Technical Feasibility Test of the High Mobility Trailer (HMT)

摘要

Two High Mobility Trailers (HMTs), serial numbers 05809 and 05811 were provided for testing. Prior to the start of testing, steel drawbar frame improvement kits were applied to both test trailers. The steel drawbar kit was developed to address failures of the standard aluminum drawbar and will be applied to all produced HMTs as a retrofit kit. Both test trailers were equipped with the standard model Six surge brake assembly. Testing was conducted to ascertain a speed at which an HMT loaded to 4200 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW) could traverse Perryman level cross country 2 and 3 test courses (PTA-2 and PTA-3) without damaging the trailer or its prime mover. The trailers were towed for 2000 miles on PTA-2 and for 1500 miles on PTA-3 at speeds not exceeding 10 miles per hour (mph). At 500 mile intervals, the rear bumper assembly of the High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMwV) prime movers and the drawbar/surge brake assemblies of the test trailers were inspected. Inspection of the surge brake involved disassembly of the brake actuator to remove the inner slide and visually inspect for cracks or abnormal wear.