25 Pounder info needed.

[Private_collector]

I'm back from retrieving my platform. Left home 0430hrs yesterday, and arrived back at 1630hrs today. That's 2400km in 36 hours. I wouldn't recommend it.

On the positive side, I'll post all the highlights tomorrow, after I get some decent sleep.

[Private_collector]

That was quite a long trip. Well worth it for the part, and opportunity to meet Euan at the world famous racetrack known as Mt Panorama.
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My god, Bathurst has SERIOUSLY changed since I visited the track almost 30 years ago. At that time, we had recently purchased a new convertible, and I had intended to drive a lap of the circuit. Were it not for another motorist flashing his headlights as we were exiting the top of the mountain, I would have earned probably the largest speeding ticket of my life, because there was a police radar set up along the straight section where drivers get the greatest speed. I guestimate that we could have been doing in excess of 200km/h by that stage. Yeah, I know. Young and stupid!
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I travelled the inland route down to Bathurst, but was not pleased with where the GPS sent me. I'm afraid to say New South Wales country roads are just as bad as back home here. Making things worse, the wildlife is always a problem, as can be seen by all the dead kangaroos along the roadside. I decided to return by the coastal highway. There is a stark contradiction between the two routes. The new highway sections still being built, are constructed of thick concrete, so they will outlast tar roads by decades.
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This is a 1:1 scale replica showing how big the fruit grows in this part of the world.

Because I came home via coastal highway, it brought me past a friends place, who had offered me 4x Land Rover wheels. I collected those, plus the last of my finished CMP wheels, which had been left there for me by the chap who fit the tyres for me. Some time this week I hope to get those onto the truck, and remove the old tyres from the Land Rover wheels so I can prepare them for painting.

[Private_collector]

I would be interested in hearing from anybody here in Australia who has firsthand experience with transporting an entire artillery gun over significant distances. Say for example, 25pr gun from southern Victoria to equivalent distance of maybe south east Queensland. That would mean roughly - 2000km. Is it as horrendously expensive as i imagine it to be?

Just a hypothetical question.

[jack neville]

I've towed one from Geelong to Corowa and back with the Marmon Herrington and limber. Does that count?

[Mike Cecil]

Departed February, got home again in April??

[rob love]

If the wheel bearings are packed, and the tires are in good shape, towing it on it's own wheels behind a regular pickup truck is a dicey proposition. We have decent size pickups here in N. America.....in fact we are mocked for them. But the smallish trucks I see elsewhere would have a hard time handling the non-braked artillery pieces. Add to that there is a bit of a speed limitation to them, since they generally have no suspension. Our roads, at least in this province, will cause the artillery piece to develop a bit of a rhythmic skip. I have worked with rolled over parts from 105s.....the main chassis is usually OK, but it will be the telescope mounts and the shields and brackets that will bear the brunt of the upside down operation.

I have used my own pickup truck to go short 20 mile trips, or 200 mile round trips to the city, but in general, a trailer is the preferred method of movement. Luckily, the 25 pdr at under 4,000 pounds is a relatively light load, especially for the cummins diesel.

[Private_collector]

Thanks guys, but I'm thinking of a scenario where the gun is moved by shipping/haulage company.

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

I would be interested in hearing from anybody here in Australia who has firsthand experience with transporting an entire artillery gun over significant distances. Say for example, 25pr gun from southern Victoria to equivalent distance of maybe south east Queensland. That would mean roughly - 2000km. Is it as horrendously expensive as i imagine it to be?

Just a hypothetical question.

Hi Tony

We Have a member in the club with a 25 pdr tows it behind a 6x6 Studebaker or Blitz. For a comfortable long distance trip I suggest putting it on a car carrier.

Cheers

Tony