Should I tow M109 with M35A3? - Page 2 - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

Recovry4x4 · 07-29-2009, 17:40

I towed BKubu's M109 a few hundred miles to the GA rally last year. It had those sticky 'stones on it for tires and refused to cooperate even on the slightest turns. I ended up tying off the steering wheel. Had no further problems. They are heavy but caution and prudence can compensate.

lavarok · 07-29-2009, 17:59

Also, make sure you air the front tires on the 109 up high....more air will help it steer behind you better. Watch your speed and cornering as the 109 WILL push the A3 around.

stampy · 07-29-2009, 22:15

We had tried fix everything at the GL site and they were not real happy with us ( well one of the two guys) We got her running but no brakes( or very little makes for a scary ride) after 2-3 hrs of tinkering we figured if we had just towed it the whole way we would have been home early enough to fix things properly. I also want to publicly thank Stump for going on the recovery with me and Neil Hendrix for all he did to assist me this week including loaning me his towbar. You sir are a true gentleman and credit to our hobby! If you tow it with the m35 I would increase following distance to around 100 feet, and yes bring a rope to tie off the steering wheel we had to.

Nonotagain · 07-29-2009, 22:42

The rope is a good thing, but in the towing business we usually used the seat belt to tie off a steering wheel. Since the Deuce has a chain to prevent theft, also chain the steering wheel.

You should be able to purchase a set of air lines and glad hands to tie both trucks together so that you have brakes on the M109. Even if the brakes on the 109 are not the greatest, some brakes are better than none at all.

Also, either pull a couple of axles or the drive shafts on the 109. As stated earlier, air all tires up to the maximum pressure to reduce tire scrub and make the 109 tow as light as possible.

gimpyrobb · 07-29-2009, 22:50

Rather than waste time pulling the drive shafts(no offense intended) Just pull the axles and drive splines. Nothing to turn other than the bearings.

Recovry4x4 · 07-30-2009, 00:39

100 threads (minimum)

Mark3395 · 07-30-2009, 08:13

thanks for the comments.

I've had good success tying steering wheels on previous tows, and will take Interstates the entire route... both to allow others to bypass me and to avoid sharp turns as much as possible. Hadn't thought of extending the towbar but can do that. Kind of hard on the front tires but I have spares.

The A3 is about 250 miles from the 109, at the home of a friend. He will be testing the concept on one of his M35s.

I do want to link the brakes, and have read the thread on doing so. Would it not be possible to link the gladhands on both vehicles instead of making a fitting and tying to the hydrovac?

54reo · 07-30-2009, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark3395

I do want to link the brakes, and have read the thread on doing so. Would it not be possible to link the gladhands on both vehicles instead of making a fitting and tying to the hydrovac?

No, there is a check valve in the towed trucks system that prevents this from working through the gladhands.

To make this work, you will need to come in at the airpack "J" pipe.

54reo · 07-30-2009, 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark3395

Hadn't thought of extending the towbar but can do that. Kind of hard on the front tires but I have spares.

???

Mark3395 · 07-31-2009, 12:42

There I go again, changing topics without warning. Drives the wife nuts.

The tire comment wasn't related to the towbar length, but commentary on scrubbing of the front tires when turning with the steering wheel tied. Sorry.