Trailer Towing Question: USAF H-1 Heater Trailer

Wire Fox · Apr 19, 2019

Hey all,

I was looking at a buying a ground support heater from a relatively local seller for what seems like a fair price ($200 with some spare parts, including a spare Yanmar diesel). It's a very small trailer, 734 lbs, clearly intended to be able to be pulled by small utility vehicles. I've seen some similar units with a very clear 20 MPH top-speed warning, but those units also had a remarkably short tongue that was designed to also function as the jack stand. With this one, I'm curious if anybody is aware of a maximum top speed and any concerns you might have with towing such a thing. I'd just get a trailer and load it on that for safety's sake, but I don't have anything available that's both wide enough and is able to connect to a pintle hitch, which is my only option at the moment. It's more of a question of: can I tow this thing off-highway, or should I just walk from the deal due to being unable to transport? This is potentially getting hauled behind an M998A1 HMMWV.

Heater, Engine & Shelter, Ground Type H-1
Class IV Diesel Engine, Driven, 400,000 BTU/HR
NSN: 4520-01-056-4269
Mfgr: Davey Compressor Company

(Data pulled from NSN-NOW)

Code:

[TABLE="width: 1"]
[TR="class: dgItemStyle"]
[TD]MOUNTING TYPE[/TD]
[TD]TRAILER[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgAlternateItemStyle, bgcolor: #B3D5EF"]
[TD]HEAT MEDIUM TYPE[/TD]
[TD]AIR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgItemStyle"]
[TD]CIRCULATED AIR TYPE[/TD]
[TD]HEATED[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgAlternateItemStyle, bgcolor: #B3D5EF"]
[TD]WIDTH[/TD]
[TD]55.000 INCHES NOMINAL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgItemStyle"]
[TD]CURRENT TYPE[/TD]
[TD]DC[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgAlternateItemStyle, bgcolor: #B3D5EF"]
[TD]DEPTH[/TD]
[TD]70.000 INCHES NOMINAL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgItemStyle"]
[TD]PRIME MOVER TYPE[/TD]
[TD]DIESEL ENGINE[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgAlternateItemStyle, bgcolor: #B3D5EF"]
[TD]CURRENT RATING IN AMPS[/TD]
[TD]35.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgItemStyle"]
[TD]HEATING ELEMENT TYPE[/TD]
[TD]BURNER[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgAlternateItemStyle, bgcolor: #B3D5EF"]
[TD]IGNITION METHOD[/TD]
[TD]ELECTRODE[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgItemStyle"]
[TD]HEAT DELIVERY RATE[/TD]
[TD]400000.0 BRITISH THERMAL UNIT[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgAlternateItemStyle, bgcolor: #B3D5EF"]
[TD]INTEGRAL FUEL TANK CAPACITY[/TD]
[TD]24.5 GALLONS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgItemStyle"]
[TD]VOLTAGE IN VOLTS[/TD]
[TD]24.0[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgAlternateItemStyle, bgcolor: #B3D5EF"]
[TD]FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION[/TD]
[TD]DESIGNED FOR PREHEATING AIRCRAFT ENGINES,COCKPITS AND CABINS WHERE THE AFCT OPERATE IN ARCTIC REGIONS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgItemStyle"]
[TD]FUEL TYPE[/TD]
[TD]JP-4 JET FUEL AND JP-5 JET FUEL AND DF-A ARCTIC DIESEL FUEL OIL AND DF-1 WINTER DIESEL FUEL OIL AND DF-2 REGULAR DIESEL FUEL OIL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgAlternateItemStyle, bgcolor: #B3D5EF"]
[TD]HEIGHT[/TD]
[TD]42.000 INCHES NOMINAL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgItemStyle"]
[TD]REFERENCE DATA AND LITERATURE[/TD]
[TD]AF TO. 35E7-2-11-1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgAlternateItemStyle, bgcolor: #B3D5EF"]
[TD]SPECIFICATION/STANDARD DATA[/TD]
[TD]81349-MIL-4607 GOVERNMENT SPECIFICATION[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgItemStyle"]
[TD]NONDEFINITIVE SPEC/STD DATA[/TD]
[TD]4 CLASS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: dgAlternateItemStyle, bgcolor: #B3D5EF"]
[TD]UNPACKAGED UNIT WEIGHT[/TD]
[TD]734.00 POUNDS[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

porkysplace · Apr 19, 2019

Why not just rent a trailer to haul it ?
It shouldn't be a problem pulling it on the trailer with a cum-a-long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtWpoSdRBDg

uscgmatt · Apr 19, 2019

That trailer is designed for flight line use, not highway. I put mine in the bed of my truck with basic ramps and a come along.
Those heaters make some heat too.

gimpyrobb · Apr 19, 2019

Come get one of my m116 trailers if you need to. Thats a great price.

Wire Fox · Apr 19, 2019

porkysplace said:
Why not just rent a trailer to haul it ?
It shouldn't be a problem pulling it on the trailer with a cum-a-long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtWpoSdRBDg

That's actually what I'd want to do, but I can't find anything with a lunette ring to work with my pintle hitch. Thus, I'm a bit stuck without renting/borrowing an entirely separate truck to haul.

gimpyrobb said:
Come get one of my m116 trailers if you need to. Thats a great price.

Thanks for the offer. I'd absolutely jump at that if you were closer, but by the time I drove this slow monster down to Cincinnati, out to Bedford, up to Indianapolis, back to Cincinnati, and once more back to Indianapolis, I would have fallen asleep at the wheel 3 times and bought enough gas that I could've bought a beater truck for the same money.

TOBASH · Apr 19, 2019

I mounted a pintle to a standard 2" hitch. Bought the parts on "the great auction site"

Wire Fox · Apr 19, 2019

TOBASH said:
I mounted a pintle to a standard 2" hitch. Bought the parts on "the great auction site"

That would be the easy way, but it's unfortunately the other way around for my case. It seems like a pretty sure conclusion (seller got back to me and agreed with all of you) that this isn't towable on a roadway. So the issue is that my only towing vehicle is a HMMWV with its pintle hitch, but all the trailers for rent in my area are only ball hitch. (And sadly confirmed, it's just a bit too wide to fit in the cargo bed of the HMMWV.) I'll be focusing on renting or borrowing a truck with a suitable flatbed or a trailer to haul this. I have one person in mind, so we'll see if I can get this home and get it back into running shape. [thumbzup]

Jericho · Apr 19, 2019

Twenty MPH MAX Usually pulled by AGE Rangers (AeroSpace Ground Equipment Guys) . They used farm tractors, Bobbed jeep tugs and wharehouse tugs, When specialist wanted to move something , we used pick ups, panel vans and launch trucks Speed limit seldom exceded 30 on the flight line or ramps, Usual tow speed for age was 15 mph Jeep tugs had three pintle hooks across the back bumper. some equipment was towed line abreast some line astern, 4 jet engines on 3000 trailers line astern was the limit on J 85s two in line astern was the limit on larger engines, some are 40 foot long.

TOBASH · Apr 21, 2019

Wire Fox said:
That would be the easy way, but it's unfortunately the other way around for my case. It seems like a pretty sure conclusion (seller got back to me and agreed with all of you) that this isn't towable on a roadway. So the issue is that my only towing vehicle is a HMMWV with its pintle hitch, but all the trailers for rent in my area are only ball hitch. (And sadly confirmed, it's just a bit too wide to fit in the cargo bed of the HMMWV.) I'll be focusing on renting or borrowing a truck with a suitable flatbed or a trailer to haul this. I have one person in mind, so we'll see if I can get this home and get it back into running shape.

Spamazon and fleabay have combo hitch and pintle for sale at reasonable prices and swift delivery. I bought that for my HMMWV, and others here [HMMWV Forum] have posted pics.

[I used search terms "receiver hitch and pintle"]

Just an idea.

Best,

T

Tinstar · Apr 22, 2019

These work well also.

Wire Fox · Apr 24, 2019

After tons of measuring and evaluating options, it's been concluded that the HMMWV just isn't the hauler for the job with the support equipment that I have available. A friend of mine has a freshly overhauled S-10 blazer (same year as my HMMWV) and he agreed to let me borrow it (of course, he's along for the ride, too) and I'm renting a trailer from the local u-haul that has the right deck dimensions, weight capacity, and all falls into the combined GVWR of the Blazer. My investment into it is a whopping $25 for the trailer for a day and I bought about $25 worth of new hitch hardware that I'm gifting to my friend as a thank-you for the truck. All my tie-downs are well beyond the WLL needed for trailer, and we've already testing his trailer electrical harness to ensure everything's working properly. Safety prevails over foolhardiness!

I'll shoot over some photos when we go to make the recovery tomorrow evening so you all can see what garbage heap it is that I bring home and hopefully I can get it back to full operation in a couple weeks' time.

Tinstar · Apr 24, 2019

Good Call

Weller · Apr 24, 2019

Sounds like you're ready to go. It's good therapy to read this post as I've had many experiences where I've won an auction at the opening minimum bid and then spent hours (or days) trying to figure out the recovery logistics. $25 investment is a good day imo.

Wire Fox · Apr 26, 2019

Machine recovered A-OK. It's a bit different than the machines I could find manuals for, but doesn't look too different to be and to figure out how it all works, especially since the fuel diagram and wiring diagram are both right on the housing. As I expected, fuel smells and looks bad, so I'll be purging and cleaning the tank, replacing the filters, and changing the engine oil before I try to give it the first crank.

I'll try and get photos on Saturday morning, but one thing I had to laugh about: painted right on the back (outside of the photos I had available): "MAX SPEED: 50 MPH". Tires looked great, too! Still, Murphy would have made it's way in if I didn't rent the trailer.

I wonder at this point if I need to continue this thread over in Aux equipment, since it's more about the heater and blower than it is about the stability of the trailer from here on out...

Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Tinstar · Apr 26, 2019

Glad to hear recovery went well.
I agree that Murphy would have shown up if you towed it.
Always seems to work out that way.

Just start a new thread in Aux Equipment for the bringing it back to life updates and info.

Trailer Towing Question: USAF H-1 Heater Trailer

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