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US Marine Corps Logistics Vehicle System (LVS) Mk-17 Rear Body Unit (RBU)

The MK17 RBU combines with the MK48 Front Power Unit to form the cargo carrying variant of the Logistics Vehicle System (LVS). The MK48/17 is utilized to transport palletized cargo and International Standards Organization/American National Standards Institute (ISO/ANSI) containers. The side panels on the cargo bed can be dropped down or removed to ease loading and unloading activities. The side panels also provide seating for troops. A Material Handling Crane (MHC) at the rear of the vehicle is used to load and unload cargo and equipment. The MK48/17 is also capable of towing and positioning any of the towed howitzers within the USMC inventory.

The full nomenclature of the Mk17 Rear Body Unit is Trailer, Powered, 20 Ton, Dropside, Cargo, With Crane, 4x4, MK17, MOD 0, NSN 2320-01-176-0468.

Tabulated data for the LVS Mk-17 Rear Body Unit:

Length 240 in
Width 96 in
Height 96 in
Square 160 sq ft
Cube 1,280 cu ft
Curb weight 22,650 lbs
Wheel base MK48/17 259 in
Ground clearance 23 in
Fording depth 60 in w/o prep
Electrical 24 v, neg gd, powered by FPU
Brakes Air, linked to FPU

The Mk-17 RBU has a 192x90x26 inch deck (120 sq ft, 260 cu ft), with load capacity of 20,000 lbs cross-country, 39,000 lbs highway. The MK17 is equipped with a knuckle boom crane and the MK17A1 is equipped with a folding telescoping boom crane.

Source: Marine Corps publication TM 11240-15/4B, August 1994.

Trailer, Powered, 20 Ton, Dropside, Cargo, With Crane, 4x4, MK17, MOD 0. From TM 11240-15/4C, Figure 3-5, Page 3-10
Trailer, Powered, 20 Ton, Dropside, Cargo, With Crane, 4x4, MK17, MOD 0. From TM 11240-15/4C, Figure 3-5, Page 3-10.

MK48/17 Logistics Vehicle System (LVS), with canvas erected on its Mk-17 Cargo trailer, drives off USNS Algol (T-AKR 287)fully loaded, NAS, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, 5 October 1998
MK48/17 Logistics Vehicle System (LVS), with canvas erected on its Mk-17 Cargo trailer, drives off USNS Algol (T-AKR 287)fully loaded with supplies for Hurricane Georges relief efforts, NAS, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, 5 October 1998.

MK48/17 Logistics Vehicle System crossing a Medium Girder Bridge, OP-5, Camp Lejeune, NC, 11 February 1997
MK48/17 Logistics Vehicle System crossing a Medium Girder Bridge, OP-5, Camp Lejeune, NC, 11 February 1997.

LVS Mk48/17 dropside cargo trucks load up with Marines arriving in Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield, 13 September 1990
LVS Mk48/17 dropside cargo trucks load up with Marines arriving in Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield, 13 September 1990.