Towing M105 behind Jeep Wrangler

[Texas Manny]

Hello Sir,

My name is Manny and I am coming to you as a friend, not to bust your chops, but I have to say, that regardless of your tire size, engine size, etc., your Jeep is NOT up to handling that M105A2. You have forgotten that with the addition of the oversized tires, that the stock brakes on your rig is already stressed to the max. Putting a load behind it, shoving you when trying to stop is going to overstress the brake system tremendously.

I have a 1983 K10 with 12" suspension lift running 39.5's and I just purchased my first military trailer. It's a M101A2. I intend on upgrading the brakes on that trailer, adding better tires, and utilizing fully the surge brake that came with the trailer.That will work in conjunction with my upgraded hydro boost brakes, disc, front and rear. Now I have a professionally built 383 stroker pulling 550/550 @ 4400 RPM in my truck but still, I would not attempt to handle a M105A2 with it. They are meant for trucks like Humvee's or full size 3500 series trucks. That might even be a stretch.

I feel it is quite unfair for you to ask folks here how to modify your trailer when you intend to use it outside the reasonable, respectable limitations of it. That being said, I think you should really reconsider your towing options. You are endangering not only yourself and your passengers, but everyone you will be driving around. You will also give ammunition to those who wish to destroy those individuals who responsibly build safe lil monster trucks and those in the MV hobby. You don't need to give much excuse to anyone to start a ruckus these days.

Please heed the advice given here. DO NOT ATTEMPT to alter your M105 as it will NOT BE SAFE to tow behind your Jeep. I served in the Army and have moved those around, both by hand and by Humvee. There is more to towing an M105 than one would think.

Respectfully,

Manny

 

[Michael]

I have followed a lot of threads asking this question over the years and have yet to see one where anyone has actually towed a stock M105( or any of the other air brake mil trailers) and had working trailer brakes towing with anything that doesn't have air brakes. I have seen a lot of talk about fabbing up something and some talk of a commercial product that cost more than the trailer but no actual experience. My conclusion is that it is cost prohibitive to do it right. Just my opinion from someone who has been watching for a long time.

 

[jrou111]

Why don't you just go with an M101? It already has 8 lug axles and 16.5" rims, so you could run 37" HMMV tires on it. It's much lighter and easier to manuver over obstacles, and won't sink as easily in the mud.

 

[wehring]

OK...

Am I the only one that thinks this is OK? I have taken on eof my 105s beach camping several times with my diesel land cruiser. Ankle deep powder sand is no problem for the torqy diesel. It just chuggs along. Stopping if fine even on rocky roads.

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112

 

[rmgill]

I would strongly recommend that you pay heed to the folks here and re-vise your plans. The M105 MAY look sizably matched to the modified jeep, but the jeep still doesn't have the weight to resist the loaded M105's pushing it around. A modified M100 or M101 would work better for your purposes by far I think.

If you do proceed with the M105, don't load it to capacity. It's able to hold 1.5 tons of cargo. that plus the weight of the trailer, if the brakes aren't up to it, will push your jeep around like a rag doll.

 

[Sephirothq]

what tires and wheels do you have on that 105?


the bottom line is you have to look at weight. The 105 frame is much stronger (heavier) than what a Jeep can pull let alone stop. If you already have the 105 I can see why you wouold want to use it. A 101 would be much lighter and more jeep friendly then a 105. You can get a 101 with a surge brake so it would be easy to handle.

If you really, really want to use a 105 here are a few things to do to it
* DON'T RUN IT AT MAX CAPACITY!!!
1. Get smaller tires, wheels Maybe run a 7.50 X 20 instead of the 9.00 X 20, Or get some bolster trailer tires and wheels
2. Take off the front landing gear, there is a fair amount of tongue weight there and it is probably overkill for what you are going to be hauling.
3. Flip the lunette.
4. Look into a different axle. Electric brakes would be your friend.
5. Proper loading is your friend, you want to be just a bit tongue heavy, not too much to lose your steering and not too tongue light that it lifts the back of the jeep.


Just thinking outloud here. The voices get cramped in my head. Don't blame me if it doesn't work.


To run an airpack setup you would have to cut into your stock brake system and pull a feed line off of it like they did on the old trailer brake setup, not ABS friendly. Run that line to the air pack and use the port that goes to the air lines on a duece.

But don't blame me if it doesn't work . It is just an idea.

 

[wehring]

wheels

They are some 16.5s that I had made with hummer tires. They are for sale if you are interested.

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112

 

[Scarecrow1]

Dude this is not to say it can't be done, but it really is too much trailer for a jeep or any lite truck . Just the empty weight is at the max of what you can safly tow be careful ......

 

[Sephirothq]

Are those the bolster trailer wheels?

 

[hoodiegadoo]

Am I the only one that thinks this is OK? I have taken on eof my 105s beach camping several times with my diesel land cruiser. Ankle deep powder sand is no problem for the torqy diesel. It just chuggs along. Stopping if fine even on rocky roads.

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112

apparently just you and me... If a bone stock jeep is rated at 2k worth of towing and the trailer weighs 2400 empty, I'm sure I will be fine with running gear out of a 3500 truck...The tires I don't want any smaller because they are already smaller then the 42's i have on the jeep. and for whoever said it stock 1 ton brakes have worked fine so far without having trailer brakes that work. Now when I towed this trailer with my younger brother's jeep that has the stock axles and stuff it was definitely pushing the limits of the jeep but local and close to empty it wasn't bad. I just thought it would be nice to get the trailer brakes working if do-able. But it sounds like it would be more cost effective and easier to just throw an electric brake axle under the trailer if I decide I want brakes back there. I'm sure the brakes would come in handy on the more technical trails...

 

[doghead]

In my state, any trailer that weighs over 1000 lbs, needs brakes.

What is the legal requirements in Florida?

 

[Angus1]

I dont care what you do,as long as it doesnt effect me. But a bone stock jeep is rated at 2000 lbs. those are on leaf springs, you want to do it with an extra 2000 lbs of unsprung weight(rears and tires) Then pull 2600 lbs on coil overs. Good Luck. O yeah dont u guys have fender laws in Florida?

 

[hoodiegadoo]

In my state, any trailer that weighs over 1000 lbs, needs brakes.

What is the legal requirements in Florida?

Another usefull post, thats something I need to look into. Thanks.

 

[jrou111]

Please do it and take a picture to prove all of us that we are wrong! I want to see what 500lbs of tongue weight will do to a 4 link. BTW, when you did the comp cut, did you brace your frame for the additional leverage that +2500lbs would add? Have you accounted for dynamic loads like if the trailer slid off of a trail and the weakest link (your frame) twists?

I'm not saying it can't be done, just that it's just not well thought out. Sure, you've got enough axle, brake, and gearing, but you've reduced your suspension's towing capacity, and are still lacking in the frame department.

 

[hoodiegadoo]

I dont care what you do,as long as it doesnt effect me. But a bone stock jeep is rated at 2000 lbs. those are on leaf springs, you want to do it with an extra 2000 lbs of unsprung weight(rears and tires) Then pull 2600 lbs on coil overs. Good Luck. O yeah dont u guys have fender laws in Florida?

wranglers have been manufactured with coils for over a decade now and my fenders were sitting in the shop while those pictures were taken. However, they still look similar and are legal in florida. While I really appreciate your concern about my fenders that also has nothing to do with my thread thanks.

 

[jbingvtx]

Hoodie I would like to apologize, Only you know the capabilities of your Jeep. I initially thought that you were talking about a stock Wrangler and I only wished to warn you about the weight of such a trailer. My post did not address your question, others more knowledgable have answered it.

 

[vtdeucedriver]

Hey guys guess what.................

 

[uscgmatt]

Is the jeep street legal? Or are you just talking offroad only?

 

[hoodiegadoo]

Hoodie I would like to apologize, Only you know the capabilities of your Jeep. I initially thought that you were talking about a stock Wrangler and I only wished to warn you about the weight of such a trailer. My post did not address your question, others more knowledgable have answered it.

Not neccessary...Its all good. just a little disappointing that most of the other folks on here seem really good at assuming things and not so good at passing along knowledge. cheers to you for having a legit concern and offering a resonable solution based on that concern. wasting 4 pages because of people assuming they know more about the details of my heavily modified jeep then i do is what gets frustrating while still trying to find an answer to a simple question. Just glad weeding through all the **** measuring I did get enough information to answer my question.

 

[hoodiegadoo]

yea its street legal, not my grocery getter, but its legal...well i don't have a tag light for those that are going to ask...