Re: [MV] Found 10 ton (M???) truck with winch in back

DDoyle9570@aol.com
Sat, 13 Nov 1999 05:58:10 EST

A ten ton truck with a winch behind cab and fifth wheel would be a M123
series vehicle. I don't have my owneers manual in front of me to get all the
nomenclature perfect on the various variants.
Basically, if there isn't a "A" in the model number it has a gas burning
LeRoi V-8, if it has an "A" i.e. M123A1C, power is by V-8 Cummins. Some have
single winches, others dual. There are 2 different heights of fifth wheels.

This truck has straight air brakes with NO spring safety...NO AIR=NO BRAKES!!
It is extremely important that the air and brake system be fully functional.
The truck weighs 30000 lbs or so.

Engine parts are very expensive, for either engine. Other than a few
gaskets, you can get nothing for the Cummins at a Cummins dealer...despite
myth the engine is NOT the same as similar size commercial engine. Some
have an exhaust restrictor fitted to make shifting easier. The transmission
is NOT synchronized, so shifting must be done by double clutching. Not a big
deal as I have found that with no load you only actually need third and
fifth. Fifth wheel almost useless as won't couple to standard king pin,
requires special oversize king pin as found on M747, M15 trailers, and I
think the M172?, which has reversable king pin.

To be legal truck requires overwidth permit, and is slow. Tires kinda
expensive too. As you have found, after a little practice, you can kind of
relax and ride in your M35, in my experience you DRIVE a M123 every step of
the way, no relaxing. But you always get lots of comments at a show. Some
say truck underpowered, but I've never hooked to anything I couldn't pull,
just have stout chain. Moves M5A1 Stuart in low, low with truck engine
idling!

M35 with winch in back....only ones I can think of are V17/MTQ and V18?MTQ.

Good luck,
David

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