I've come across a '77 A185F Carryall for sale.
Anyone out there own one or flown one and is keen to share there thoughts?
Other than the extra baggage door are there any differences when compared to a standard model of the same year?
Because of the short production run, is their value more or less, when compared to a standard model of the same year, or does it makes no difference?
Are there any peculiarities with this type, like shortage of certain parts?
Appreciate your feedback.

If you haven't seen it, there's some good reading on Skywagon model-year changes at skywagons.com.

Here's the paragraph on the debut of the Ag Carryall (introduced with the side door in 1970, and with the addition of spray gear in 1972):

"Ag carryall" option introduced with external 151 gallon chemical tank, removable spray booms with 30 nozzles, wind driven spray system, windshield wire cutters, and vertical stabilizer cable deflector. If used as a sprayer, the engine TBO was 1200 hours.

And here's another on 1977 model year changes:

1977 Model A185F - Serial numbers 3154 through 3458 (only 304 built)
Improvements and New Features
McCauley tail wheel and stronger tail wheel gear/spring tube (1 1/8")
Redesigned control wheels, small.
New basic flight instruments in "T" configuration.
Engine - phase II, heavy case.

Incidentally, I've just been reading Cessna: Wings for the World. It suggests that Cessna knew the Ag Carryall was a mediocre spray plane, (and it had already introduced the Agwagon in 1965) but that offering 185's in that configuration allowed the sales department to circumvent embargoes on sales of personal aircraft to certain South American countries. The author surmises that in most cases the spray gear was ripped off as soon as the planes were successfully exported.

There are two reasons high wing airplanes are not good spray airplanes: You can't see in the turn. And, there is no wing to crash on. The Piper Cub was a workhorse ag plane. But, the pilot hit first, the engine came back in his lap, and the poison came down on his back. The Pawnee was specifically designed to crash. That is why they all look alike

Thanks Contractflying, I flew helicopters on Ag and deer recovery for a couple of years in New Zealand, so I'm familiar in the art of crashing, everything in a helicopter comes up to meet you! Been lucky enough that none of them were mine.
Not planning on doing Ag in the 185 although it does come with a tank and booms, I thought maybe just a fix-wing Ag rating might be fun and raise the skill level.
Just planing on using it as a work/family pickup, and a tax write-off off course!

Since most ag planes are single-seaters, maybe the Ag-185 was designed with the thought of it being a dual-instruction trainer?

hotrod180 wrote:Since most ag planes are single-seaters, maybe the Ag-185 was designed with the thought of it being a dual-instruction trainer?

The standard placement for the spray controls would have been in the copilot's lap.