My first 5-ton

[Corey]

Hi, I am new to this site and 5-ton trucks. I just bought one today that has been sitting for two years. The battery is missing but the guy I bought it from says it should start right up and drive away. I have been searching this site for info but still have a couple questions.
Is this an M818?
What is the front winch rated at?
All the pictures I looked at show the air cleaner on the drivers side, why is this one on the passenger side?

Thanks!

 

[dk8019]

I'll wait for someone else with more info, but I believe this is a M54, or at least of that series, as the air cleaner is on the passenger side.

 

[Corey]

Are you thinking M54 because of the cargo bed? The truck has a semi-truck "hitch" with a 2 1/2 ton or similar cargo bed sitting over it.


(Edit: I just found the FAQ thread. http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showwiki.php?title=wiki:5+Ton )

 

[Corey]

So is the M-54 an older version of a M-818? The dash plate read 196(?)
(edit for new people like me, good thread here: http://www.steelsoldiers.com/5-ton-larger/28628-m54-vs-m818.html )


This one is pretty neat:

 

[AaronW]

Hey, I know that truck! You got it from a good guy! Looked at it myself. It did have a data plate on the dash.

 

[AaronW]

sorry for the blurry pics. M52

 

[scooter01922]

Not an 818, looks to be an M52 5 ton tractor. Front winch should be rated at 20K lbs. I HIGHLY recommend reading the TM before attempting to do anything regarding starting or moving it.

 

[frodobaggins]

M52

 

[scooter01922]

By the way the m52 not the m54 is the predecessor to the 818.

 

[clinto]

That is an M39 series 5 ton. It has the LDS version of the multifuel engine, therefore the air cleaner is on the passenger side, same as a deuce. If this were an M809 series truck, it would have the Cummins NHC-250 and the air cleaner ont he driver's fender.

 

[Corey]

Thanks for the replies!

AaronW, the guy said there were a couple other people looking at it. Why didn't you pick it up? It is pretty ugly and my girlfriend didn't want me to buy it.

 

[papabear]

agreed clinto

 

[AaronW]

The logistics of moving it was too much for me. In its condition, I thought a low boy trailer was in order. I would have had to move it about 40 miles to get it home.
Also the CDL is still an issue for me.

Did you get the other truck too?

 

[Corey]

My friend bought the other truck just for the front axle. We build trail/offroad 4x4s. He is building a small monstertruck type vehicle. The rest of the 2 1/2ton truck is being parted/scrapped. If this 5-ton runs good, it will probably end up as a tow vehicle for my Chevy. I go to mudbog/off road racing type events.

 

[DMgunn]

I would like to know about the truck in your avatar.......tire size for starters....

 

[Corey]

It is a 1941 Chevy, 41" tires. I bought it about 10 years ago for $2000. It was sitting in a field, I stopped and asked the guy if he would sell it and he said yes, only because he just got married and needed money for his honeymoon trip. I cleaned it up, drove it around town, took it to a couple car shows and sold it a couple months later for $2500 to an old guy that said he was going to restore it. I have only seen pictures of two others. I guess they were mobile radio command centers. The thing was pretty neat.

 

[DMgunn]

Yeah, they are cool. I've got a couple pics of one with duals all around - course they were probably 7.25-20s, but still look pretty tough.

Thanks for the info.

 

[kcimb]

Nice truck!

 

[Corey]

The guy threw in 3 new windshields, a new gas tank and his neighbor is supposed to have a nice front bumper he wants to get rid of.

 

[Corey]

The transmission on this truck is broke in half. Will a Spicer 3053A out of a M35A2 fit in a M52? I know the yokes have a different flange pattern. Will the cab off a M35A2 ton fit on this also?