Quote:
Originally posted by mike mckinley
interesting points on the iltis. not to hijack the topic, but what do you think of the m151a2?
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One of the biggest problems I found with the M151A2 was that the operators didn't know enough (or were too lazy) to constantly grease the 12 U joints in the powertrain. But the engines were far superior to the 1940s designed willys engines in the M38/m38a1 fleet. I bought 30 M151s when they went for disposal, and only about 5 of them had had their engines replaced during their service life. The truck was also better geared for the highway, although was certainly not a hillclimber like the willys. The only wheeled vehicle that I have ever ridden in that had nicer cross country suspension than the M151A2, was the HUMVEE.
The only other major shortcoming if the M151A2s were the rear suspension points, which would wear and elongate, resulting in very dangerous handling. Transmission/transfer case assemblies were a bit weak as well.
Somewhere, I have an old EME bulletin that lists the maintenance costs per 1000 miles on the 3 jeep fleets which were in service at the time. The M38A1cdn2s and 3s both continued to climb rapidly based on the mles driven, whereas the M151A2 peaked at about the $1000 per year amount, with a very slight increase in costs based on mileage.
I have always said that the nickname "disposable jeep" which was given by the Cdns to the M151A2s, was the mistaken belief that the lightweight build of the vehicle represented something disposable, rather than the advanced design that it was. The other nickname it had, "rollover jeep" was more fitting.