Picking up a M101A and need some info please (1 Viewer)

[John Spies]

Hi,
I am a complete newb and likely dropped the hammer too quick on a good deal at an army post in Texas. Anyway, I am to pick it up in a couple days and simply want to know what I need to do to tow it home.
I know I need the pintle hitch and can get that easily enough. What about lights? Height of lunette vs. height of hitch, etc. etc....anything else I might be missing.

I have a 2000 LC with no additional lift. My preference is to get a pintle hitch and a hitch plate rather than some of the multi-ball hitch configurations (I already have that covered) but am open to suggestions from those who have done it.

No big plans on modding it but I might put a lid on it. Don't expect to haul anything super-heavy, nor to put it on difficult trails. Mainly going to use it for home projects (built a new house), landscaping projects and lots of camping/canoeing.

Again though, any suggestions for mods are appreciated. Don't want to spend huge $$ on tricking it out but rather to make it more user friendly.

cheers!

 

[greentruck]

John,
I can't help you with anything specific on this, but I've been thinking about this in terms of hoping to score a M101 Canadian at some point. So here's what I have, unless you happen to have a large enough flatbed trailer available to load up your new baby and get it home that way.

Temp plates depend on the jurisdiction you're picking up in, I presume.

I'm also going to presume that whatever tires are on it are good enough to make it home. If not, then that's going to take a quick trip off-base with the non-serviceable tire/wheel to get it back in service. be sure to bring appropriate tools and jack to change it out if you have to.

For the lights, I think just assuming that nothing is going to work is the best bet. Get together a set of temporary lighting that can be attached with zip ties and/or bungie cords to the rear of the trailer. Fabricate a harness that will match up to the existing trailer plug/circuit on your truck with a long enough cord to reach the temporary lights.

Then figure out the rest at home.

Any suggestions are welcome. I'm sure there's something I've missed.

 

[Panzer]

The trailer lights probably work but they are going have the big military overkill plug connection.
Get a set of magnet mount trailer lights from harbor freight for $30 an set the wiring up to hook to your LC. Make sure you have about 15-20 feet of wire to get to the back of the trailer.
Bring zipties and duct tape to string the light wires. Tools to make repairs, like the other poster suggested. If you have a small air compressor it could be useful but the DOD folks might (might) help you out with that. A can of fix a flat couldnt hurt to limp a slow leak home. Not sure how far that is for you.
The lunette ring on a US M101 is about 30 inches off the ground I think. Any pintle should work to get it home then you'll have to sort it our how you want it.
Google, M101 specs and you should be able to find the specific dimensions.
Lets see some pics when you get it.

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

M101 3/4 ton to a stock 100 you've got a serious height differential:

I used this pintle hook mount with the pintle in the set of holes one down from the top: 12" high receiver adapter With the lunette on the trailer rotated down it will sit level with the 100 (the pics shows the lunette rotated up and down).

For your pick up:

Beg or borrow the tallest pintle hook adapter you can find. You will be dragging the landing leg on the ground with a straight pintle mount and the lunette in the stock high position. (see pic again).

The safety chains are too huge to hook into the receiver of the 100. If that bothers you, bring a hunk of chain and some clevis hooks.

Lights - an inexpensive complete two light trailer light kit is all you need. The studs on the lights are standard spacing they will bolt right in place of the military light. 5/16 or 1/2 wrench to take off the military lights.

Any help and / or tolerance of you wrenching is completely up to the local personnel. If you go to the steel soldier forum there is a section dealing with this.

Hope for the best on the tires and bearings.

 

[swampman]

i use a 10,000 lbs hitch plate that i picked up at princess auto mounted the pintle hook to that .. the plate has several mounting positions and you can flip upside down and get more out of it.. i run 6.5 inches of lift and 35's on my cherokee when the trailer was stock i had it at the lowest settimg and it pulled level now the trailer is sprung over and on 33's and i just moved it up a couple of positions and it is good..

http://www.princessauto.com/truck-trailer/towing/pintle-hooks/4200129-5-ton-pintle-hook

 

[swampman]

wrong link try this one Pintle Hooks | Towing | Truck & Trailer | Princess Auto