Thoughts on M818 for new work idea

[promodhotrod]

If your seriously comptemplating a 916 or 818 , and your willing to drive 4 hours, you can come see both here. Each has advantages for your intent, best way to see is going for a ride. I'll warn of an alterior motive, Im getting ready to sell my 818.
KJ

 

[davidkroberts]

as for creature comforts in a M818. The biggest upgrade you could possibly make is replacing the seat with either an airride commercial seat or stand alone truck seat with a fabricated mounting bracket. I drive military vehicles constatly as in i dont own a civilian vehicle. You tend to just get used to them (speed, spartan functionality)

that being said for all around use for both on and off road i think a M916 would be better. The m818 is going to limit you on pulling mil trailers with the 24v pigtail and lights the m916 has both 12v civi connections and 24v milspec connections. There is an adapter available that converts a 24v mil spec plug to a 12v civilian connection but they can be a bit pricey.

Tires are much cheaper on the 818 using the 11.00x20 and the 916 is running 11.00x24 rubber. Both are easily upgradable to 395 series. Repair parts on the 818 are going to be easier to swing price wise. Good luck finding a semi automatic cat transmission for the m916. The cummins 250 is a reliable power train but it isnt a "big rig" engine. You are going to be slow and climbing hills wont be fun.

looking at commercial insurance through progressive for a 818 was running about 100 a month for a not-for-hire hauler with a medium duty weight limit. a m916 weighs much more than a m818 and insurance will be more....probably

I work for the government but sell MV's on the side. I bought a M818 for equipment pickups but im not going to move anything more than a few trailers and generators or pull a truck home with a tow bar. The range where a m818 is truly useful is pretty narrow but it does exist. If your range was within 50 miles it probably would be ideal but with the extended ranges you are driving a m916 will probably be more appropriate.

i got a m818 because i want to do all my own maintinance and have a certain commonality of parts between equipment. I also have an almost unlimited amount of 20" tires. Its not that i couldnt have used a M915/m916/m920 just as well but it was more truck than i needed. I was only going to be trailering a few tons at the most and towbaring 1 m35/m818/m819 at a time ever. It just worked for me your situation is a bit different

 

[treessw]

If your seriously comptemplating a 916 or 818 , and your willing to drive 4 hours, you can come see both here. Each has advantages for your intent, best way to see is going for a ride. I'll warn of an alterior motive, Im getting ready to sell my 818.
KJ

as for creature comforts in a M818. The biggest upgrade you could possibly make is replacing the seat with either an airride commercial seat or stand alone truck seat with a fabricated mounting bracket. I drive military vehicles constantly as in i dont own a civilian vehicle. You tend to just get used to them (speed, spartan functionality)

that being said for all around use for both on and off road i think a M916 would be better. The m818 is going to limit you on pulling mil trailers with the 24v pigtail and lights the m916 has both 12v civi connections and 24v milspec connections. There is an adapter available that converts a 24v mil spec plug to a 12v civilian connection but they can be a bit pricey.

Tires are much cheaper on the 818 using the 11.00x20 and the 916 is running 11.00x24 rubber. Both are easily upgradable to 395 series. Repair parts on the 818 are going to be easier to swing price wise. Good luck finding a semi automatic cat transmission for the m916. The cummins 250 is a reliable power train but it isnt a "big rig" engine. You are going to be slow and climbing hills wont be fun.

looking at commercial insurance through progressive for a 818 was running about 100 a month for a not-for-hire hauler with a medium duty weight limit. a m916 weighs much more than a m818 and insurance will be more....probably

I work for the government but sell MV's on the side. I bought a M818 for equipment pickups but im not going to move anything more than a few trailers and generators or pull a truck home with a tow bar. The range where a m818 is truly useful is pretty narrow but it does exist. If your range was within 50 miles it probably would be ideal but with the extended ranges you are driving a m916 will probably be more appropriate.

i got a m818 because i want to do all my own maintinance and have a certain commonality of parts between equipment. I also have an almost unlimited amount of 20" tires. Its not that i couldnt have used a M915/m916/m920 just as well but it was more truck than i needed. I was only going to be trailering a few tons at the most and towbaring 1 m35/m818/m819 at a time ever. It just worked for me your situation is a bit different

Thank you for all your thoughts on this!!! Promo, I would definitly like to meet up, 4 hours is not to bad! Not to try to compare and contrast two vehicles. I am thinking that the 916 is going to be more productive for us on the long distance deals and especially with the hills. I like the 818 for the local aspect pick up delivery and also the thought of being able to work on 818 myself. I believe that the 916 would be the way to go at this point but I think that both are equally useful for different situations. May have to just get the funds together for both. I like the idea of the 818 for local area hauling and the 916 for our stuff over 50-100 miles.

The use of both these trucks would be fo company use non hire, ok maybe under the table obviously but primarily for company use!!

Thanks for your insight on the delima at hand,