Hi to everyone on the site, I am a new member looking for some advice on M813's as far as a)Are there anyplaces or anyone who sells these in the New England area besides schotts, or has anyone dealt with schotts before? Actually any info on m813s as far as tips on buying one would be appreciated. I do live in Maine and would like to pick one up in the spring, however i dont want to travel out of the N.E. area to get one. Any advice/tips/personal experience anyone wants to share would be excellent.Thanks!!
this doesnt count for much, but when I was on the hunt for a MV, I called Schotts... They wouldnt give me the time of day. Right then I crossed them off the list. If they cant answer some quick questions on the phone about their products, then that speaks volumes about their customer service.. Perhaps it was a one time fluke...
Not a one time fluke. I experience the same issues with Schotts. They don't seem to be geared toward the individual buyer. They are looking for sales in quantity.
I have heard the same thing and they DON'T sell parts. But... you are in Maine,they are in Maine, they will let you buy a truck, they won't take the time to try to sell you one but you already want one,so what? They are also cheap for the quality that they have. You pick one, tell them the # on it and they tell you how much, just that simple. If you buy one from a nice guy in some distant state, you're gonna pay $3.00 a loaded mile and it is going up to $3.25 this winter. I haul, I buy MV's and I struggle to make ends meet too. Buy a good truck locally, you can buy parts and accessories anywhere you want, they are cheaper to ship than whole trucks. John Tennis
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The older I get, the more I know I don't know, but how I love a Deuce
Yeah I actually called schotts a couple weeks ago to talk to them about what they had, as far as any phone info it was pretty short...the guy I talked to did say to just give him a call when I wanted to take a look around but other than that it was kind of a brush off. Work has been crazy but I am hoping to get over and look at them wednesday, looking for the reg body, hardtop with a winch, like an 1981 or so. Any telltale trouble spots i should be looking for on the 813's?
I believe that I'm qualified to give advice as I own over 10 5 Tons, M809 and M939 series the whole lot of them. Click here to see a crap load of pictures of my trucks or here to see all of my stuff. If the links don’t work, go to (http://czarnik.net/joe/My_Stuff/) and follow your way to my truck photos.
I agree with most of the advice that’s been given so far. In fact, I’ll tell you that steelsoldiers is one **** of an awesome group of guys and gals. If you’re not a believer yet, check out the post where a steelsoldiers member just broke down in Michigan with his deuce and another steelsoldier member was there to help him within hours.
OK, the M809 series 5-ton is a great truck.
The 250 small cam Cummins started it’s life as one of the first over the road diesel engines; the 855 block, which is what the 250 Cummins is, was JUST retired by Cummins, more than a 40-year run. The Cummins weak point is (a) the small cam and pitting of the cylinder liners, which you can prevent with additive. Let the motor idle for five minutes before you shut it down; this, frankly, is good advice for any diesel motor.
The air over hydraulic brakes will put you through the windshield if adjusted properly and maintained (most important here is that you drain the **** air reservoir EVERY time you shut it down).
The entire drive train is solid so long as you keep it lubricated.
My rub with the M813 is that the clutch throw-out bearing does not have grease joints (commercial over the road trucks are grease-able), so when the bearing goes you get to separate the transmission from the motor.
Now about your location. I agree with earlier advice that shipping will eat your lunch. I’ve never purchased from Schotts, and I do understand that they come across as rude, but I do understand their position – very well. I occasionally sell trucks. People will talk the death out of you with questions and never buy. The best way to keep the tire kickers away is to act like you don’t need to sell a truck. When you do this the people who are truly ready to buy will hound you (the seller) if they really want a truck. I’m not as harsh as Schotts, but frankly I’m getting that way. If someone truly wants what I have to sell, they’ll come to see it with cash in hand. I, as Schotts I’m sure, simply don’t have time for the tens and tens of tire kickers you’d normally get before you run into someone who’s truly ready to buy.
Here’s my last bit of advise – STAY AWAY FROM ANY TRUCK EQUIPPED WITH THE DETROIT LOCKERS!!! You don’t need them and frankly they get stuck just as easy as the five tons without lockers. Moreover, the axles on the lockers break MUCH more often if you load the vehicle, and the lockers are VERY, VERY hard on transfer cases. If a transfer case normally lasts 50k miles, the trucks equipped with the lockers cuts that life by two thirds!!! Others will tell you I’m full of ****, BUT, I own these trucks and my lockers-equipped trucks (all but one) have had to have the transfer cases replaced. In fact, I’ve got a reasonably nice M813 with lockers that I’ll sell you for $10,000.00 RIGHT NOW (this price does not include the super singles), but it needs transfer case; click here or go to (http://czarnik.net/joe/My_Stuff/5_To...am%20Cleaning/) for pictures. It’s too bad, because the rest of the drive train is new, including the motor. THE LOCKERS EQUIPPED TRUCKS ARE HARD ON THE DRIVE TRAIN, ESPECIALLY THE TRANSFER CASE!!!
MOST of the USMC M813s are/were equipped with lockers. It appears to me that most, if not all, of Schotts trucks are equipped with lockers.
My advice is to go to Schotts and ask them to see a truck that does NOT have the lockers. Otherwise, ask them to sell you a truck that they’ve taken the Lockers out of.
Otherwise, find a GL truck closer to your home. Buy it, have it towed to your place and work on it there.
Hey 2 Star, Thanks. I can't believe that I waited this long to join. Deuce and trailer still for sale. Naturally it's a high end deuce and trailer, but, ALL the work is done. It's a great truck and someone's going to get a great deal. Thanks, Joe
joe just wanted to pipe up and say I grew up in Kaukauna on the east side of Appleton and your trucks must have been the one's I saw over the years
now and again.
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M35A2 and anything in the motorpool
11B Bco 1-502INF 101st ABN
Red Devils Dude, Kaukauna huh?! I actually grew up in Darboy and went to Kimberly H.S. I'll forgive you for going to Kaukauna H.S. How'd you end up near Syracuse? Joe Czarnik
5 Tons trucks in New England
How'd you end up near Syracuse? Joe Czarnik
