Advice on using a truck tractor (M931 etc) for towing on a farm

[backcountryfarmer]

Hello,
I'm a vet but only know 5-tons from jumping out of the back of them, so I'm hoping to get some expert insight into whether they would be a good choice for our new farm truck. What I need is this:
+Be able to tow full grain trailers ~94,000lbs
+Be able to tow traditional cargo containers (20 foot and 40 foot)
+Good off road and on
+Reasonable fuel efficiency (any sense for what we could get loaded/unloaded, on and off road would be really helpful)
+Good maintenance
+Easy availability of parts
+Easy to fix with a decent mechanical shop

Any thoughts would be highly appreciated!
Geoff

 

[porkysplace]

[h=1]M931 as a farm semi?[/h]

 

[trooper632]

M931 is not going to like 94,000 then you wont like the 931

 

[mudguppy]

For that kind of weight and service, seems like others have found the 916/920s to be better suited.

 

[trooper632]

And better put a city on your profile before a Mod gets ya, I had to do it lol

 

[swbradley1]

Rules only require state.

 

[wreckerman893]

For that kind of weight and service, seems like others have found the 916/920s to be better suited.

What he said. 5 ton tractors are good for "pull out trucks" (getting a loaded trailer to the hardball) but suck for over the road hauling. With a loaded grain trailer you would be a toad in the road. M915/M916/M920 would be better but are still slow (around 56-60 unless you have a M915 with the CAT transmission 68-72mph) The M916/M920's have the CAT but are geared lower.

 

[backcountryfarmer]

Thank you all for the great insights and suggestions. it sounds like for the heavy move (e.g. grain) I want to look at a M915/916/920, but there are also lighter loads we move. Do you have a sense for how much and how fast an M931 (or similar trucks) can pull on a dirt road?

Also, any thoughts on the maintenance for any of the above would be great. Thank you!

 

[backcountryfarmer]

Hi Porkysplace, you sound skeptical about using an M931 as a farm semi, I'd appreciate hearing why.

Thank you!

 

[Warthog]

Per the forum rules you just agreed to, you must change your profile to list your State of residence. The United States is not a State.

 

[Warthog]

Did you click on the link that Porky listed in his thread? It will take you to other discussions about the trucks.

You may also want to look at the other threads listed at the bottom of this thread. There isn't much that hasn't been discussed before.

 

[backcountryfarmer]

Ah, didn't realize I could click on Porky's link. Thank you

 

[gimpyrobb]

Hi Porkysplace, you sound skeptical about using an M931 as a farm semi, I'd appreciate hearing why.

Thank you!

These trucks were designed to run off road, not on road. Their use as a highway tractor is limited. High speeds and mpgs on not high on their resumes!

 

[porkysplace]

Hi Porkysplace, you sound skeptical about using an M931 as a farm semi, I'd appreciate hearing why.

Thank you!

The amount of weight you want to pull .
This is the specs for a M931: M931 tractor truck, equipped with a fifth wheel and used to haul semitrailers with loads up to 16 800 kg off-road and 24 900 kg on hard surface roads;

 

[trooper632]

I have a M931a2 and I will haul a 40 foot gooseneck trailer with 20 round bales at 1,000 lbs apiece. It does it fine on straight road but slows down a lot on hills, but it does what I need it to. It will do 60 mph while loaded on flat roads

 

[jcappeljr]

The m931 is way underpowered.I would go with a m916.