for use in the wooded terrain along the FRG/GDR border AO. It was also lot easier to self recover when necessary.