REAL MAN TRUCKWORKS & SURVIVAL
VEHICLES, CAMPERS, and BOATS => General Vehicle Related Discussion => Topic started by: TexasRedNeck on September 20, 2015, 06:57:12 PM
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Always looking and thinking about a decommissioned military vehicle.
At the place where I store my RV, there is a guy with what I believe to be a M923 (drop sides)
According to the owner:
Its a 1985 with 16,000 miles, 100 hours on the engine. Completely rebuilt by the military in 2010. Street legal and he is the second owner (the first was the Airforce).
I looked it over today. It looks really clean with only a few leaks (more like weeping) Top looked new on the cab and rear. Tires looked new.
He wants $14,800, which is about what I see LMTV going for at auction. Many M923s sell for $10,000 so I'd have to understand what makes this one worth more.
So the question is: I've been looking at the LMTVs, which makes the better vehicle? The M923 or the LMTV?
Which is easier to work on/get parts?
I assume the 1985 is an A1 and not an A2? and has the naturally aspirated 14 litre cummins??. Pros/Cons over the 8.3L turbo in the A2 versions?
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...and the A2s have CTIS (central tire inflation). Even tho the non turbos are almost twice as big (14 Liters), the smaller one has more power, and better mileage. I get between 4 and 6mpg, I think the 8,3 gets about 8-10 from what I've read at SS forum.
14,800 is way overpriced IMO. A bunch (most?) of trucks that come from auction have had rebuilds...ask Nate, they had to keep them ready to role, even tho they knew they were going to be phased out.
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You have one?
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Mines an 83 M925. Not an A1 nor A2. It left the military before it got converted... does not have singles, and doesn't have abs
...difference between 923 and 925 is 925 has a winch.
I like the truck, but I would think the LMTV might be a bit more practical, efficient, etc. but have zero experience with them. I'm waiting for nate to chime in....he's around them every day.
The 5 ton is just plain BIG.
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I wouldn't mess with a M35A1. Go for the A2/A3 turbocharged ones. Much better in the power department I think.
Personally I'd go for an LMTV. Ft Campbell just had an auction of a slew of them. Most of them go for around 8K-9K. Not nearly as much as I thought. Sales for you out of Ft. Hood, TX they seem to be more expensive. Also Texas seems to have the "Van" models, whereas up here we only have the cargo models.
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I've been lurking on Iron Planet for auctions. What site have you been looking at for auction items? Most of the ones I see are at Bragg
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Mines an 83 M925. Not an A1 nor A2. It left the military before it got converted... does not have singles, and doesn't have abs
...difference between 923 and 925 is 925 has a winch.
I like the truck, but I would think the LMTV might be a bit more practical, efficient, etc. but have zero experience with them. I'm waiting for nate to chime in....he's around them every day.
The 5 ton is just plain BIG.
Bobbing them seems popular. As does a quad cab conversion
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I've been lurking on Iron Planet for auctions. What site have you been looking at for auction items? Most of the ones I see are at Bragg
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Iron Planet...
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Yeah the bobbed ones look cool, I just don't have the will power....plus 4X4 doesn't sound/look as cool as 6X6....the rear articulation is unbeleivable for something so large.
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I don't have an experience with the LMTV, but I have an 86 M923A1 that I love. I picked it up in June and I've put about 600 miles on it to and from the farm and on the trails. I love the thing! I've been doing a lot of reading on both the A1 and A2 trucks and I'm happy I ended up with the A1. The A2s have a little more power and better mileage, but you have to pick what's most important to you. I'm not using mine to tow 15,000 lbs and it's not exactly a daily driver, so the power of the 14 liter and the mileage are fine for my purposes. I also appreciate the simplicity of the A1 over the A2. Turning wrenches all day means I don't really want to have to do it on my pleasure vehicle. Anything forced induction adds more possible failure points (not to mention more expensive ones) as does the CTIS. Some may disagree, but I prefer the simplicity. My 5 ton is for trouble-free fun, if I want to turn wrenches in my free time that's what the race cars are for.
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Nice truck bud. I'm glad you mentioned the "14L"...I corrected my post above.
.... wish mine came with the A1 package, especially the larger singles.
If you get time, can you post some pics over here....http://real-man-truckworks-and-survival.com/index.php?topic=86.msg817#msg817
I don't want that thread to be just about me and my ugly beast.
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nice to hear from you again nick. did you get some good info in those manuals I sent you?
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Yes, Nate! Thank you! Sorry I've been MIA. I've been insanely busy lately with work and other projects, plus living a bit of our own personal hell at home for the last month.
Ken, I'll try to get some pics posted over there shortly.
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Cool truck
Down off of 25 near Piner, is a bobbed duce. I thought I saw it for sale. Looks cool
But me...I'm all in on the LMTV
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Maybe I was dreaming, but did I already ask if the rumors about the LMTVs having electrical gremlins are true?
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You did not sir.
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But me...I'm all in on the LMTV
Go old school.
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Maybe I was dreaming, but did I already ask if the rumors about the LMTVs having electrical gremlins are true?
I'm a little late to this party, but the LMTV/FMTVs due tend to have some gremlins. They're all computerized, and a laptop is pretty much required for maintenance (at least according to my Army mechanics). That said, if you have the right software, you can tune them up for power and adjust the governed speed. The only real issues we had with them were battery fires. If you live them parked for more than a few hours, you need to turn the master power/battery disconnect to off. It's located under the body, between the driver's door and rear wheel on the left side. I'd love to have one!