In the past few decades, military trucks saw much more service than armored combat vehicles which goes to show how important and useful they are. But with the old M939 five ton truck nearing 25 years of service, a new model was due in the mid 2000s. And what better manufacturer to give the assignment to than Oshkosh which has been building heavy duty military vehicles since the beginning of the first world war. The result was the Oshkosh truck 6x6, also known as Oshkosh MTVR (Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement). This six wheel drive truck was built to transport both troops and military equipment and not just over rough terrains, but also through open enemy fire. It’s one of the first military trucks to receive full armor both for the cabin and the bed, and interestingly, it works just as well on paved roads as it does in mud, snow and desert sand. But before we uncover all the interesting details you should know about the Oshkosh MTVR, take a look at the 6x6 trucks currently available here at Exotic Car Trader.
The Oshkosh corporation has been the sole supplier of heavy trucks to the US military since the 1970s, but the company’s history goes much farther back. Oshkosh was founded in 1914 and built its first truck in 1917 and by the 1950s, it was building everything from earth movers to aircraft transporters. But their main products were always trucks, the most famous of which is the 8x8 M985 which was the star of many movies since the 1980s. But starting in 1999, Oshkosh made its first medium 6x6 truck to replace the old AM General M939. The new Oshkosh truck 6x6 would be used by five different countries with around 12,000 units made. Even today, it’s one of two 6x6 trucks still used by the US military, with the second model being the 7000MV which is essentially a standard cargo truck making the MTVR the most important 6x6 truck for the US military. And as of 2023, a replacement MTVR is still not in the makings with the US military looking to improve the existing trucks with more efficient engines, better armor and higher combat readiness.
Like all military vehicles, the Oshkosh truck 6x6 is pretty frugal inside. Even the AC system was optional so if you ever find one on a military surplus auction, make sure to do your research. Even more importantly, not all MTVRs got air ride seats. Those with a bench seat next to the driver get fixed seats which can quickly become insufferable. However, those with a separate passenger seat get air rides making them much easier to live with, especially when driving over rough terrains. That said, the driver interface is fairly advanced. Weight indicators can be found on the left side of the gauge cluster which also show what you can do with the truck under the current load. The gauge cluster also provides a ton of information including transmission temperature, oil pressure, air system pressure, and battery voltage. On the right side, the instrument panel is used for the winch, central tire inflation system, ground lights and a dozen other functions depending on what the specific truck is equipped with. Interestingly, the transmission is operated with buttons just like in most modern cars which helps free up some space on the floor and the steering column. Overall, there are a ton of things to geek out over once you are in the driver’s seat, but only if you love off road driving and military equipment.
As is the case with most military vehicles, the Oshkosh truck 6x6 has a dozen different variants. The standard one uses an aluminum cabin and a standard truck bed. But even those versions get a certain degree of protection, especially floor protection against IEDs. All Oshkosh MTVRs get 53” off road tires which alone are often enough protection, putting the cabin high off the ground. The tires also provide nearly 17” of ground clearance while the truck is nearly 12 feet tall. As for the fully armored versions, they get a special capsule cabin, as well as a fully enclosed capsule bed. There are even MTVRs with gun turrets mounted on the roof of the cabin, in which case the middle seat doubles as a turret post. Another interesting fact is that the truck can still be driven while the cabin is folded which improves its ability to drive through tight spaces. Ultimately, the design is extremely utilitarian and simple.
One of the biggest improvements over the old M939 truck is the drivetrain. The Oshkosh truck 6x6 gets a new Caterpillar turbocharged inline six diesel. It extracts 425 horsepower from its 11.9 liters of displacement, and just over 1,500 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to give the MTVR a 65 mph cruising speed, and the ability to climb 60% slopes. The engine also has to survive harsh conditions and is advertised to be in operation at temperatures ranging between -50F and 125F. Power goes through a seven speed Allison transmission and while it doesn’t include low range, the power split between the front and rear axles can be manually set to 50:50. But during normal driving, 68% of the power goes to the rear two axles which also means it has permanent six wheel drive. With that, it has an off road towing capacity of 24.5 tons or 31 tons on paved roads. Payload capacity is no less impressive at 15 tons on road and 7.1 tons off road. Moreover, the new independent suspension all around gives it much better traction especially on rough terrains, plus the ability to comfortably drive through 60” of water.
Buying a brand new Oshkosh truck 6x6 isn’t possible for civilians. But with a new price of $193,000, very few of them could even afford it. That said, most Oshkosh MTVR trucks have a starting price of $5,000 when sold through military auctions. Of course, none of them sell for that amount, but a lot of them do go for between $20,000 and $25,000 with minor issues. Those in excellent condition can reach $50,000, while those with extremely low mileage can cost as much as $70,000. Still, this is a truck that will outlast anything a civilian can readily buy, not to mention there will always be a market for military trucks.
The Oshkosh truck 6x6 is the latest word in military transportation technology. The fact it’s the most widely used form of heavy transportation, not just for the US military but four other countries as well, says enough about its capabilities and quality. But so does the fact it’s got permanent six wheel drive, massive ground clearance more than sufficient power output. At the same time, it’s by far the most fuel efficient military truck ever made making it one of the best candidates for civilian conversions. Lastly, if you are looking for a 6x6 truck or any other luxury vehicle, classic or muscle car, consider buying it through Exotic Car Trader. With escrow protection, delivery and first inspection, Exotic Car Trader ensures that both the buyer and seller are protected while at the same time, making the entire process as time efficient as it gets. Also, selling a car with Exotic Car Trader saves you even more time as you don’t even have to worry about posting your vehicle to our website.
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