bought truck through government liquidation, need help

[guffer]

Hello everyone, let me introduce myself. My handle is guffer, never been on a forum before (hope I do everything right). Never been in the military, so I am totally ignorant as to any military base rules and regulations.
I will get to the point. I won an auction on government liquidations for an AM General model 925 (1984 5 ton cargo truck). The truck is in Barstow CA., I live in Alpine WY., 800 miles away.
The condition of the truck was rated as F-7 (economically repairable). It said the truck started.
1. What do you think the odds are that I could drive this truck home. I know this is a loaded question, but maybe some of you have experience.
2. Is there any way I could contact someone on the base to confirm whether the truck is road worthy?
I have not heard good things about this company on this or any other site, but I am not going to condemn anyone but myself if this turns into a nightmare.
I assume that some of you have been in the military, and could have some advise that I could use. Any help would be welcome.

 

[Isaac-1]

I have bought a number of items from GL over the years (mostly industrial stuff, generators, fork lifts, etc.), but never a truck, I can say this much though:

1, Condition codes can mean just about anything, I have bought stuff listed as HX scrap that was nearly new, and have seen stuff listed as F7 that was closer to scrap. I have heard GL does not assign the code, just lists what is on the paperwork from when the item is turned in.

2, This is very unlikely, although the level of service GL provides varies somewhat from site to site, if you get lucky you might get someone to confirm very basic level of information, like if the truck was driven in under its own power, or if it has flat tires.

3, Some bases seem to have started requiring all GL purchased trucks be towed off base, not driven. This does make some sense to me, as these trucks have often sat for many months, and should have at least a basic inspection before highway use. GL wants you off their lot as quick as possible, the longer you are there the longer they have to escort you. For picking up equipment this usually means get it loaded onto truck / trailer, maybe toss one tie down strap on it, then pull outside the GL lot gate to tie it down for travel.

Ike

 

[porkysplace]

Welcome to SS,
I wouldn't even consider driving it , have it hauled . These have been known to be difficult to get into high range . And do not use reverse in low range ( can cause transfer case damage) . Some of these trucks sit a yerar or more so expect brake issues and air leaks. You should read the -10 TM before operating the truck , the -24 TM's are the repair tm's amd the -24P TM is the parts TM . the rest of the links are TM's you may need at some point .



Here is a link to the operators TM , download it and study it TM9-2320-272-10.pdf

Lube order TM ; LO9-2320-272-12.pdf


And you will need these eventually , repair TM's;
TM9-2320-272-24-1.pdf
TM9-2320-272-24-2.pdf
TM9-2320-272-24-3.pdf
TM9-2320-272-24-4.pdf

Parts TM's ;
TM9-2320-272-24P-1.pdf
TM9-2320-272-24P-2.pdf

Additional related material :
AMG_ABS_MWO_field_service.pdf
M939_tires.pdf
extract_TB43-0001-62-03-1.pdf
M939_ABS_maint_sustainment_tng_std_handout.pdf
M939_P2P.zip

 

[F18hornetM]

I would have towed/hauled I think. Tires could also be an issue.

Porkysplace> Not to get on a different subject, but I'm curious. Will it really damage the transfer case in reverse, in low?? Why would turning the transfer one direction vs the other hurt anything? I drove the M923 about 30 years ago and dont remember that. Then again, alot of beer since then.

 

[Warthog]

Contact 100dollarman. He is close to Barstow and he can get it off base and tell you what kind of shape it is in.

Have you ever been around big trucks before? What are your mechanical skills?

Too many unknowns to be able to tell you drive it home.

 

[porkysplace]

I would have towed/hauled I think. Tires could also be an issue.

Porkysplace> Not to get on a different subject, but I'm curious. Will it really damage the transfer case in reverse, in low?? Why would turning the transfer one direction vs the other hurt anything? I drove the M923 about 30 years ago and dont remember that. Then again, alot of beer since then.

According to the TM's it can over torque the transfer case and crack the case . There have been several threads about this lately .

 

[swbradley1]

Welcome aboard and congratulations on your purchase.

First, learn this link:
Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite - Search Forums

Please use search before asking your question about insurance (I'm just guessing).

Second, use this link:
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/5-ton-up-tms/79228-tms-939-series-trucks.html

Third, follow the advice given on recovery. Although there are a lot of guys who have driven their new purchases home the odds are still better if you have it hauled.

 

[markmontana]

Over the years I have picked and driven several trucks from Barstow to Ogden (UT).

Drive that truck home. A running truck from Barstow will be a great ride. The 939/925 is a very reliable truck and if you have some basic automotive skills- you should be able to prep the truck and make the trip.

Another new member here just drove his M923 from Barstow to Ogden with no problems. And he's going back soon to bring his brothers truck back. He may be able to look at your truck. PM me for his name.

We've got full support in Ogden if you'd like to stop by.

 

[guffer]

guffer here

First, I want to thank everyone for their replies. As I said I've never been on a forum before, so this is all new to me.
To answer some of the questions about me, I will say that my father was in the army during wwII, and was in the motor pool as a mechanic. When he got out of the service he got married, had kids, worked as a mechanic and made his two oldest sons(me being one of them)his helpers. So I grew up with a grease gun in my hands, and washed so many parts with gasoline, I thought it was safe. He bought a dump truck when I was about 13 yrs. old, and when I was old enough, I drove it hauling sand and gravel. Now I am in business for myself operating and maintaining public water systems. I own an old F-700 Ford and a backhoe that I use in my business. It seems like winter is here about 10 mo. out of the year, and I'm getting tired of chaining up, just to get out of the driveway. That's the reason for buying the 925. Don't mean to give you a biography of my life and bore you, but this forum implied that we are a family, so now you know a little bit about your brother.
I will read every TM that I can, and will contact the people in the replies to my original thread. This has been a positive experience so far, didn't know I would get any responses to my plea.

 

[FormerNewMVGuy]

Good luck with her!
They are airbrake, so as long as there are no air leaks ,the brakes should be fine.

Is it an A2 ?

 

[markmontana]

Guffer- check your private message (PM) box.

 

[nf6x]

Welcome to the site, and good luck with your new truck!

I agree that the condition codes are rarely helpful in making meaningful decisions. When an organization turns in an item to be reissued or surplussed out, they need to assign a code. If they assigned a code that indicates the truck is a heap of junk, did they do it because it actually is a heap of junk, or because they need the truck to disappear so that they can get issued a newer model of truck? If it's listed as being ready for use, is it really ready, or was the person filling out the paperwork unaware of the rod through the side of the engine block? Maybe it was serviceable when turned in, but then sat out in a yard for two years and developed some problems from lack of use?

There's really no substitute for personal inspection. I've bought two trucks out of Barstow recently based just on the pictures and description and gotten VERY lucky, but bidding without inspecting in person is a gamble.

There have been some recent sales of M939-series trucks (that is, the family of trucks that yours belongs to) out of Barstow that include many very nice trucks. As I understand it, this family of trucks is being phased out of service, so we're now seeing a surge of sales of them. Some of them are tired, beat up trucks as always, but we're also seeing lots of trucks sold that would have been reissued if they weren't being phased out. So, now seems like the best time to be buying an M939-series truck, and I sure hope that yours is one of the good ones!

I recently bought an M923 (like yours but without the winch) and an M936A1 (wrecker with super single tires). I think I did very well on both purchases. I had them towed home to me in Riverside, CA for various reasons. Some folks like me prefer to tow home and then inspect/repair at their leisure, and others prefer to head out there with a truckload of tools, fluids, parts and friends, and drive the truck straight home. The suggestion of having 100dollarman get it off the base so that you can evaluate the truck without a tight time limit or restrictions on what you can do to it is also a good compromise.

One last thing: We will hound you terribly until you share pictures of your new truck with us.

 

[jedawson1]

Contact a local Steel Soldier to inspect it. I paid $75 in Wisconsin. If you have some mechanical Skills and the inspector clears it, I would drive it home. I did my 1984 M923A1 truck 825 mile right off Ft McCoy base to TN. If you do drive it home don't be in a hurry and have a trucking company to call if it breaks down.

 

[guffer]

just says 1984 AM General M925, so I assume no, it is not an A-2. It does have anti-lock breaks though, at least I saw something on the dash to that effect

 

[3dAngus]

Contact 100dollarman. He is close to Barstow and he can get it off base and tell you what kind of shape it is in.

Have you ever been around big trucks before? What are your mechanical skills?

Too many unknowns to be able to tell you drive it home.

This is the way I would do it. I would call him and ask him is someone can do a full fluids check after his recovery of your MV, and test the brakes, and render an opinion. Every MV is different. After he, or someone he would recommend, would do a checkout with it off base, and if it is cited to be roadworthy, I would drive it home.

My personal preference is to invest money for the needed maintenance and drive it, even at risk, then to ship at $3-4 per mile, then do the required maintenance anyway. I'm on a fixed income and there is only so far I can go with expenditures on these things, so my way of thinking is, if it breaks down along the way, and I have a cell phone, it's not going to cost me anymore to ship it. It only costs me time and delays while stuck on the road.

It does need to be checked out by someone with knowledge on the other end before even considering driving down there to look at it, much less driving it away.

Have some wrecker and shipper numbers at your side if you do break down, for every 50-100 miles along the way. If insured, it might be a good idea to have free towing in the insurance policy, if possible.

 

[markmontana]

Helping the new guy out- PICTURE!!!

 

[nf6x]

Helping the new guy out- PICTURE!!!

Is that a GL picture of the particular truck that guffer bought? If so, it looks promising!

 

[markmontana]

Yes, that is his truck and it has been previewed by somewhat of a hack... Should be a great runner!

 

[nf6x]

I remember the era of cheap and plentiful deuces, and it was great. Now it appears to be the era of somewhat less cheap, but plentiful and good, M939-series 5-ton trucks. This one is great, too!

 

[markmontana]

For your viewing pleasure- more pictures of Guffers truck. The convoy light is cool.