Guessed what it is yet!

[Adam Elsdon]

Found a website selling these trucks, as it turns out they are reasonably rare, but do you know what it is....

[chevpol]

goer?

 

Mark

[Mark]

A Gamma Goat ?

[Adam Elsdon]

Chevpol on the button ! its a Goer M-520 an enormous piece of kit which makes a Gama Goat look tiny, seen an advert for two at http://www.exarmyvehicles.co.uk/4x4.htm ross's yard at Girvan, the picture in the advert certainly doesnt convey the monstrous proportions! pity they dont have the wrecker version which sound useful.

 

Wiki blurb about it-

Caterpillar eventually receive a production contract for 1300 units: 812 M520 cargo-vehicles, 371 M559 tankers and 117 M553 wreckers. Production began in 1972 and lasted through June 1976. When fitted with its own crane, the cargo variant would be designated M877.

Not only did the Caterpillar offer extreme off-road ability, including 20° longitudinal articulation and 30° side-slopes, it was also fully amphibious, using the wheels for propulsion in the water. The rear cargo-bed tailgate and drop-side doors, that allowed rapid discharge of cargo, had watertight seals to preserve the unit's swimming capability. In the US’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the Goer developed a reputation of being able to go where other trucks could not, and it was one of the preferred resupply vehicles after the pre-production units' introduction in 1966. They achieved a 90% availability rate even though spare parts for the Goer were not an official part of the US Army inventory until 1972 [2].

Nevertheless the vehicle's lack of suspension made it too bouncy on hardened surfaces, making most drivers shy away from its 31 mph (50 km/h) top speed. Also its oversize dimensions proved generally awkward, so in the 1980s it was replaced by the Oshkosh Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck series, that combined good on-road behaviour with adequate off-road performance. As the Goers were surplused accordingly, it was done so under a demilitarisition order similar to that of the M151 MUTT jeep. Core components in the steering and driveline were destroyed before the remains of the vehicle were sold off. Consequently only very few vehicles remained in existence, in museums and private collections

Edited February 12, 2009 by Adam Elsdon

[chevpol]

thought it was, so how much do they want for them?

 

Mark

[Adam Elsdon]

Must be free to a good home as nothing on the website has a price listed!

[chevpol]

Must be free to a good home as nothing on the website has a price listed!

 

have you seen what else is listed? a BARC!!!!!!! :shocked:

 

Mark :cool:

[Tony B]

Yes, saw the BARC, I'm not volunterring to check the tyres.:shake:

[Adam Elsdon]

How did they get it to the yard!

[abn deuce]

A clip from youtube of moving a LARC XL in the USA. Lots of people and lots of planning to do this job .

Edited February 14, 2009 by abn deuce

[Tony B]

I always belived LARK Lighter amphibious Resupply Cargo was the liitle boat shaped one a'la Lara Croft, and BARC Beach Amphibious Resupply Cargo was the humugeougs beast at Oveloon.

[Degsy]

Barge,Amphibious,Resupply, Cargo (BARC) was reclassified as Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply, Cargo,60 ton 4x4 (LARC-LX). There was a 5 tonner designated LARC-V and a 15 tonner LARC-XV.

[Tony B]

Thanks.