M989A1 build

[Kbarnes0]

Hello. Wanted to share what we did with the trailer for our needs.

We extended the tounge 18", and built out the side doors and asked iso container cam locks on.

We are towing it behind an M1090.

We still have some stuff to button up and let the air out of the bags and it just cleared to get in the shop.

 

[Mullaney]

Hello. Wanted to share what we did with the trailer for our needs.

We extended the tounge 18", and built out the side doors and asked iso container cam locks on.

We are towing it behind an M1090.

We still have some stuff to button up and let the air out of the bags and it just cleared to get in the shop.

I have one of those that I got with the intention of hauling local VFW Post guys in parades. Nice sides so nobody falls out. I got some really low deck chairs for them to sit on....

But Wow! What a neat way to give that trailer another purpose in life. Not sure I would want to highway haul it with a loaded container - but lightly loaded it shouldn't be half bad. Backing is still a bear for anything other than straight back but those Cam Locks are definitely neat

You mentioned an 18" tongue extension. Mine came with a 10" extension installed. It looks "factory" more because of the paint than anything. I didn't do a chemical test on it, but it has that sandpaper "carc feel" to it with no gloss at all. I snapped a picture and put it below.



I do have a question for you - and I have to admit that I have NOT done my homework and read the TM. You mention releasing the air bags. My trailer is perfectly happy to pump up the air bags. Charge the air system, bags raise it to travel height, then after pressure is stable the brakes will release.

I have not found the magic switch or valve that lowers the air bags. Is there one - or did you create that ability for your situation?

.

 

[m715mike]

How is this getting out of the shop? I’ve heard that backing those trailers and be tricky.

 

[Tinstar]

Backing them up is a nightmare.......for me anyway.

Had one for a while. Almost brand new.
Very heavy trailer.
My former M925A2 did fine with it, just slower.

The 10” extension is a military upgrade to the length as the original length tended to have the trailer strike truck in tight turns.
Extension solved this issue.

Things are built like a tank and trailer weights accordingly.

 

[Mullaney]

Backing them up is a nightmare.......for me anyway.

Had one for a while. Almost brand new.
Very heavy trailer.
My former M925A2 did fine with it, just slower.

The 10” extension is a military upgrade to the length as the original length tended to have the trailer strike truck in tight turns.
Extension solved this issue.

Things are built like a tank and trailer weights accordingly.

Neat! Thanks for the info Tinstar! It definitely would be tight and close without that 10" extension. Seems that trailers don't get MWO tags like trucks? Or at least if they do, I haven't found any on mine yet. Or, maybe the extension is so obvious there was no need to tag it?

I have discovered that backing the trailer in straight line - with your hand at the bottom of the wheel - is the only way to "correct" quickly enough to reliably back it. You just push your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go and a TINY movement is all that is required.

.

 

[Kbarnes0]

I have one of those that I got with the intention of hauling local VFW Post guys in parades. Nice sides so nobody falls out. I got some really low deck chairs for them to sit on....

But Wow! What a neat way to give that trailer another purpose in life. Not sure I would want to highway haul it with a loaded container - but lightly loaded it shouldn't be half bad. Backing is still a bear for anything other than straight back but those Cam Locks are definitely neat

You mentioned an 18" tongue extension. Mine came with a 10" extension installed. It looks "factory" more because of the paint than anything. I didn't do a chemical test on it, but it has that sandpaper "carc feel" to it with no gloss at all. I snapped a picture and put it below.

View attachment 820583

I do have a question for you - and I have to admit that I have NOT done my homework and read the TM. You mention releasing the air bags. My trailer is perfectly happy to pump up the air bags. Charge the air system, bags raise it to travel height, then after pressure is stable the brakes will release.

I have not found the magic switch or valve that lowers the air bags. Is there one - or did you create that ability for your situation?

.

No magic switch for the bags. I removed the cotter pins for the self level valves behind the front bags and in the center of the rear on the trailer. One they are undone you can move the arm to dump the air.

Only lovers out about 4"

 

[Kbarnes0]

How is this getting out of the shop? I’ve heard that backing those trailers and be tricky.

View attachment 820585

We will be hooking directly to the rear and pulling it out. It was hard enough to get it in there.

Then steer the tounge by hand.

 

[Mullaney]

No magic switch for the bags. I removed the cotter pins for the self level valves behind the front bags and in the center of the rear on the trailer. One they are undone you can move the arm to dump the air.

Only lovers out about 4"

Thanks. That might be useful to know one day...

.

 

[charlesmann]

@Mullaney Couldn't you just tie in to the airline with 2 valves and a Tee? All between the leveling valve and the bag supply line, with 1 staying put under the trailer, a shielded cable or a push/pull rod, that closes off air directly out of the level valve. The sec, same set up, cable or rod, or route airline to the valve and mount it externally, that once open, it dumps the bag?

I see it in my head, but iv never been good at taking what is in my head and putting it to words.

 

[Mullaney]

@Mullaney Couldn't you just tie in to the airline with 2 valves and a Tee? All between the leveling valve and the bag supply line, with 1 staying put under the trailer, a shielded cable or a push/pull rod, that closes off air directly out of the level valve. The sec, same set up, cable or rod, or route airline to the valve and mount it externally, that once open, it dumps the bag?

I see it in my head, but iv never been good at taking what is in my head and putting it to words.

I don't know for sure charlesmann but it sure sounds like a good idea... Having loaded flatbed rollbacks (wreckers) from the side and setting something heavy on it and the airbag suddenly lifts the truck back to its original height. Scares the "stuffins" out of you when that unexpected "lift" happens!

Being able to drain the airbags for loading and unloading would be a big plus in my mind!

 

[Gunzy]

If you have a truck (P/U or such) that has a receiver on the front I would think it would be easier to maneuver those trailers by pushing and having direct sight and steering right at hitch point. Never tried but I think the logic stands.

 

[charlesmann]

If you have a truck (P/U or such) that has a receiver on the front I would think it would be easier to maneuver those trailers by pushing and having direct sight and steering right at hitch point. Never tried but I think the logic stands.

We did that with my previous employer to maneuver our chinook around airports if we could ground taxi. We had a 2" receiver bolted in place of 1 of the recovery eye rings on the ram 4500, and had a pintel hitch that we would install and hook our tow bar up to. It took some practice, getting to using a to the offset of the hitch, compared to center line, but it works great. I did the same on my tractor, to push my trailers, instead of pulling, then backing them in. I find it much easier to push, than to back, and can cut the trailers tighter by pushing, than pulling.

 

[Mullaney]

If you have a truck (P/U or such) that has a receiver on the front I would think it would be easier to maneuver those trailers by pushing and having direct sight and steering right at hitch point. Never tried but I think the logic stands.

Company that I worked for long ago... The guy who owned it couldn't back a trailer if his life depended on it. He had a Dodge Weapons Carrier on his boat lot (another company he owned) to pull big sailboats out on trailers. It worked great pulling them out. No so much if he had to go backward...

The Dodge was in the shop for an oil change, so we added a receiver to the front of the truck. With that new hardward, he could see what he was doing - and that greatly improved his "trailering" skills

 

[Mainsail]

Like Gunzy says, push with a front receiver hitch- makes it super easy.

When I worked jet engine test cell we had to put the monster TF39 engine (C-5 engine) into the test cell, lined up perfectly to get the lifting eyes under the winches, and we used the Ford F-350 bobtail with the pintle on the front. The engine trailers were a lot like yours. Easy enough for 19 year old airmen that had never moved a trailer before.

 

[Kbarnes0]

@Mullaney Couldn't you just tie in to the airline with 2 valves and a Tee? All between the leveling valve and the bag supply line, with 1 staying put under the trailer, a shielded cable or a push/pull rod, that closes off air directly out of the level valve. The sec, same set up, cable or rod, or route airline to the valve and mount it externally, that once open, it dumps the bag?

I see it in my head, but iv never been good at taking what is in my head and putting it to words.

Not a bad idea. They are accessible enough I don't think you would need a rod or cable.

I think a 2 way ball valve would be a good solution. Once opened, it would dump the bag and block the incoming air to keep everything else aired up.

 

[Kbarnes0]

Maneuvering from the front is ideal. We are just going to do a pin for the pintle on the front of the truck.

Also thought about an air actuator to lock the pin on the steering of the trailer. Just flip it on and let it lock when we know we will be backing up.

Currently, it takes a bit to jokey it around and lock it in.

 

[o.oj]

Super cool! I've been trying to research a similar build. how is it working out for you? I have an M1078 and I would like to pull this across the US once for a big move I'm doing, but I'm worried its just too much weight for an M1078. How has your experience been?