Wrecker people! Good deal?

[simp5782]

Ok, so I found this wrecker below on my local craigslist. It is about a 2 hour drive from me through the mountains. I haven't called the guy yet, but plan on doing it tomorrow to check on how many miles are on it and the interior condition. I have been eying it for a few days now and I gotta convince the wife that is a good buy, or else Ill just be sitting here drooling. Maybe sleeping on the porch or in the truck if I buy it. If anyone else is interested in it I would be able to go pick it up and store it. Also how heavy is one of these things? My M-61 is pretty heavy but my 1 ton diesel tows it on a gooseneck all the time without any issue. The posting

70 Kaiser 6x6 5 ton wrecker, Has CRANE picks 20,0000# 23' PICK HIEGHT 20000# WINCH ON FRONT CUMMINS MTR $4500 0B0

 

[ODdave]

If I lived close I would own it alredy. (granted you let me buy it). I wouldnt care what the wife says, 4500.....DEAL

 

[simp5782]

Well I was thinking with all the snow we have up here it would be great for recovery. Heck even putting my 10' plow on the front with the wrecker on the rear would give me GREAT traction. I would be using it also to go up and get firewood. Alot of slag piles here are 1 - 3ft diameter logs that are 15 - 30ft long and almost kill ya down there crawling all over it cutting it up. Would make it alot easier I believe. trying to tell the wife I would make the money back plowing snow and recovery during the winter within a month or so

 

[axlr8]

Better Hurry, someone may snag it from you, I had that sorta happen. On a RARE truck...

 

[73m819]

If everything works, has a lot of the BII, 45 is a good price, getting the goodies is what cost a ton,

 

[m16ty]

I don't recall the exact weights on it but you can forget about hauling it with your 1-ton.

 

[jcappeljr]

Buy it.......

 

[rideni]

something like 38000 pounds if i remeber right

 

[13 MIKE]

A running 816 is worth 4500 all day long. Be prepared, it weighs about 32,000 lbs.

 

[patracy]

My M543A2 weighs 34000lbs. Which is close to the M816 in design. But the Cummins 250 and longer frame add probably 1K lbs more. Forget towing it. $4500 is a great deal.

 

[123mack]

The data plate on my M816 gives an empty weight of 36,129 pounds.

 

[area52]

Looks like its missing the rear winch. better make sure the crane works like it should.

 

[patracy]

Good catch, I missed that.

 

[73m819]

816 = 35050 lbs per the -10

 

[3dAngus]

That would be a really sweet deal, especially if everything works.

 

[Ferroequinologist]

I need a wrecker sooooooo bad!!!!

Looks like a great deal, even if the rear winch is missing.

 

[booger]

great deal. better hurry...I'm going to start driving that way in the morning !

 

[m816Buch]

buy it and build a dog house

 

[wreckerman893]

Some thoughts from the former owner of a money pit.......errrrr M816 wrecker.

If it has the Cummins in it it will suck the bottom out of the fuel tank.....even running the crane will use a lot of fuel since you have to idle it up. With the multi-fuel you can at least use alternative fuels.

Make sure all the hydrolics and air systems work.....all of these systems must work properly to operate the crane.

The hoses cost a ton of money to replace and that big tank on the crane takes several hundred bucks worth of hydrolic oil. Blow the wrong hose and all of it will end up on the ground.

License plates and insurace: I put farm tags on mine for a little over a hundred bucks but insurance ate my lunch. I had a farm policy with Progressive that would not cover me towing anything....even my own stuff. Commercial tow insurance is expensive and worth every penny if you get into an accident.

I have no experience with snow plowing but an M816 has a turning radius just slightly smaller than the Queen Mary.

I used to help the wrecker driver at my unit in Germany and unless you have chains the wrecker is like a hog on ice on slippery surfaces.

If you get it stuck and have to do a rearward recovery you are going to miss that rear winch. And speaking of winching, it is a two man job. One guy can do it but it is dangerous and can get you injured and damage equipment. You will need a co-driver if you are out where you might get into trouble.

If you do get it stuck you are going to need a vehicle at least as large as it to get it out (unless you are slightly stuck). When I had mine towed it cost 300 bucks for the wrecker driver to take the key out of his pocket to crank the Freightliner that towed it.

Unless you have a buddy with recovery capabilty you might think about that.

Also be aware that on a good day with no load the wrecker is slow......hook a good load to it and you are going to see the scenery slowly.

The price is good no doubt.....if it is not missing critical components or in need of a lot of hoses and other items. As mentioned above the tow bars, snatch blocks, chains and other items needed to do recovery can add up fast.

The 250 Cummins is an old school diesel engine....usually reliable and tougher than woodpecker lips.....but it is getting harder to find an old school diesel mechanic that can work on them. Parts can be a challenge to find also.....and sometimes very expensive.

There may be a reason why the gentleman is selling it at just above scrap price.

 

[simp5782]

Well my family is all loggers so equipment to get it out wont be an issue. Grapple skidders and excavators. Even got my other 5 ton if needed. I know when you get stuck the only thing that can get you out is a bigger truck or equal truck that isnt afraid to hit it. I dont tend to put myself in a situation where i am going to get stuck unless I know someone is there close by to hook up and get it out before the suction happens. I figured for the price it was worth the $50 in fuel to go look at. I can work on most diesels and my father in law has 4 350 big cams sitting in the garage that all run so if I need a repower its easy to come by. I would be more tempted to put some good semi wheels and good drive tires on it since we have an OVER supply of 22.5s and 24.5s laying around.