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Am General M816 Wrecker

Series: Other models

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The M816 Wrecker comes from Am General. The engine delivers 240 hp (179 kW). The machine is 9,042 mm long, 2,489 mm wide and 2,845 mm high. The unladen weight is 15,898 kg. Transmission: five-speed with synchronizers. Rated output across the Am General range ranges from 190 to 240 hp; the M816 Wrecker sits at the top of that range with 240 hp. Its immediate neighbours are the M1151 below it with 190 hp. Rated output across the Am General range ranges from 141.7 to 179 kW; here the M816 Wrecker sits at the top of that range with 179 kW. 49 Am General models across 7 series are on record.

AM General – other models: the collective page of the M1151, M809-series 5-ton 6x6 truck and M816 wrecker outside the named ranges, 141.7 to 179 kW

This page gathers the AM General M1151, the M809 series as a 5-ton 6x6 truck, and the M816 wrecker built on it, vehicles the register could not assign to a named range. AM General, based in South Bend, Indiana, grew out of American Motors' military vehicle production and remains best known for the HMMWV (Humvee), whose armoured variant M1151 appears here; the M809 series was the US armed forces' medium 6x6 truck, from which AM General also derived the crane-equipped wrecker M816.

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The register lists here 3 versions with 141.7 to 179 kW, or 190 to 240 hp; for the M809/M816 series a length of 9,042 mm and a height of 2,845 mm are recorded.

Both series shaped US Army and allied logistics and resupply for decades and, after active military service, were sold in large numbers to civilian buyers, fire departments, recovery companies and collectors, establishing a broad used market for both series.

When buying used, what counts on these former military vehicles is corrosion on the frame and axles, the condition of the transfer case and portal axles, and, on the M816, the condition of the winch and crane boom; complete documentation of provenance and any conversion to civilian registration is especially important on these vehicles. Spare parts run through the specialist trade in surplus military equipment.

Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: AM General (weitere Modelle), AM General (manufacturer)

Technical data

Engine

Engine	Cummins NHC-250 6-cyl dieselcorrect
Power	240 hp (179 kW)correct

Dimensions and weights

Length	9,042 mmcorrect
Width	2,489 mmcorrect
Height	2,845 mmcorrect
Unladen weight	15,898 kg (36,000 lbs / 16,330 kg)correct

Drivetrain and chassis

Gearbox	five-speed with synchronizerscorrect

Where this model stands

Power-to-weight ratio: 11.3 kW/t (179 kW / 15.9 t)

Stronger than 55% of the military & special vehicles in the register — out of 103 models with a stated power figure.

Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.

Frequently asked questions

How much power does the Am General M816 Wrecker have?

The Am General M816 Wrecker delivers 240 hp.

How much does the Am General M816 Wrecker weigh?

The unladen weight is 15,898 kg.

What are the dimensions of the Am General M816 Wrecker?

9,042 mm × 2,489 mm × 2,845 mm.

What to check before buying

Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.

A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.

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This page carries 10 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.

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