Can a M915A1 pull a M920? - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

Boosted_Nelson_Inc. · 03-23-2011, 23:33

This is a Just-In-Case scenario. My brother and I are looking at buying a M920 sometime soon on GL. We rather not have to pay someone to haul a 920 home if it can be avoided. So we had been thinking of taking the M915A1 to go on the recovery and hopefully get the 920 running and just towbar the 915 back home. But, if the M920 breaks down on the way back or just won't move under its own power, we would still have the 915 to move it if we had to. I towbar trucks on a regular basis for work, but it's almost always the bigger/heavier truck pulling the smaller truck, or equal sized trucks pulling each other.

This isn't a normal towing situation for me, so I figured I would ask the experts for some opinions.

I still need to see if anybody I know would just let me borrow a semi trailer for a couple days instead to eliminate all the hassle.

Thanks

Floridianson · 03-23-2011, 23:39

Power wise I say yes. Weight wise better make real shure the brakes are working/ connected on the 920. The 920 will spin that 915 in a heart beat. I would run the slack adjusters up on the 920 and the rear on the 915 and back of 1/4 more on the front than the rear on the 915. I would be real careful if it rains or wet roads conditions. Don't hit the brakes in a turn/curve. Just go slower and let off sooner.

gunboy1656 · 03-23-2011, 23:42

If you have the 915, why not just get a trailer and haul it home that way. Save you on worrying about it breaking down.

Bighurt · 03-23-2011, 23:45

Provided the breaks work on the M920, I wouldn't hesitate to do it. The truck is rated for it.

James has used his Tru-hitch with one I believe...

Keep in mind you can't just flat tow an M920, you need to disconnect the drive shafts.

duffman1993 · 03-23-2011, 23:50

Ummmm, can't you just put the transfer case in neutral??? (rookie question)

jollyroger · 03-23-2011, 23:51

OK. This is strictly anticdotal but I have it on good authority that the 915 can be turned around by just about anything in a towbar, flat tow situation. And that would include 915 towing a 915 or a deuce. Maybe not a CUCV, but you get the point.

So the bigger heavier longer 920 I would absolutely not recomend a tow bar flat tow situation.......However.

What you could do if you cant find a trailer is to build a weight box for the back of the 915. That's what the big load haulers do when they need a push truck to get them up and use them in front on the way down. i don't know how much weight it would take to be successful. But I am sure you could find out using Google. Maybe you could borrow a weight box from a trucking company.

Just a thought.

R Racing · 03-23-2011, 23:53

The problem with trailering a M920 is that there over 13 feet tall and many of them bridges arn't much taller. If I remember right the M915 weighs in at around 19000 and the M920 is 31000 so as long as the brakes in the m920 are good it should keep you straight and the M915 has the ponys so there wouldn't be a problem there.

Floridianson · 03-23-2011, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by duffman1993

Ummmm, can't you just put the transfer case in neutral??? (rookie question)

The 920 has a drop box and no changing range or netrual.
If the 920 could be airlined then I still think you could make a trip after you disconnected the drive line like Bighurt said.

NDT · 03-23-2011, 23:59

Read about my experiences towing a M916 with a M915A1 in my thread: "Towing M916 with M915". The M920 is heavier by the extra axle and several feet of frame, otherwise they are the same truck.

m16ty · 03-24-2011, 00:02

The only way I would do it is to have somebody riding in the M920 to take control if something goes wrong. Having somebody back there presents it's own set of legal questions but this is the safest way to do it. The problem is if the M920 decides to turn or not straighten up comming out of a turn. It will jerk that M915 around like a rag doll.