AM General » M809
The standardized 5-ton M39 series was produced by the AM General Company a short time, gathering the last of 112 thousand trucks in this range. As early as 1970, constructors of other manufactures begun to develop a new updated range, but this work was completed by the AM General Company. At the end of 1971, in South Bend, producing of the new 5-ton range M809 (6x6) with GVW 14,0-15,2 t was begun. It was equipped with a new Cummins NHC250 diesel engine (14,0 l, 243 hp), mechanical 5-speed gearbox, dual main gear, hydro pneumatic braking system, steering booster and 24-volt electrical equipment. The next versions were produced:
- M809 - basic chassis 6x6 with the long wheel base (4547 mm).
- M810 - basic chassis 6x6 with the short-wheelbase (4242 mm).
- M811 - basic chassis 6x6 with the extra long wheel base (5461 mm). One of the bodies was SEORTM with opening side parts looks like wings. Inside the body were different kinds of tools - lathes, drill presses, rubbing machines, welding machines, etc.
- M812 - chassis 6x6 with the extra long wheelbase (5461 mm) designed for the transportation section of the bridge. Also was a rocket launcher version.
- M813 - flatbed truck 6x6 on the M809 chassis with a metal body with removable benches. There was a M813A1 version with a fold-out side boards.
- M814 - flatbed truck 6x6 on the M811 chassis with a metal body with removable benches.
- M815 - pipe truck 6x6 for transportation of pipes, logs or sections of a bridge. It had a fortified cabin and used together with a M796 trailer.
- M816 - recovery vehicle 6x6.
- M817 - tipper 6x6 with a 3.8-cc body.
- M818 - tractor 6x6.
- M819 - crane 6x6.
- M820 - van 6x6. The next versions were produced: M820 - with windows, heating, air conditioning, power from an external source; M820A1 - no windows and air conditioning, but with heating; M820A2 - with windows, heating, air conditioning and hydraulic lift.
- M821 - truck 6x6 used for transportation of the bridge sections.
The intake on the M809 series trucks was located on the left side of the hood, while on the M39 trucks - on the right side. The M809 series had the same cab as the M39, but the hood was longer to accommodate the more powerful engine. In the U.S. Army the 5-ton medium tactical vehicles (MTV) of the FMTV series replaced remaining M-809 series trucks in the early 1990s, while in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) superseded both the M-809 and M-939 series of trucks after 1999.
