1986 Jeep CJ-10A Aircraft Tug

[cavboy80]

I'm a staff member at Bentwaters Cold War Museum near Woodbridge, Suffolk. Amongst our Aircraft and other exhibts we've got this,






The Jeep CJ-10a was contract built for the US Air Force as a tug to move around flightline equipment and Aircraft. There were approx. 2188 made built between 1984-1986 in the VAM factory Mexico.
The flight line tugs had some special features to make them better for towing, and most of this centred around weight. These are heavy, a lot heavier that they look! The front bumper is 1/2 inch channel, and had a large pintle hitch. The rear bumper is thick and heavy as well, and has 3 huge pintle's, with the center one being moveable for easy hookup. They also have a large weight box under the "bed" that weighs 12-1400 lbs. All together they weigh in the 6000 lb stock.
Besides the weight and the bed, the CJ is a right old mixture of "spare parts". Front axle is 'dead' power is by the rear axle only and this is 80 inches wide with a limited slip. The engine is a Nissan SD-33 diesel, transmission is an odd ball TF727 with a Dodge Industrial 440 Big Block bell housing with no shift fork, stuck in 4 low. Top speed is 25 MPH, the wheel base is a short 88 inches

Here it is doing what is for designed for.

Jaguar



Phantom



We've had it 5 years and it was looking shabby so a refurb was in order









The condition wasn't too bad seeing as how old it is and the fact it's spent most of its life outside. light corrosion was limited below the front screen. This area was designed to fold down on the Civvie version, these have fixed roofs though the hinges, release clamps and weather strip are still in place. The weather strip is the culprit for rot as it's a foam strip ! Good idea.

The FOD box is an old Ammo box, the handle has lace so a new one was made

.





The other items taken off the Jeep were prepped and primed









Then yesterday it was masked up





And i sprayed it Olave Drab green











During this i've also renewed the horrible sagging headlining



It was all knackered







new door weather seals too

[bortaf]

Been to bentwaters a few trimes back in the day (well outside it really) lol
when i used to go to GOV auctions back in the 90's at mildenhall there were jeeps with no rear axle,. just an X frame and huge dolly wheels with a towbar on, allways wonderd what the hell they were for ?
It's good to see such a specific motor getting some love, there can't be many left all the ones i saw go at auction went for breaking/scrap

[malachi]

i worked at lakenheath in the early 90s, the tugs there looked like the huge dualies that had been shortened and the axle put right behind the cab

[cavboy80]

Today more paint was applied to the Tug
as well as fitting up some of the lights and mirrors



There was a bit of corrosion on the dah so this was treated and primed



With the body looking smart the wheels looked scruffy and were prepped and primed



These areas were painted green

[cavboy80]

With the bulk work done it was time for the detail work to be dealt with today. The FOD sticker was very faded in the red area so this was dealt with......



.......as were the faded and rusting Fire extinguisher and Holder



Prepped



Sticker masked using fine line tape



Then everything red was painted Ford Sunburst Red



Red primer first



then top coat.





Unmasked the holder looks a lot nicer



As does the extinguisher



FOD Sticker unmasked too Very nice, it'll look good once back on the Tug.

[swampy442]

I remember these, when I was deployed to Turkey, towing GSE around. Nice resto

[oztuning]

Great to see it getting some love!

What other wheeled vehicles you guys got at the museum?

Cheers

[cavboy80]

Dec 7, 2015 15:52:46 GMT oztuning said:

What other wheeled vehicles you guys got at the museum

We've also got this, it's an early 1960s MB-4 American Coleman Aircraft Tug. it came from the guys at The Vulcan Restoration Trust based at Southend Airport who own and run XL426. We've had it for two years and plan a full restoration on her though other projects are making that a little way off.
That though is another thread.





Plus this 1964 International Harvester ex USAFE Bus. It came from RAF upper Heyford originally

[lordyoung1980]

That ambulance bus would make a nice camper.

[jaykay]

If that extingisher was rusty and needed repainting, about time you ditched it and bought a new one. Amerex extingishers are still the same to buy now, but home refurbing a stored pressure on a vehixle in use could get you in trouble...

[cavboy80]

Dec 10, 2015 17:46:04 GMT jaykay said:

If that extingisher was rusty and needed repainting, about time you ditched it and bought a new one. Amerex extingishers are still the same to buy now, but home refurbing a stored pressure on a vehixle in use could get you in trouble...

Worry not, it's all part of the restoration of the Tug. It'll never be used due to its age and lack of history. it's just nice to have it looking good along with the rest of the Tug.
We've got MORE than enough fully serviced and working extingishers throughout the entire museum complex.

[glen62]

Now that is Different,with a capital D

[steveo3002]

do you accept volunteers there? I'm a car painter and wouldnt mind helping now n then out if you need anyone

[cavboy80]

Dec 11, 2015 9:40:14 GMT steveo3002 said:

do you accept volunteers there? I'm a car painter and wouldnt mind helping now n then out if you need anyone

Yay, another paintsprayer. i'll ask mate as us staffers are paid up members of the Bentwaters Aviation Society and once a member you need to be one for over a year before you can become a staffer.
Another fellow painter would be handy as we've enough aircraft etc that require my spray guns attention.

[cavboy80]

The final stages of the re-furb were worked on the Tug on Sunday. The scuttle area was Dynax'd, the weather seals on the doors fitted as well as other detail work.



The AirForce ident details were added to the doors and bumpers. '85C 504' is the Jeeps military registration number



Reflective tape was added around the vehicle as per the original locations. Modern aircraft type vehicles are festooned with this tape.
On both bumpers 'AFE RAF BW' was added, this stands for Air Force Europe RAF Bentwaters and denotes the base the Jeep was working from.



Tape works well



Yellow and White vinyl are to be used for the military numberplates

[PHUQ]

Tidy! Nice to see something a bit different getting some love and I like the attention to detail with the stickers and such.

I had a Land Rover with an SD33 in, great engine.

[fuldatramp]

Great, I really like this, it's so different. Out of curiosity, what are the wheel bars fitted for? To protect people? It looks heavy, How much does this rig weigh?

[Rich]

Dec 17, 2015 22:01:23 GMT fuldatramp said:

Great, I really like this, it's so different. Out of curiosity, what are the wheel bars fitted for? To protect people? It looks heavy, How much does this rig weigh?

In the o/p he mentions around 6000lbs. Quite a weight!

[cavboy80]

Thanks for the postive comments guys.
The Tug does weigh over 2 tons , the rear wheel bars are to protect them whilst manoeuvring aircraft and equipment as these are the drive wheels.

[cavboy80]

Well she's finished. today the headlining was fitted, lettering tidied up and the numberplates done.
Then it was driven over to our restoration Hardened Aircraft Shelter for some pics.















It looks so good with all of the period correct ident lettering fitted, just how it would have been in 1986.
Thanks go out to John, Olly, Steve, Graham and Erroll for their help.......now i've a Hawker Hunter to prep and paint.