M923A2 5-Ton: The Oppo Review

"macanamera" (macanamera) 06/17/2014 at 15:34 • Filed to: None

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So, a dear friend of mine recently purchased a 1991 M923A2 5-ton powered by an 8.3L Cummins turbodiesel. Drive it, he said. It will be fun, he said.

"Yes", I said.

It was incredibly awesome, and so I have gathered and focused my disjointed thoughts into a semi-organized review to try and share the experience with you all. I'll use the standard Jalop categories, but without number scores, because I have very little (read: nothing) to compare it to.

( Full Disclosure : My friend wanted me to drive his 5-ton so bad that he was all like, "Dude, you wanna drive this thing?", and I was all like, "Yeah dude." I then drove it around all day.)

Exterior:

Think of some big cars or trucks. What comes to mind? Ford Excursion, Chevy Suburban, Ram 3500, right? This truck looks at those trucks and says "Do you even lift, tiny little baby trucks?" This thing is beyond huge. The M923A2 absolutely dwarfs everything else on the road. It is by far the biggest thing I have ever driven. Everything on this truck is plus-sized, thicker and beefier than anything on a regular vehicle.

The tires are 46 inches tall (or maybe 49, I can't remember), it is a full-on 6x6, the axles are like redwood trees, and every suspension component is thicker than my arms. The tires weigh hundreds of pounds. The tailgate probably weighs a hundred pounds by itself. The truck is 26 feet long and weighs 22,000 lbs. It can carry a 5 ton payload (I hear it's more like 10 tons), and it can tow some 20,000+ pounds.

The bed comes complete with troop seats capable of carrying well over a dozen people, as well as a nice tarp to cover it, should you want to. The cab is also tarp-covered, allowing you to turn this into basically the biggest convertible around.

Interior:

It's not a Rolls-Royce. The interior is quite spartan, and rightly so. This is a truck made to serve a purpose, not wrap its occupants in luxury. Inside are lots and lots of beefy metal switches, lots of gauges, a drivers seat, and a bench on the passenger side.

The windshield folds out, which is very nice, since there is no A/C, and things can get mighty hot in the cab. With the windshield up and the top off, there is a nice enough breeze (when moving) to keep you from heat stroke.

What's that? Still too hot? Then open your leg vent:

Acceleration:

Well, I will say what you already know: it isn't fast. At all. In any way. However, 8.3 liters of Cummins turbodiesel move the truck along with authority. The gas pedal has about 1 inch of travel between 0% throttle and 100% throttle. It has an industrial, unrefined sound which was music to my ears (and everyone else's ears within a 1-mile radius). The 5-speed Allison transmission does the job, shifting relatively smoothly once it's up to temperature. The gears are laughably short:

Braking:

You probably think I'm going to use some hyperbole to describe how bad the brakes are, but no! Actually, the brakes work great! It was a pleasant surprise to find that the brakes actually grab very hard, , although pedal feel is a bit...non linear. They are air brakes, after all. The pedal looks bad ass:

Ride:

Like I said before, this is no Rolls-Royce. It rides like it has tree-trunk axles and weighs 22,000 lbs, which is to say, rather roughly. That being said, the seats are relatively soft and springy, which do a lot to mitigate the roughness of the ride. The honest truth is, you don't want this to be smooth. You want it to be rough and tough, and it is.

(Pictured: An errant tree branch knocked a rear tarp cross-member out of its slot)

Handling:

It handles like a 22,000 lb 6x6. I didn't know what that statement meant until recently, but I now do. When driving this truck, you have the general notion that somewhere under you is a road. I'm not really sure how to explain it more than that. During regular driving, you keep it in 4-wheel drive, meaning the back four wheels receive power. When going through the nasty stuff, you lock it into 6x6. The massive steering wheel is vague and extremely power assisted.

Gearbox:

Allison 5-speed automatic, super beefy. Shift smoothly (smoother than I expected, at least) and seems to just work. Not too much to say here, other than to point out for a second time that the gears are incredibly short.

Toys:

I'm not sure the M923A2 has any toys in the traditional sense, but I kind of consider it the world's biggest toy in and of itself, so there's that. CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System) is fun to play with, and quite functional. The horn also makes a nice truck-horn sound, so I was hitting that thing nonstop. This truck is just cool. For goodness sake, the wipers are pneumatic:

Audio:

The distinct lack of any audio system whatsoever means I must rely on the noises of the vehicle for this category. The good news is, there's a lot of those noises. The engine is wonderful (I'm a big Cummins fan, in case you guys didn't know) and it shakes pleasantly at idle, smoothing out as RPM's increase. The myriad of air-powered systems make all kinds of noises all the time, and that also sounds sweet. Anyone that loves anything mechanical will love the noises of this truck. It's like using a battery powered electric screwdriver your whole life, and then using a pneumatic impact wrench for the first time. Your just like, "woah".

Off-Roadiness:

When it's time to go off-road, first you think, "time to hit some switches":

Then you think, "incredible". I'm not sure I can think of any terrain, other than a vertical cliff face or mud deeper than 5 feet that would stop this truck. The CTIS is awesome, just look at the control panel for it:

That's highway, cross-country, sand, emergency, and run-flat. I don't know exactly what emergency and run-flat do. All I know is that when you decrease the tire pressure and throw this truck into 6x6, it will not be stopped by any regular terrain. It went through a 1 foot+ deep mud bog like a Range Rover goes through a parking lot. The suspension, for all its beefy-ness, actually articulates well. Look at these leaf springs. Seriously:

LOOK AT THAT. All your leaf spring are belong to us.

Value:

Great. If you can manage to get this thing insured and registered for the road, it won't cost you much, and the truck itself cost a fraction of what a modern pickup truck these days costs. Insurance and registration actually cost very little money, you just have to find someone willing to insure it under agreeable terms. Same goes for getting tags. All in all, if you are smart about it, getting this thing on the road doesn't break the bank. Not even close. This truck's dollars-to-freedom ratio is basically unmatched.

-If I left out anything you want to know, just ask! Also, if you have any suggestions, within reason, of what we should do (or try to do) in this thing, let me know!

505Turbeaux > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 15:38

3

super cool review of something not alot of us think of trying to drive. Sweet!

Vicente Esteve > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 15:40

7

Did your friend bought this just for the hell of it, or is he using its capabilities for other activities?

Brian Silvestro > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 15:41

3

This thing is so badass. Dem leaf springs. What could your friend possibly be using this for??

HammerheadFistpunch > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 15:42

1

Much want. I've always wanted one of these but like my other extreme want (a snowcat) it only works if you actually have a place for it to play.

Jedidiah > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 15:42

8

Oh my god. The want. I can't control myself. Must.. Not.. Craigs... li- AHH

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 15:45

1

SO excited to read this. This or a M35 will likely be my next vehicle purchase.

Coty > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 15:48

1

What are the bed dimensions?

PatBateman > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 15:51

7

When you drove it, did you suddenly grow a thick plume of chest hair and notice your voice deepen?

PatBateman > Jedidiah 06/17/2014 at 15:52

15

If you're looking for someone to stop you from buying one, you're in the wrong place, Kemosabe.

Jedidiah > PatBateman 06/17/2014 at 15:57

0

There was an old military Jeep truck M715 that had been converted into a civilian fire truck for sale a couple of weeks ago. I wish I could have bought it.

Jayhawk Jake > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 15:59

1

I want one.

macanamera > Coty 06/17/2014 at 16:00

0

I think its 14' by 8'

David E. Davis > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:14

9

Blower? Dam near killed her.

stoke > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:16

10

All Truck Yeah! reviews should include dollars-to-freedom ratio from now on.

Scott-R > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:16

3

I don't have an actual need for a vehicle like this, I just want one. Trying to imagine pulling up to Starbucks or in one of these!

Stang70Fastback > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:18

7

For the record, pneumatic wipers suck donkey balls. They are only cool until they don't work right... which is "most of the time" after just a few short years.

Audi-os, Amigos! > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:20

4

( Full Disclosure : My friend wanted me to drive his 5-ton so bad that he was all like, "Dude, you wanna drive this thing?", and I was all like, "Yeah dude." I then drove it around all day.)

God, such prose!

Harris_the_Unknowing > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:20

1

will it baby?

David E. Davis > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:20

2

It's a real life Ferd Fteenthousand. I think you just grew your 16th ball.

melikecars > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:22

4

How much did it cost?

David E. Davis > Harris_the_Unknowing 06/17/2014 at 16:23

12

No but it will Whale.

quarterlifecrisis > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:25

15

I've got somewhere between 6-11 medium to heavy duty trucks in varying states of "running." Go to my dad's house, tell him I sent you, and review all of them just like this. For those that don't run, just sit inside and move the gear shift around and make truck sounds....should suffice.

SchwarzeEwigkt > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:26

2

Does your buddy know his oil pressure gauge isn't working? I assume it's got pressure since you likely would have ended the story "...and then it started making weird noises and seized. We found out later the oil pump didn't work and I had lunched that wonderful 8.3L Cummins." He should get it fixed. Also, it looks like the generator is running a bit high on the volts. Might need a new regulator. Or, maybe it just runs hot with as little load as you were putting on it.

nermal > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:29

1

How well does it work for picking up babes?

Opecticess > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:30

0

last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My neighbour's sister has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out.

This is what I do,,,,,,,,,,

www.bam80.com

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:30

2

Yep. Lots of wheel time in 5Ts (and Deuces too) in my 6 years service. 5T was the fav though. Power steering FTW!

FordExplorerS Not-So-S > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:31

2

Miles per gallon?

Diesel > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:32

4

I see no mentions of number of beers consumed and/or food products.

Mustang 'DontHitTheCrowd' GT > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:35

1

Dumb question: used versions of these are street legal? Or is there some type of special restriction due to its hugeness?

macanamera > Vicente Esteve 06/17/2014 at 16:35

1

Just for the hell of it, but of course its capabilities will be used when appropriate.

Titan-E34 > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:35

3

price as tested?

macanamera > PatBateman 06/17/2014 at 16:36

1

I gained 10 pounds of chest hair instantly and now sound like Barry White.

macanamera > Brian Silvestro 06/17/2014 at 16:37

7

A better question is, what can't we use it for?

macanamera > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 06/17/2014 at 16:37

0

Glad you liked it!

Sam > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:37

1

How would this thing be on an actual public road? Like, if I wanted to one-up the guys at the local bro-truck meetup, for example. Also, do you need a CDL to drive one?

Guy Montag > Coty 06/17/2014 at 16:38

4

it sleeps 8 or so. I know those aren't dimensions but should give you an idea. Also you can fill it to overflowing with dead dogs (I can thank the army for that intimate and gross knowledge). Also.. You can fit a mobile command shelter on it that includes air filtration and workspace for 5 to 8 people and all their computers.

Wunderchoc > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:39

1

Your friend sounds cool.

macanamera > Audi-os, Amigos! 06/17/2014 at 16:39

4

Wordsworth, Emerson, Macanamera, Shakespeare...

toecutter (so grey, I gotta wear shades) > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:39

2

They will knock trees over, too.

Needs a camper top and you're good to go. Anywhere.

macanamera > stoke 06/17/2014 at 16:39

0

It's a very useful metric.

Twism > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:39

1

Sweet review!

Do you have the unmodified pictures, or were they all taken with instagram? the second one, in high-res with no filter would make a good wallpaper

Brian Silvestro > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:40

1

mind = blown

macanamera > Mustang 'DontHitTheCrowd' GT 06/17/2014 at 16:41

0

I'm sure it depends on local laws where you are. Where we are, it just took little smooth talkin'.

As Du Volant > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:43

1

Set it to "in" when you're headed into the mud hole, and once you get halfway through and start heading back out again you switch it to "out."

That's how this works... right? ...right?

macanamera > Diesel 06/17/2014 at 16:43

3

Well, all jokes aside, drinking and driving is very dangerous and no one should ever do it.

That being said, you have to transport your beer somehow. Check out the picture of the bed more closely.

macanamera > Harris_the_Unknowing 06/17/2014 at 16:44

1

You could fit at least 2000 babies in the bed.

As Du Volant > Vicente Esteve 06/17/2014 at 16:44

2

It's got major capability for being awesome, so yeah, he's using its capabilities.

macanamera > David E. Davis 06/17/2014 at 16:44

0

It almost certainly will whale.

Griffen > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:45

2

by smooth talking do you mean. "Say Yes or I'll do it anyway" because really, who is going to say No to that?

macanamera > David E. Davis 06/17/2014 at 16:45

0

Makes walking difficult, but that's what the 5-ton is for, I guess.

Harris_the_Unknowing > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:46

2

I reckon it depends on how high you pile 'em.....

As Du Volant > nermal 06/17/2014 at 16:47

4

It can carry dozens of babes.

As Du Volant > FordExplorerS Not-So-S 06/17/2014 at 16:47

4

Gallons per mile?

macanamera > SchwarzeEwigkt 06/17/2014 at 16:47

0

Any info like this is hugely appreciated! Thanks a lot.

Scott-R > FordExplorerS Not-So-S 06/17/2014 at 16:48

4

I am wondering if it might be gallons per mile!

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:48

1

so serious question, where does he plan on getting it serviced? or does he have implements large enough to work on this beast.

macanamera > Scott-R 06/17/2014 at 16:48

7

Will Starbucks, thank you for suggestion. Pics to come.

Pellegrino > Harris_the_Unknowing 06/17/2014 at 16:48

2

It will baby better than you might guess. I walked a small-town parade with one of these last weekend. It had about a dozen kids in the back (and a couple parents). My best friend's 2 year old niece managed to sleep sprawled out on the bed through most of the mile and a half parade, and the 45 minute ride back to the beginning of the route, complete with jolting starts and stops punctuated by blasts of the horn as our insanely brave driver negotiated the marauding crowds hell-bent on getting to the carnival.

.. and yeah, the passenger capacity, with the trailer, is approximately everyone pictured there.

macanamera > As Du Volant 06/17/2014 at 16:49

0

That is what we assume.

macanamera > nermal 06/17/2014 at 16:49

0

We'll find out tonight, won't we?

macanamera > FordExplorerS Not-So-S 06/17/2014 at 16:50

1

Gallons per mile**

Alex87f > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:50

1

So you (or more likely your friend) can make it into a poor man's badass Unicat!

Scott-R > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:50

2

Yeah I definitely want to see those photos! I am assuming that you just park wherever you want!

MoreGone > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:51

3

rode and drive a many-a-mile in one of those

Super fun to be piled 2o deep in the back at 4:30am when it is freezing out

DarthToad > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:52

3

The Jalop community requires a writeup of how to purchase one, from where, and how much a running example costs.

Nothing > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:52

1

Well crap, it won't fit in my suburban 2 car garage. Nor will it fit in my driveway most likely. That didn't stop me from checking how many are available locally, though. (six, on craigslist at least.)

TheChafing > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:53

2

So... What is it like to work on? I'm imagining the need for a cherry picker for basically every job.

macanamera > Twism 06/17/2014 at 16:53

0

Every single one of these photos was taken with an iPhone 5 (not 5s) with absolutely no filter. Shooting into the sun makes phone cams do weird things with colors. I promise, no filters.

Diesel > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 16:54

3

Ah, good old Yuengling. I haven't had that since I lived in Maryland. I never thought the rest of the US would adopt the No Smoking in bars that was prevalent there when I was. America let me down.

macanamera > Guy Montag 06/17/2014 at 16:54

1

Dead dogs? Yikes man I don't even want to know.

macanamera > Wunderchoc 06/17/2014 at 16:59

5

He is. His daily driver, lol:

macanamera > Griffen 06/17/2014 at 17:00

0

Something along those lines.

macanamera > Harris_the_Unknowing 06/17/2014 at 17:00

2

With the rear tarp off the sky is the limit.

prof2113 > Jedidiah 06/17/2014 at 17:00

0

Forget Craigslist.........

http://www.govliquidation.com/

macanamera > Pellegrino 06/17/2014 at 17:01

0

Looks about right.

macanamera > quarterlifecrisis 06/17/2014 at 17:02

2

Ha! Glad you enjoyed it, and don't tempt me. I could sit in a truck making truck noises for days.

undeadmouse > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:02

1

How can you mention that there's an "Emergency" button and not have discovered what it does yet?

macanamera > Scott-R 06/17/2014 at 17:02

0

Stay tuned.

Ad_absurdum_per_aspera > Brian Silvestro 06/17/2014 at 17:02

9

Moving house? Not by the laborious conventional means of manually taking the contents out of the house and putting them into a different house, but by actually moving the house?

As for the puzzling selections on the central tire inflation system panel: XC and then the softer Sand (or snow or mud) mode are degrees of aired-downness, with speed limitations on how long they can be indefinitely sustained. For those times when you went to war on the terrain you have, not the terrain you terrain you might want, Emergency is softer still, and is limited to 10 minutes regardless of speed (but you can select it again and again to circumvent automatic re-inflation). Finally, since sometimes the military finds it really really inconvenient to stop and change a tire, you have Run Flat mode, repeatedly pokeable to tell CTIS that yes, we know the tire is flat, and to keep the enemy from making it any flatter, don't bother attempting to re-inflate, we'll just keep moving along for now, thank you.

That and other instructions for these beasts are readily findable on the Internet. Unfortunately, money for their considerable thirst, spare parts should you manage to break something, etc. is not readily findable on the Internet, though I'm sure the usual spambot with some ideas for doing so has already replied to this discussion...

PostCommentHere > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:03

8

Quick video for context..

macanamera > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 06/17/2014 at 17:03

0

He knows people that work on big truck.

Jedidiah > prof2113 06/17/2014 at 17:05

0

Another good one is govdeals.com

macanamera > Sam 06/17/2014 at 17:05

1

Do not need a CDL, at least here, and yeah, I'm sure it will be at some local truck-bro meet ups. I think that's more like three-upping them.

dave the swede car guy > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:06

3

Growing up in Suburban Philly in the 70's , the dad of one of my friends had a Korea era 6X6 tucked in the garage, about twice a year he'd fire it up (I want to say gas inline 6) and truck around the neighborhood for the day with all the kids hanging off it like monkey bars. The rest of the year we used it to play army. Seeing this makes me wonder how good of a survivalist RV you could make out it ala Draco or similar RV's

Land-Rover Matt > Guy Montag 06/17/2014 at 17:06

0

Well there's a sales slogan waiting to be written right there.

macanamera > PostCommentHere 06/17/2014 at 17:07

0

^This.

macanamera > DarthToad 06/17/2014 at 17:08

0

Ha, okay. Give me a while.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:08

1

gotcha - yeah I imagine HD truck places would do the trick.

second question, did he get it directly from government liquidation or did he buy it from a 3rd party mil surplus dealer?

macanamera > TheChafing 06/17/2014 at 17:09

0

No idea, he will cross that bridge when he gets to it... Can't be too different from general heavy truck maintenance right?

SamTheGeek > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:09

1

Forever answering the question: How is a Mercedes Grosser like a M923A2?

Mosqvich > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:09

15

I've ridden in a few. Armored and regular.

macanamera > undeadmouse 06/17/2014 at 17:10

0

It's a function of the CTIS...we think it takes the tires down to like 10 psi to get out of really bad stuff.

Rock Bottom > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:11

2

So much freedom... So much 'Murica... it brings a tear to my pet eagle's eye!

shieldsdb > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:14

1

Somebody mentioned spare/replacement parts.

Your best bet is to check the military auction websites. They are always selling stuff. Hell, sometimes you can find brand new engines.

There is a downside to the auctions...you might have to buy a "lot" of tires, for example. So you might end up with 10 tires, or 4 replacement canvas tarps.

macanamera > Diesel 06/17/2014 at 17:16

5

Maryland is all, "no anything, anywhere". Whereabouts in MD did you live?

Guy Montag > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:17

2

the problem is now I'm going to tell you. During the first year of operation Iraqi freedom several bases began to have a disease problem. The local wild dog population poised a that to both personnel and equipment. These dogs roamed in packs, attacking small groups and diving into trash etc. Command decided to cull the population. It was colloquially called "the great dog hunt". Teams of soldiers roamed the vicinity of the base putting down dogs. We filled 2 5-tons. There's more to the story but I want you to eat dinner tonight.

I have other 5 ton stories. Most far more pleasant. One involves a grenade launcher.

macanamera > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 06/17/2014 at 17:17

0

Gov.

PilotMan > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:17

4

They are so much damn fun

macanamera > Ad_absurdum_per_aspera 06/17/2014 at 17:19

1

Thanks for that info about the CTIS!

Diesel > macanamera 06/17/2014 at 17:19

2

Bel Air, it was alright. And, far enough away from the cities I could actually drive anywhere. I would go nuts with what I assume your commute is. An hour each way? I took advantage and went and did all the tourist things in DC that I wanted to see/do. Only way I would go back is work and I'm staying in a hotel within a handful of stops wherever I'm working. Also, screw BWI.

https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/38F7F…