Sled pulling with a 5-ton (and a M920)

[CBR Metalworks]

A friend of mine and I went and hooked to the sled at a local pull just to see what the trucks would do. They loaded the sled heavy (as heavy as they had it that night), they told me it was about 45k lbs (including the weight of the sled). Obviously that is 45k DRAGGING which compounds that weight greatly.

The 800 series bogged down pretty quick, 2nd gear low range.

I pulled the 920 in 3rd gear, it didn't lose power and was still pulling even after the weight hit the front of the sled AND the sled operator picked the back of the sled up, but it started hopping so I let out. I'll definitely try it again, but next time I will probably run in 5th gear to get a little more momentum.

https://youtu.be/97P9EKONP1c

https://youtu.be/Esm8eLu4ZAs

https://youtu.be/YMQTSWLWSRw

 

[jcappeljr]

I pulled a couple times with my m817.They run out of steam.

 

[Artisan]

You runnin' a CAT 7155 in the M920?

 

[CBR Metalworks]

yes, 7155. I wish I had the allison, but the CAT does the job just fine, not great for sled pulling though because it cant be shifted. I bet a M916 with the Allison would have rolled on out!

 

[Suprman]

The A2 5tons pull well once the turbo spools. A few turns on the fuel screw, in low range and starting in 1 on the shifter I think one could pull the 45k sled.

 

[Karl kostman]

CBR you got a dandy looking 920 my friend! Looks like you could have pulled that sled home if it weren't for the bounce, nice job and very cool!!
Karl

 

[CBR Metalworks]

I had hoped to have a couple other people there to pull, maybe next time I can get some other locals to show up with M939a2 trucks or FMTV's. I pulled with the 920 a few weeks ago and the sled was in the 35k range (I think) and it didn't stop me. The only advantage the a2 trucks have is the automatic, they are gutless compared to the NTC400. (I have owned 7 M939a2's, and turned up the fuel on a couple). A friend of mine has a M923a2 and even when pulling another 5-ton behind the 920, he couldn't keep up with it on slight hills.

I really hope to have 3-4 trucks next pull, because all the videos online mean nothing unless you have another truck there to compare it to. The sled operator told me that he has hooked to an 8x8 military truck (so either a HET or HEMTT) and stopped it, and has also hooked to and stopped an M1 Abrams tank. He didn't specify what weight he had in the sled, but based on what my M920 did last night he would of had to weigh more than 45k to stop a HET I imagine. The Allison coupled with 8x8 should easily handle a 45k lb sled, heck I think the 920 would pull it given the right gear choice. I wish I could have pulled again in a higher gear.

 

[dawico]

I would love to pull a sled like that. Looks like a good time.

 

[Carlo]

A friend of mine and I went and hooked to the sled at a local pull just to see what the trucks would do. They loaded the sled heavy (as heavy as they had it that night), they told me it was about 45k lbs (including the weight of the sled). Obviously that is 45k DRAGGING which compounds that weight greatly.

The 800 series bogged down pretty quick, 2nd gear low range.

I pulled the 920 in 3rd gear, it didn't lose power and was still pulling even after the weight hit the front of the sled AND the sled operator picked the back of the sled up, but it started hopping so I let out. I'll definitely try it again, but next time I will probably run in 5th gear to get a little more momentum.

https://youtu.be/97P9EKONP1c

https://youtu.be/Esm8eLu4ZAs

https://youtu.be/YMQTSWLWSRw

They say wheel hop is to little pressure in the tires but from the film they look good. I also see allot of pullers with low pressure to widen the tire print. Weight transfer is the key to this sport. Like a pro stock drag car. Lifting the front wheels puts weight on the rear for bite.
Nice show! I wish I could try with one of my trucks.

 

[Ford Mechanic]

Hey man just sent you a PM before seeing you thread! I pulled my 923A2 at a pull, don't know the weight, in 1st low. I didn't build much momentum but after the weight hit the top it never bogged or quit pulling. Just made it to the end at a walk!

 

[turnkey]

Great pull...Best I have ever done is 3 kids in a wagon with my riding lawn mover.......Great stuff..

 

[CBR Metalworks]

Hey man just sent you a PM before seeing you thread! I pulled my 923A2 at a pull, don't know the weight, in 1st low. I didn't build much momentum but after the weight hit the top it never bogged or quit pulling. Just made it to the end at a walk!

I assure it wasn't 45k (unless you lifted the sled like I did the first time I hooked a few weeks ago)!

Tire pressure was street pressure, about 60psi. It didn't wheel hop in the rear I don't think, only the front axle. 920 didn't get close to running out of power, just the wheel hop got it. I wanted to try to go again but figured they wouldn't like that if I stopped and put it in 1st.

I really want more military trucks next time so that we have a good way to compare what each truck will really do. It would be nice to find one of each (800 series, 939 series, HEMTT, HET, and M915 series).

 

[Andrmorr]

I hate I missed it since it was only 5 miles from me and we can actually hear the racing/pulling from the house. I got the truck ready, but sadly I wasn't since I been fighting a 3 week battle with bronchitis...They'll pull at Ace Speedway again in Sept so we can all plan to meet there and have a green iron pull off...

 

[Andrmorr]

On a straightline flatground pull, would it be better to leave the front wheels unlocked and let the rear do the work? Watching pull videos you can see the trucks squat on the tires once the load hits which unloads the front tires. Seems that with the weight shift, the fronts are just pulling torque out of the driveline without adding much pull to the load...has anyone had a chance to pull both ways and can give an opinion?

Here's a good example of what I'm looking at...watch the stance of the truck change from when he first backs up to the sled then as the weight increases down the track the front wheels are basically off the ground...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZDBFl_Q9ks

 

[CBR Metalworks]

Yea I think the hopping on mine was from the frontend, I do think you could definitely pull without the frontend pulling. On the M920 there is no 'option' to have just the back 4 pulling, it is either 2wd or 6wd, With some re-plumbing of airlines you could lock the 2nd rear axle in independently of the front.

I guess when I splice on the MK15 rear body unit (which will change the gear ratio) I won't be able to run it in 6wd anyways. At that point I should definitely not be lacking weight on the rear tires either.

 

[wb1895]

Where were you pulling at? When I get back in the states, I would love to bring my deuce out and give pulling a try. I'm only 25 minutes South of Winston Salem

 

[Andrmorr]

Where were you pulling at? When I get back in the states, I would love to bring my deuce out and give pulling a try. I'm only 25 minutes South of Winston Salem

At ACE SPEEDWAY ...Basically Burlington NC...it's actually 3 miles North of Burlington on Hwy 87 in Altamahaw NC but no one's ever heard of Altamahaw...

The CAROLINA PULLERS pulling schedule shows they'll be back to Ace in September but there may be other pulls that are closer to you...check out their website for more details...They also show the final stats too...

Exibition
	michael Bowen	198.92
	Brian Rice	186.8

keep everyone posted so we can all meet and pull together...

http://www.carolinapullers.org/Schedule.html

http://www.acespeedway.com/

 

[CBR Metalworks]

Haha, those stats are way wrong. You can tell in the videos there is no way the two trucks were within 20 feet of each other. They told me 189 after I pulled, but maybe the guy was slightly dislexic.

 

[CBR Metalworks]

Pull in Boonville tomorrow night, anyone want to go?

 

[Gunzy]

This was my pull last fall in Ogden, Utah. I pulled right after the "Pro-Mods" so the sled was maxed out. I was in low 6x6 and 1-2 gear, should have just went in 1 though and next time I will. Still pulled 244' on a 300' track. I think if I had been in 1st I would havd full pulled because I lost pull when it downshifted. I had a blast too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZX51ZRmDzw