M35a2s with Dual Circuit Brakes by Year?

[dessertrat]

Hi all. I'm finally looking again at getting a truck after a long pause. I figure if I ever have a chance to get one of the rare M35a2s with dual circuit brakes, I'd jump at the chance because the idea of single circuit brakes on a beast like this does give me a lot of pause and makes me lean toward an M923a2 for the air brakes. But I keep coming back to the Deuce for a lot of other reasons.

The problem is I'm not sure exactly how to filter for trucks that are more likely to have dual circuit brakes as I search and keep an eye on sales. I've heard that basically any M35a2 manufactured 1987 or later was done for the Air Force and has dual circuit brakes, but it's not clear to me if earlier years could possibly also have been built with dual circuit brakes or if it's purely only 1987 and later. Some people know to advertise dual circuit as a selling point or to respond accordingly when I ask while others just know military truck make big noise and that's it.

Does anyone know definitively if it's purely only 1987 and later or if it's possible to find one from earlier years? And if so, anybody know what the earliest year for dual-circuit brake equipped M35s might be? I searched the forum and only found what I've mentioned above, plus it should have some kind of tower sticker in the cab, will have a hard top, and it's more likely to have a stack lid? Any other signs?

I know the a3s also have dual circuit brakes, but if I'm going M35, I'd really prefer the multifuel engine and to drive manual. And sure, I've heard people talk about doing aftermarket dual circuit brakes, but that sounds like an even more rare situation since it's more than simply slapping on new parts.

Thanks.

 

[HDN]

There was a thread in the hotrodding board about adding aftermarket dual-circuit brakes to the truck. I don't think it ever reached a good solution.

With how prevalent computer-aided manufacturing is along with robotic machining equipment and metal 3D printing, I feel like it's about time we've reverse-engineered a dual-circuit brake kit for on-demand production. I'd love to make one for the older 5-tons too.