M989A1 recovery and towing tips.

[Another Ahab]

Well I made it home! 810 mile round trip in 21hrs. I'll post some pics tomorrow. (Man this trailer is BIG)

Glad you're home safe:

- "Ain't no place like Home"

 

[Plane Fast]

Moving the trailer.
I had every part in the storage box but a tow pin. Today I was going to put the trailer away. I tried my best to back the trailer up without it. There is no way! I have to back up in a confined space. I try to use an old tow hitch pin. The trailer laughed at it! It broke that pin with just the slightest of pressure. So now I'm going to have to sources one. (Or make one)
The other issue, is TM does not have a parts break down of the rear brake cans. It just has them as one unit. I'm going to need diaphragms to rebuild them. If someone has the part number that would be great!

I forgot that I ended up in a small convoy yesterday. I had pulled off the road to check out a noise. I was waiting my turn to get back on the road and I saw four M1078's and two 977's coming down I-10. They slowed and blocked traffic so I could get going. They must have been trying to figure out who the heck was in the truck. I just waved and gave them a thumbs up! Thanks guys!

This is is going to be a fun trailer. Just think how much beer one would hold!
Now to work out the bugs.

 

[Another Ahab]

Moving the trailer.

This is is going to be a fun trailer. Just think how much beer one would hold!
Now to work out the bugs.

With a liner and a water jet or two you could even use it as a rolling Jacuzzi:

- Might be a hit at a rally.

The possibilities are endless.

 

[M920]

I'm pretty sure the rear brake chambers are just a standard type 30-30 commercial brake chamber. Any truck supply house should carry them. Or you can buy the whole thing new for $40-50. All you have to do is cut the threaded actuating rod to the same length as the one on the old one and change the crosshead over.

Soni

P.s. I'm sure you know this already but do not try to open the spring brake portion of the chamber. If that one has the bad diaphragm you should just replace it Unless of course you have the necessary knowledge and equipment to preform this dangerous task safely....

 

[Plane Fast]

With a liner and a water jet or two you could even use it a rolling Jacuzzi:

- Might be a hit at a rally.

The possibilities are endless.


View attachment 554693

So if I put a tarp in it, and fill with water those two will show up?

 

[Plane Fast]

I'm pretty sure the rear brake chambers are just a standard type 30-30 commercial brake chamber. Any truck supply house should carry them. Or you can buy the whole thing new for $40-50. All you have to do is cut the threaded actuating rod to the same length as the one on the old one and change the crosshead over.

Soni

P.s. I'm sure you know this already but do not try to open the spring brake portion of the chamber. If that one has the bad diaphragm you should just replace it Unless of course you have the necessary knowledge and equipment to preform this dangerous task safely....

Thanks Soni.
Ya I just want to replace the whole can. It's not worth the hassle to cage the brake and change out the parts. To much risk. It is a good reminder though how dangerous it is.
By the way you have some very nice toys!

 

[Another Ahab]

With a liner and a water jet or two you could even use it as a rolling Jacuzzi:

- Might be a hit at a rally.

The possibilities are endless.


View attachment 554693

So if I put a tarp in it, and fill with water those two will show up?

If you're real nice:

- And you also politely request it of your Fairy Godmother,

Miracles can happen. You have to Believe.

 

[Plane Fast]

I'll pass on the fairy godmother! I guess the wife of 21 years will do!

I did order a pin today.

 

[fuzzytoaster]

I'll pass on the fairy godmother! I guess the wife of 21 years will do!

I did order a pin today.

Purchase info? I need a few for my trailers. 1 of 4 had a pin.

 

[Plane Fast]

Purchase info? I need a few for my trailers. 1 of 4 had a pin.

I got mine off ebay.($15.00) The NSN 5315013527448
So far it's the only one I could find. I will take it to tractor supply and see if I can find a match.

 

[98G]

I know this isn't a new idea - I've even seen m939 trucks on GL fitted with a front pintle.

This is how I "back" my M989A1. Low range, first gear so that it'll just crawl along at idle with the clutch out.

 

[Plane Fast]

That's a good idea. Did you just cage the rear brakes?

Update on the pin I bought. It is the right diameter, but it is about 1 1/2" too short. It works. I just have to push it all the way in, without a pin to hold it in.

Started some rust prevention today. Ospho the rust spots, so I can paint it.

 

[98G]

Yes, I just caged the rear brakes to push it around with redtruck.

As an aside, the brakes were caged when i picked it up from GP. I removed the cage bolts prior to towing it on the road. In fact, I used it as a parking brake for the deuce - when i stopped I'd turn off the valve and unhook the emergency brake line, thus engaging the springbrakes.

Backing these things is tricky at best. Locking the steering is really a suboptimal solution as that limits you to backing in a straight line and the least deviation from that puts a lot of shearing force on the locking pin.

My intent is to generally avoid backing it, and when I do I'll be doing it (very very carefully)with the steering unlocked.

 

[datadawg]

Is the M989A1 suitable for towing an armored vehicle? I know it's long and stout enough to handle weight and size, but I'm wondering about loading... Is it feasible to make ramps to drive up the trailer? I would need to tow a Saracen (British APC) with my 5 ton. The other conundrum is how you handle the deep well -- if you have to build it up to make a flat deck, I think it would be too costly and involved.

 

[Plane Fast]

I would say no. You would have a heck of a time getting it turned on the trailer. As well as building the deck up would make it way too top heavy!

 

[Another Ahab]

Is the M989A1 suitable for towing an armored vehicle? I know it's long and stout enough to handle weight and size, but I'm wondering about loading... Is it feasible to make ramps to drive up the trailer? I would need to tow a Saracen (British APC) with my 5 ton. The other conundrum is how you handle the deep well -- if you have to build it up to make a flat deck, I think it would be too costly and involved.

Have you been Good? Was that on your Shopping List to Santa!?

 

[datadawg]

Have you been Good? Was that on your Shopping List to Santa!?

Saracen acquisition unrelated to Santa! Just got bit by armor bug and long story short, an armored Cold War era British APC journeyed across the Atlantic to Pennsylvania. For some reason I can't upload photos, but it's the same model as this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHCCTKk0Jwk
I was hoping I could snag an inexpensive trailer off GL or GP, but nothing seems to be suitable for a tagalong.

 

[Plane Fast]

Very nice!
Maybe you could find something like this around your area.
25,000lbs GW

 

[datadawg]

Very nice!
Maybe you could find something like this around your area.View attachment 600141
25,000lbs GW

That looks like a great trailer, but is it civvy? Civvy trailers on craigslist are $4K+ and you have to deal with 12V vs. 24V and then different plug. On GL, the trailers are a grand or so.

 

[Plane Fast]

Just paint it green. I won't tell.