• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

Can you guys make more sense of this code?

Heath_h49008

New member
1,557
102
0
Location
Kalamazoo/Mich
Class 530B

REO M44

SN# 132420

11x20 tires


From my searches, I think this is a Deuce, on 11x20 tires that was originally a tanker or similar specialty truck. It should be an LDT... no idea about what t-case or other accessories.


Am I right?
 

Heath_h49008

New member
1,557
102
0
Location
Kalamazoo/Mich
That matches the sellers story on her... I'll search for info on M35 firetruck variants. Typical accessories and whatnot.

Thanks to all you guys. The info here is about the only thing making me feel like getting this truck is something I can do.
 

hndrsonj

Senior Chief/Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
7,584
363
83
Location
Cheyenne, WY
Yep... and if I'm not mistaken, that would make her an LDS427 non-turbo, non-airlocker, but with PTO(s) for the pump(s)...

There's quite a bit more info. an A1 is the 427 but they are often repowered. Air shift transfer cases are often changed. PTO depends on setup. Turbo/non all depends.
 

Heath_h49008

New member
1,557
102
0
Location
Kalamazoo/Mich
Hmmmm... I can get her for a song, and the old guy needs the cash... but it's not the engine I was hoping for, or the T-case. (I think) scootertrs has one of these trucks, I searched his thread from 2008 for the data on the non-turbo engine, and my searches of gas deuces for the trans/case.

But, it should be a hard top, 11x20s are nice, and I suppose I could tear all the PTOs and pumps off of it...
 

Heath_h49008

New member
1,557
102
0
Location
Kalamazoo/Mich
There's quite a bit more info. an A1 is the 427 but they are often repowered. Air shift transfer cases are often changed. PTO depends on setup. Turbo/non all depends.
You think there is hope it's a "Normal" deuce driveline? Just for parts availability and the thicker deck on the engine I would like the LDT/S A1.

I'm iffy on her... It seems like a firetruck would have better/more options, but I'm not finding a lot on these.
 

Heath_h49008

New member
1,557
102
0
Location
Kalamazoo/Mich
Well, after talking with the GF I have decided to check her out this weekend. If it something I don't want, I'll have pictures and contact info on her to pass on to any interested parties. It's an 8 hour round trip to where she is, so I hope it's worth it. *fingers crossed*
 

hndrsonj

Senior Chief/Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
7,584
363
83
Location
Cheyenne, WY
One way to think about it, 427's are really pretty hard to find. If anything catastrophic ever happened to it; 465's bolt right in.
 

Heath_h49008

New member
1,557
102
0
Location
Kalamazoo/Mich
Wow.... REO wasn't his listing for just the manufacturer. The engine is marked REO 142827. I'm searching like a madman... this might be a gas truck. If it is a gasoline "Gold Comet" I don't have much use for her.

Are those factory single 11x20s on different rims than the standard 9x20s?

This is getting more odd the more I dig into the numbers... I know it was a firetruck, supposedly on an airforce base then for a local FD... then the farmer got it an claims to have a 2300gallon tank on it. That's HUGE. if my math serves me, and we figure its mild 1/4" that would be a 7.5diax7.5long steel tank that would weigh 3600lbs by itself.... 2300 gallons would be an additional 18,400lbs (8lbs per if I remember my aircraft balance measurements) I can't see a gas deuce dragging 22,000lbs plus it's own 13,000 lbs around a field.

Maybe I'm wrong.

She's in mid-Michigan... I've been playing phone tag with the guy trying to get details, he has no internet, or camera phone.

I'm also going to ask if he has the original fire fittings from when he got the thing.
 

John S-B

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,796
1,048
113
Location
Ostrander, Ohio
Hmmmm... I can get her for a song, and the old guy needs the cash... but it's not the engine I was hoping for, or the T-case. (I think) scootertrs has one of these trucks, I searched his thread from 2008 for the data on the non-turbo engine, and my searches of gas deuces for the trans/case.

But, it should be a hard top, 11x20s are nice, and I suppose I could tear all the PTOs and pumps off of it...
Heath, this is one of those trucks you DON'T want to part out!! Plain deuces are a dime a dozen, this is a rare truck. I'd buy it cheap and then make a little money from a collector. Then you can buy what you want.
 

hndrsonj

Senior Chief/Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
7,584
363
83
Location
Cheyenne, WY
If the engine has a Reo data plate it's a gasser. The rims should be different if origional 1100's; however, they could be mounted on standard rims and not the M34/M135 rims also. Hard to say what's been done over 60+ years without some pictures.
 

Heath_h49008

New member
1,557
102
0
Location
Kalamazoo/Mich
Well guys... I have decided that this is not the truck for me.


The Contact info for the farmer that has her is 989-674-2429. His name is Larry "Veerhoven?" and he is in Unionville Michigan.

The truck is/was an M44 firetruck

Code 530B

REO engine #142927 I call that as a "Gold Comet" gas engine

sn# 132420

11x20 tires

It has been converted to a liquid manure spreader, but not been used for 8 years . They put a battery in it and fired it up. Full hydraulic controls for the tank in the cab. The tank is listed as being 2300gal. So I'm thinking the put a different tank on the back, he may or may not have the original fixtures. It's a busy time of year for farming around here, so information has been in the form of messages on VM. He has no pictures. The asking price was $2000.00. That's all I know about it. He told me if it doesn't sell, it's going to the shredder for scrap.

I hope this is ok for me to post, I'm not associated with the seller, but I would like to see something good happen for him and the truck.

If anyone knows of some unloved M35A2s, I'm shopping for the best deal I can get. Plain jane, multifuel, heater would be nice, winch a dream, hard or soft top as long as it keeps me dry. Thanks guys.

Again, the gentleman said if it didn't sell he was hauling it to the scrap yard. I would hate to see that happen.
 

maddawg308

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
10,865
762
113
Location
Appomattox, VA
If it's something you don't want but is being sold for a song, buy it and resell it here. That beast is a rare bird, and even if it's in pretty crappy condition there will be parts and pieces that we all can use. If it's good shape, someone here will be glad to give it a home.
 

NEIOWA

Well-known member
1,195
127
63
Location
NE IOWA
If it has 2300gal certainly is not the original tank (and grossly oversize/loaded). Original tank I think was around 700gal.
 

Heath_h49008

New member
1,557
102
0
Location
Kalamazoo/Mich
If it's something you don't want but is being sold for a song, buy it and resell it here. That beast is a rare bird, and even if it's in pretty crappy condition there will be parts and pieces that we all can use. If it's good shape, someone here will be glad to give it a home.
I'm ashamed to admit, I'm a poor boy. I need a deuce to move heavy stuff... so I would have to drive it back 300+ miles to Kalamazoo. Which I don't quite trust it to do... and I don't have the time, or extra money to be tied up with a truck I don't want to title, that smells like... well, like a liquid pig manure hauler. I know I could probably torch it to chunks and ebay them... but I think the old girl deserves better. I almost want to look at her just because I've never seen a "Gold Comet" gas powered deuce before. But maybe one of you guys can take her and give her a good home. Or at least a decent burial, because if it can't be saved it still might keep another SS member's classic on the road. Those parts can't be easy to find.

...AND, because you guys have been good to me. So, while I can't do it, but I'd be just as happy to see one of you guys get a deal. You guys have pointed me to many good deals and information sources, the least I could do is share what I can about the one I found.

Heath
 
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website like our supporting vendors. Their ads help keep Steel Soldiers going. Please consider disabling your ad blockers for the site. Thanks!

I've Disabled AdBlock
No Thanks