How far can a M109 tilt to the side?

[Rodger]

Hello All

I took my new M109 off-roading for the first time yesterday. It climbed hills great. I am wondering how far off camber (road side tilt) I can safely drive.

Does ayone know?

thank you
Rodger

 

[jtrojan715]

dont know the exact angle but i just use the pucker gauge.

 

[O.D. Fever]

I hope that gauge is calibrated.

 

[Rodger]

When I had a Pinzgauer, the tilt gauge helped reduce the pucker.
I chickened out way before the Pinz did. The M109 will be alot harder to put back on its wheels if it ever goes over.

Rodger

 

[jaymcb]

Maybe have Gimp test it for you?

 

[dmetalmiki]

Not so good accross country, but plenty of leanabillity!

http://youtu.be/v2_T4WVnnFU

 

[wdbtchr]

I've heard the pucker guage is calibrated by how small the lockwashers you could cut off of it. I think I would buy a tilt meter before testing it out. I've tried tipping a few vehicles, including my backhoe, and I don't like it.

 

[doghead]

Anyone look in the TM?

 

[1 Patriot-of-many]

I hope that gauge is calibrated.

I'm sure it is by the imbedded sphincter circuit. I know that's how mine works very well.

 

[rickf]

You will know when you have gone too far because you will hear a voice that sure sounds like your own yelling OH S***!!!!!!

If you have your significant other with you then you will probably never be able to hear much again shortly after that scream!

Rick

 

[RodUSMC1962]

I would never put my truck in a situation that it might tip over,just my two cents worth.

 

[Goose2448]

After having rolled a truck, I cant even back up too fast. Once you know that feeling, you never want to do it again. Screw what the TM says, no offense DH, just use your brain. Dont go driving across the side of a hill, go up and down it, like on a tractor. You can learn a lot about nothing from watching the John Deere Safety video. Use your brain and the keep the green side up.

 

[jesusgatos]

Generally speaking, there is not a predetermined angle that any vehicle will roll over at. Sure, you can find the tipping-point for anything, but in the real-world it will most likely never be exactly the same angle twice. There are just too many factors that contribute to something like that. That's why those tilt-o-meters get so many people into trouble. They make the mistake of thinking that just because it didn't tip over last time at __ degrees, that it won't tip this time. Whoa-whoa-whoa... and they were wrong.

 

[Rodger]

First, thank you all for the input.

I understand that there are many variables.
and I DO NOT want to tip my truck (Summer Home), that is what I want to avoid.
Sometimes the trail goes across the hill.
I like the idea of a tilt meter + a safety margin.
I would not attempt to test any published tip angle.
I am a science teacher, not a science experiment.
I will try to read the TM.

I hope none of this sounds wrong. No sarcasm is intended.
sometimes my poor social skills show in my typing.

Rodger

 

[jaymcb]

a 109 tipped over on a trial would be very, very ugly.

the labels on the cab of mine even say it handles differently that a deuce...and NOT in a good way!

 

[KsM715]

I dont ever remember reading a sideslope angle in the TM. (could be wrong,not the first time) but like was said above, That angle will never be the same twice. Depending on what kind of load you have in the back and where the heaviest stuff is loaded (which side) your CG is going to change everytime you load and unload your gear. With that said I bet you'd give up before your truck does.

 

[Rodger]

I had to get home from work before seeing the youtube video from page one.

WOW.

thank you. Cool. I have to show my wife that.

 

[jesusgatos]

a 109 tipped over on a trial would be very, very ugly.

No, that's easy. All you have to do is anchor the top corners (front/back) on the high side of the box to something secure. A winch-line from another vehicle that you can pay-out gradually would be ideal. Jack up one side of the vehicle (forklift?) so that the winch cable is not supporting it, but will catch it when it finally goes past the tipping point. Obviously there are a lot of precautions that need to be taken to do something like this safely, but it can be done. There's even some youtube videos showing how other people have done it if you want to check them out.

 

[Katahdin]

Not 109 specific, but here's a report from a computer based simulation of a M35A2 with M105 trailer going through a slalom course with different payload combinations. It discusses roll angle, roll rate, and yaw angle.

 

[Ferroequinologist]

I took my M109 off road at Haspin 3 years ago, and it tilted enough that the 3kw gen I had in the back broke loose and distroyed my cot.

I was pretty careful not to get too crazy with her.

It will vary as well by many factors- angle, weight distribution, speed, size of tires, dualed or singled, etc.