Military Lubrication and Service Trailer

This is my new toy - a 5500 pound trailer that can grease and provide two other lubricants (90 weight gear oil and 15W40 Rotella motor oil) for my two military trucks. The particular unit used to belong to the US Marine Corps and was turned in when it reached its maximum service life. I bought it from a GSA auction and had to retrieve it from the GSA yard in Columbia South Carolina, 459 miles from where I live in Melbourne Florida. There were several different manufacturers of these trailers and mine is an LST-178A-85 unit.

What I am showing in this video is the early stages of troubleshooting and prepping the systems for use on my military trucks. Presently I am using my shop compressor inside of my garage to power this trailer until I can start the four banger air-cooled gas motor that runs the large compressor inside the trailer. I have to obtain a new air filter for the motor and still need two batteries to power the starting system which is 24 volts. Eventually I will install a NATO single pin plug so that I can jump start the unit if the batteries are dead or missing. I made a "lead-in" air hose from one that I bought at Harbor Freight Tools and added two male ends to the hose - one hooks up to the hose from my shop compressor and the other to the quick disconnect that I installed in-line with the storage tank inside the lube trailer. The individual shut-off valves that I installed will allow me to shut off the air to each of the three lubrication pumps so that I will only run air only to the one or ones that I am using. I tested my modifications and they work perfectly. Once I find a source for the GAA grease that I will need for my military trucks I will be in business!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Lube Trailer
• LST-178A-85
• CUCV

[breezebro]

I don't know anything about military vehicles so sorry if this is a dumb question. Why do you need a 5500 pound trailer to carry around grease and oil for two trucks? Just for fun?

[aboonski]

Actually it's a great question! Everything inside of this trailer is super heavy duty and will last a lifetime and beyond. The compressor inside is huge and will eventually take the place of several that I have at the house (backups, etc.). My cost for this was $604 plus the fuel to go and pick it up (less than $200). If you check Ebay, people who are selling these are asking over $3K for them - the Government paid over $23K for the one I have. It makes lube jobs a very simple & quick task.

[salemcripple]

Used one of those when i was on the maintenance crew at the last farm i worked at. At least it was something like it, not sure if it was the same exact model. Good times!

[aboonski]

This thing is pretty old! The newer versions use diesel motors and are a lot lighter than the 5500 pounds this trailer weighs in at! I would have preferred one of the newer models but would have paid three times as much for one on Govliquidation auctions. Everything on this trailer is heavy duty! Thanks so much for the comments too!

[NFSGamerUSA]

That thing is AWESOME! I wish I had one of those around!

[aboonski]

Eventually it will be awesome! So much work to be done before I can actually use this thing. I ordered the special GAA grease and will start using the trailer once the GAA gets here from New York. Long range plans are to install a small generator (which I already have) inside this thing so that I will have 120 volt power as well as compressed air to work with anywhere I go. Thanks for your comment by the way! You can buy one of these through GSA and Govliquidation auctions & Ebay too.

[929MIKE]

@NFSGamerUSA

Nope your congressman have determined that HMMWVs are not safe enough to be used by the public. All HMMWVs must be scraped by law. If you have an issue with this, write your congressman, they are the only ones that can change it.

[Dieselolds]

Great trailer.

[NFSGamerUSA]

I think I'll have to pick up a nice M1028 first, though. Heh, that'll be a ways down the road. I hear it won't be long until they start selling off the early HMMWV models, anyway.

[aboonski]

JON!!!!! Thanks for the comments! Looking for a Huey right now (how did you know?). You can't get more reliable vehicles than the ones the military uses! Just need a water buffalo trailer to complete my collection.