my m819 takes a foot ball field to turn in, compared to my former m52, my m52 could turn rings inside my m819. it is a different crane on the m819 then the wrecker, not only does it have 26' reach but the winch is on the back of the boom where the winch is under the boom with the cable going to the back then over a shive then along the boom to the block, also the hyd. tank on the m819 is mounted behind the crane on the deck, the wrecker hyd. tank is mounted on the right side of the crane mount where the spare tire mounts on the m819. according to the parts book some parts interchange but the two cranes are different from the drives on up ,the main boom lift cylenders, the boom inserts,ect. thay both will lift 10000# and 20000# on boom surports . combat ready the m819 weights 36065# , the wrecker weights 36035#, the m819 ie the big of the big of the 5 tons.
if i had the money id buy alexs m819, id tell the wife that it takes a big wrecker to tow a big wrecker in case of breakdown, you can never have enough big green iron.