M51 Dump truck questions

[1944mb]

I was wondering on a 5 ton why they have air plumbed to the front of the truck? I am looking at a m51 that could be a possible project, and noticed the air on the front...also noticed a m932 at the local vfd that had air up front-so I'm sssuming its a 5 ton thing. Is it for towing-that the recovery vehicle could provide air pressure for the brakes as its being towed? Also was curious the weight on these beasts? And will a m35a2 handle flat towing the m51 with a military tow bar safely? This truck is a m51 with a multi fuel-was there many of these made, or were most of them gas? Thanks for the info

 

[Evil Dr. Porkchop]

I was wondering on a 5 ton why they have air plumbed to the front of the truck? I am looking at a m51 that could be a possible project, and noticed the air on the front...also noticed a m932 at the local vfd that had air up front-so I'm sssuming its a 5 ton thing. Is it for towing-that the recovery vehicle could provide air pressure for the brakes as its being towed? Also was curious the weight on these beasts? And will a m35a2 handle flat towing the m51 with a military tow bar safely? This truck is a m51 with a multi fuel-was there many of these made, or were most of them gas? Thanks for the info

The gladhands on the front can be used to activate the brakes when towing the truck. The weight of an m51a2 is about 22,000lbs (without winch), and 22,700lbs (with winch), I would not attempt to towbar one with a deuce unless it was an emergency. They are quite common to find with a multifuel engine (model m51a2), that is the least powerful engine of the five ton dumps.

 

[red]

The air connections at the front are for towing the truck.

As for flat towing you never want the towed vehicle to weigh more than the vehicle doing the towing because of steering problems. When flat towing the rear vehicle will try to push straight when going through a turn so the towing vehicle needs to outweigh (or at least the same weight) as the rear vehicle so it can maintain control. The m35a2 does not weigh enough to control a m51 being flat towed.

M51 is roughly 21-23k pounds
m35a2 is roughly 13k pounds

 

[1944mb]

Thanks guys I really suspected flat towing it would not be too keen of a idea. Glad to hear that the air connections were towing related. Don't have anyone close to me that has a 5 ton that I know of so a deuce is all I have. Gonna find out more about its mechanical situation. Maybe it can be repaired, if it is even for sale, and driven home, or limped home....it's about 30 miles away

 

[lindsey97]

Red is supply and the blue is to activate the brakes on the towed vehicle.

You can also use a properly plumbed air hose to power any air tool to work on your truck or another beside it, and air up your tires.

 

[JDToumanian]

I've done it, I towed my XM818 tractor with my deuce as seen below. It's not a good idea, but in my case I only had to go about 5 miles. My deuce has had it's fuel rate turned up significantly, and the XM818 weighs about 3,000lbs less than your dump truck, and I can tell you that I was near the upper limit of what a deuce can do... Never got out of low range and kept it below 25 mph, and planned well ahead in regards to stopping. I would never do it on a busy street and definitely not on a highway...

Jon

 

[1944mb]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help. I have a serious disease and its getting worse, and is incurable!! I've loved army jeeps since I can remember, now I'm onto trucks!! My 35a2 I bought not running-it had a kinked fuel line, which I checked before buying it. I'm no stranger to working on heavy trucks...I used to work on over the road trucks for a living. Some of the military stuff has a twist-like an air pack. But I was working for the vfd the other day and saw their 923 had a true air brake system from what I could see. Then when I saw this with gladhands up front, I suspected it would be for flat towing, and perhaps other things. I am a little surprised at the weight difference from a deuce to a 5 ton-holy smokes they are heavy! I'm not sure what an over the road truck would weigh, but I'm guessing not that much but could be wrong. Has anyone done head gaskets on a multi-fuel, are they hard? I am speculating it is HG caused the radiator cap was off. In terms of towing-I'd have 4 miles through two towns and the rest is back country roads. I don't need top get where I am unsafe with this either...but I haven't even talked to the guy yet! It came from a similiar place from where my deuce came from-his brother owns the shop its at and I asked about this dump when I bought the deuce. At that time the guy said it was brought in needing repair, and it was more than the truck was worth...I'm thinking HG or engine?

 

[red]

The multifuel is the weakest link in the drivetrain so that's a good possibility of what needs to be fixed.

If you know someone with a class 8 civilian truck then they could flat tow the 5 ton.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Head gaskets aren't bad to do. I've towed trucks that big with my deuce. Its not optimal, but if the towed trucks brakes work, I'd do it again. PM if you get it and need gaskets.

 

[2deuce]

I wouldn't consider a flat tow unless the 5 ton had brakes. Then I'd be tempted if a deuce was all I had,but that is just me, I couldn't recommend it. Your location tells me there will be hills, if not mountains. Your deuce will not be moving very fast on any incline, if you make a video, think about time lapse photography. Down hills could be a white knuckler. You could put some weight in the deuce, that would help. I once put a 3 ton International M5H6 on a trailer and on the hill getting out, I had to use 6x6 or the rear on the deuce would spin on pavement. I could hear the squalling rear tires as it stopped. It took low range 1st gear and I made it off the mountain. I went slow enough that I could jump if I had to. Once I got through that, I had no worries by comparison. That was with a trailer that put weight on the back of the deuce as I had the M5 as far forward as it could go. The tow bar gives you no added traction. If you decide to do it, go slow, very slow on any downgrade.

 

[1944mb]

I suppose some pics would be in order

 

[dmetalmiki]

Red is supply and the blue is to activate the brakes on the towed vehicle.

You can also use a properly plumbed air hose to power any air tool to work on your truck or another beside it, and air up your tires.

Except the front glad hands are fitted with one way valves.

 

[dmetalmiki]

I once had to clear a 5 ton from and intersection with a deuce, I had an 'A' bar and brake lines hooked up, (and a police escort(road closed)), However, I have to tell you that (that) 5 ton DID NOT want to 'turn' and was QUITE capable of "steering" the deuce on the tight turn out, That was some struggle, and a one time small movement only. I would NOT recommend a journey on main roads with hills and or turns, BE SAFE. ( sorry I can't say "careful").

 

[1944mb]

Thanks all for the advice. I'll let you know how I end up on it. It may be a little it till I know. Here is the 35a2 with a 211 recovery--I knew the 211 was there especially on the uphill sandy spots. Can't imagine a truck double its weight behind

 

[1944mb]

Can someone tell me about the fuel transfer switch? Is that just used to transfer fuel between tanks?