PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-592
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 592
MARCH 2002
PS 592
MAR 02
12
HETS, M2/M3-Series Bradleys…
Trailer Takes
One, Not Two
Trailer Takes
One, Not Two
T
wo Bradleys may weigh less than one M1-series tank, but that doesn’t mean
they can be transported safely on your M1070/M1000 heavy equipment trans-
porter system (HETS).
They can’t.
The HETS is designed to carry one M1, which weighs 70+ tons. Since the
heaviest Bradley—the M2A3—weighs a little more than 33 tons with combat
load, you might think you could load two on the HETS and still have almost 4
tons to spare.
If total weight were the only consideration, that would be true. Unfortunately,
you have to account for two other factors as well: bogie weight limits and
tiedown points.
T
Bogie Weight Limits
Even equipment weighing less than 70 tons can exceed the load limit on the
HETS. Each trailer bogie is designed to handle 15,000 pounds with a 10 percent
overload capacity. That’s a total of 16,500 pounds per bogie.
When loaded, the 70 tons of an M1- series tank are spread over the entire
trailer with the two rear bogies carrying a total of 30,000 to 31,500 pounds.
When two Bradleys are loaded, the two rear bogies are forced to carry
approximately 47,400 pounds—well above their load capacity. Those bogies
could collapse.
Tiedown Points
Since more tiedown points are needed for securing two Bradleys, some units
use the cargo tiedown D-rings.
All forward tiedown restraints must be able to hold 70 percent of the vehicle’s
total weight for highway transportation. That’s according to Military Traffic
Management Command Transportation Engineering Agency (MTMCTEA)
Pam 55-20,
Tiedown Handbook for Truck Movements
(Jul 01).
Based on the 66,600-lb weight for the M2A3, the two forward D-rings would
have to hold 23,310 pounds each (66,600 x 70% ÷ 2 = 23,310). Those D-rings
are only designed to hold up to 15,000 pounds each. They won’t hold.
If you plan to load two Bradleys on your HETS, don’t! If you’ve transported
two Bradleys in the past, inspect the trailer for damage to the suspension cast-
ings, bogies, deck, brakes, chains and all tiedown points.
Combat and Tactical Vehicles…
You can make
your own or find
some that’ll work
from this list.
Need chock
blocks for
your combat
vehicle
or truck?
hey, it’s
okay!
we
weigh
less
than
a tank!
I don’t care!
Only
one
of
you is riding
with me…
…and
that’s
final!
NSN
Material
Size
(LxWxH in inches)
Rubber
Wood
Rubber
Aluminum
Steel
Aluminum alloy
Wood
Wood
Aluminum alloy
7 x 6.5 x 5.38
8 x 9.5 x 8
9 x 15 x 6
9.438 x 8 x 5.75
11.25 x 11.5 x 5.5
12 x 15 x 9.375
14 x 6 x 4
15.5 x 7.75 x 5.75
18 x 18 x 1.75
592. 12-13 (C)
1/25/02
2:01 PM
Page 1
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