military guru's - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

bobo · 08-05-2003, 07:16 PM

tonight i got a call from a relative telling me he found some type of truck that the military used for moving airplanes around. it has 4-wheel steer. all he could tell me is that it has some kind of big ass axles. on top of the guy dosen't want much for it. i was wondering if anyone knew what kind of truck this may be and if the axles would hold up to a lot of abuse/big tires/etc.

oh yeah it has a chevy body on it don't know if this the original of not.

any help would be appreicated.

thanks,
Jeremy

steve gerstner · 08-05-2003, 07:53 PM

Yea, these trucks are airplane tugs, they weigh 12,000 lbs. and can pull 50,000 lbs. 6.2 diesel, turbo 400, NP 208 clocked down. Axles are made in germany by ZF corp., internal brakes in the planetary hubs, 18 to 1 ratio, four wheel steer. I bought one two months ago, is this one for sale? steve differential eng. inc.

bobo · 08-05-2003, 07:59 PM

yeah its for sale and my uncle said the guy didn't want much for it.

scatterbrain · 08-05-2003, 08:01 PM

anybody have any pics of this thing

steve gerstner · 08-05-2003, 08:10 PM

Here it is. steve

binderbound · 08-05-2003, 08:22 PM

A wrecking yard around here has one from the 50's. It has 2 power wagon cabs cut at the back and stuck together. It drives either direction. The tires have to be 8 feet tall. The guy claimes its has an 800hp motor and the dual PTO winches are rated at 40K. Said it was for pulling bombers off of grass runways.

dogbender · 08-05-2003, 08:28 PM

yea, axles are mounted like a backhoe,solid in the rear and a central pivot up front.

Coreyperez13 · 08-05-2003, 08:49 PM

I doubt that it would be a good tow vehicle, the ones that we had at Seymour Johnson in Goldsboro NC would top out at about 25mph... Shit load of torque, no speed. They would make a killer donor vehicle though...

Is that one x4? Ours were all x2.

Corey

GreenPig · 08-05-2003, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bobo
tonight i got a call from a relative telling me he found some type of truck that the military used for moving airplanes around. it has 4-wheel steer. all he could tell me is that it has some kind of big ass axles. on top of the guy dosen't want much for it. i was wondering if anyone knew what kind of truck this may be and if the axles would hold up to a lot of abuse/big tires/etc.
oh yeah it has a chevy body on it don't know if this the original of not.

A lot of Tundra Buggies up in Alaska run these axles. Small diff (I heard like 3"!?!?) so no need for portal and able to sustain 60" tires because of the plantary reduction. Don't plan on driving it on the road. Awesome axles though. ZF!

ranger · 08-05-2003, 11:34 PM

I have been in the military(AF) for many years and that is the first time I have seen a aircraft tow truck in that configuration. Normally the bobtails, which is what is pictured, is used for towing ground support equipment, and munitions.
I have seen over the years jeep, ford, and dodge bobtails, with different axle configurations. Never seen a chevy bobtail. Usually the front axle is an empty housing, while the rear is 1 ton. Of course there are some bobtails in cold climates that are 4X4s, like in Alaska.
Not sure on the gearing, but the xfer case is put in 4 low and has no shifting linkage, so thats where it stays.
Some of the older bobtails, like early 80s you could get them up to 45 mph if you found the sweet spot. But it screamed for all it was worth.
By the way, when I first came in the AF we drove farm tractors to tow equipment, old Case and Ford. Ocassionally a hydrostatic drive tractor, which were a pain to drive.
Aircraft tow vehicles are alot different than what you have pictured, not saying its not, just never seen one like that.

RoundLights · 08-06-2003, 03:45 AM

Actually it depends on what kind of aircraft you are towing. Our Hercs use big ass tugs that don't look like a truck at all but our helicopters and the A-10's on base actually use jeep tugs

bobo · 08-06-2003, 05:21 AM

thanks for all the information. are these the type of axles that monster trucks run. i am defintaly going to go check this thing out sometime very soon. will keep ya'll posted.

jeepward · 08-06-2003, 07:50 AM

i have driven a tug like the one pictured on the trailer for several years. it is four wheel steer, four wheel drive with selectable two wheel drive and four high and low. the steering is slectable between crab (both front and rear wheels point the same direction) or in oppsite directions and is full hydraulic. it had no problem towing C-130H acft.

Pdaddy · 08-06-2003, 08:39 AM

I know were 2 of those are sitting about 5min form my front door. They looked way to heavy and bulky to be much good for anything in my eyes. I wonder what one of those axles weigh, they are monsters as far as casting and material goes

bobo · 08-06-2003, 10:50 AM

what do ya'll think one of these axles weighs. i am going to lookat it friday.

SWINE · 08-06-2003, 12:27 PM

I have seen several of these rigs....

4WD + 4WS and a chevy body that sits about monster truck heigth

A couple of years ago I found 2 of them (complete) in a salvage yard that dealt mainly with military surpluss. They are probably still there.

fergusor · 08-06-2003, 02:59 PM

we still use that same truck to tow our f-16s

08-05-2003, 07:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
bobo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15220 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 197	military guru's tonight i got a call from a relative telling me he found some type of truck that the military used for moving airplanes around. it has 4-wheel steer. all he could tell me is that it has some kind of big ass axles. on top of the guy dosen't want much for it. i was wondering if anyone knew what kind of truck this may be and if the axles would hold up to a lot of abuse/big tires/etc. oh yeah it has a chevy body on it don't know if this the original of not. any help would be appreicated. thanks, Jeremy

08-05-2003, 08:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
scatterbrain Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Member # 19933 Location: Mississippi Posts: 422	anybody have any pics of this thing __________________ '85 Yota Truggy-350 TBI,Turbo 400, Stak 5.44:1, D60s

08-05-2003, 08:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
steve gerstner Rock God Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12741 Location: winter haven FL. Posts: 1,006	Here it is. steve Attached Images

08-05-2003, 08:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
binderbound International Dan Join Date: Apr 2003 Member # 18592 Location: Redmond, Oregon Posts: 3,637	A wrecking yard around here has one from the 50's. It has 2 power wagon cabs cut at the back and stuck together. It drives either direction. The tires have to be 8 feet tall. The guy claimes its has an 800hp motor and the dual PTO winches are rated at 40K. Said it was for pulling bombers off of grass runways. __________________ #4666 build /forum/general-4x4-discussion/1048195-koh-ih-binder-speed.html facebook.com/hardenedways Huge thanks to Ruffstuff specialties, str8rbill, Scouty, Uglyscout, Ben W, jeepdude jay, Trans-fix, hellfire fabworks, international harvester, and viewers like you.

08-05-2003, 08:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
dogbender Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Member # 12455 Location: az Posts: 507	tow vehicle yea, axles are mounted like a backhoe,solid in the rear and a central pivot up front. __________________ The devil doesn't live here. He's nextdoor.

08-05-2003, 07:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
steve gerstner Rock God Join Date: Jul 2002 Member # 12741 Location: winter haven FL. Posts: 1,006	Yea, these trucks are airplane tugs, they weigh 12,000 lbs. and can pull 50,000 lbs. 6.2 diesel, turbo 400, NP 208 clocked down. Axles are made in germany by ZF corp., internal brakes in the planetary hubs, 18 to 1 ratio, four wheel steer. I bought one two months ago, is this one for sale? steve differential eng. inc.

08-05-2003, 07:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
bobo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15220 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 197	yeah its for sale and my uncle said the guy didn't want much for it.

08-05-2003, 08:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Coreyperez13 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Member # 15682 Location: North Pole AK Posts: 155	I doubt that it would be a good tow vehicle, the ones that we had at Seymour Johnson in Goldsboro NC would top out at about 25mph... Shit load of torque, no speed. They would make a killer donor vehicle though... Is that one x4? Ours were all x2. Corey __________________ What are you looking at, my eyes are up here...

08-05-2003, 11:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
ranger Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Member # 1282 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 4,819	I have been in the military(AF) for many years and that is the first time I have seen a aircraft tow truck in that configuration. Normally the bobtails, which is what is pictured, is used for towing ground support equipment, and munitions. I have seen over the years jeep, ford, and dodge bobtails, with different axle configurations. Never seen a chevy bobtail. Usually the front axle is an empty housing, while the rear is 1 ton. Of course there are some bobtails in cold climates that are 4X4s, like in Alaska. Not sure on the gearing, but the xfer case is put in 4 low and has no shifting linkage, so thats where it stays. Some of the older bobtails, like early 80s you could get them up to 45 mph if you found the sweet spot. But it screamed for all it was worth. By the way, when I first came in the AF we drove farm tractors to tow equipment, old Case and Ford. Ocassionally a hydrostatic drive tractor, which were a pain to drive. Aircraft tow vehicles are alot different than what you have pictured, not saying its not, just never seen one like that.

08-06-2003, 03:45 AM	#11 (permalink)
RoundLights Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Member # 20021 Location: HotterthanHELLarizona Posts: 45	Actually it depends on what kind of aircraft you are towing. Our Hercs use big ass tugs that don't look like a truck at all but our helicopters and the A-10's on base actually use jeep tugs

08-06-2003, 05:21 AM	#12 (permalink)
bobo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15220 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 197	thanks for all the information. are these the type of axles that monster trucks run. i am defintaly going to go check this thing out sometime very soon. will keep ya'll posted.

08-06-2003, 07:50 AM	#13 (permalink)
jeepward Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 17548 Location: kentucky Posts: 37	chevy tug i have driven a tug like the one pictured on the trailer for several years. it is four wheel steer, four wheel drive with selectable two wheel drive and four high and low. the steering is slectable between crab (both front and rear wheels point the same direction) or in oppsite directions and is full hydraulic. it had no problem towing C-130H acft.

08-06-2003, 08:39 AM	#14 (permalink)
Pdaddy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Member # 8133 Location: Back in Kansas Posts: 5,390	I know were 2 of those are sitting about 5min form my front door. They looked way to heavy and bulky to be much good for anything in my eyes. I wonder what one of those axles weigh, they are monsters as far as casting and material goes __________________ LCQ / KOH 09 Co-Driver #62 Midwestwheeler / Hardline Custom

08-06-2003, 10:50 AM	#15 (permalink)
bobo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 15220 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 197	what do ya'll think one of these axles weighs. i am going to lookat it friday.

08-06-2003, 12:27 PM	#16 (permalink)
SWINE Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Member # 15581 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 71	I have seen several of these rigs.... 4WD + 4WS and a chevy body that sits about monster truck heigth A couple of years ago I found 2 of them (complete) in a salvage yard that dealt mainly with military surpluss. They are probably still there. __________________ 97' TJ 454 TBI F/R Disk braked U 416's comming together soon

08-06-2003, 02:59 PM	#17 (permalink)
fergusor Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13304 Location: Herriman, Ut Posts: 137	we still use that same truck to tow our f-16s

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