AN/TPQ-36 FireFinder (Modified M116A1) Trailer

[Tinstar]

I was originally going to turn this into a fuel tank trailer but since most of it is aluminum, I would have to almost destroy it to do that

The frame is partially aluminum also and it’s impossible to simply remove a few bolts and lift off the top portion.
The aluminum fabrication is extremely well done.

So,......
What else can this trailer be used for?
I’m open to suggestions.

 

[Tinstar]

I have new tires and NOS wire harness for it already.
Tail lights also.

 

[antennaclimber]

Pig roaster or beer dispenser trailer.

 

[Tinstar]

This trailer is definitely odd.

It’s been modified for duals from the factory.
Instead of 9 leafs in each spring it has 12.
Every picture I’ve found is single wheel only.
The data plate on this trailer even shows single wheel.
Definitely not a unit add on.
Another weird thing is almost every single bolt used on the trailer is Allen Head.

I wrongly assumed that I could lift off the upper part and have a bare chassis to work with when I bought it.
Wrong!

 

[Tinstar]

Pig roaster or beer dispenser trailer.

Definitely a possibility!!!!

 

[Tinstar]

With Jack’s on three points to stabilize and level it, it might make a good portable deer stand.

I truly don’t know what to do with this thing except dump $$$ into it.

 

[juanprado]

Could it be used to mount a welder, water pump, or gen set and the compartments for tools, accessories etc?

 

[mkcoen]

Put an aluminum frame on it to hold a Roof Top Tent and make an Overlanding trailer out of it. Lots of nooks and crannies to hold all of your camping gear including that big hole in the middle for the cooler.

 

[Guyfang]

I would bput a MEP-004A on that baby, a BF fuel tank in the hole. Tools up the kazoo in the OVM boxes. When the lights go out, you could power 2-3 houses. rent it out!!

 

[Tinstar]

All great ideas!!!
Hadn’t thought about the tent. Will have to think more about that possibility.
I like the Generator/fuel tank also.
If the generators would come down in price a bit I would seriously consider that.

Water pump is also an excellent idea.

I know it looks rough but the aluminum workmanship is very nice.
With the exception of the loose side panel, all the doors are solid and close nice and snug.
Even the tie-down shackle mounts are aluminum which I didn’t notice before

It’s just such an odd trailer.
Wish I had detailed pics of what it looked like when still in service.

 

[Guyfang]

I saw this version, when it was not something you talked about. Had a special Gen set and trailer, that was not in any TM. The radars were kept in tank work shops, and the doors closed all the time. The unit had just came back from down range, and were VERY HIGH on this system. Easy to run and maintain. And when someone was foolish enough to fire more then two round, (sometimes even one was too much) the were in deep poo-poo.

 

[Tinstar]

Most of the special parts, what’s left anyway, are not in any TM. That I can find anyway.

I plan to remove wheels tomorrow and find out what axle is installed.

Pics are from a control panel that was inside.
Kinda Interesting.

 

[M813rc]

The broken gauge makes me roll my eyes and shake my head. When I got my S788 shelter, it had been "demil'ed" by someone carefully punching the glass on all four gauges on the generator panel inside. I have never figured that requirement out, if it is one. Maybe someone just has a thing about hating genny gauges!

I know it looks rough but the aluminum workmanship is very nice.
With the exception of the loose side panel, all the doors are solid and close nice and snug.
Even the tie-down shackle mounts are aluminum which I didn’t notice before

It’s just such an odd trailer.

This, to me, says "Preserve/Restore it!"

Cheers

 

[Guyfang]

No, thats not demill. That was a crap head vandal. When an Item is demilled, its stripped, or destroyed. I used to spend a lot of time at DRMO, when I was active. Looking for things my unit could use. I got to watch first hand how items were demilled. For instance, every DRMO I ever went to, had a guillotine. Its hyd operated. I watched 50 pair of 8X50 bino's get cut in half. The demill code says no sale, demill. So they got the ax. Then came about 100 compasses. They have a shelf life. When its expired, they are inspected and given an extension, or they get the ax. Weapons parts get cut in half with a torch. We made a run 4 times a year, to get rid of weapons parts. saved them up until we had 10-20 parts, and turned them in to DRMO, they cut them up. Once, DRMO in K-Town, Germany got an F4 aircraft in. All parts that had a demill or recoverabilty code, were taken out. Later, an Air Force maint unit took the hulk home, and practiced battle damage repair on it. When it was just 19,900 patches that looked like an F4, they turned it in for scrap.

 

[Tinstar]

The axle is a standard M101A1 axle.
Wheels are the standard lock ring unfortunately.
Tires are a bit old.
Edit: That’s just water on the tire. I was rinsing things off.

A few pics of underneath.
Took off rear bumper and evicted a furry tenant.
Used rear jacks today and put them in full up position afterwards.

Installed new rear taillights.
Will wire them this weekend with new harness.

 

[Tinstar]

The fenders make an excellent work top. Perfect height.
Strong too. I stood and walked on them and they didn’t flex or budge one bit.

The original taillights were trash. Super corroded inside with no chance of saving them.
Trailer has been in deep water at some point
I discovered that the red lens is actual glass.
I did save those.

 

[Tinstar]

So sanded the rear bumper a bit today to hopefully read the unit markings.
Left side: TDC ADB
Right side: X301

Training & Doctrine Command?
Air Defense Battery?
X for experimental since this was one of the very first FireFinder units?

 

[Guyfang]

Fire Finder is not ADA. The unit I saw it in last, was 173rd ABN, 4/319 AFA, here in Germany. The MOS is 13R, and falls under FA, Field Artillery, I think.

 

[Tinstar]

Fire Finder is not ADA. The unit I saw it in last, was 173rd ABN, 4/319 AFA, here in Germany. The MOS is 13R, and falls under FA, Field Artillery, I think.

That’s why I posted it.
The markings don’t make sense to me.
I’m not that familiar with the FireFinder units and Organization Make-up.

 

[Guyfang]

There is some interesting info, in the Ft. Sill web page. Sill is the home of FA, and ADA also, since they got kicked out of Ft. Bliss.