Vehicle Preparation

55-2350-252-14

***WARNING***

2-4. Vehicle Preparation

No one should be on the semitrailer bed

BFVS preparations for highway transport include:

during loading operations.

a. Removing external antennas and the 25-mm

gun barrel (optional).

2-6. Loading and Tiedown Procedures

b. Securing all loose items.

a. Place the BFVS in the tiedown position on

c. Closing hatches.

the semitrailer. Use a crane of adequate capacity,

d. Locking the turret.

or drive or winch it onto the semitrailer, provided

e. Placing gun elevating mechanism in the neu-

suitable ramps are available. (See para 44 for

tral position.

lifting procedures.)

f. Emptying fuel tank to one-fourth of its capac-

b. Position the BFVS on the semitrailer, using

ity.

the semitrailer's cargo plate as guidance, or the

g. Removing all trash and mud from the vehi-

figure in this text corresponding to the semitrailer

cles tracks,

being used. If no cargo data plate is present and a

h. Checking for fluid leaks and repairing de-

corresponding figure is not in this text, position

fects,

the vehicle so that its weight is evenly distributed

i. Inspecting engine, brakes, and tiedown provi-

over the tractor and semitrailer axles.

sions and repairing any defects.

c. Put the transmission in neutral.

j. Securing the battery.

d. Set the parking brake.

e. Install chains and load binders in locations

2-5. Semitrailer Preparation

shown in the figure corresponding to the type of

a M1000 Semitrailer: The curbing must be ad-

semitrailer being used. The size and type of chains

justed to receive the BFVS tracks.

and load binders are specified on the correspond-

b. M747 Semitrailer: The curbing must be ad-

ing figures. A detail of a chain tiedown configura-

justed to receive the BFVS tracks. Position curb-

tion, using a loadbinder, is shown in figure 25.

ing inboard, row 1, locations A, B, C, and F.

**CAUTION**

c. M870 and M870A1 Semitrailers: The outrig-

Do not use the sprocket, idler, tracks, or

gers should be extended, and the outrigger plank-

final drive assemblies as tiedown points

ing should be moved from the storage area in the

for the BFVS.

center of the semitrailer to the outrigger exten-

NOTE

sions.

During CONUS movement, the prime

***WARNING***

mover of the BFVS is governed by the

Loading should not be conducted on sur-

same safety requirements as commercial

faces with side or lateral slopes larger

carriers.

than 10 percent. The tractor-semitrailer

NOTE

offset angle should not be greater than 5

An appropriate substitution of chains can

percent.

be made in accordance with appendix A,

***WARNING***

"Chain Tiedown Calculations." If chains

are not available, wire rope should be

Avoid loading on a severe downward

used. See paragraph 3-5 for materials and

grade, to prevent the payload from rolling

instructions.

forward on the semitrailer.

2-10