What can an M35a2 Tow

panzerjunky · Sep 25, 2009

Hello Gents
I am thinking of buying an M561 (gamagoat) it is aprox 7500 lb can the deuce tow this via a tow bar ( providing the Goat can be flat towed) or can the deuce handle it trailered?
Thanks Jerry

CARNAC · Sep 25, 2009

Jerry,

Can it do it, techically it is only suppose to go 6000 pounds towed load. Has it been done before? Absolutely. Folks tow one deuce with another all the time and that's more weight. .

Can't stress it enough to consult the TM's before doing it. It's more than just flopping on the towbar and going. Don't know the gamma goat tm but here;'s the others. Very good reading while on the toilet (LOL)

http://www.olive-drab.com/archive/od_tm9_4910_496_10_towbar.pdf
http://old.steelsoldiers.com/index.php?module=pagesetter&type=file&func=get&tid=1&fid=file&pid=15

cranetruck · Sep 25, 2009

Operating the deuce with a trailer and/or towing is poorly covered in the -10 TM IMHO, can't blame people for asking. Check the PS magazine section for more info.
I towed the xm757 from OK to VA .... slow going in the hills,but it did it.

doghead · Sep 25, 2009

I would recommend that you do not towbar a Gama Goat. I would trailer it.

The goats steering does not "self-center" or follow through. Also, there is no easy way to disconnect the driveline(you could pull the brakedrums).

Marlboro · Sep 25, 2009

I pulled my buddies m816 with the deuce... Slow and steady but it saved lotsa money, cause i don't charge a hook fee like the local wrecker co. would have.

Getting up and going won't be as bad as stopping, use common sence, and give the old girl a work out!

combat32 · Sep 25, 2009

I pulled a trailer house for my neighbor, sure is hard to make a corner with one, should have took some pics it was kind of funny looking.I don't think there is any question the deuce could tow it, the question is how it would act, might do fine, never flat towed one when I was in, seems we always had a wrecker around, ahh the good old days,and the fuel was free too!

maddawg308 · Sep 25, 2009

Heaviest I towed with a deuce was another deuce. Actually I used a non-winch truck to pull a winch truck, so the towed load was about 500-600 lbs. heavier than the towing truck.

As far as trailers, the heaviest I pulled was a 10K lb. laundry trailer with all the laundry equipment on it.

Both loads were heavy, and you felt the drag behind you. On hills, you slowed to 25 mph easy. I would not recommend more than that for a long drive, both of these tows were about 100 miles. The laundry trailer was really designed for a 5-ton truck....

M543A2 · Sep 25, 2009

We routinely tow a tri-axle home made trailer with farm tractors weighing up to 11,600 on it. The trailer weighs about 3,000 pounds. No problems with hills, etc. with fuel turned up and good sense driving it by watching boost pressures, stopping distance etc. I have never felt the brakes were inadequate.
Regards Marti

GoHot229 · Sep 25, 2009

doghead said:
I would recommend that you do not towbar a Gama Goat. I would trailer it.

The goats steering does not "self-center" or follow through. Also, there is no easy way to disconnect the driveline(you could pull the brakedrums).

What He said...Gama Goats have rear steering dont they? Seems it could get squirrely quickly.

Sundance · Sep 25, 2009

Even if you could figure out a way to control the steering the tire scrub would eat your tires up real bad. Would not try it with my goats.

Ferroequinologist · Sep 25, 2009

Its not an M35a2,

but it should still count. You want to know what one will tow? how about a 150ton locomotive with 6 90ton stone hoppers behind it? Our only locomotive died on the barge, and we had to get it unloaded. I happened to drive the deuce to work that day. So that makes 690 tons. or 1,380,000 pounds. :twisted:

Once it all started rolling we were good to go. I jumped out and took these pics with my phone right before we hooked up.

I should get an award or something... :driver:

PS we had a guy in the locomotive to control the brakes, it still had enough air on it. I know someone would ask that!

cattlerepairman · Sep 25, 2009

Despite the low friction coefficient between metal wheels and railroad tracks etc. etc. this was an impressive feat! Is there a gradient as well? One would think that it gently slopes down into the barge.

Ferroequinologist said:
Its not an M35a2,

but it should still count. You want to know what one will tow? how about a 150ton locomotive with 6 90ton stone hoppers behind it? Our only locomotive died on the barge, and we had to get it unloaded. I happened to drive the deuce to work that day. So that makes 690 tons. or 1,380,000 pounds. Once it all started rolling we were good to go. I jumped out and took these pics with my phone right before we hooked up.

I should get an award or something...

PS we had a guy in the locomotive to control the brakes, it still had enough air on it. I know someone would ask that!

rat4spd · Sep 25, 2009

That is just incredible. Kudos for getting it done.

Ferroequinologist · Sep 25, 2009

Cattle, I do believe it was a slight upgrade off the barge, it was fully loaded which puts it low in the water. I didn't even think about that...

GoHot229 · Sep 25, 2009

That works out to 10,298 pounds for every one of the Deuces 134 horse power....inconcievable..........

rat4spd · Sep 25, 2009

Horsepower really has not much to do with it. It's all torque through gear reduction. If you had enough time and gear reduction, you could move that with a briggs and stratton from your lawn mower.

Your supertankers run maybe 6500#/HP at a fairly good clip, which is about what that locomotive will pull.

frodobaggins · Sep 25, 2009

I'd listen to DH on the goat.

But as far as towing, here is 18k

Yes, the brakes on the trailer work. Stopped awesome.

nofearnohope · Sep 25, 2009

GoHot229 said:
That works out to 10,298 pounds for every one of the Deuces 134 horse power....inconcievable..........

You keep using this word. I do not think it means, what you think it means.

Ferroequinologist · Sep 25, 2009

Like Frodo, I have also towed a large trailer with a dolly behind the deuce. It is slower, but as long as the trailer/towed truck brakes work you will be ok. Just give yourself lots of stopping room and be careful.

USAFSS-ColdWarrior · Dec 23, 2009

What can an M35a2 Tow

New member

The Envelope Please.

Moderator

Attachments

4 Star General /Moderator

New member

Well-known member

Well-known member

New member

Member

New member

Resident railroad expert

Attachments

Well-known member

New member

Resident railroad expert

Member

Attachments

New member

Active member

Attachments

Active member

Resident railroad expert

Attachments

Chaplain