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wrecker 816 vs 936 whitch is better

Csm Davis

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M-816 is my choice after a couple weeks in HANDMPAINTANDBODY'S M-936 I want my manual back, them auto is nice and the extra cab room is awesome but my 816 will work circles around a M:grd:-936
 

The PIG Smith

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Fort Wayne, Indiana
The 816 is LOUD and will suck the bottom out of the fuel tank......the M936 is geared a little higher and as memtioned has better creature comforts.
This brought to my mind a lot of questions.
I assumed (and we all know what that means) that the 900 series was just an updated version of the 800 series trucks.
...and the performance was the same.

But I am compelled to ask.
  1. Are the 900 series faster than the 800 series trucks?
  2. Are the 900 series safer than the 800 series trucks at higher speeds? (meaning handing, braking, etc..)
  3. Do the 900 series get better fuel economy than the 800 series trucks?
  4. If the 900 series perform better on the highway than 800 series, then do the 800 series perform better off-road?
 

Welder Sam

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Ok. Let me ask questions...

Both trucks run the same engine?
Hydraulic transmissions have higher parastic drag than manuals?
Why would the 936 get better fuel milage?
Why, other than not having to work a clutch, would the 936 oerform on or off road better?
 

Welder Sam

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Ok. Let me ask questions...

Both trucks run the same engine?
Hydraulic transmissions have higher parastic drag than manuals?
Why would the 936 get better fuel milage?
Why, other than not having to work a clutch, would the 936 perform on or off road better?

I see it like this.... the 936 is simply an auto version of the 816 in a different skin.
 
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The PIG Smith

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Wow...I must have touched a sensitive place...sorry

Both trucks run the same engine?
of course they do

Hydraulic transmissions have higher parastic drag than manuals?
Why would the 936 get better fuel milage?
I dunno...like I mentioned, I assumed both trucks performed the same.
But because I was educated to the facts that the 900 is geared higher...then allow me to suggest an explanation of many way better fuel economy.
Maybe the Allison is geared different and with the combination that rear axles are have higher ratios, maybe this would use less fuel.
I do not know...thus why I was asking

Why, other than not having to work a clutch, would the 936 oerform on or off road better?
If the 900 axles are gear higher, maybe it would not perform as well off road as the 800 series truck.

I do not know the answers to any of these questions and is why I asked.
If I have offended anyone, then I apologize.
 

Welder Sam

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No one that i know of is offended. Nor have you touched a nerve. I simply stated my questions and observations sir. I am not educated about the 936. However, i am aware that if you run an axle ratio thats very much higher on a vehicle weighing near 40k, your milage will indeed lower. Having not owned or studied a 939 series, i can only guess that if theres a mileage increase, its negligible at best. As others have stated, if youre worried about fuel mileage, you may want to look at the jeeps and 5/4's.
 

joeM62

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Cedartown/GA.
I ran across a website the other day the guy is reducing his inventory he has M246a1 that has the mack and M819 along with more trucks.
 

197thhhc

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Williamsburg, OHIO
I have used both. I was a recovery specialist in the Army. The 819 can take more abuse and just seemed to be a stronger vehicle. The 936 which was new when I had one was a great truck for convoys and longhaul recovery. Comfort is the biggest difference to me, but the 936 "felt" better on the highway.
 

73m819

Rock = older than dirt , GA. MAFIA , Dirty
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The 246/819 seems to handle a heavy lift tow a lot better then a standard wrecker [thumbzup], does not seem to have the going lite front end problem, has to be the long wheel base coupled to where the crane is mounted
 

m816

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I drove the M62, M543, and the M816. I have done my share of recoveries with all three, some times under stressfull conditions. The 62's and 543's were indeed light in the steer axel when towing a heavy load. I found the M816 to have more power over all and was a tad more stable when turnning heavy tows. The 936's look more robust to me. I am not a fan of having to wait untill the air builds before you can get off the brakes, Just incase you have to get outta Dodge rikitik. The trucks were more useful for the rotating crane in general. We were constantly loading and unloading all kinds of material. and when supporting armor units I welded rubber track inserts to the end of the boom to exercise the main gun on the tanks. (worked great). I would brag about the M816 more except we have to pull the front axel out if it cause something locked up the left front wheel. but it is still an awsome machine to have in the yard.
 

emr

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I have used both. I was a recovery specialist in the Army. The 819 can take more abuse and just seemed to be a stronger vehicle. The 936 which was new when I had one was a great truck for convoys and longhaul recovery. Comfort is the biggest difference to me, but the 936 "felt" better on the highway.
The best answer of all , is this one of experience, it is what the difference really is and thats it , And well said and simple , .... As for the guy who said the auto goes every 10,000 miles, that is 100% opinion,and not true... the 939 series trucks actually put more convoy miles on than any trucks in history, in the first and subsequent Iraq wars, The auto probs that happened early on were 100 % driver error and all three Army, Allison, and AM General came up with the same answers in independent analysis , after appropriate driver training on shift procedures , of this vehicle the problems for the most part went away, The 809 series wreckers feel stronger because of that low trans, actually to low for that engine, but to me that is what makes am so cool, Side by side 809 to 939 series in a tractor pull, since I did it, the 809 was like watching paint dry, but pulled that sled out to the parking lot, the 939 in selection 5 pulled that sled at a high speed into the next county, :) just an fyi :):):) Now as I read the previous post, i have to say thats were the wrecker /boom/and truck together info is u need, He has more than the experience to all about what he is saying...
 
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jets1959

Member
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Location
Lakewood, WA
I drove the M62, M543, and the M816. I have done my share of recoveries with all three, some times under stressfull conditions. The 62's and 543's were indeed light in the steer axel when towing a heavy load. I found the M816 to have more power over all and was a tad more stable when turnning heavy tows. The 936's look more robust to me. I am not a fan of having to wait untill the air builds before you can get off the brakes, Just incase you have to get outta Dodge rikitik. The trucks were more useful for the rotating crane in general. We were constantly loading and unloading all kinds of material. and when supporting armor units I welded rubber track inserts to the end of the boom to exercise the main gun on the tanks. (worked great). I would brag about the M816 more except we have to pull the front axel out if it cause something locked up the left front wheel. but it is still an awsome machine to have in the yard.
Looked at you photo album. I need a M816 just to work on transmissions.:grd:
 

Csm Davis

Well-known member
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Location
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
The gearing difference is in the transfercase it is a overdrive case in high that is on the 936, as to ride on road 936 is roomier and will run faster, but as to pulling power no way will a 936 keep up with a 816 hook back to back and the auto transmission will just slip and the hydraulic winches will just bypass when they get near the twenty thousand range. And can't backup in low range is for the birds
 

dmetalmiki

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London England
M62

My M62 has plenty of grunt, gets the job done.. A really good truck truck for all round useage.

We were late for a vehicle collection at the disposal site (for an F350 ambulance) so no time for winching. Just hooked up and PULLED. no stopping it. And that farm unit was stuck well Down and in, and loaded with 39 tons of goop!

success pulling tractor out - YouTube
 
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