M109 vs m185

[wadefreedomvehicles]

Ok so I have what I think to be an M109, But then I was reading a post on here and saw someone say something about a M185a3. I then looked it up and it is just the radio version of the Shop Van M109. If I am wrong correct me. Anyway, I was wondering how I would tell the difference between these as my truck does not have a data plate. Is there a way I can post my frame number on here and you guys can tell me what it is? It doesn't have any of the machine shop like stuff in it, except a hole cut under the window on the drivers side, and then in the roof there is a vent type thing. I am just wondering if there is a way that I could be able to tell what it is.

 

[stb64]

No, the M185 is not a radio truck. It's a shop van just like the M109.
The -361 series manuals show some differences like a start-stop switch for a generator, that's used only on the M185.
I also remember seeing a drill press and a bench grinder.
So it looks like the M185 came as a fully equipped shop truck, while the M109 came empty, and whatever shop equipment needed was installed by the using organization.
Just an assumption. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
I do own a M109A3, but I am no expert. My truck was equipped to refill the fire suppression system in sheridan and other tanks, with only the halon cylinders missing.
Also lots of other useful stuff like a multifuel burning heater, flashlight holders, floodlights on the rear doors, electrical heater.
P.S.: there is an article by David Doyle explaining which deuce serial number prefixes were assigned to which version.

 

[wadefreedomvehicles]

Ok Thanks. Ours was owned by the SLC Airport, and then by a private collector who filled it with junk then let it sit. Then he passed away and it was sold to us at his estate sale. SO when we got it it had nothing in it.

 

[wadefreedomvehicles]

http://www.militarytrader.com/milit...jeep_and_am_general_2_12-ton_truck_production

SO this is the article, but it doesn't help me much seeing as mine is a REO company Gasser Truck.

 

[wadefreedomvehicles]

The frame serial number is:
2061 U8 29N

 

[M813rc]

As I understand it, the basic M109 was a mechanical shop van, of whatever variety; the basic M185 was an electrical shop van. Interior bench/equipment fit depended on the mission of the particular vehicle.

By taking a quick look inside my M185A3, and my son's M109A3, both of which had all the benches, storage, and tools removed prior to our buying them at auction, I see my M185 has a slightly larger electrical panel setup (including the above mentioned generator controls), additional fluorescent ceiling lights, and more electrical outlets along the upper walls.

Externally, the M185 has two different power receptacles, the M109 has one. Other than that, there are no obvious visual differences outside.

Others with more knowledge will, no doubt, chime in with further details.

Cheers

 

[wadefreedomvehicles]

I have two receptacles above the passenger side on the box. And my panel was removed, but has an outline of where it was. I can measure it and take pictures of my truck and put them here later.

 

[M813rc]

Here are some pictures of my M185A3 when I first got it. My son's M109 just has the upper of the two external power receptacles.

Inside, you can see the fluorescent lights, and the extra row of power receptacles. You can also see the generator control box (with black and red buttons) below the other electrical boxes.

Of course, there is a lot of variation in different examples of the same marks of truck, so I wouldn't consider this as definitive identification.

Cheers

 

[wadefreedomvehicles]

Yeah, I would just like to know what kind of truck it really is. What year is your truck?

 

[M813rc]

1966, Kaiser.

Paid $752, including fees, for it on the GL auction, at the height of the deuce glut. It was not very pretty, and listed as "does not run". Turned out the batteries were flat, everything else was in excellent condition, including eleven brand new tires, and a full fuel tank. I had planned to trailer it, but ended up driving it home.
I lucked out on that one!

Reloader64 wanted a soft top for his M35, I wanted a hard top for the M185, so we traded one afternoon.

It had low-mount headlights when I got it, but I just couldn't get used to the look of them, so flipped them. I did one one day, the other the next. My girlfriend took a picture of it when it was wall-eyed in between, looked kinda funny.

Also had an electric horn! It didn't work, so I added air horns from a wrecked deuce my buddy was scrapping.

Cheers

 

[wadefreedomvehicles]

I gotta switch my headlights too. Ours was made by REO so we are thinking it is a 1962. Not sure. Ours is a Gasser so we had to fix some problems cause it had sat for 10 plus years. It had moved, but not under its own power. So we fixed it and then drove it home. Really scary. First time drivin a Gasser Deuce that hadn't run in 10 to 15 years. Anyway we payed about 3k for ours which at the time we thought a pretty good deal. WE bought it in a package deal along with a 1948 IH Tractor, and an M43 ambulance and just misc. gear. You got a good deal on yours. We wish ours was a multifuel. Oh well, maybe someday change it, prob not though for historical value. Thanks.

 

[M813rc]

If I recall correctly, if you have low-mount headlights, they can all be flipped (to allow "seeing" over a winch), but not all high-mounted headlight panels can be flipped to low. Everything you need to change around is bolted on. Now, some of those nuts and bolts may have been together for 40 years.... :/ I may have made an ungentlemanly utterance or two while doing the task.
The best part is that if you just reverse the process, it all goes back to original.

Price was really dependent on timing - there were something like 22 M109/185s in the same auction mine came out of, it was not pretty and was listed as "does not run". But this was several years ago when really pretty trucks were selling for $1200-1600.

Cheers

 

[onemanarmy]

do the M185 have the same drive train as the M109 and M35?

are there A2 and A3 (automatic) versions of the M109/M185?

 

[gimpyrobb]

do the M185 have the same drive train as the M109 and M35?

are there A2 and A3 (automatic) versions of the M109/M185?

Yes they share the same drive line parts. No, the box trucks with autos were designated A4.

 

[onemanarmy]

awesome, thanks.

on the hunt.

 

[M813rc]

As Gimpy said, the M109A3 and M185A3 are mechanically the same as the M35A2. Everything except the data plates and box related items are the same.

The only difference between the M185A3 and M109A3 appears to be wiring and more lights in the box.

Cheers

 

[onemanarmy]

I found a 1966 m185, non turbo, and the owner thought the m185 meant no turbo. But its just an older deuce.

 

[jasonjc]

The truck and box are the same between a M109A3 and M185A3 per TM 9-2320-361-24P. By NSN the M185A3 is not classified as a truck but is "Miscellaneous Maintenance Equipment". Lighting and electrical are also the same. The M109A3 box comes with out tables or benches. The 185A3 comes with; 2 work tables , 2 work tables with drawers , 2 filing cabinets , 1 air compressor , 1 drill press , 1 bench grinder and 1 vise.

BUT, by the time we get these they have been modified.

 

[archmark]

Other than by what the ORIGINAL dataplate might say, the only true way to tell the difference between an M109 and an M185 is by the number of large electrical connection(s) on the upper portion of the van box on the passenger side of the vehicle (that is UNLESS one or both have been removed). The M109 has only one and the M185 has 2 of the electrical connections, of different sizes.

The M109 was your basic "shop" van, requiring basic power for basic power tools, but the M185 was for electronics repair and contained lots of specialized electrical gizmos that required different amounts and types of "shore" power, thereby necessitating the two different electrical connections. Do a search of M109 and M185 images and you'll see what I'm talking about. Also, the TM's list what the different basic equipment loadout was in the M109/M185 van boxes.

My '66 AM General M185A3 turbo multi-fuel was registered at least twice by previous owners as an M109A3, I guess without either owner ever looking at the dataplate. While the dataplate was pretty scuffed up, I can easily make out "M185A3", not "M109A3". I guess the previous owners never took the time to look at the dataplate and just believed what the previous sellers told them it was.

I'm might see how this works; if I call my M185A3 a Bentley Continental, is anybody interested?

 

[archmark]

BTW, today I changed the 50 year old cracked and brittle steering wheel on my Bentley Continental, having to knock all of the plastic off of the metal steering wheel frame to get my improvised Harbor Freight puller to pop it off. For a $200K British supercar, I would have thought that it would have come off much easier than it did. **** Limey's...