Light loads

What’s with the loads on Army trucks?
I’ve yet to see one loaded to capacity.
Today was just embarrassing.
An 8x8 MAN towing a 4-axle dog……with a bobcat on the dog.
Following was another 8x8, this one with a tri axle semi……. and one APC on the trailer.
Whenever there’s an exercise at Shoalwater, we see fleets of private truck/semi combinations each carrying a single item of equipment.

I think Army trucks are loaded for off road performance or maybe worst case scenario is a better phrase, reckon Lang would have answer for sure

Paul

My guess would be the tactical vehicles have very limited load capacity to enable them to be designed to operate in all terrain eg soft long travel suspensions, fat high floatation tyres, multi-drive axles, extreme waterproofing etc etc. As a result you see them on the highway with what looks like a light load. Also remember they are going to an exercise or whatever and are just loaded with what is needed unlike commercial trucks that must be fully loaded any time they are on the road.

The WW2 GMC is famously designated 2 1/2 ton 6x6 - for a dual axle truck! But that is its off road rating. Their real designation is 2 1/2 - 6 ton 6x6 with 6 ton being their road loading.

The Army only needs a handful of conventional semi-trailers. The country has a vast reserve commercial fleet to call upon at a moment's notice. You might see something like this:

"Mr Fox, the Chinese have declared war on us. From tomorrow morning at 0800 every day 10 of your B-Doubles will report to the army depot at Broadmeadows to get a coat of green paint. Oh, and by the way, while the trucks are being painted the drivers will walk across to the recruiting depot to swear the oath and be fitted out with a suit of baggy green clothes. Sorry, I have to go and make a phone call to Mr Toll"

Lang

In the 60’s & 70’s, the IH Trucks were rated on capacity to take the load anywhere, even by winch.
The 2 axle Mk 3 at 3 ton, the Mk 5 with 3 axles at 5 ton. The AB 160 4 WD with duals on the rear was a 2 1/2 yard tipper.
Used to load the Mk 5 tippers with 6 yards of material, made them work a bit. Sent us over new bitumen sprayers, over loaded before putting in 850 gallons of tar.

Mr Fox’s trucks might be up to it, not too sure about the drivers, all the instructions are in English.

OUCH!