MK48 for my MK17

[patracy]

I've found a few threads talking about the MK48 and the MK17. But my question is, how hard is it to find a MK48 for my MK17? From what I've gathered, the HEMTT and PLS/LVS trucks get rebuilt over and over. I realize the HEMTT and PLS/LVS trucks command a premium on the market. But would I be better just building a hybrid truck like PCTRANS did his MK17/M818. Or hold out for the MK48?

 

[emmado22]

Good luck finding a MK48.......

 

[3dAngus]

Next to impossible, but there are a couple of them out there, mostly out in the western Pacific states.

 

[R Racing]

You just need to sell your MK17

 

[patracy]

You just need to sell your MK17

Well, everything has a price. I wouldn't be opposed to parting with it.

I'd like to either put a HEMTT cab over the front of the M55 I have and make a 6x6 HEMTT out of it. Or just take the easy way out and clone pctrans M818/MK17 build. I'd just rather have an MK48 to attach to the front.

 

[wreckerman893]

Teds has some HEMMT's sitting on his yard. ''- Teds Trucks N Stuff Store - Military vehicles and parts, milirary surplus items''

There may even be one of the MK48's there.

Give him a call.

 

[Coldfusion21]

My vote is hybrid. I do think that it's a shame that means 6x6 vs 8x8 but the whole idea of the mk48/mk17 system is the ability to swap "trailers" with the same power unit. Are you wanting to make use of this feature?

 

[Recovry4x4]

Last I spoke with Ted, he does have a mk48.

 

[patracy]

Last I spoke with Ted, he does have a mk48.

Ted is out of the country for another week and a half. But apparently they do have an MK48. I'm certain that I'll be afraid of the admission price though. I'll update the thread when I get to talk to Ted.

 

[bbf]

i spoke to him a while ago and he had a few mk48 that he was get together with the mk 16 or 17 that will be up f/s and they were up there in price

 

[patracy]

I wonder what up there in price is? This MK17 I have is MINT. I don't think it's ever been used.

 

[bbf]

i ptckup a m16 a few months ago and it was like new

 

[patracy]

Yeah mine's in great shape as well.

 

[wreckerman893]

I wonder what up there in price is? This MK17 I have is MINT. I don't think it's ever been used.

I picked up a m16 a few months ago and it was like new

I CAN'T HAVE NOTHIN!!!!!

 

[patracy]

Well, my fears have been confirmed. Just got off the phone with Ted. They have an MK48, but it won't be ready for a few months. I asked what condition it was in, he said they wouldn't sell it in the condition it was in. Unfortunately the $75,000 price of admission confirms that I'll be merging this MK17 with a 5 ton series truck. Now to decide on using the M55A2 I have or selling it to get a M800 series truck to merge it with.

 

[CanonNinja]

i'd almost take that as a blessing in disguise. A classmate from ROTC ended up rolling one of those in the Corps and it was not a pretty sight. I wouldnt want mess with something like that personally. Atleast with a 5 ton properly done you can get probably double the fuel mileage over the Mk48

 

[patracy]

I'm still tempted to move the engine/trans further back in the frame and hand a HEMTT cab on the front. But I can see the project time growing to years to accomplish that.

 

[wreckerman893]

Have you considered grafting a M916 onto the MK17?

In my book the 400 Cummins with either the CAT or Allison tranny would beat the socks off a 800 series 5 ton. The big 900 series have been selling downright cheap lately. My M915 set me back just hair over 4K.

Just my humble opinion for what it's worth.

 

[patracy]

Well I know the 800 series frame will slide into the MK17 frame no problem. Not sure what I'd be up against with the 900 series trucks. And again, I've got the M55A2 that I could use and would be cheapest. (I think I could sell the axles and back half to pay for the truck basically) But I know first hand how slow the LDS can be when it's really heavy. (35K lb M543A2 shows that to me) I would hope the entire rig would weigh south of 30K lbs. But being able to run WMO in high concentrations makes up for how slow this thing would be. Since I'm guessing it might get 4-5mpg.

 

[wreckerman893]

Since I'm guessing it might get 4-5mpg.

Murphy loves an optimist.