which truck series is the best/most reliable

[ihscoutsniper]

ok , i started a thread on gear ratios the other day and somehow it got off track and became a which engine is best thread. so what i want to do is build a hotshot rig, crew cab, front and rear winches 49 in tires , what i haven't firmed up is what series to start with ,i do however prefer the look of the a2 series, but not terribly important , i do want to swap in a 10 spd roadranger trans for better performance pulling 30' gooseneck, . i would even be willing to consider basing it on a 5 ton chassis with the cummins if it is the better motor, ...so please post your OPINION and reasoning where applicable,....but please lets not make it a debate if possible just stick to the facts maam....

 

[ihscoutsniper]

oh and by the way i still haven't found out the ratios in the trans case (hi/Lo)

 

[Nonotagain]

My money says for what you want to do you would be better off purchasing a commercial 6X6 truck from a power company.

The M35a2 lacks power in stock form plus the low gearing makes them a 50 mph highway rig.

The M35a3 with the CAT engine has more power but is limited by the AT-545 transmission and the same low gearing.

Creature comforts of power steering, air ride seats, air conditioning and a low noise cab would be on the top of my list.

Either a Ford or International 6X6 will cruse down the highway at 65-70 mph all day long, plus parts are readily available.

The Deuce also has a limitation of the 6 lug wheels. It's either custom, re-centered wheels or running tires which weren't meant to be installed on the narrow wheel used on the M35.

 

[Oldfart]

trans ratios I will Google for you to get the transfer.

 

[Ripcord01]

I am in the market for a truck as well. Where do you buy them at? How do you insure them and mainain them? are they expensive to own?

 

[ihscoutsniper]

nonotagain, alright understood, but i guess i didn't put enough detaiol in plans... we are starting a business to buy/sell/mod/part green iron, so the truck would be my personal daily driver but also be used to pull gooseneck for retrieval of non runners from auction, so i am aware of the drawbacks and speed restrictions , that doesn't bother me, trying to put together the best possible combo for this purpose , so which engine gets the best( i know laughable) fuel economy, cheaper to maintain, reliable, etc.... my experience is limited, my service was airborne, so the occasional ride in truck... not much wheel time, but i am an experienced diesel mechanic, and hasve worked on older stuff, class 8n trucks and lots of heavy equiptment and off road trucks .. so just looking fopr opinions on which engine /trans combo , maybe benefits and faults with systems axles etc......informative opinions sought

 

[Oldfart]

Transfer ratios from a quick Internet search along with some comments from another forum.

"Two Speed Transfer Case With Ultra Low Gearing"
Not true. The transfer case has a higher ratio than many of today's light duty 4x4s, such as a Jeep.
Jeep NVG 231 transfer case low range gearing: 2.76:1 reduction (from Chrysler published documentation)
M35A2C T136-27 transfer case low range ratio: 1.96:1 reduction (from the aforementioned TM for the M35)
The military M35s are a very good solution to the issue of mobility and load transport, but not a vehicle to jump into blindly. These trucks are closer to an old steam locomotive than today's passenger cars. Maintenance is a chore that is easily accomplished (as evidenced by all the good 18-to-20 year old mechanics that were trained on them), driving them is easy (within the limitations of the specific vehicle), and above all, are a lot of fun as a hobby to enjoy today.

 

[ihscoutsniper]

thank you old fart, appreciate it, i however have been operating and wrenching on all sorts of iron my whole life, i am diesel /heavy equiptment mech by trade, have worked for a couple of truck body building companies, my first truck was a 1958 autocar, 220 commins, 6spd lee trans was a single axle "bull" tractor mated it with a 65 white and built a tandem 14 ft dump, so maint, age and other drawbacks i am aware of and am still commited to my goal, thanks aagain for the great info will save that to my computer, these trans #s , do you know what years they were found in ,

 

[porkysplace]

I am in the market for a truck as well. Where do you buy them at? How do you insure them and mainain them? are they expensive to own?

Ripcord01 the op specficly ask to keep your B.S. comments to yourself ,if you have nothing constructive to add go to a different thread.

Now back to the real thread . For business purposes a 915 would be your best bet with a drop deck trailer capable of hauling 2 trucks a once . But if your set on a 6 x 6 your should consider looking at a M 916 . The m35's are to slow to make a profit .

 

[ihscoutsniper]

ripcord, govliquidators.com. or classified here, ebay, craigslist, there are a couple of companies that buy sell, i will be buying selling soon, as far as expense, well that varies and is what i am trying to find out here which engine is most reliable, cost effective to operate, lots of opinions, some guys swear by the old multi-fuels burn **** near anything to run,

 

[ihscoutsniper]

porky, 6x6 not the goal, BOBBED is key phrase here, i know maybe i should have posted under mods but am reall looking for overall opinions on stock truck before bob at this time, not building it for "profit" would be nice to keep overhead on operation down however, but buying selling deuces hard to charge a customer hauling charges on a truck you bough to sell, part of the cost of doing business i guess, but again thanks for your input

 

[Oldfart]

thank you old fart, appreciate it, i however have been operating and wrenching on all sorts of iron my whole life, i am diesel /heavy equiptment mech by trade, have worked for a couple of truck body building companies, my first truck was a 1958 autocar, 220 commins, 6spd lee trans was a single axle "bull" tractor mated it with a 65 white and built a tandem 14 ft dump, so maint, age and other drawbacks i am aware of and am still commited to my goal, thanks aagain for the great info will save that to my computer, these trans #s , do you know what years they were found in ,

Actually, I have made no comment. I simply copied a portion of a post on another forum that included the transfer ratios for an M35a2.

Those particular transmissions were some I researched several years ago. The time frames are 50's through 70's although the Spicers were used by the military into the 80's. At some point I had planned on adding the M800 series transmission ratios as well, but that will be a while as these are not imedieate need things for me.

 

[ihscoutsniper]

sorry, i didn't know which portion was copied and which portion was you,anyway what is yopur opinion on the series of truck or engine trans t-case, axle combos that would in your opinion be best for what i want to do...

 

[ihscoutsniper]

porky,m916 a road tractor, if that was the goal, i could buy a used tractor cheaper than i could buy a 916,

 

[porkysplace]

Has anyone ever figured out what the towing capacity of a bobbed deuce with a gooseneck is ?

 

[ihscoutsniper]

idk, but i figure it has to be able to tow another deuce on a fifth wheel, i know a guy that towed a 9900 international with sleeper 3406 cat with a 1 ton pickup and 30 ft gooseneck, idk if that was 2 much for sure but it worked...

 

[porkysplace]

porky,m916 a road tractor, if that was the goal, i could buy a used tractor cheaper than i could buy a 916,

When you start running multi-state hauling trucks for resale or parting out your going to have to be D.O.T. compliant , fuel permits ect. . they frown on 40 year old trucks being run commercial .

 

[ihscoutsniper]

i have considered bobbing an older 5 ton tractor but have read that the 5 ton gear ratios are something like 6.42, 7something and 10 something, i figured(just guessing of course) that the tractors are either the 7 or 10 so going wrong way on fuel economy

 

[ihscoutsniper]

alright that is a valid point, i didn't consider that but i would think as the truck is not for profit, it should slide under the radar i'll have to check that out, but again the thread was on "in your opinion which truck series is better " you personally chided someone earlier but have yet to actually answer the question as it was posed???? so i would like your opinion on truck series

 

[ihscoutsniper]

not to be rude or nasty, but not one single person has actually answered my question(with the exception of oldfart as to gear ratios..again thanks) yesterday i posted a question on gear ratios,and possible changes and it broke down into a fight over engines, this time i asked about engines and got into all sorts of other things, I am missing the secret code of questioning to get the answer i seek.....focus gentleman. i will however send appreciation for the interstate trucking regs , kinda forgot about that, but again back to the question at hand