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M870 M870A1 Trailers

Castle Bravo

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Great question! I look forward to knowing the answer.
I hope someone here knows.

I don't have a M920, but as far as I know, the only differences are the 3' additional length, the tag axle, and all associated with that. Given that the TM says to raise the M920 tag axle on turns and off-road, it seems like the 920 tag axle would be more to keep it legal with a heavier load than actual hauling capability differences between the two trucks.
 

Castle Bravo

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Rather than make a new thread, I figure I'd add on to this one -

In the M870 trailer TM, under 2-8. PREPARATION FOR USE, it states that "An adaptation kit must be installed on the M916 towing vehicle before it can be used with the semitrailer. Failure to do so will result In damage to the equipment."

Furthermore, under 1-12. EQUIPMENT CHARACTERISTICS, CAPABILITIES, AND FEATURES, it states "The M870 and M870A1 semitrailers are used to transport construction equipment and materiel and are towed by an M920 truck tractor. Either semitrailer can also be towed by an M916 truck tractor using the adaptation kit listed in TM 9-2320-270-34P."

That 270-34P TM is the -34 for the M911 C-HET and none of my searches can bring anything up. Thinking that maybe its a typo and the M915 series trucks are the 2320-273 vs the 2320-270 TMs, I looked in all the 915 TMs and was unable to find anything.

In the M870 TM, it does list an "adaption kit," (fig. 33) which I've attached a pic of. It lists part #10 as a "cable support frame," #1 as an "approach plate center extension," and #6 is a "hang up plate."

The codes in the kit part numbers reference only using it with the M870 and M870 Marine version, but not the M870A1.

Does anybody have any idea what this thing is? Heres my guess - The angle that the winch line comes out could be different in terms of how it passes over the fifth wheel on a M916 vs a M920. Maybe this thing is to keep the winch cable off of the 5th wheel on a M916?
Still tryin to find this information out... Anybody? Why does no one know the answers to the hard questions? :p
 

62ECHO

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I have personally used both the m920 and m916 both, the old international bodies and the newer freightliner version's. I beleive this kit to be an error. Both of these trucks use a 4 inch king pin. A M915 uses a smaller throat fifth wheel. maybe that helps.
 

Castle Bravo

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So, some 3 years later, I came across a post today that might have shed some light on this "M916 adaption kit" for the M870 trailers.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?29936-10-Ton-M123-and-M15A1-Trailer

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showth...-M15A1-Trailer&p=319392&viewfull=1#post319392

The "cable support frame" and "approach plate center extension" seem to be on the M123 pictured here.

To me, the bracket behind the winch and the plate over the pintle hitch on the M123 look just like what is pictured in the M870 TM... The 870 TM does not mention the M123, but I think they could work together with this kit. This doesn't explain the mention of it being an "M916 adaption kit," but it does at least show some photos of it, I think.
 

Attachments

zebedee

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How does the winch configure to lift it up?
The trailer has a full width, collapsible gooseneck - not a removable gooseneck (RGN). On the front of the gooseneck, there is a clevis/pin.
To hook up the trailer, tractors winch cable is attached to the clevis.
Tractor then winches up the gooseneck with it's parking brake OFF and it gets pulled under the raising trailer.
Once the trailer is captured by the fifthwheel, the trailer neck is locked.
Trailer can be dropped to the ground with the gooseneck locked if it is empty or unlocked, then collapsing, if loaded/to be loaded.

There is a clevis under the pintle hitch on the tractor which is handy for stowing the winch cable when bob tailing 'in between' the trailer loading.

NB. I think the Marine M870's had rear ramps so collapsing and front loading the trailer wasn't necessary.


HOWEVER - for your truck (HET), with three drive axles, I do not know if the M870 has enough distance to the king pin. I guess you could center the fifthwheel over the rear tandems........
 

73m819

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Also the 870 needs a center line winch and a rolling tail board, the HETs two off side winches will not work with a 870 nor will the standard tractor rear frame.
 

tatra813

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Also the 870 needs a center line winch and a rolling tail board, the HETs two off side winches will not work with a 870 nor will the standard tractor rear frame.
What is the rear frame of the tractor issue with the 870?

Are there any street legal trailers, that the m1070 was designed to pull?
 

73m819

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What is the rear frame of the tractor issue with the 870?

Are there any street legal trailers, that the m1070 was designed to pull?
The winch cable needs a roller to go over when it pulls the 870 up over the rear, the sharp edge of the stock rear WILL cut the cable and the king pin will get hung up as well.
 

simp5782

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I will bump this with some other pertinent information.

The M870 uses a neway walking beam suspension model # TR8540. These parts for it are found in the TM manual. This suspension includes the equalizer beams, axle locks and clamps, bushings, springs.

The M870a1 is equipped with a Hutchins 11455 walking beam. The equalizers are rated at 75,000lbs. Trunion bushings are the same between the Neway and the Hutchins but the equalizer beams, axle clamps and trunion clamps for the Hutchins are larger than than neway. They will not interchange.

Hutchins parts catalog is found here

 
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