From: Patrick Jankowiak (recycler@swbell.net)
Date: Mon Jan 31 2005 - 21:01:11 PST
Wow. I wonder if a smaller, lighter military trailer can be
pulled behind ye olde large truck? Anyone done so? I will mostly
be alone to hitch/unhitch.
Patrick
Ron wrote:
> He doesn't.
>
> An element of risk here because these trailers were designed with the
> thoughts of lots of idle hands hanging around waiting to assist the
> driver. And it increases when you have a load in the trailer.
>
> 3 (driver + 2 lifters) men minimum with standard folding support.
> Especially the single swivel wheel(ed) support on the M105 series
> because that puppy is HEAVY and awkward to fight with, especially if
> unused/unlubed for a while. Shovels and or pry bars are sometimes
> necessary to release or lift from/to locked position.
>
> 3 men with a US type crank up jack/wheel because you may be too low
> to swing it down to lock it or it was left extended when folded into the
> travel position and the tongue needs to be lifted to drop the support as
> with the non adjustable leg.
>
> 2 men with the Canadian style side mounted pivot crank. (Can be done
> with one in a pinch, see below)
>
> 1 man for any trailer if you have time, chocks, working hand brakes
> on the trailer and a high lift jack to get it off and if you have a good
> sense of direction and 'spatial cognizance or can 'use the force' to
> back into an open pintle/raised lunette without knocking the trailer
> bass ackwards. A second high lift can be used on the back of the trailer
> more conveniently than the rear 'steady' leg (if equipped) to keep the
> trailer from being set back on it's tailgate.
>
> Under NO circumstances get any part of you above/or between the
> vehicle/lunette when disconnecting a loaded trailer, especially if you
> loaded it after you hitched up to the truck. There is no way to
> positively KNOW that it is balanced or tongue heavy and could snap
> violently up when the pintle is unlocked. There are several indicators
> to look for in how the pintle/lunette is force loaded, but until you've
> done it a few times, safe is better.
>
> The balance point on an unhitched trailer with out a rear stabilizer
> can change instantly and dramatically as you move around in it or
> 'relocate' the load while searching for something inside. As it tilts up
> and things start to slide back you don't want to be part of the stuff
> trying to get into the tailgate/ground interface cushion zone.
>
> Ronzo
> Trailer tipper overer, extraordinaire
>
> BTW... You ain't hitched 'til the cotter pin safety is in the pintle
> and the chains are hooked. In the case of the 1.5 tonners, air lines
> hooked up also. Sloppy means OSOFON......
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrick Jankowiak"
> <recycler@swbell.net>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: 30 January, 2005 21:27
> Subject: Re: [MV] M-101 trailer crank jack
>
>
>> These pics bring a questuion;
>>
>> When hitching and unhitching, I suppose the landing gear is put down.
>> On the non-adjustable kind, how can one be certain the trailer toungue
>> etc can be easily engaged/disengaged from the pintle? Considering the
>> weight of the trailer, and possible toungue load, how does one man
>> handle this job safely?
>>
>> This is concerning the M105 or M103 trailer in my case.
>>
>> thanks,
>>
>> Patrick
>
>
>
>
--Best regards,
Patrick
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