View attachment 800609
Fresh in off the boat from Australia via CA. Cast ground anchors, pins and shackles. Need to locate 6 more shackles to complete these 5 sets, then get the remaining 3 sets that I have located in the UK shipped over.
Not exactly a "5 Ton Mod" as all RAEME M816's carried 8 sets of ground anchors, but the stowage of the anchors was loose in the bed or locker. I 'll be fab'ing a lift crate that will stow in the passenger side locker, that can carry all 8 plates and 64 pins. Then they can be picked out by the crane and dropped on the ground and similarly returned without all that 'hand balling'. Don't want to scuff the new paint too much - when it gets done eh!
I had considered some kind of bracket behind the front bumper - a-la the British army's AEC Matador wrecker of the '60's, would be good counter weight, but I think that space will be utilised for the Australian water Jerry cans I have also acquired.
NB. Earlier US wreckers had ground anchors (different type) as Bii but somehow that got dropped. Still seen in the -22 manual.