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So the proper towbar of these vehicles has both legs adjustable and a dual pin size clevis. I thought this was called intermediate towbar. And one human could pick it up and install with out a defibrillator. LOL And not to be confused with medium towbar that one leg adjusts and gives two people a work out to install.
Is this information correct?
what you are calling the medium is what is usually called the "towbar-from-hell". It's a heavy towbar for tanks. The medium towbar has 2 adjustable legs. There is a light towbar (made of unobtainium) that is like the medium but has smaller diameter legs and is easier to maneuver. It uses the same towbar feet as the medium towbar.
Well Im trying to figure out if I own two of the unobtaium ones.
Im almost positive the bars I have are period correct to M37 M715. We called them intermediate towbar, why I don't know but we did. Got dimensions or pictures on the unobtainium ones.
Post up pictures of yours. What size are the leg pins? The intermediate has 1 inch pins throughout.
My towbars aren't nearby but I think the diameter of the medium towbar leg is about 3.5" and the light towbar leg is about 2.5". The pins for the light towbar are smaller than 1". Maybe 1/2". I had to have pins cut down to fit.
I found on craigslist a gigantic old U-haul towbar, which I have been using. I've often considered making something that goes on the shackle mounts, but this one works well enough.
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...pseiqylndf.jpg
Sorry it took me so long to post up here are the pictures of my bars.
http://rvtransporterhelp.com/post8178.html#p8178
http://rvtransporterhelp.com/downloa...=315&mode=view
Why does this place only allow 5 min editing?
Heres a smaller picture because I discovered the HOOGE picture didn't display well. But it took longer than 5 mins to discover and fix.
link to other pics
http://rvtransporterhelp.com/post8178.html#p8178
http://rvtransporterhelp.com/downloa...=323&mode=view
That is the light towbar. NSN 4910-735-6056. They are much harder to find than the medium towbar. It's rated at 14,000#
A medium tow bar has NSN 4910-01-365-9304. it's rated at 39,000#
I found a manual here.
https://books.google.com/books?id=Sg...-6056)&f=false
OK so this is the unobtainium model? We musta been weak ass back in the day cause what you all are calling the medium tow bar was the one I thought was to heavy to use. LOL
Now so I get this right,
Light towbar 2 1/4" outer tubes and both legs adjustable with 1/2 pins but swing pin and feet pins are 1"
Medium Towbar has 3 1/2 inch outer tubes, both legs adjust and swing, feet and length pins are all 1"
Then the towbar from hell is the only model that only adjusts on one leg?
If thats true then maybe we were screwing the bar from hell for the duces cause I thought they only has one adjustable leg.
One more note.... Didn't the later light towbars come with collars at the front tubes? And they made a retro kit for older ones? Or was that the medium bar?
Your list seems to be correct.
Yes, some of the newer medium tow bars had collars on the end of the female tube.
There is also the aluminum IBEK medium to bar rated at 44,000 pounds. I can pick that one up complete all by myself.
Alright, Thanks for helping me remember and setting it straight.
I thought the bars I have were the rare ones. I had a difficult time finding my first one 25 years ago. I stumbled on a the 2nd one (pictured) some 15 years ago believing they were even harder to find then.
Anyone know why M715 is not to be flat towed with said bar?
And didn't IBEK's have failure issues?
I heard the IBEK's had failure issues. Who knew aluminum is not really as strong as steel? :rolleyes:
The collar on the medium tow bars was a modificiation made because they were getting bent towing the 5-ton and bigger trucks. Soldier A can break anything.
Many have flat-towed the M715 and I have as well with the medium tow-bar. I don't know why they specifically prohibit flat-towing the M715. probably something with brakes or steering geometry.
If you flat tow with it and the M715 craps out, then you can remind us why they recommend against it.
BTW, yours is only the 3rd light tow bar I have ever seen. Mediums are a dime a dozen. And you can't give the "towbar from hell" away for free.
Want me to show you my other one so you can say you have seen 4. :) That prolly wasn't very nice since they are that hard to find. I didn't mean it that way though.
So Im not looking to sell them but should I have them separately insured these days? I mean what would the market bare now?
Yes, the IBEK ones can break if not set up properly. They have a stowed position for the legs and a towing position. They also have an up and down. As Kwai wrote. "Soldier A can screw up anything." I have pulled my M715 and several M1009 trucks with the IBEK and no issues. It sure is nice to be able to do all the hooking and un hooking by myself and not hurt for a week.
I don't like to flat tow the M715. It just feels wrong pulling. Different front tires, different tire pressures and different pull vehicles seem to make no difference. It just doesn't feel like the thing wants to play that game.
However, pulling a M35 with another M35 or even the M715 just feels like a heavy load and everything is happy.
Brute4c had his front brakes catch on fire while flat towing his M715 several years ago. Other people have had similar issues. Just be alert when pulling it is my advice.
Show me yours and I will show you mine. :eek:Quote:
Want me to show you my other one so you can say you have seen 4.
I've flat-towed my M715/J300 hybrid several times and never had a problem. And this is a vehicle substantially heavier than stock.
Brakes catch on fire??? I haul trailers so it sounds like the 715 would be like my Rockwoods. Don't buy Rockwoods they don't pull nice either. When you pull an M35 with a 715 how the hell do you stop? :eek:
Im gonna have to finish my adapters for the 715 and go drag it around just to see. I found a set of rough castings way back when they were unobtainium but never finished them out.
Anyone care to speculate on the value of the light towbars? I don't want to sell but seriously I feel I need to get up to speed for insurance purposes.
that dual rear wheel m715 is nice
I recovered my M35 Gassr with the M715. A pair of stock 230 engines in the bed and a max speed of 28 mph. Above that, the Gasser decided where we wanted to go if I was off the power. The Detroit locker hurt that tow I think. December 2006 is when I posted all about that if you care to read that adventure.
Ill check it out, sounds like some of my teenage 4wd episodes at the gravel pit.
Found another photo.
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...psmhafbfyk.jpg
Looks just like the ones a guy was selling at last year's red ball meet. He had 10 of them for $100 each. I did not buy because I did not know if they were the "correct" ones.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrjeep
I think I posted this in the wrong forum.
Anyway...
Tow Bars as used in one of our convoys from Ft. Sill, OK to our field firing site, Camp Per Ardua in Blanding, UT. ~ March, 1969
OOPS!
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psmihg8hjc.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/...psdlmy1pzm.jpg
Thanks for the new pictures Don. That looks like the wrong tow bar without the proper adaptors and no feet. Bad, bad, bad.
I guess the M715 tow bar adaptors were hard to find even then.
That is a light tow bar. The pins in the legs are the same as shown in the manual I linked earlier.
I bet the driver of that truck was hurting after the accident. There ain't no padding for a front-end collision. Looks like he hit the back-end of a 2.5 or 5-ton. The bumper ain't even bent.
Been a long time ago. We drove in convoy up through Gallup, NM to Blanding,UT. We always accused that kid of looking at some girl's backside and not watching the road. Truth be known, snow, ice, freezing rain. You get the picture...
Quote:
Originally Posted by kwai
I don't think it takes much energy to fold the sheetmetal over the bumper. I bet you could do that if you hit a high bumper at 10MPH.
Pretty sure the guy rear ended a deuce or 5-ton as you said. Snow, ice, bad roads. Kinda felt sorry for him. No doubt, had a puckered rear concerned about his future (and his rank).Quote:
Originally Posted by kwai
Even a legitimate accident (with no recklessness) could have such consequences?Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Cavey
Great photos, BTW.
You are so right and thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikel