M353 lunette height

[drivebymashing]

I towed a m105a2 behind a half ton chevy with a pintle height of 15 inches. It was pretty low. Would i be able to tow a m353 with around the same low pintle? I have searched and not much info on m353 compared to 105a2.

 

[Recovry4x4]

The way that trailer steps down after the tongue would likely preclude you from using a hitch that close to the ground.

 

[drivebymashing]

That's what im thinking. Im just curious if anyone has a trailer like that and could measue what the lowest safe height would be.

 

[FloridaAKM]

I have towed an M105a2 trailer & an M353 trailer with a 20" height pintle on a Toyota Tacoma with no problems except the bouncing on the M353. The M105a2 pulls like a dream & stops with no problems if you watch road conditions. The M353 has a tongue weight of 370#s so it will lower your truck a bit when you hook it up, so that may be a problem with a 15" pintle height! If you do hook it up, make sure to rotate both front tires up & pin them in place securely! Here is the data plate!

 

[drivebymashing]

Ok thanks I bought a 12 inch riser to so it brings it up 10 inches or so. Should be plenty thanks for info. Ill be pulling it with a ford ranger if you used a Toyota that should be about the same.

 

[FloridaAKM]

Watch out that you don't get too much leverage from the trailer transferred to the riser & damage or worst case, break it off. The M105A2, even though they weigh the same, has 3/4 the tongue weight of the M353! Good luck on your project!

 

[drivebymashing]

Really? i thought the 105 was 350 tongue weight and the m1101 was 250 tougne weight.

 

[FloridaAKM]

Okay, after looking @ the data plates again:
M-353 is 370#s tongue weight empty
M-105 is 310#s tongue weight empty
M1101 is 250#s tongue weight according to you as I don't have those data plates
My M1102's have a max tongue weight of 420 #s, but not a empty weight.

Yes, I know that both M1101 & M1102 are the same with different weight class data plates for the Hmmvee.

 

[MWMULES]

By myself I have to use a high lift jack to hook mine up to civi truck due the dolly wheels not lowering it enough to get it on the pintle. The tongue weight is every bit of 370 when it is low to the ground.

 

[M35A2-AZ]

I have towed a M105 and a M353 with my pickup with a tall pintle and you will have to use jack or high lift jack to get it on there.
When I pickup my m353 I was thinking it was not going to work due to the step it has, but it did.
If you are pulling it unloaded it will beat you around in the pickup. Air the tries way down.

 

[FloridaAKM]

Thank you for backing up my posts. Here is an odd detail omitted here. The GP rep towed my M353 from North Jacksonville to Lake Butler with a larger truck @ 70 mph with no bouncing. When I towed it the last 15 miles home, it started bouncing after 32 mph & stopped @ 30 mph. I didn't think to air the tires down for some stupid reason! Next time I tow it, it will be loaded or the tires aired down to pull better!

I have towed a M105 and a M353 with my pickup with a tall pintle and you will have to use jack or high lift jack to get it on there.
When I pickup my m353 I was thinking it was not going to work due to the step it has, but it did.
If you are pulling it unloaded it will beat you around in the pickup. Air the tries way down.

 

[drivebymashing]

Ok well good things its only 350 miles away!! Dangit!!I have had some great trucks over the years 1999 1 ton 7.3 crew cab, 2000 f250 v10 crew cab, 1989 f250 flatbed. Now i have a vette....

 

[FloridaAKM]

Towing it with your vette would bring some double takes for sure!

 

[drivebymashing]

I have thought about it but with a 24 inch rise and a pintle adpater down to 1 1/4 adapter.... The brakes and power are deffineatly there. I can just imagine fiberglass pieces being left behind when i nail it with the trailer hooked to it.

 

[drivebymashing]

Brought my m353 home safely. The trailer pulled easily plenty of power and braking was easy on the ranger (not mine). The 15 or so leaf springs on each side on the trailer absolutely beat my brains out. Im pretty sure i have permanent brain and spine damage.

 

[M35A2-AZ]

View attachment 620465
Brought my m353 home safely. The trailer pulled easily plenty of power and braking was easy on the ranger (not mine). The 15 or so leaf springs on each side on the trailer absolutely beat my brains out. Im pretty sure i have permanent brain and spine damage.

LOL. I told you it would be bad.

 

[drivebymashing]

You werent joking .It was defiantly bad almost unbearable. IF this had been through south carolina or some state with even worse roads Id be paralized. Does this trailer jerk a bigger truck around so bad? Like a 3/4 ton or a deuce? You cant even tell the m1101 is even behind the deuce at all. No noise no vibration no nothing.

 

[M35A2-AZ]

I towed my M353 with a 30k gen. on it with my M929 dump truck and I could not tell it was back there.

 

[FloridaAKM]

If I had to tow the M353 350 miles, it might still be on the side of the highway! With the tires aired down, it would be a different story as long as the trailer didn't start that bouncing @ 32 mph! The full sized truck that towed it 80 miles had no bouncing @ all? Even @ interstate speeds!

Now the big question. what are you going to do with it since you have it home?

 

[drivebymashing]

I aired the tires down to 20psi. It bounced at any speed. Pulled it 250 miles it was something ill never forget. Righ now im thinking 10 foot 6x6s bolted down to make the deck relatively level all the way to the fenders. To have a flat bed style trailer. I really dont know what else to do with it.