Expedition Humvee

[jsoffroad]

I have been exploring in my 2005 Range Rover lifted with Johnson Rods and on 33" Nitto Trail Grapplers for the past 5 years, but with 198,000 miles it was time for something different. I read all the threads about how Humvees were unreliable, slow, terrible on gas, maintenance nightmares and that made me want one more. I know they aren't land cruisers but it's sure not a BMW based L322 Range Rover. Simple diesel, almost 100% mechanical, sure halfshafts and geared hubs are hard to come by but i'm not rock crawling. Plus I have two other GM cars one with a 350/TH350 and another with a LS2 and 6L80e and if I lose the drive train on the Humvee I'd swap in some van, school bus, diesel suburban, big block, or LS drive train and keep pushing. We have a 2 door JK as well for the lady. I replaced the engine and the transmission in the Range Rover and as you know there's no aftermarket, no cheap used engines to be had. After all that rationale I decided to pull the trigger on a 1989 AM General M998.

The Humvee was owned by a paratrooper and a Humvee forum member, while in service it was an officers personal vehicle at Camp Blanding. The previous owner replaced quite a few seals, ball joints, fluids, starter, harmonic balancer, and a few hoses. He added a keyed ignition and a hidden kill switch. He also added two large 12v deep cycle semi truck size batteries along with a 12,000 lb winch and a separate 12v battery for the winch. The truck came with a spare, a rear cargo cover, and plenty of spare and extra parts. I had it appraised and inspected before I bought it. I drove it 141 miles home and it didn't miss a beat. It is definitely very slow on the highway and could use an overdrive gear but for what it is I don't have any complaints. The truck is street legal.

I plan on stiching up the vinyl windows, adding a rear soft curtain, leather/vinyl seats something that is easy to wipe off after the rain, 12v for the phone and some speakers, then just basic maintenance. I'll explore and camp with it along with towing the boat to the ramp.

 

[rayra]

They're fun in the southwestern desert, I can tell you that. One of my hats in the Marines was driving an M998 as part of an Artillery Battalion HQ Battery mobile command post.
http://www.rayra.net/imageshare/militaria/dezbuggy.jpg

And you already know the bad news that the seats are too small / cramped. Which is pretty ironic for a vehicle that wide. Putting in an OD trans would be a very good improvement with immediate benefits.

 

[Dock Rocker]

Good to see another member with a hmmwv. I am about to add a 4l80 to mine. It’s so much better and you can easily run interstate speeds.

The winch is a little sketchy. That winch draws between 300 and 400 amps and if you have the dual voltage generator it puts out a max of 50 amps. If you do any heavy winching you will burn up your regulator and/or your winch. Just get a 24 volt winch and be done with it.


Make sure you check your lock tabs in the hubs so you don’t loos a wheel at speed. Also the TM’s are available all over but I know they are on Steel Soldiers. They are invaluable for maintenance and troubleshooting.

Where are you located?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jsoffroad]

Good to see another member with a hmmwv. I am about to add a 4l80 to mine. It’s so much better and you can easily run interstate speeds.

The winch is a little sketchy. That winch draws between 300 and 400 amps and if you have the dual voltage generator it puts out a max of 50 amps. If you do any heavy winching you will burn up your regulator and/or your winch. Just get a 24 volt winch and be done with it.


Make sure you check your lock tabs in the hubs so you don’t loos a wheel at speed. Also the TM’s are available all over but I know they are on Steel Soldiers. They are invaluable for maintenance and troubleshooting.

Where are you located?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The winch has its own 12v deep cycle battery in a marine battery box that I keep on a trickle charger. I’ll bring the battery when I go off the pavement. There’s also a 2” receiver mounted in the bed that the winch is mounted and locked too with a hitch lock when not in use. It’s a pretty useful set up.

I bought the truck from a Steel Soldiers member as well. I’m in South Florida. I’m also thinking about a 700r4 to keep it mechanical. There’s a few threads on it. Where are you located?

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Any updates?