CK5
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Ok, can anyone ID these axles??

They were used for towing large aircraft. C 130's maybe C5's. Not sure of the exact axle but definately 1 ton or bigger and extemely low geared
 
jonrpick said:
I want that front bumper for my ATL Urban Assault Vehicle. :bow: :saweet:

I've love for someone to cut me off and then look in the rear view and see that wall of steel comin' at 'em :yikes:

I hear ya there.. I drive in Mexico daily.. I could *really* put that to use..
 
I recently picked up a 1984 Chevy aircraft tug like the one you linked to. They were modified by a company called Eagle Bobtail.

It's got a 6.2L Diesel with a TH400 and a NP208. The T-case has no range selection (I have not yet determined if it's locked in high or low) and it is clocked so the front output is almost straight down instead of being off to the side because the pinions on both axles are centered.

The planetary axles are ZF APL-345/B and, if I believe the tag that is on them, they are 22:1 total ratio (6:1 is in the hubs, the rest comes from the ring and pinion). I plan to confirm the ratios once I get all of the ballast weight off of it.

The axles have built-in 4 wheel hydraulic steering that is controllable via a lever in the cab (regular steer, tight steer, and crab steer options). They also have wet brakes that are inside the planetaries as well as a micro lock for a parking brake. Other ring and pinion ratios and parts are supposedly available from ZF dealers and these axles were also available in some Case International, Ford New Holland, and John Deere FWD tractors so parts can also be sourced that way.

There is no suspension. The axles are attached to the chassis via a centered pivot (like a tractor) and have rubber blocks between the axles and the frame. The tires on it measure 38" in diameter.

The truck weighs 12,000 lbs. and it is rated to tow 60,000 lbs. The front bumper and the box behind the cab are ballast weight, probably about 6,000 lbs worth.

The truck I got fired right up after I replaced the ignition cylinder but its longest trip so far has only been from the trailer to the garage. It will go for a longer voyage once I get all the weight off of it. After that, it's fullsize crawler build time if I can get the axle ratios to something closer to 10:1.

Anyway, here's a pic: (I can get more pics if anyone is interested in seeing anything in particular)

cucv_tug1.jpg
 
that's pretty bad ass. get a suspension under it w/ 47" ltbs and you're rocking. you could try an over drive unit from either gear venders or hi impact to make up for some of the gearing in the axles
 
I have to believe the t-case is locked in low range, the Jeep CJ-10 aircraft tugs were similar, only they were 2wd with the transfer case perma locked in low range, with no front yoke or d-shaft.

I vote link suspension with tractor tires :D
 
sloth said:
Anyway, here's a pic: (I can get more pics if anyone is interested in seeing anything in particular)

Man, just from curiosity, I'd like to see how the suspension (or axle attchment method to be proper) is setup..
 
rx7gslse said:
Man, just from curiosity, I'd like to see how the suspension (or axle attchment method to be proper) is setup..
I'll get some close ups of the axle attachments for you this weekend.
 
runamok151 said:
that's pretty bad ass. get a suspension under it w/ 47" ltbs and you're rocking. you could try an over drive unit from either gear venders or hi impact to make up for some of the gearing in the axles
I was actually planning to run 47" LTB's and possibly running the NP203 range box in my current doubler setup backwards (as a 0.5:1 overdrive). I'm also going to see if I can get more desireable ring and pinions first. I also have a pair of Rockwells but figured I'd give these a try first since they are already 4 wheel hydrauliic steer and seem to be very beefy. I haven't decided on what type of suspension I'm going to do yet.
 
rx7gslse said:
Man, just from curiosity, I'd like to see how the suspension (or axle attchment method to be proper) is setup..

I snapped some pics of the axle attachment points but I see that 1967k10 already posted some; my pics are very similar. I also got some pics of various tags and data plates so I'll post those instead for those that are curious.

I also decided to take it for a drive without removing all the extra weight just to see how fast it would go. That was one bumpy ride!!! Its top speed was 16 MPH with the motor pegged against the governor. So, it seems that the axles are in fact 22:1 and the t-case is locked in high range.

IMG_0847.JPG

IMG_0848.JPG

IMG_0851.JPG

IMG_0855.JPG
 
More pics please. More of both suspensions, under the body of the tranny/t-case, etc.

Looks like the frame is a 2 wheel drive version. How is the t-case mounted? I'm interested in pics of this.
 
thatK30guy said:
More pics please. More of both suspensions, under the body of the tranny/t-case, etc.

Looks like the frame is a 2 wheel drive version. How is the t-case mounted? I'm interested in pics of this.
The frame does appear to be a 2WD frame, you can see the unused OEM coil buckets in some of the pics. The frame is also cut at some point in the rear, behind the cab. I can't tell exactly where yet because I have not yet removed the tug bed superstructure but it looks like it probably ends somewhere near the centerline of the rear axle.

The front axle has two "lower control arms" but the rear does not. Other than the arms, the front and rear appear to be very similar in construction.

I'll get you some more pics of the t-case/belly sometime this week but I do have 3 close ups of the frontend and one of the rear end that I can give you now.

pic 1 is of the front axle viewed from the passenger side and in front of the tire
pic 2 is of the front axle viewed from the passenger side and behind the tire
pic 3 is looking at the front axle from the front
pic 4 is the driver's side half of the rear axle, viewed from the front.

IMG_0838.JPG

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IMG_0844.JPG
 
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