M48 & M983 HEMTT Differences?

[rumplecat]

I don't have the fever yet but a HEMTT may be unavoidable! I use my tractors more than anything else so a HEMTT tractor would be what I would like. I see the M48 power units and then the M983s, is the 983 just a fixed tractor?

 

[73m819]

Yes

 

[rumplecat]

I have seen schematics of a tractor with a knuckle crane mounted behind the cab, is that an actual production model?

 

[HASSON1911]

Get a M985, I got the M977 and after having it thats my only gripe is to have a larger crane. Unless you specifically want the tractor then the M983 that is.

 

[73m819]

Yes, there are TWO 983s, one has a standard 2" fifth wheel and crane, the OTHER has a 3 1/2" fifth wheel, no crane

 

[dk8019]

Hasson, you want a bigger crane? What are you picking up?

 

[HASSON1911]

Ideally a small but versatile 4x4 scout vehicle

 

[jasonjc]

A M48 is a 2 1/2 ton truck tractor or a tank depending.

A Mk48 is a FPU (front power unit) you would also need a Mk16 RBU (rear body unit). The Mk 16 is a fifth wheel RBU they also have a Mk15 20'flat bed , Mk 17 has a 16' bed with a crane and Mk18 is a self loader.

They are both hard to find. You see 20-30 cargo hemtts to every 1 tractor hemtt.

You'd be better off with a M931/M932 5 ton or a M915 or M916. The M915A3 are real nice.

 

[emmado22]

Tractor HEMTTs are a rare breed. Not many of them made.

 

[dk8019]

Hasson, makes some sense, however the limit is what, 2500lbs at 19'? With the boom in it is 4500lbs, I think, and I believe I could grab a jeep or some other small 4x4 and drop it on.


Regarding the mix of tractor HEMTTs or MK48 w/MK16 RBUs, by my quick calcs, 65% of what has been sold so far is cargo units (985 and 977s), 28% have been tankers, and 4.5% have been Tractor HEMTT or Mk48s. 1.8% has been just power units.

 

[rumplecat]

I got a 932 and a 818 so the next step is...

 

[73m819]

A M48 is a 2 1/2 ton truck tractor or a tank depending.

A Mk48 is a FPU (front power unit) you would also need a Mk16 RBU (rear body unit). The Mk 16 is a fifth wheel RBU they also have a Mk15 20'flat bed , Mk 17 has a 16' bed with a crane and Mk18 is a self loader.

They are both hard to find. You see 20-30 cargo hemtts to every 1 tractor hemtt.

You'd be better off with a M931/M932 5 ton or a M915 or M916. The M915A3 are real nice.

The MK15/15a1 is the WRECKER RPU for the MK48/MK!5 truck.
The 20' flat bed without the crane is the MK13/MK13a1

 

[Augdog1964]

Small correction to post above, Mk48 flatbed is a Mk14, not Mk13 or 13a1, to the best of my knowledge no Mk13...

Mk 48 LVS = FPU
/14 = flat bed container carrier unit - no crane
/15 = recovery unit - crane
/16 = tractor unit - no crane
/17 = cargo unit - crane
/18 = container retriever - no crane, but container picking hydraulics

 

[Shark Bait]

Small correction to post above, Mk48 flatbed is a Mk14, not Mk13 or 13a1, to the best of my knowledge no Mk13...

Mk 48 LVS = FPU
/14 = flat bed container carrier unit - no crane
/15 = recovery unit - crane
/16 = tractor unit - no crane
/17 = cargo unit - crane
/18 = container retriever - no crane, but container picking hydraulics

And the 16 fifth wheel rear body unit has winch.

 

[DrillerSurplus]

Originally Posted by Augdog1964
Mk 48 LVS = FPU
/14 = flat bed container carrier unit - no crane
/15 = recovery unit - crane
/16 = tractor unit - no crane
/17 = cargo unit - crane
/18 = container retriever - no crane, but container picking hydraulics

And the 16 fifth wheel rear body unit has winch.

Rounding things out- the original MK18 lift mechanism is cable operated like a lot of older roll off trucks, the MK18A1 RBU uses a hook mechanism very similar (maybe identical) to the HEMMT PLS.

 

[rumplecat]

Back to the 983's, what are the easy to recognize differences in the 2 and 3.5 king pin variants? I see some of them have vertical exhaust stacks and others have the exhaust laying horizontal across the bed behind the cab?

 

[73m819]

Real easy, the 2" has a crane in front of the 5th wheel, no crane = 3 1/2" 5th.

 

[Castle Bravo]

There is also the M983A2 LET, with the 3.5" fifth wheel and winch, much like the MK48/16. Though I haven't seen of them surplussed yet...

 

[rumplecat]

So I have yet to see a 983 with a crane come up for sale on Gov. Planet, are the 2 in. vehicles pretty rare or just not yet surplussed?

 

[Castle Bravo]

So I have yet to see a 983 with a crane come up for sale on Gov. Planet, are the 2 in. vehicles pretty rare or just not yet surplussed?

That variant pulled the Pershing missile system and that went away in 1991, so maybe they're all already gone.