camper or make into a tractor?

[big daddy]

I'm still up in the air on plans for my truck but I've been looking at some of the van bodies that go on the back of the trucks and I'm interested.How much do these go for?(money is an issue)and are the longer bodies cheaper due to the need for a longer chassis?I like the trailer recovery4x4 has,are they common?what do they cost roughly?Some of the camper conversions are really cool thats what Im considering.Also I heard the gas 5ton got really bad mileage,mine got about 5mpg on the way home (I've heard 2mpg)maybe because there isn't a bed on it?I have a lot to learn but I'm having fun.So is $2grand a lot for a running, driving 5ton with a winch but no bed?

 

[Recovry4x4]

Alrightythen. The van body on my trailer is considered the M-4. There are a few variations of the body. They are on the M292 series deuces and I can't remember the numbers but also on some 5 tons like the M820. On semi trailers they are the M313 which the side telescope out and when open is completely closed. The M447, M447C, M749 and M750 have folding sides. There are a bunch of these coming up on GL in TX and they have usually gone cheap there. I think the M55 is set up for a 20' bed and these are 17' If I recall the M820 has a space between the cab and box for a spare.

 

[big daddy]

Thanks for the info,I kind of like your trailer better because then I could make it into a camper unhook and then go play.Any idea on what prices they go for(ballpark figure)?van body and trailers. thanks

 

[Recovry4x4]

Big, there are 2 in IA right now. One is very nice looking and the bids are low to start. Usually sell for around $1000 but have seen em go really cheap before. Military semis are cool and usually a great bargain.

http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=471748&convertTo=USD http://cgi.govliquidation.com/auction/view?id=471749&convertTo=USD

 

[big daddy]

I can't believe how cheap they are going for,I like the idea of making it into a tractor anyway! Less wheelbase better offroad.I already have all but 2 of the 14x20's and wheels,sort of like a bridge truck shortened with a fifth wheel<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_cool.gif" alt="Cool">.Is it true the bridge trucks are too wide for roads with there duals on?Also with 14x20's will it work ok with a fifth wheel?One last question is there anywhere on the web I could find out more on bridge trucks? again thanks! mark

 

[Recovry4x4]

Big, the bridge trucks are too wide at 114". I don't know if 5th wheel height will be a problem with the 14X20s. Take your 11x20s and put them on the trailer to lift it up a bit. Not sure of a web with alot of bridge trucks but www.miltrucks.com has 2 on his site for sale. Has pics anyway.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Pity you can't find anybody wanting to trade a tractor for the M55. It's a cool truck and would be nice to be able to make a trade.

 

[Elwenil]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I thought it better then posting a new one. Anyway, I am looking for something similar to a M-934, such as the one in this Ebay ad: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=587&item=6500036292&rd=1
$19K is a bit much in my mind, and I'd rather not have something that looks so... Red. There was a M-791 8x8 with the same body for sale in Maryland a while back, and was better than half that price, but it has dropped out of sight. Does anyone know of any more of these "Expansible" van bodied trucks around for sale? Any idea what a decent price would be? Are there any similar bodied trucks out there other than the smaller M-109?
Thanks in advance...

 

[lacoda56]

Eastern Surplus had one for sale a while back, but I don't recall the price. I agree, the one on ebay seems a bit pricey, and the color is kinda bright. Although, it would be easy to find in parking lot!

 

[Recovry4x4]

Contact Tom at milveh@verizon.net
He is the guy with the M791 and its a really good runner, I've rode in it. If he still has it, he'll let you know. By the way, he's the guy with the M35A8 known as Millenium Reo with the V8 CAT in it! Lso besides the M934 consider the cheaper M820. Different series of truck with the same body. Still has the NHC250 for power but has a 5 speed instead of the autoshifter.

 

[Elwenil]

Yeah, I swapped Emails with Tom a few months back when I was interested in his truck. I was selling a house to get it, and the deal fell through so I didn't end up with it. To be honest the thing that bothered me about both the 791 and the 934 was the automatic tranny. Thanks for the tip on the M820!

 

[Recovry4x4]

<font color="green">[3]<font face="Comic Sans MS">Yanno, there's also a deuce with that body! the M292 trucks had the expandible M-4 body. Here's a link to my photo site showing the M292A1. http://photobucket.com/albums/v460/Recovry4x4/Misc Trucks/
The -A1 has the LDS-427 which I would avoid. I think the M292A4 and -A5 have lift gates. They're a little slow since they are so big but they can be made to run. I have the M447C and a deuce tractor which is considerably heavier together than the M292 and I can pull it no problem. Don't know if you wanted to go that small!</font id="Comic Sans MS">[/3]</font id="green">

 

[Elwenil]

Interesting. While I really like the 5 tons for their size and power, a 5 ton with the van body is close to 12' tall and I'm sure I'd bang it into every tree I can find. The deuce model might actually work better. More options are always good as few of the expansible van bodies are complete and I have a feeling no matter which I find, I'll need another for parts. Almost makes the M934 worth the price since it's pretty complete, but not quite. I might have gave $12K for it if I was in a good mood, but it's red as anything and they want $3K to repaint it. Still might have to look into the deuce idea, even if the engine isn't the greatest, I can swap in something else later on. Thanks for the info!