Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

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Shotgun
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Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by Shotgun » August 20th, 2018, 1:12 pm

Hello All,
In the near future, I am moving to the western side of the country to Nevada from Virginia. I have read some used a tow dolly (engine/front on the dolly), others used a U-Haul trailer to transport the MUTT. I rented a U-Haul transport once for a M422A1 and that place didn't want me to leave it at another location - I rented a regular low trailer at my home location and the way it was made wouldn't fit the small Mighty Mite. I was going to leave it at the pickup location and use the larger transporter, that's when I got the bad news. So I ended up driving 3 hours back and got the larger transport at my home location.

So I know they are kind of protective of those I guess and want to keep them locally, why I'm not exactly sure. So my issue is this, in all, I have 3 vehicles to move, a USMC M422A1 (lightweight, not working), a 1974 VW Thing (will be running - just barely LOL), the M151A1, and 2 M416 trailers, one being a rare version for the USMC M422A1. I can tow at least one, and I'm thinking of the M422A1 on a tow dolly and maybe put the other two on a regular car transport. I am not sure the transporter will take a non-running vehicle, that might add more cost. I would put a car cover (strapped on) on them with either windshield down or padded with cardboard if the windshield is up on an open transport. I guess I could also have the transporter take the trailers too. Both MV have civilian tires, not NDT, the MUTT has new truck tires, well 800 miles new.

With a shorter move, I could make a round trip with a U-Haul trailer and just keep retrieving vehicles, and tow my trailers, but I don't want to make a lot of cross-country round trips.

Any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated, and I thank you all in advance.
Field Artillery 1994-2015 - Retired!
Airborne 1994-1998
Air Defense Artillery (IHAWK) 1981-1993

1968 M151A1 with M416 Trailer
1960 M422A1 (needs restoration) with M416B1 Trailer

acudanut

Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by acudanut » August 20th, 2018, 2:47 pm

I not would tow any MV across the country without all four wheels off the ground. With speeds of 75 mph + your going to hurt something.
Find a buddy/friend with a truck and get another trailer.
Find a car transporter. A 2k LBS jeep running or not is not hard to load.

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rickf
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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by rickf » August 20th, 2018, 5:29 pm

A transporter is probably your best bet and do the entire fleet all at once on one trailer. Probably cheaper in the long run. Never try to do a dolly for that kind of distance with a mutt unless you pull the axles and be damn sure the bearings are new. And you will wear out a set of tires. You can turn one trailer upside down and strap it to the other one and make that one vehicle.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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m3a1
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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by m3a1 » August 20th, 2018, 10:37 pm

Not the only game in town but this is one example of what you might use -

I have not used this service and cannot provide an actual endorsement for their services. Just posting it for your consideration.

https://www.uship.com/vehicles/

acudanut

Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by acudanut » August 21st, 2018, 3:52 am

"You can turn one trailer upside down and strap it to the other one and make that one vehicle"
Good idea !!

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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by 199th mp » August 21st, 2018, 7:43 am

as to the trailers, if cubic feet space requirements are close, disassemble the box from the frame, pull the wheels and remove the drop leg and pintle hitch assembly. take everything off that is fastened with bolts. then put all the pieces inside the box. then, when you flip the second box on top of the first, which now holds the parts and wheels, you have a solid container which can be strapped together. time consuming, but might help if space is close.

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rickf
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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by rickf » August 21st, 2018, 10:01 am

Since it is all military vehicle stuff if you are a member of Steel Soldiers you can check over there on their transportation section. They are always moving stuff around. I got a M-37 brought up from Fla. to NJ by one of the members.

https://www.steelsoldiers.com/forumdisp ... tion-Needs
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

Shotgun
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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by Shotgun » August 21st, 2018, 9:04 pm

Thanks for the great information. When I'm ready, I will ask if they haul the trailers too, I have seen illustrations of putting trailers on top of each other when they transport them via train at the railheads. I am a member of Steel Soldier and will check that out as well as check on U Ship. Getting them all on a single transporter is probably the best option and definitely less stress! The only MV not running is the M422A1(it's only 1780 lbs, air-cooled with an aluminum body/steel frame) and that could be an issue. If they could haul the trailers at the same time that would be great, if not I can always haul one with my truck. Again, thanks - I'm looking sometime next year to move, but more realistically in 2020, so I'm not on a time crunch now, although I "think" I have all the time in the world, but as you know the next thing it'll be time to execute yet another move ugh...
Field Artillery 1994-2015 - Retired!
Airborne 1994-1998
Air Defense Artillery (IHAWK) 1981-1993

1968 M151A1 with M416 Trailer
1960 M422A1 (needs restoration) with M416B1 Trailer

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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by Surveyor » August 21st, 2018, 10:01 pm

I know a guy who knows a guy...

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halftracknut
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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by halftracknut » August 21st, 2018, 10:42 pm

I pulled an A2 from LA to east coast with a tow bar....
slowest mutt east of the missippi..

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rickf
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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by rickf » August 22nd, 2018, 8:17 am

But would you do it again? Not saying it can't be done, just that it is not a good idea at all. You are not in the vehicle and those axles are famous for failing at the axle end u-joints. You will never know it till you see cars behind you dodging the shrapnel.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

Mark
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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by Mark » August 22nd, 2018, 12:07 pm

I did tow the A2 quite a ways one time, but I removed the half axles, but never checked the wheel bearings
PS I forgot to add that I also put a bungsy cord on the steering wheel
Last edited by Mark on August 24th, 2018, 6:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
mark


1968 m274A5
1960 m151
1981 m151A2
1964 m416
1971 m416

halftracknut
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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by halftracknut » August 22nd, 2018, 7:55 pm

I took the drive shafts out...wired the tranny yokes together...hooked up a set of cheap tail lights and down the road we went ...you just don't make really sharp turns...lucky me everything turns out ok.....
slowest mutt east of the missippi..

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rickf
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Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by rickf » August 23rd, 2018, 9:34 am

halftracknut wrote:I took the drive shafts out...wired the tranny yokes together...hooked up a set of cheap tail lights and down the road we went ...you just don't make really sharp turns...lucky me everything turns out ok.....

Key words there! Steering is a major issue when flat towing a M-151.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

acudanut

Re: Transporting/towing/moving vehicles across the country

Unread post by acudanut » August 24th, 2018, 3:05 pm

halftracknut wrote:I took the drive shafts out...wired the tranny yokes together...hooked up a set of cheap tail lights and down the road we went ...you just don't make really sharp turns...lucky me everything turns out ok.....
How did you tie the tranny yokes together. Any pic's showing this ? Never heard of this and seems impossible. But what do I know. I am just a dumb Jarhead. :?:

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