Tornadogt
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Did you get your Alternator installed?
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CBR Metalworks M920 hauler 'Mad Max'
- Thread starter CBR Metalworks
- Start date
CBR Metalworks
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It is bolted on, VERY tight fit! I have not wired it up yet, and only have one belt installed, but it should be fine once it's all said and done. I used the original M920 alternator bracket and put spacers to make the Humvee alternator fit, but it would be best to make a new bracket (I intend to).
I am rewiring the whole truck as I see fit, so will be getting rid of all the unneeded garbage that comes on them and going bare bones (lights, jake brake, starter solenoid, etc)
CBR Metalworks
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MK15 wrecker body spliced onto a 5-ton or M920 truck? Gear Ratios?
I really have no desire to own one of the HEMTT style trucks, they just don't appear very road worthy, and I am not a big fan of the V8 Detroits. I've thought it would be a very cool rig to take a MK15 Wrecker bed/body that would originally attach to the HEMTT, and modify it to bolt to the back of a 5-ton or M920 truck. In my opinion this would make a much more road worthy and reliable vehicle than the HEMTT. If I built this, I would sell my M936 wrecker.
Here is my pro/con list:
M936
con: NHC250 is a turd
MK15 mated to a M920 (my first choice, 2nd would be 8.3 cummins 5-ton)
pro: plenty of motor to pull anything
MK15
Pro: Lots of storage space up in front of the crane (M936 has literally no room to haul stuff, just tools/accessories)
Pro: more flexibility with the knuckle boom crane
MK15
Con: Gonna be a lot of work to make all this happen, I have an idea where a cheap M920 is, assuming the guy hasn't sold it.
MY BIGGEST ISSUE:
What is the rear axle ratio on a MK15? I have searched and can't find an answer. If they are not the same as a M920, then I guess the only option would be to swap the M920 axles onto the MK15 body.
I really have no desire to own one of the HEMTT style trucks, they just don't appear very road worthy, and I am not a big fan of the V8 Detroits. I've thought it would be a very cool rig to take a MK15 Wrecker bed/body that would originally attach to the HEMTT, and modify it to bolt to the back of a 5-ton or M920 truck. In my opinion this would make a much more road worthy and reliable vehicle than the HEMTT. If I built this, I would sell my M936 wrecker.
Here is my pro/con list:
M936
con: NHC250 is a turd
MK15 mated to a M920 (my first choice, 2nd would be 8.3 cummins 5-ton)
pro: plenty of motor to pull anything
MK15
Pro: Lots of storage space up in front of the crane (M936 has literally no room to haul stuff, just tools/accessories)
Pro: more flexibility with the knuckle boom crane
MK15
Con: Gonna be a lot of work to make all this happen, I have an idea where a cheap M920 is, assuming the guy hasn't sold it.
MY BIGGEST ISSUE:
What is the rear axle ratio on a MK15? I have searched and can't find an answer. If they are not the same as a M920, then I guess the only option would be to swap the M920 axles onto the MK15 body.
andy3
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I can't wait to see your latest Frakentruck!
Jeepsinker
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I bet it would be easiest to just do a frame stretch on the 920 and then put some of the parts on it like the knuckle boom and some of the storage boxes and such. Or lift the whole wrecker bed off the frame it comes on and set it onto a stretched 920 frame.
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Perhaps reach out to pctrans, he's already done one.
CBR Metalworks
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Garret, I kind of disagree. If I can chop the 920 frame, weld on some beefy plates that match the MK15 frame, bolt them together, then all I gotta do is hook up wiring/air lines. I would want a separate hydraulic pump/engine to run the hydraulic stuff, I hate having to leave the engine running at ~1800 rpm's in the truck just to run a hydraulic pump.
My biggest concern then would be feeling 100% confident in the plates/bolts holding the two frames together. I would probably add an extra plate that would tie the two halves together on the outside of the frame rails just to be safe.
The main problem though is if the axles are geared the same between a MK15 or M920 (or M939). Would save a lot of hassle if I could avoid swapping axles.
My biggest concern then would be feeling 100% confident in the plates/bolts holding the two frames together. I would probably add an extra plate that would tie the two halves together on the outside of the frame rails just to be safe.
The main problem though is if the axles are geared the same between a MK15 or M920 (or M939). Would save a lot of hassle if I could avoid swapping axles.
CBR,
The gear ratio in the Mk15's axles is 5.43 to 1. As far as I could investigate it, the axles in the LVS are made by Eaton specifically for Oshkosh and that is the only ratio available for them.
So using the M920 axles on the Oshkosh LVS suspension would be the way to go.....
Soni
The gear ratio in the Mk15's axles is 5.43 to 1. As far as I could investigate it, the axles in the LVS are made by Eaton specifically for Oshkosh and that is the only ratio available for them.
So using the M920 axles on the Oshkosh LVS suspension would be the way to go.....
Soni
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andy3
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Pony motor and axle swap it is.
Jeepsinker
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Well that depends... What is the axle ratio on the 920?
Jeepsinker
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I bet if you stick with the tires that come with the wrecker unit the gearing wouldn't be too bad at all.
Jeepsinker
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So with the slightly higher gear ratio and the larger tires, coupled with the 400 cummins, that should be a pretty viable combination without a running gear swap right? Just need to figure out driveshaft adaptation.
Jeepsinker
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It should get up and move down the road a bit faster anyway.
CBR Metalworks
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Front and rear axles must be geared the same, or you run into big problem when you put the truck in 6x6.
Aren't 5-ton's geared 5.44? If they are I am thinking it might make more sense to adapt this to a 5-ton. I can't remember if they are 5.44 or 6.44 axles...
Aren't 5-ton's geared 5.44? If they are I am thinking it might make more sense to adapt this to a 5-ton. I can't remember if they are 5.44 or 6.44 axles...
CBR Metalworks
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Dang. No way around an axle swap. 5-tons are 6.44 like I was kind of thinking.
Jeepsinker
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Yeah I forgot about the front axle. That does complicate things. You could just do away with the front wheel drive. I kinda doubt you'd really need it, but that is usually when you need it( when you don't think you do).
TadB
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CBR are you talking about the M919 we talked about?
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The MK15 is MAINLY designed for the mk48 series trucks, it is VERY heavy, the rear lift unit is VERY much of a production to use, I think you would be a LOT better off putting the 936 bed on a m920 then doing the mk15 kit bash. At ATC, there was a private wrecker doing a pickup that used a m920 as the base with a nice older twin boom on top. The owner/builder said it was one of the best wreckers that he has ever driven.