Wreckers: Do people buy them for hobby or use?

[fuzzytoaster]

Mainly for hobby use but also useful for those unique situations where you need something moved and the ground won't let you get a forklift or etc in place. They really are a crane with wheels (but are terrible at being on-road wreckers). I bought a 2nd for lifting those larger loads like whole trucks.

 

[Ajax MD]

Knowing my luck, if I owned a wrecker it would break down on the way to recover my broken down M813.

That 10 ton wrecker is very interesting!

 

[LCA078]

You guys are posting some great pics and really making me want one (or two like Fuzzytoaster!). The only wreckers I dealt with in the Army where the HEMTT ones that had the crane right behind that massive tow boom. I vaguely remember FMTV wreckers with a knuckle boom but maybe I'm getting them confused with LMTV/FMTV cargos that had the knuckle booms. I'd be more interested in one of those since I'd be using the crane for general lifting, not recovery ops, and still have a cargo truck.

I also forgot the crane portion on the previous style wreckers was able to pivot 360 degrees and extend to about 20' feet but that makes me wonder about it's lifting capacity. What's the lifting capacity on a Duece or 5-ton wrecker? I'm assuming it's fairly low if the crane is extended or positioned directly to the side of the truck. The M939 TM says to look at the placard on the crane...but I ain't got one!

 

[Coffey1]

 

[LCA078]

Thanks for the nice pic, Coffey. Definitely a crane, not a knuckle boom. And you're right, it is badass.

 

[Coffey1]

Mine is 11k @ 7ft
6500 @ 18ft

 

[LCA078]

6500 @ 18ft is pretty good.

anyone have this same info for M936?

 

[fasttruck]

I bought a vise and the truck came with it. Not too good for lift towing without an under reach. Army has an add on to a fifth wheel tractor to provide an under reach capability. Holmes once sold the Army a fifth wheel sling wrecker with a 24 volt motor than plugged into the slave receptacle. If you need something to lift stuff around the house they are good for that.

 

[AMGeneral]

Knowing my luck, if I owned a wrecker it would break down on the way to recover my broken down M813.

That 10 ton wrecker is very interesting!

It's official designation is Wrecker, 10 ton, 4x4 M553, a variant of the GOER vehicles, they pre-date the Hemmets by about 20 years, all manufactured by Caterpillar, here are 2 videos of it running after I traded it to Papabear,

Articulated in roll and yaw, and believe it or not, AMPHIBOUS!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkxS1tTeSMg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Q_5X8-lnQ


These are downright huge, 1800 x 33 tires, 30 mph top speed ,and the wreckers weigh in at around 39,000 lbs ready to roll.

The cargo area was designed to haul an M60 MBT complete power pack and be able to change it in field.


Back when I owned it, I had big plans of restoring it and towing it to shows behind my M123E2 on a M15A2 trailer, but plans change, now the only MV I own is a M151A1!

 

[redrustyhill]

I bought my m936 because I thought I had to have one. Used it around the farm for lifting stuff and unsticking stuck equipment. Fired it up today to recover a stuck dozer at the county landfill.

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[Csm Davis]

Honestly don't know how many wreckers I have owned, still have 3, won't ever be without at least one. If you have more than one 5 ton, you need a wrecker if you do your own recovery. Plus they are chick magnets!

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[redrustyhill]

A few of the things I've used it for.

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[redrustyhill]

Honestly don't know how many wreckers I have owned, still have 3, won't ever be without at least one. If you have more than one 5 ton, you need a wrecker if you do your own recovery. Plus they are chick magnets!

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Chick magnets huh? Maybe I need to go cruising around town more often.

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[Coffey1]

Maybe if I leave winch cables out a couple hundred feet I might snag one. Lol

 

[SimplexCoda]

I have thought a lot about picking up a wrecker to make some money lifting heavy stuff. I live in an area with lots of timber being cut on personal property. Plus, I could keep it busy lifting and moving hot tubs at the vacation homes around here. But, I think it would come most useful during the winter to recover vehicles and tractors slipping off the road. But, I’d have no clue how to go about tractor recovery. Anyway, I guess my answer is, I don’t have one, but if I did, it would be a workhorse.


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[71DeuceAK]

SimplexCoda, that sounds like me. I always plain wanted an M936, but could find ways to justify it!

 

[Curtisje]

I bought mine to do off road recovery in my spare time once I retire from the Corps. It sure does come in handy picking up engines and other things. It's the smallest on this post. I drive it to work everyday.

 

[bigmike]

I bought mine to do off road recovery in my spare time once I retire from the Corps. It sure does come in handy picking up engines and other things. It's the smallest on this post. I drive it to work everyday.View attachment 757389View attachment 757390

Love the look of this truck.

 

[LCA078]

Curtisje- ​

Nice looking truck!

 

[Csm Davis]

Chick magnets huh? Maybe I need to go cruising around town more often.

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At the pub one evening.

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