Give outrigger arms a hand.

The outrigger arms on your M977 and M985 HEMTT are there to steady the truck when using the crane to lift a heavy load. But they can't do their job if you don't give 'em a hand.

Weighty Problem

Some operators want to make sure there's no slippage. They lower the outrigger arms so far that the back end of the HEMTT is raised slightly.

Problem is, the hydraulics can't take the strain of the crane's load plus the Weight of the HEMTT itself. The lines blow and you aren't lifting anything.

Lower the outrigger arms so that the rear tires have firm contact with the ground, but do not bulge from the weight. Any more--or less--won't get the job done.

Sandy Lifts

Soft or sandy soil lets the outrigger pads sink while you load or unload with the crane. If you're lifting something heavy, like an MLRS rocket pod or ammo pallet, the truck could roll over!

So before emplacing the outrigger arms, stick a couple of 2x12x24 inch boards under each pad. Semitrailer ground jack boards, NSN 2510-00-741-7585, work well, too. The boards spread out the weight and keep your truck nice and steady.

Center the boards before lowering the outriggers. When you're not using the boards, stow them in the cargo bed.