Pershing Missile haulers

[cranetruck]

As you know by now, the primary role for the M656 series 8x8 trucks was that of servicing the Pershing missle system.
The XM757's were used for a good 15 years and then replaced with 10-ton tractors, M983 and/or MAN trucks.
The missile erector/launcher was equipped with a small crane to facilitate the assembly of the missile. The M983 came with a crane on the tractor.

Here is a concept XM757 that could have been assembled with existing parts. I know, I have all the parts needed.

I want to emphesize that I'm only toying with the idea, our MV's are so much like large scale erector set models.

I do have a question, though, what is the minimum space required from the center of the 5th wheel and the crane in this case? It is usually about 60 inches, but what would the concequences be if it was reduced to, say, 50 inches?

 

[cranetruck]

Here is a side view of the MAN M1014 8x8.

 

[Boatcarpenter]

That would be one heck of a cranetruck, cranetruck

 

[Elwenil]

Granted you would have a lot more cargo capacity, but would the crane boom be long enough to service even a 28' trailer? And would the fuel and maintenance costs of the larger 5 ton make swapping everything off the Deuce feasible? I like the idea, but I'm wondering if the added cargo space will be usable and worth all the added costs. Especially if you travel with it as you have with the Deuce. A breakdown on a cross country trip in the XM757 will be a lot harder to deal with at a truckstop than the Deuce was, lol!

As for the distance for the swing of the front of the trailer, I know there is a commercial standard, but it would really depend on the trailer and where the kingpin is located. I know some trailers are made a little different and have some clearance issues and I would think the military ones would be more sensitive to this with the off road capability and doesn't the 5 ton 5th wheel tilt? Just my .02

 

[gimpyrobb]

cranetrucks?