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Hooks M105A3 recovery

Pawnshop

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Austin/Cedar Park Texas
M813RC and Reloader64 and I went up to Texarkana Tuesday to pick up our M105A3 trailers from GL and we learmed a few things along the way! It is a looong drive up there from Austin and we were up before the sparrows, and there was a threat of the first winter storm of the season, but we pressed on regardless. The weather held, the trailer held, and we got some excelent CARC to add to the collection.

learned:
Be SURE a M105A3 will fit on your trailer! (we didn't figure on that bit)
Bring as many Hi-Lift jacks as you can! (we brought two)
Bring a dolly to put under the tongue while winching the trailer onto your hauler! (we did not)
Bring an electric winch to load those heavy bas*&^%s onto your trailer! (we did)
Bring a pintle hitch for your tow vehicle to jockey the 105 into position! (we did)
Do not count on backing a M105A3 trailer! (the surge brakes don't allow it, ask me how we know...)
Bring lots of chain/boomers/straps! (we did)
Bring whatever you need to load/recover by yourself, there is NO GL load assistance at that site! (no forklift to hurt OR to help)
Bring tire changing tools, at least one of the trailers out there had damaged tires that did not show in the photos! (I didn't catch the lot numbers, sorry)
Bring a cheater pipe and a can of spray oil for the parking brakes that will likely be stuck in the park position! (we did not)

The trailers all look to be in excelent or new shape, they were spread out over a large area so we didn't get to look at them all. Our two were built or rebuilt in 2007 (hard to tell, which) and according to the log books (YES, they came with log books!!) they spent time in Quatar but apparently were never used.

The tops ALL appear to be coming apart at the seams, and ARE reversable, however the 383 colors on the inside are painted on and the paint is coming off. The landing legs are all of the older krappy type and are pretty flimsy. ALL of the trailers I looked at HAVE the landing legs, however the ones with the tongue on the ground are that way because the legs have FAILED! That is where the Hi-Lift jacks come in to play. The tail lights are not LED (at least on ours) so they won't run off a CUCV without 12v bulbs if you are towing out, bring add on trailer lights.

We were told that we were the first ones out to recover our trailers and there appears to be no scavenged or looted trailers out there (let's keep it that way). Amy was extremely nice and accomidating, it was a good day and all went well!

I would suggest a 3/4 ton truck and a pintle adaptor for the easiest recovery but we were going 400mi for two trailers and two tow vehicles would have been too much expense.

Anyone know how to adjust the surge brakes to allow for reversing?
 

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bryan70546

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Lake Charles La
its this the redriver army depot , I will be leaving monday to pick up 2 105s not the a3s , now i need to figure out how the **** i will get them on the trailer i dont have a winch i have one on my atv but thats about it. man this sucks i was hopeing they at least had a fork lift:cry:
 

Pawnshop

Active member
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Location
Austin/Cedar Park Texas
These are at the NG lot down the road from the Lone Star ord plant, not Red River. Call GL and ask them, there MAY be a forklift where your trailer is. If not I would find a way to adapt your ATV winch. OR use a come along and lots of elbow grease, these trailers weigh about 2500lb! OR a pickup with a pintle adapter, the 105 tows very nicely behind a truck...
 

bryan70546

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Lake Charles La
These are at the NG lot down the road from the Lone Star ord plant, not Red River. Call GL and ask them, there MAY be a forklift where your trailer is. If not I would find a way to adapt your ATV winch. OR use a come along and lots of elbow grease, these trailers weigh about 2500lb! OR a pickup with a pintle adapter, the 105 tows very nicely behind a truck...
Yea my two are at the lonestar ammuntion plant ,I am using my 04 powerstroke and a 18 foot trailer , Guess i need to go to tractor supply and get a pintle so that i can maybe just back um on there just to be on the safe side :-D
CARGO TRAILER, MDL#M105A2, 1. 5 TON, 2 WHEEL, WITH RAILS AND NO COVER, S/ N 5662. LOADING OF THIS ITEM IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER. *PLEASE CALL AHEAD FOR APPOINTMENT* TRAILER LOCATED AT LONE STAR AMMUNITION PLANT.
 
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Pawnshop

Active member
1,798
22
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Location
Austin/Cedar Park Texas
Yea my two are at the lonestar ammuntion plant ,I am using my 04 powerstroke and a 18 foot trailer , Guess i need to go to tractor supply and get a pintle so that i can maybe just back um on there just to be on the safe side :-D
I would make life easier. The M105 is narrower than the M105A3 so it should fit on a normal car hauler without crushing the fenders like we did. If you have a receiver on the front of your truck that would make the job even easier. Anyone who has a receiver hitch and a military trailer should own a pintle hitch on a stick in my opinion:)
 

bryan70546

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Lake Charles La
I would make life easier. The M105 is narrower than the M105A3 so it should fit on a normal car hauler without crushing the fenders like we did. If you have a receiver on the front of your truck that would make the job even easier. Anyone who has a receiver hitch and a military trailer should own a pintle hitch on a stick in my opinion:)
Well my EUC clearing cought me off guard m I have a mother thats in the hospital and i have been taking care of my father who is also sick ,I was going to go get them today but I had to re-schedule my pick up to monday .I dont have a reciever on the front of my truck just the rear hopefully i can just back them each on there lower the landing gears strap um down and head home. but if they have a fork lift that would be great also . the trailers look to be in good working order but we both know how that goes.
 

bryan70546

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Lake Charles La
We used ALL of a 20' trailer and had the front tongue hanging out over the trailer's, I hope 18' is going to be long enough for you...
i plan on putting them in with the tongue facing the rear of the trailer the first one will be put all the way to the back with its azz in the air landing gear down the secound one will be loading the same way .I think it will work with both trailers with the rears facing up
 

jkdave

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albuqerque NM
that is good to hear that they look in good shape. i am waiting on my EUC so that i can go get mine, and since you mentioned it gust how wide dose my trailer need to be? so that i don't kill my fenders.

thanks for the info

Dave
 

Pawnshop

Active member
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Location
Austin/Cedar Park Texas
i plan on putting them in with the tongue facing the rear of the trailer the first one will be put all the way to the back with its azz in the air landing gear down the secound one will be loading the same way .I think it will work with both trailers with the rears facing up
That should work, your rear tongue will hang out pretty far behind, if you put the rear tires of the front trailer all the way forward on the flatbed make sure you have enough clearance between the box and your tow vehicle, your turning circle will thank you!
 

Nonotagain

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Parkville, MD
I've been using my A3 for about 6 months now and can let you in on a little secret when backing one of these up while loaded.

Take a small C clamp and clamp to the slider portion of the brake cylinder slider plate.

I live on a large hill that when I back into my driveway I need to back up the hill so that I can see the trailer. Without clamping the brake slider the surge brakes will lock up the brakes. Once the C clamps is in place it backs as any normal trailer.

Also, make sure that you check the breakaway lever on the top the cylinder housing and adjust the cable on the safety chains so that it does not bind or it will apply the brakes.

This trailer tows great at 70 mph, provided that the wheels are round. One of my trailers had flat spotted tires when I picked it up. Four hours later after driving 240 miles they were round again.

My trailer has LED black out lights but regular bulbs for the marker, stop and turn signal lights.
 

reloader64

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Location
Liberty Hill, Texas
Nonotagain, I hadn't counted on the Army having a trailer with surge brakes, and no lockout mechanism, so I didn't have a C-clamp. I just drove "around the block" until I got where I was going.

Scott
 
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