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Myself, M35A2-AZ, groundog, and another friend went to Nellis AFB to pick up a pair of M931A2s and drive them back.
We all left Monday morning from groundog's house and headed up the hill towards Las Vegas. Ate lunch along the way and arrived at Nellis around 5 PM. We stayed the night at the base and went to our GL appointment the next morning. The plan was to tow one 931 with the other.
We checked in at the GL office and went to check the trucks out and prep them for the trip back. The oil and coolant levels were good on the first truck, so we tried to start it, but the batteries were dead. The GL guy that helped us (Eddie, I think his name was - good guy) had a slave cable and started a truck next to ours and it started right up. All the tires needed air, and one in particular was pretty flat. All the fluids checked out and the transfer case and axles were full of gear oil. No tools were present, but half a dozen wasps were. Degreaser kills wasps pretty good. The parking brake buzzer would not turn off. I think something could be wrong with the driveline parking brake.
One of the spring brakes was locked up. These trucks were likely loaded and unloaded with forklifts on both ends, so who knows the last time they rolled anywhere. Perhaps rusted in place from Utah. A few whacks to the brake drum freed the stuck shoes. Once we had this truck checked out and warmed up, we moved it over near the other truck we were picking up and began the process to get that truck ready to go. We checked the axles and tire pressure and removed the drive shafts. Hooked up the towbar, safety chains, and towing lights and hooked the air lines to the glad hands in front of the fifth wheel so that the trailer brakes could be activated by the trolley brake. This truck also had to have the brake drums smacked to loosen the shoes.
At least 3 other trucks were there picking up M931A2s also. At least 7 (including ours) were loaded out that morning, 3 more semi trucks arrived to pick up items as we were on our way out. We stopped and fueled up and had lunch in Boulder City and then headed over the dam and down the mountain into Arizona. I think I like the 6CTA motor - 240 hp moves 40000 lbs of army trucks fairly well, even uphill. We dropped down to 20 mph a few times going up some steeper parts. Speeds were kept to about 50-55 mph for the trip because we were towing. About 1/2 way home, the truck seemed to have been cleaned out and had a good stretch and started to run better. The 931A2 is a rocketship when empty. All in all, everything went well.
We all left Monday morning from groundog's house and headed up the hill towards Las Vegas. Ate lunch along the way and arrived at Nellis around 5 PM. We stayed the night at the base and went to our GL appointment the next morning. The plan was to tow one 931 with the other.
We checked in at the GL office and went to check the trucks out and prep them for the trip back. The oil and coolant levels were good on the first truck, so we tried to start it, but the batteries were dead. The GL guy that helped us (Eddie, I think his name was - good guy) had a slave cable and started a truck next to ours and it started right up. All the tires needed air, and one in particular was pretty flat. All the fluids checked out and the transfer case and axles were full of gear oil. No tools were present, but half a dozen wasps were. Degreaser kills wasps pretty good. The parking brake buzzer would not turn off. I think something could be wrong with the driveline parking brake.
One of the spring brakes was locked up. These trucks were likely loaded and unloaded with forklifts on both ends, so who knows the last time they rolled anywhere. Perhaps rusted in place from Utah. A few whacks to the brake drum freed the stuck shoes. Once we had this truck checked out and warmed up, we moved it over near the other truck we were picking up and began the process to get that truck ready to go. We checked the axles and tire pressure and removed the drive shafts. Hooked up the towbar, safety chains, and towing lights and hooked the air lines to the glad hands in front of the fifth wheel so that the trailer brakes could be activated by the trolley brake. This truck also had to have the brake drums smacked to loosen the shoes.
At least 3 other trucks were there picking up M931A2s also. At least 7 (including ours) were loaded out that morning, 3 more semi trucks arrived to pick up items as we were on our way out. We stopped and fueled up and had lunch in Boulder City and then headed over the dam and down the mountain into Arizona. I think I like the 6CTA motor - 240 hp moves 40000 lbs of army trucks fairly well, even uphill. We dropped down to 20 mph a few times going up some steeper parts. Speeds were kept to about 50-55 mph for the trip because we were towing. About 1/2 way home, the truck seemed to have been cleaned out and had a good stretch and started to run better. The 931A2 is a rocketship when empty. All in all, everything went well.
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We get a 1 day or a 3 day permit and insurance in AZ. that way we are covered---good luck on recovery---always good to get home safe