PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-628
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 628
MARCH 2005
Using Tow Cables
Unless the propeller shafts have been removed, the tow cables are the first choice
for towing your Bradley.
Again, you need to take it slow and easy. The maximum speed limit for tow
cables is 5 mph no matter what the terrain.
Also, because of the weight of what you’re towing, it’s possible for a tow cable
to snap. It’s a good idea to keep all hatches closed and make sure all soldiers are out
of the immediate area before you start towing.
Make sure you hook the cables up right, too. Here’s how:
1.
Remove the four pins and shackles from the front of the disabled vehicle and the
rear of the towing vehicle.
2.
Loop one end of each
tow cable through a shack-
le. Use the pins to connect
the shackle to the towing
eyes on the back of the
towing vehicle.
3.
Loop the opposite ends
of each tow cable through
the remaining two shack-
les. Before you hook the
shackles to the front of the
disabled Bradley, cross the
cables into an X pattern.
That improves steering
control and allows you to
make turns without drag-
ging the disabled Bradley.
PS 628
MAR 05
4
M2/M3-Series Bradleys…
Avoid a
Tow-Jam
I
f your Bradley breaks down and there’s no recovery vehicle available, you can still
tow it home—as long as you have another Bradley.
‘Course there are a few things you need to know before you tow. First, you’ll have
to decide whether to use a tow bar or tow cables. Then you’ll have to know how to
use ‘em. Follow this info to keep yourself out of a tow-jam:
Using a Tow Bar
Towing a Bradley with a damaged transmission will completely ruin the final
drives—and vice versa.
Your unit mechanic prevents that by removing the propeller shafts before towing.
Unfortunately, that leaves the vehicle with no steering or braking control.
The tow bar gives you back some of that control. Since the bar is rigid, the vehi-
cles won’t collide every time you go down a slight hill. In fact, as long as you tow
at slow, steady speeds, you should have no problems at all.
Faster speeds, espe-
cially over rough terrain,
are another matter. That
kind of treatment will
bend and ruin the tow
bar. It can even rip the
tow pintle loose from the
towing vehicle.
The maximum speed
limit for smooth, even
conditions is 15 mph.
Never exceed 5 mph
over rough terrain.
Slip one tow
cable end over
shackle and
attach shackle
with pin
Towing too fast in
rough terrain will
rip out pintle
Cross cables
in X pattern
for towing
great!
broken
down and
not a
recovery
vehicle in
sight!
you can use
me
to tow
your vehicle
home…
…as long
as you know
how to do
it
right!
don’t
worry!
628.04-05(C)
1/27/05
5:42 PM
Page 1
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