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My 1971 Am General m109a3 RV build

muthkw25

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Truck in 3 days driving did 500 miles and didn't miss a beat. Very pleased with the trip. After getting home, today with my dad's help, installed the brand new radiator. Will send the old one out to be repaired and have a spare on hand. Also installed a new air compressor belt because there was some small cracks, figured while it was out to fix it now and also replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses.
 

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muthkw25

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Here's a photo of the inside. I added a projector and screen to the wall and run a blu ray player with a bose Bluetooth speaker and it rocks inside the box. I got a portajohn which works quite well and store the kurig, microwave and the fans below the cabinets. Didn't have anything fall while driving. Plan next time is to move the coolers to the shelter and have more room to either add in some more cabinets or put a small bench to sit on. I'd also like to raise the refrigerator off the ground approx 2 feet and build a shelf to bolt the fridge to and use storage below it.
 

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muthkw25

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Anyone have any ideas as to things I can add? I purchased a m1061a1 trailer from Scrounger before he passed, God rest his soul, and I was thinking a about towing the m1061a1 with the s250 and having a small deck on the back of the trailer to sit on or store a utv or atv. I know the weight of the m1061a1 is gonna be a concern. Anyone have any constructive criticism?
 

archmark

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After Gettysburg, we went directly to Redball Military Vehicle Show in Gilbert, PA. Best show in the country hands down. Great people and food. Picked up a brand new radiator for Ole Smokey and got some small parts I was looking for. Here's some photos while at the show.
How are your tires holding up and are you happy with the size that you went with?
 

muthkw25

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How are your tires holding up and are you happy with the size that you went with?
Tires are holding up great! When I don't use the truck I cover them with the rv covers to protect from dry rot. They are a heavier ply and the radial helps overall with steering. I think they are 10 ply vs the 8 ply with the ndts. The size I'm happy with. I am approx 8500lbs over a m35a2 with the trailer and I can haul consistently at 52 to 55 and pulling hills I do well with. nuts. Larger tires would effect me towing in a negative way especially in the mountains.
 

Rhino 5/4

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Tires are holding up great! When I don't use the truck I cover them with the rv covers to protect from dry rot. They are a heavier ply and the radial helps overall with steering. I think they are 10 ply vs the 8 ply with the ndts. The size I'm happy with. I am approx 8500lbs over a m35a2 with the trailer and I can haul consistently at 52 to 55 and pulling hills I do well with. nuts. Larger tires would effect me towing in a negative way especially in the mountains.
I love your truck. If I wasn't so deep in the M725 I'd consider moving up a notch to a duce. Well done sir.
 

cattlerepairman

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After Gettysburg, we went directly to Redball Military Vehicle Show in Gilbert, PA. Best show in the country hands down. Great people and food. Picked up a brand new radiator for Ole Smokey and got some small parts I was looking for. Here's some photos while at the show.
Good on you for finding a new rad. Methinks your rad leak was high up if it only bubbles when the truck is shut off. The rad is easy to repair (and worth repairing, given the prices of NOS or even good takeout ones).
 

VBsurfer

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Love your setup and all the work you have done. I recently got my first military vehicle M109A3. Your build has given me some inspiration, can't wait to get to it but a lot happening right now so in a month I will have a lot more time to dedicate to her. Fantastic work and if I have any questions I might pick your brain a little :). Keep on trucking brother!
 

muthkw25

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Sayre, PA
Love your setup and all the work you have done. I recently got my first military vehicle M109A3. Your build has given me some inspiration, can't wait to get to it but a lot happening right now so in a month I will have a lot more time to dedicate to her. Fantastic work and if I have any questions I might pick your brain a little :). Keep on trucking brother!
Thank you! I am getting smokey out of hibernation and looking into making some changes for this year to the inside.
 

archmark

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Woodway, TX
Has anybody "foamed" the insulation space in between the inner & outer panels of the M109/M185 box. At some point I was thinking about pulling the interior panels, trashing the surely rotted batt insulation, rewiring the box, maybe replacing the windows & sealing the box roof & side panels from the inside. I thought about having the space foamed prior to replacing the panels.

Thoughts & thanks...
 

muthkw25

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Sayre, PA
Has anybody "foamed" the insulation space in between the inner & outer panels of the M109/M185 box. At some point I was thinking about pulling the interior panels, trashing the surely rotted batt insulation, rewiring the box, maybe replacing the windows & sealing the box roof & side panels from the inside. I thought about having the space foamed prior to replacing the panels.

Thoughts & thanks...
Yes there has been. Peashooters m109a3 build he re-skinned and insulated whole box and other people did spray foam insulation in their builds. Peashooter also put a heated floor in which helped with Temps above 50 degrees. Read about his build. He did way more manufacturing and design work. Because my box was in such good shape I didn't have to do anything major to mine. I lucked out.
 

SCSG-G4

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Has anybody "foamed" the insulation space in between the inner & outer panels of the M109/M185 box. At some point I was thinking about pulling the interior panels, trashing the surely rotted batt insulation, rewiring the box, maybe replacing the windows & sealing the box roof & side panels from the inside. I thought about having the space foamed prior to replacing the panels.

Thoughts & thanks...
Mdmorgan redid the entire interior with foam. they did some other modifications also. Their thread is probably 6 to 10 years old.
 

cbrTodd

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Just keep in mind that if there are any water leaks in the outer shell, spray foam becomes a sponge and rusts the walls from the inside out. My M109A3 had been spray foamed at some point prior to it getting released, and due to a couple roof leaks it had rust everywhere inside the walls. I had to scrape it all out with an oscillating tool, multiple 55 gallon trash bags worth. I went back with foam board insulation for ease of future repairs, which has already saved my bacon once.
 

VBsurfer

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I was thinking of taking all the panels off and putting in some better insulation in the form of panels. I think my box is in pretty good shape but I just got my vehicle a few months ago so I'm no expert. Spray foam would work for sure but if you ever have to remove it would be a pain.
 

TomTime

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I was thinking of taking all the panels off and putting in some better insulation in the form of panels. I think my box is in pretty good shape but I just got my vehicle a few months ago so I'm no expert. Spray foam would work for sure but if you ever have to remove it would be a pain.
I have used spray foam numerous times in walls of homes, RV 's and toy haulers, cargo trailers, boats and other applications. I can say that I haven't used it in any military vehicles as of yet...that will be forth coming though!

I agree that once you spray it in, it is a PITA to work with after the fact if you need to do work in between the walls. That is why I try to plan out everything first, like wiring, plumbing, cabling, to go inside the walls, ceiling and even floors before I spray. Sometimes I also run a unused conduit pipe throughout the walls to tap into, in case something does come up in the future.

I have used both, open and closed cell spray foam in the past. I have only used the open cell foam one time and was not happy with results in my application but it does cost less then closed cell foam. Now only use closed cell foam because of it characteristics, and specifications that come from the manufacturing companies. It has been my experience that closed cell foam will not absorb or hold moisture since it is closed cell, and that it is like glue and sticks to almost everything after it expands and cures...wear gloves and long sleeve shirt. It is the best insulation moisture barrier I have found to date.

If you used it and it expands to the outside anywhere, trim it, paint or coat with UV barrier because it does not like long term exposure to UV rays.

Of course if you get any damage to the panels or exterior skin, after installing the foam, then you need to attend to it ASAP so moisture doesn't pool of lay inside the damage area.

Just my 2 cents, 2cents ;)

Take care, be safe,

Tom.
 
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VBsurfer

Active member
39
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Location
Heathsville, Virginia
I have used spray foam numerous times in walls of homes, RV 's and toy haulers, cargo trailers, boats and other applications. I can say that I haven't used it in any military vehicles as of yet...that will be forth coming though!

I agree that once you spray it in, it is a PITA to work with after the fact if you need to do work in between the walls. That is why I try to plan out everything first, like wiring, plumbing, cabling, to go inside the walls, ceiling and even floors before I spray. Sometimes I also run a unused conduit pipe throughout the walls to tap into, in case something does come up in the future.

I have used both, open and closed cell spray foam in the past. I have only used the open cell foam one time and was not happy with results in my application but it does cost less then closed cell foam. Now only use closed cell foam because of it characteristics, and specifications that come from the manufacturing companies. It has been my experience that closed cell foam will not absorb or hold moisture since it is closed cell, and that it is like glue and sticks to almost everything after it expands and cures...wear gloves and long sleeve shirt. It is the best insulation moisture barrier I have found to date.

If you used it and it expands to the outside anywhere, trim it, paint or coat with UV barrier because it does not like long term exposure to UV rays.

Of course if you get any damage to the panels or exterior skin, after installing the foam, then you need to attend to it ASAP so moisture doesn't pool of lay inside the damage area.

Just my 2 cents, 2cents ;)

Take care, be safe,

Tom.
That's some good information, I'm not sure how I will approach really but was more focused on in panel insulation at the moment. Once I get in there I'll figure out what makes the most sense.
 

muthkw25

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Location
Sayre, PA
Just got back from first camping trip for 2022 and my gf and I went to Cherry Springs State Park in PA. Only 1 of 2 international dark skies in the US. No visible light and no air pollution allow for the most beautiful night time photos of the milky way. Highly recommend to anyone that's into night photography. Here's a few photos of the trip. Bought a predator 3500w generator and it came in handy since there's no power at their camping sites. First time I used the truck without being plugged in, went very well, no hiccups. Truck ran great. After Cherry Springs I went to Gettysburg and drove 201 miles. Gf and I stayed at a campground and went to Hagarstown show on Thursday. Overall truck did 550+ miles and ran great. I am going to be looking at designing a solar setup over the 250 shelter for the trailer in the future and a battery bank so I don't have to run the generator. Overall very pleased with the trip.
 

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