Bridge plate numbers??

[M813rc]

Okay, from my copy of FM 5-36 dated May 1985-

To get a weight classification, the following is used:
Weight (empty, loaded, and loaded for highway);
Load on pintle or 5th wheel;
Tires (number per axle, size and PSI);
Distance between axles;
Distance from nearest axle to pintle or 5th wheel;
Outside and inside width of tires or tracks;
Length of track in contact with the ground;
Vehicle NSN.

This all gets sent to STRBE-NBE at Ft Belvoir where they perform some ceremony that quite possibly includes waving an intoxicated newt around above the numbers and they give you the weight classification.

OR, you can look and see if they have already done their rituals and your vehicle is on the Standard list in appendix C-3;

or you can get a field expedient number by using 85% of the vehicle gross weight.

For our purposes here, the CUCV series is (fortunately) listed, the numbers are for empty, then loaded cross country, highway and combination -
M1009 2 3 3 4
M1008 3 4 4 5
M1010 3 4 4 -
M1028 3 4 4 5
M1031 3 5 5 6

(Note: the M1009 is only authorized to pull a 1/4 ton trailer, the M1008 etc. a 3/4 ton, so that is what is reflected on the list)

Okay, I'm spent.

Cheers

 

[319]

For my M1028A1 SECM truck, I use 4 unloaded, 5 loaded and 6 with the "C" pulling an M101 or M116

 

[citizensoldier]

Ok 06 with a C is what I will make this truck.. I will do the other a 05.. I know at a show down the line somebody is going to walk up and tell me it is wrong.. Thanks guys I am spent also! But 69 is tempting on all my trucks!

 

[OL AG '89]

wait.... get it.... never mind
I thought it was the number of six packs on board.....
Applicable to TXARNG.... no disrepect.... and of course pre 1985.... before we REALLY got serious about training........

 

[drgreg]

AND BETTER YET, WHAT IS THE BRIDGE PLATE # FOR A XM 381A2 aka: Bob Deuce

Hmmm, I'd think it must be 68....

 

[Darwin T]

go to a truck scale with the truck and trailer. weigh the truck and then weigh both together. round the numbers up to the next 1,000. if you are not pulling the trailer use that weight. if you do pull the trailer use that weight. when in convoy some poor private has to sit at ever bridge with a weight limit and read the plates to make sure not to over load the bridge. 2 jeeps weigh a lot less than a 5 ton wrecker. my M109a3 weights 15.940 pounds without a trailer and my new M335a2 weights 13.400 pound. so the bridge plate on my M109a3 reads 77 (you get 8 more) and my M35a2 reads 68 (you do me and i owe you 1). Just Added Picts of my M109a3 (Sgt. Ike Stromwater) and my M35a2 (Sgt. Allison Stromwater) both named for storms on the Texas Gulf Coast.

 

[midcounty]

Interesting. Now I am wondering why my Deuce had 11 on there since it was last painted. You could tell because they didn't mask it off in any way. Ofcourse it reads 69 for now, only because that is the year it was built

 

[rhinob]

Okay, from my copy of FM 5-36 dated May 1985-

To get a weight classification, the following is used:
Weight (empty, loaded, and loaded for highway);
Load on pintle or 5th wheel;
Tires (number per axle, size and PSI);
Distance between axles;
Distance from nearest axle to pintle or 5th wheel;
Outside and inside width of tires or tracks;
Length of track in contact with the ground;
Vehicle NSN.

This all gets sent to STRBE-NBE at Ft Belvoir where they perform some ceremony that quite possibly includes waving an intoxicated newt around above the numbers and they give you the weight classification.

OR, you can look and see if they have already done their rituals and your vehicle is on the Standard list in appendix C-3;

or you can get a field expedient number by using 85% of the vehicle gross weight.

For our purposes here, the CUCV series is (fortunately) listed, the numbers are for empty, then loaded cross country, highway and combination -
M1009 2 3 3 4
M1008 3 4 4 5
M1010 3 4 4 -
M1028 3 4 4 5
M1031 3 5 5 6

(Note: the M1009 is only authorized to pull a 1/4 ton trailer, the M1008 etc. a 3/4 ton, so that is what is reflected on the list)

Okay, I'm spent.

Cheers

Great info. Thanks much!

 

[jamesfrom180]

My info is already superseded by M813rc.

FM5-34 (24 September 1976) states:
5-2. MARKING OF VEHICLES

a. Weight Classification. All vehicles with a gross weight over 3 tons and all trailers with rated payload over 1 1/2 tons are assigned classification numbers. These numbers indicate a relationship between the load-carrying capacity of a bridge and the effect produced on it by a vehicle. The effect of the vehicle on the bridge depends upon the gross weight of the vehicle, the weight distribution to the axles, and the speed at which the vehicle crosses the bridge.

b. Vehicle Signs.
(1) Classifications. Classification numbers assigned to vehicles are whole numbers ranging from 4 through 150. Front signs on a vehicle are 9 inches in diameter and the side signs are 6 inches in diameter. The signs have black numerals on a yellow background and the numerals are as large as the sign will permit. The front sign goes above the bumper to the driver's right and below his line of vision, and the side signs on the right side of the vehicle in a place where normal use of the vehicle does not conceal it from view.

(2) Combination Classification. With a combination vehicle (two or more single vehicles spaced less than 30.5m apart), the front sign shows the normal vehicle class for the combination with the letter "C" in red above the class number. Each vehicle in the combination carries a side sign which shows its class as a single vehicle. If one vehicle is towing another, they are considered separate, unless they are on the same span and the distance between them is less than 30.5m. Combination classes are determined as indicated in paragraph 5-3c below.

The field manual goes on to say that expidited class numbers should be assigned as 85% of the gross vehicle weights and should be replaced by a class number derived from the method listed in TM 5-312 or by reference to FM 5-36.

 

[Cucvnut]

im still confused.

 

[jamesfrom180]

If its less than 8k lbs. or 4 tons don't worry about a bridge plate.
If you tow something and the whole is over 4 tons truck+trailer the front plate should read the weight + "C"
If you are not near a scale just take the vehicle gross weight and multiply by .85 this will give you 85% of the gross weight then divide by 2 if its in lbs. This is the class number.
All else fails put 69 on the plate and have fun. That is unless you encounter a bridge that has a pissed off PFC standing by it checking numbers.

 

[usafe7ret]

Just a little more info on bridge plates, along with some MV marking history:

 

[Flyingvan911]

That's some cool history. I like the gerry can mount built into the front bumper on the truck.

 

[jamesfrom180]

Pretty cool, all started with the Limeys! Does anyone know if later FM say anything more about the side plates?

 

[Sharecropper]

OK guys, my M1028 has a GVW of 9400 lbs, so what should the bridge plate display, if not pulling a trailer? Where can I obtain the plates? Can I paint them myself? Are there stencils for the numbers?

Thanks.

 

[M813rc]

Okay, from my copy of FM 5-36 dated May 1985-

For our purposes here, the CUCV series is (fortunately) listed, the numbers are for empty, then loaded cross country, highway and combination -
M1009 2 3 3 4
M1008 3 4 4 5
M1010 3 4 4 -
M1028 3 4 4 5
M1031 3 5 5 6

Cheers

 

[drgreg]

OK guys, my M1028 has a GVW of 9400 lbs, so what should the bridge plate display, if not pulling a trailer? Where can I obtain the plates? Can I paint them myself? Are there stencils for the numbers?

Thanks.

6267
Try here.

 

[Darwin T]

here are the picts of my trucks.

 

[donalloy1]

Outstanding information! Thank you all very much. My M1009 will display 04 without trailer and 06 with trailer loaded and wet. Should keep me out of trouble w/nato clan at crossings? Took me a while to find one! DMLII sends...

 

[Cucvnut]

I still have no idea it makes no sense to me.