Some Cargo Trucks & Trailers

[boilerman]

These trucks are based on a conversation I started on the Ground Combat board. Basic idea is to use a lift hoist to enhance cargo capacity and maintain vehicle speed.
Cargo Carrier Rules and the Tonbo

The short of it I have a tractor/trailer combination total mass 42 tons, 30 tons of which is cargo moving t MP 3/5.

Cargo Truck M20FC

Mass: 20 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Wheeled
Rules Level: Advanced Rules
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-D-A
Production Year: 2750
Cost: 183,333 C-Bills
Battle Value: 68

Power Plant:  80 Fuel Cell Engine
Cruise Speed: 54.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 86.4 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    None
Manufacturer: 
    Primary Factory: 
Communications System: 
Targeting and Tracking System: 
================================================================================
Exploiting combat vehicle trailer and lift hoist rules

Cargo Capacity:
   Truck “internal” cargo capacity:                                10 tons
   Truck lift hoist:                                               10 tons
   Trailer “internal” cargo capacity:                              10 tons
   Total:                                                          30 tons

Movement:
   Basic truck:                                                    MP 5/8
   Truck with 20 tons cargo*:                                      MP 5/8
    *Lift hoist rules TW p137
   Loaded truck & loaded trailer (total mass 42 tons)†:            MP 3/5
    †Tractor/Trailer rules TM p101
    80 / (32 + 12 – 20) = 80 / 22 = 3.6 => 3


================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                       8 points                2.00
Engine:             Fuel-Cell Engine              80                       3.00
    Cruise MP:  5
    Flank MP:   8
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             1                         0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         1.00
Lift Equipment:                                                            0.00
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  16                  1.00

                                                      Armor      
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     5         
                                          Left/Right    4/4         
                                                Rear     3         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lift Hoist                                   FR        0         1         3.00
Hitch                                        RR        -         1         0.00
Cargo Container                              BD        0         1        10.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      1    Points: 1
5w         0       0       0       0      1     0   Structure:  1
Special Abilities: ENE, EE

And the trailer:

Cargo Trailer M12

Mass: 12 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Wheeled
Rules Level: Advanced Rules
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-B-A
Production Year: 0
Cost: 26,500 C-Bills
Battle Value: 28

Power Plant:  0 No Engine
Cruise Speed: 0.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 0.0 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    None
Manufacturer: 
    Primary Factory: 
Communications System: 
Targeting and Tracking System: 

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                       8 points                1.50
Engine:             No Engine                      0                       0.00
    Cruise MP:  0
    Flank MP:   0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             0                         0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         0.00
Lift Equipment:                                                            0.00
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -   8                  0.50

                                                      Armor      
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     2         
                                          Left/Right    2/2         
                                                Rear     2         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cargo, Standard (10.0 tons)                  BD        0         1        10.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      0    Points: 0
0j         0       0       0       0      1     0   Structure:  1
Special Abilities: ENE

You can do the same thing with a 24-ton ICE powered truck, MP 5/8, 1 lift hoist and 10 tons of "internal cargo."

[gomiville]

By the rules, that's technically true, but I've always figured that the cargo in the lift hoist is swinging dangerously in the breeze.

Hanging from a VTOL? Sure.  Carrying cargo a short distance, like a fork lift? Sure.  But rolling cross country with vital bullets, beans and bandages?  No.

Personally, I've designed vehicles like this combination many times in the past, especially with the lift hoist on the tractor. Except I wouldn't load it with anything more than 2x10 tons.  The lift hoist would purely be to load and unload the cargo without external assistance (like at a forward supply depot).

[boilerman]

The rules allow something to happen but, at least in my opinion, do not always explain how they happen. I have no problem thinking a container is secured to the vehicle somehow and not swinging in the wind. But to each their own.

[Khymerion]

This definitely would be a good addition to the collection of cargo haulers and trailers.  I like the idea of having a hoist just built in to the tractor, if nothing more than it should be standard on everything.   Thanks for the addition.