I drove one of these HEMTT Tanker beasts while I was in the Army in Desert Storm /Operation Andrew Rescue. It simply refuses to get stuck! I have tried....in the snow, sand, mud, gravel, off-road terrain, etc,.....never let me down. On the highway it can truly deceive someone. This thing moves.....and it has THE best MRE heater!!!! In Iraq I was with the 1st Armored Division...named it "Harvester of Sorrow"....mostly supplied fuel to M1 Abrams and Bradleys.
they changed them last year now they are running cat engines with charge air coolers so its better for the environment. we get to work on them alot at the shop i work at very cool trucks.
Part of the advanced automotive courses for military engine operators is to get these things unstuck when the wheels are completely buried. It's fun stuff to watch.
M978 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT). I drove one way back in 1991 in Iraq. Desert Storm. Has a Detroit Diesel. The main tank holds 2,500 gallons. Has an automatic trans. As easy to drive as a car.
I drove one in Desert Storm too. I was also fortunate enough to have one after the war while I was with 10th Mountain in Operation Andrew Rescue (My ETS date saved me from being sent to Somalia! phew!). I absolutely loved driving this thing. I tried so many times to get this thing stuck and it always pulls out....sand, mud, snow, gravel...always pulls out! A beast among beasts! Which unit were you with? I was with 1st A.D. in Iraq.
I still think Truck could take this vehicle, remove the tank on the rear and replace it with a living quarters! (Camper doesn't sound manly enough!) Relocate the fuel tanks to make room for a pair of retractable trays to hold an ATV on each side! The ultimate RV! Maybe make a civie version of the MRAP as well! While I'm dreaming, make a pickup version version of the HET! (You know, for when you Chevy Kodiak just isn't big enough!)
hey ratte youre half right half wrong. It is a hemtt tanker yes its a 2500 gallon fuel tanker which hauls mogas or JP8 or even water. But yes they can get suck especially in iraqi mud believe me. The PlS is equally. Im still searching for a m1070 HET video. But these trucks rule for sure
Don't blame the truck.....blame the driver! James, Thats a very typical DAO (Dumb Ass Operator) comment. 88Ms ALWAYS blame the trucks while everybody else blames the 88Ms. Go figure! You have to be a complete IDIOT to get one of these stuck.....I was a 77F and drove this thing from the sands of Iraq (1st A.D.) to the deep ass snow in the mountains of upstate NY (10th Mountain Div)....Never had an issue. Umm yeah.
You don't find Russian military vehicles suffering from axle tramp and slack transmission drives like this OSKOSH! Look at the third axle in particular flapping around when he guns the engine with only the back two axles engaged!!!!
