My Cummins powered 5-ton 6x6's

[CStansbury]

Hey all,

I haven't been around for a while since I sold my '95 12v. Since selling my Dodge, I have purchased 2 different military trucks with a Cummins under the hood.



The first was a 1991 BMY M923A2 5-ton cargo truck. It weighed in at 21,500 lbs. It was powered by a Cummins 8. 3 CTA followed by a Allison 5-spd automatic. It sat on super-single 14R20 Michelin radial tires which are about 49" tall. Top speed was 60-65 depending on the road. It had ABS and CTIS. The CTIS could drop the tire pressure all the way to 10 PSI for sand or raise it as high as 60 PSI for highway use. I sold the truck back in August after the birth of my son.



About 2 months ago, I purchased a 1970 Kaiser-Jeep XM818 5-ton tractor. It also weighs in around 21,000 lbs. It is powered by a Cummins NHC-250. That is a huge 855 CI NA straight-six. It is followed by a 5-spd manual transmission. It rides on 11. 00x20 bias-ply NDT (non-directional tread) tires. It tops out at 60-65 MPH as well. Being that it is a much older truck than the M923A2, it doesn't have all of the electronics like the ABS or CTIS. It is just a bare-bones tractor. It is plated to pull 37,500 lbs. , but that is just the military being conservative to keep the troops from breaking trucks. I am going to finish restoring it and then sell it to fund another project.



I love Cummins engines of all shapes and sizes. The 855 is much more harsh than the smooth and quiet 8. 3 CTA, but I love it. One rev of the engine emits a rough exhaust note and flutters my heart It pulls like a freight train.



I'll post some pics here for your enjoyment.



Please feel free to chime in with questions or quips about your own military truck experiences.

 

[Wayne M.]

Now that's a real nice truck! I'd love to take it for a spin- just for the experience. You'd think it would have more than a 5 speed. I thought the 855's had PT fuel systems? I see an inline pump there.

 

[CStansbury]

Thanks Wayne. That side shot is of the 8. 3C in the 923A2. The ol' tried and true P7100 resides there. I'll get some better shots of the NHC-250 in the 818. While it does have 855 CI, it doesn't have a whole lot in common with the 855 small cam or big cam civilian engines. It would be nice to have a double OD in the tractor, but 60-65 is plenty fast in that thing. The military wasn't too concerned about speed when the truck was designed since 45 MPH is convoy speed.



Here's some more pics of the 923A2 that I sold. It was a great truck and I miss it. Even the tractor-trailer drivers game me respect in that truck!



The pics are of the dash, the CTIS controls, the shifter, the other side of the engine and the air-brake canister/drum. The rims are 2 piece with 10 studs holding it all together with an o-ring to seal it and a rubber internal bead-lock to keep the tire in place. They were fun to take apart!

 

[Wayne M.]

I should have cought that left side pic as being the "C" engine as I put in a few years working on them- the intake threw me off. I see wedge brakes, what kind of suspension/ spring did it have? I really like M. V. 's. Someday I'll have something. We once had a bunch of M-715's in our fleet, and I was responsible for some of the maintenance on the last one we had. That was some truck, my 4X4 friends were blown away.

 

[CStansbury]

Here's some more undercarriage and suspension pics for you.

 

[bnbrown]

How do you like the NHC-250? considering buying an M813 with the NHC-250 in it and a 5speed. Looking to add a snow plow to it to knock through some of these big ole drifts we get out here.
A friend of mine also has an M813, M35A2 with the mulitfuel, and just got an M35A3 with the Cat and Allison combo.
I do like the look of the super single setups though.

 

[CStansbury]

I really like the NHC-250. It has lots of low end grunt. It actually makes that 21k lb tractor feel kinda "sporty. " An 813A1 would be a heck of a drift buster. The NDT tires aren't the best in the snow so you'll want to keep a set of chains on hand and put a load in the rear. I was real good at power-sliding my M35A2 in the snow. If you can find a USMC 813A1, it'll have the 14R20 super-singles and lockers in the rear. The singles would be nice, but I bet the lockers would make the rear want to pass the rest of the truck in snow or ice.

 

[rbattelle]

Wow, very very cool stuff, CStansbury!

Love that M923A2, can't believe you sold it. If you don't mind posting it, what did you pay for it from DRMO, and what did you sell it for?

I've always wanted something like this. Lately I've been lusting after one of these in 4x4 short-wheelbase cargo trim.

Ryan

 

[bnbrown]

I am kind of steering away from any of the automatic trans units, like the idea of ease of use, could even have the wife bring the truck to drag me out of the ditch then, but hate the idea of doing any repairs on anything electronic controlled. The lockers could have their uses, might be a little more squirley than the limited slip type I am used to on the CTDs we have. What kind of fuel milage are you seeing from the Cummins in the tractor?
Will toss a couple pics of my friends trucks on here:
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Thats his M813 (5-ton) with the Cummins NHC-250
I would consider one of the duece and halfs, but would rather have the NHC-250 and the power that comes with it, when not using it to move snow I plan on using it with a pintle trailer to move hay.
Here is his new M35A3
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Cat powered unfortunately...

 

[CStansbury]

Ryan, the 923A2 was sweet, but when the baby came we had a stack of bills and I couldn't fit the family in it for a long trip to WV. I sold it to a local guy for $15,000. I have seen them go for close to $20k. Mine still needed a cosmetic restoration so I could not get as much out of it. My bid, plus tax, plus 10% buyers premium, plus tractor-trailer ride to my house, plus parts needed to repair/replace everything ran about $13,000. Mine needed quite a bit of work, but it was an A2 and I wanted it. There aren't many A2's out there right now. A friend of mine paid $16,500 at the same auction for a M925A2, which is the same truck but has a front winch. That was before tax/premium were paid.

I am planning on doing another 939-series truck in the spring. That's why I didn't mind selling the 923A2 as much. I really wanted a winch truck to start with. The next one is going to be a M925A1. It'll run the super-singles, but will have the NHC-250 and no CTIS, which is good. The CTIS is a maintenance headache anyways.

The MTVR trucks are bad for sure, but it will be a decade at least before any come out on surplus and I can't afford one straight from Oshkosh.

My friends and I have had really good luck with the Allison transmission in the 939-series. It is not electronically controlled. It runs a primary filter in the pan, a secondary spin-on and has a huge coolant/atf heat-exchanger.

Tell your buddy he has some nice looking trucks. That A3 is not the most popular truck among deuce purists, but I'd still own one.

Here's a few pics of the 925A1 I'm hoping to start on in the spring. The winch is missing right now, but that's not a problem. Some TLC, a gallon of penetrating oil and some super-singles and I'll be good to go. Also a couple of my 1970 404 Unimog that I had until I got the 923A2.

You guys should stop over on my website sometime: Steel Soldiers :: Military Vehicles Supersite There are a bunch of great MV guys there and a TON of info and pics.

 

[CStansbury]

Here's a couple of pics of my M923A2 when I first brought it home. The front end was taken apart and the axle shaft was gone. The radiator and driver's door were in the bed. The fan shroud, PS cooler, PS ram, and cab heater were gone. It was a project, but I saw potential!

 

[tgordon]

CS, I see the military also uses equipmetn only for the intended puposes:-laf



Those are some nice looking trucks you guys have, adn I can only imagine what they sound like when they are purrring away

 

[bnbrown]

My buddy takes a lot of pride in his, have seen him tear the whole front axle apart just because he saw a slight (and I mean slight) leak from one of the seals... and he seems to repaint them every year, often back into Spec. camo patterns.

What I am not sure of is, would an Auto transmission hold up well being used as a slow speed plow truck? It just seems like a manual would be best for the slow low end work like that... as long as you stayed off the clutch of course.

It will all come down to which trucks are available when I get around to buying one... Needs to be a Cummins powered 5-ton, with a hard top, winch and heat. Need it in running condition (there is no way to get a semi trailer down our road). Going to try and find something nearby to keep hauling to a min, afford a better truck that way Atleast the wife is onboard with the idea right now (our road has been snowed in for over a week) My buddies new M35A3 is in drivable condition but will still have it winched onto the trailer and hauled, no point in chancing low lube levels or bad fuel.

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The reason no semi trailers (this is a 90* corner)... can just barely sneak a 28' goosneck through with good weather, this pic was from back around Turkey day, now it has drifted onto the road in spots well over 2' deep.

 

[CStansbury]

tgordon, those nice guys in the SeaBees lifted that truck right onto my drop-deck with that container loader. That thing was massive!

Here's a few videos for you:

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/index.php?module=pagesetter&type=file&func=get&tid=4&fid=file&pid=179

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/index.php?module=pagesetter&type=file&func=get&tid=4&fid=file&pid=180

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/index.php?module=pagesetter&type=file&func=get&tid=4&fid=file&pid=109

bnbrown, you have a beautiful place to call home! I'm originally from WV. We used to get a good bit of snow up in the mountains. We never got CO piles of snow, but it was nice. I'll be lucky to see a flurry this year.

Personally, I think it would be nice to have the big Allison for plowing. After looking at the size of the cooler, it would be hard to imagine it overheating in the winter. It would definitely keep you from getting clutch-leg after shifting all day. That 809-series clutch will wear you out after a while.

 

[JStieger]

CStansbury-



Can you please post pics of inside the cab of the Kaiser-Jeep tractor?



I love old iron!



-Thanks-

 

[rbattelle]

CStanbury - is that your personal tow truck (Jack Jr. Towing)?

Ryan

 

[CStansbury]

Ryan, no, I wish that was my wrecker! He's a local guy that helps me out with my "crazy Army truck" projects. I am planning on getting a 5-ton 6x6 wrecker for just such an occasion

JSteiger. I'll try to get some posted up for you tonight.

Thanks guys,
Chris

 

[bnbrown]

Gotta love the sound of those monsters :-laf
guess it would be handy to own your own wrecker if you buy more than one or two of these bigger machines. My friend recommended not pushing it, even if the unit is in running condition about the most they want you to do when picking it up is check the fluids, add fuel, check the tires and give it a jump start. That sound about right?
These guys sell them cleaned up a little and with fresh fluids, but price is a couple thousand over auction price... M35 For Sale. Deuces for Sale Turbo Diesel, Army Trucks, Logging, Heavy Trucks, Off-Road Big Trucks, Four Wheel Drive but have heard good things about them

 

[CStansbury]

Well, it depends on the truck. I have driven several trucks home from the auction site. Not the 923A2 for obvious reasons, but the 818 did come home under its own power. I knew from a buddy that it had been driven into the DRMO lot with a bunch of other trucks from a couple hundred miles away. So, I had a fellow SS member tow it off-site for me with his wrecker. Some GL sites are touchy about you working on your stuff in their lots. After he towed it to his place, I went down with my brother and checked every fluid, bled the brakes, drained the water out of the fuel and gave it a jump start. It came loaded with 110 gallons of diesel courtesy of the US government We took it for a short test drive to get things warm and check for leaks. After everything checked out, I put the hammer down and headed for home. I stopped once to check everything again, but we didn't have any problems. Some folks aren't as lucky, but you just have to do an honest inspection before bidding and then again when picking up. If I have any questions about its reliability, then it comes home on a drop-deck.

Dave Newman at Eastern is a good guy, but shipping or driving would be a killer from Philly. If you want to buy a reconditioned one you can call Boyce Equipment in Ogden, UT. Another expensive place is Rancher's Supply. You'll pay a premium through any dealer though. I have seen some good trucks coming out of Ft. Carson, CO and Hill AFB, UT. You can watch the auctions there and try your hand at it. Or, watch eBay and Craig's List in your area. I sold my 923A2 on eBay and there are 4 or 5 big trucks on there routinely. Also, If you hang out in the 5-ton forum at Steel Soldiers, someone is bound to know where one is for sale.

 

[bnbrown]

My buddy bought his M35A2 from Dave at Eastern, said he was great to deal with and got a great deal on the hauling too (PA to CA). Luckily I can get all the parts I need through my friend, he buys and sells surplus for a living. There was a dang nice looking M813 that just sold at Fort Carson (it is only about 4 hours from here) and I have my eye on a M923 that is at Hill AFB, Salt Lake City is about 12 hours from here, and I will be going by there next month anyhow (looks like I am finally getting my 99 back up and running, has been sitting with a dead VP in NV since June).
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the pallet under the front end makes me wonder a little. Will definitely need cab heat, but that is an easy addition if I remember correctly.
Thinking I want to go through GL... may as well go all in on the first try
The M35A3 my buddy just bought is scheduled for pickup the end of the month from Camp Lejeune.
Found a decent looking portable welding outfit listed at Hill AFB, will have to keep an eye on that one.
On your Tractor is the Fifth wheel standard civilian semi configuration? I was thinking about getting one of those tractors originally but was warned the fifth wheel plate might be sized for a different King pin config.