M1078 LMTV expedition vehicle build

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goneagain

Observer
Subscribed. We also just bought a 1996 1078, toying with the idea of a dropbox style bed system, one of the pull-ons being a camper box.

They are such a great truck! I think hi speed gears are mandatory though. just drove mine home from seattle, 55mph is absolute max speed, standing on the pedal engine wound out beyond comfortable. Since I couldnt bear to keep it there, I spent the rest of the 200mile trip at around 48mph. got somewhere around 04mpg near as I can tell. Economy will increase significantly if you could drop the RPMs down 500 or so.
 
C

charlieaarons

Explorer
goneagain said:
couldnt 6.14s alone get you there? I hate to go taller tires, its already 50' off the ground :)
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Sort of, do the calculations. But IMHO it'll still need low range and lockers. I've never driven one, but I know about getting stuck and unstuck in heavy rigs.
Charlie
 
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T

toylandcruiser

Expedition Leader
charlieaarons said:
Sort of, do the calculations. But IMHO it'll still need low range and lockers. I've never driven one, but I know about getting stuck and unstuck in heavy rigs.
Charlie
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I've driven these trucks a lot. It doesn't need a low range. My unimog doesn't have a low range either.
 
C

charlieaarons

Explorer
goneagain said:
ahh. Thanks for the advise then :)
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Ignore my advice if you wish.
I really don't know what heavy duty type North American vehicle has all the features at the moment. Unless you put one together from pieces. I do REALLY like the COE design of the FMTV.
The FMTV has CTIS, is borderline on low gears particularly with 6.14s (x6.93=42.5, times torque convertor) and is negative on lockers*. I DO know that sometimes all 3 are needed to prevent getting stuck/getting unstuck, and getting stuck in a 12-15 ton truck is not a "little problem". I've been stuck requiring external help 3 times^; self extricated about 10-20 times.
*NoSpin is made but apparently unobtainium for private people; if it was easily available I'd be a lot more positive about FMTVs
^once in Baja for 2 days in a "dry" lake bed that was bottomless muck, my stupidity against wife's advice,took 2 Mexican Army Hummers; once in Alaska for 10 minutes in very slick mud, probably would have been ok with tire deflation, took 2-3 Landcruisers; once in Morocco in muddy creekbed when front tires de-beaded before I added beadlocks, took a MAN 6x6 on Unicat "break-in trip".
With all 3 (lockers, low gears and CTIS with beadlocks) you can get yourself out of a LOT of trouble!!
Since you are already invested in one try real hard to find a set of NoSpin(s) for the rear axle(s) to install when you put 6.14s in (and maybe the front, you have power steering), you will not regret it and installation will be "free". Unless you plan on just highway and good dirt road driving. But remember just a few yards off the road to find the right spot can be trouble....
Charlie
 
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red EOD veteran

red EOD veteran

Adventurer
From the factory there are zero heavy duty/medium duty US over the road trucks with all the traction equipment. Even the drilling rig moving trucks with 5 axles have at most 3 lockers and usually none. So the easiest way is to find a vehicle with some of the equipment and add the rest as needed. Although not common used lockers are available for the LMTV axles. These axles were used by caimen MRAPS (same donor vehicle to get the higher speed gear ratio's) and some of them had selectable lockers.

Even with all the equipment any vehicle can get stuck.
 
T

toylandcruiser

Expedition Leader
charlieaarons said:
Ignore my advice if you wish.
I really don't know what heavy duty type North American vehicle has all the features at the moment. Unless you put one together from pieces. I do REALLY like the COE design of the FMTV.
The FMTV has CTIS, is borderline on low gears particularly with 6.14s (x6.93=42.5, times torque convertor) and is negative on lockers*. I DO know that sometimes all 3 are needed to prevent getting stuck/getting unstuck, and getting stuck in a 12-15 ton truck is not a "little problem". I've been stuck requiring external help 3 times^; self extricated about 10-20 times.
*NoSpin is made but apparently unobtainium for private people; if it was easily available I'd be a lot more positive about FMTVs
^once in Baja for 2 days in a "dry" lake bed that was bottomless muck, my stupidity against wife's advice,took 2 Mexican Army Hummers; once in Alaska for 10 minutes in very slick mud, probably would have been ok with tire deflation, took 2-3 Landcruisers; once in Morocco in muddy creekbed when front tires de-beaded before I added beadlocks, took a MAN 6x6 on Unicat "break-in trip".
With all 3 (lockers, low gears and CTIS with beadlocks) you can get yourself out of a LOT of trouble!!
Since you are already invested in one try real hard to find a set of NoSpin(s) for the rear axle(s) to install when you put 6.14s in (and maybe the front, you have power steering), you will not regret it and installation will be "free". Unless you plan on just highway and good dirt road driving. But remember just a few yards off the road to find the right spot can be trouble....
Charlie
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You've never driven one. Your post is pure ignorance.
 
C

charlieaarons

Explorer
Lostinthe world. I'm sorry if this has gotten OT. You will want fast axles, 2700 rpm at 60mph won't work well with your engine but 2150 rpm will work well. As long as you don't get stuck often, lockers won't be needed. As mentioned, I do really like the COE chassis (saves space) and I hope your project goes well.
Many (but not all, for sure) Russian trucks of similar size have CTIS but no lockers.
Charlie
 
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Ozrockrat

Ozrockrat

Expedition Leader
toylandcruiser said:
You've never driven one. Your post is pure ignorance.
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I'll back Charlie on this one. He may not of driven one of these but he does have a lot of real world experience.

Also I have driven one. Easiest 4wd I have ever got stuck. (That includes a lot of off-road and mining trucks) A locker on either axle would of had it out easily in our situation.

I still think they are the best truck available in the USA at the moment but they definitely need high speed axles to get that CAT engine into a reasonable rev range. The best we got was about 8mpg and that was at dangerously low speeds.
 
IdaSHO

IdaSHO

IDACAMPER
The guys with experience with these trucks and getting stuck, what situations and what terrain?

The LMTVs are pretty well flooding the market at this point, and are easy (and cheap) to get.

But Id have to assume that by now the factory tires are all but hard, and non-conforming.


Can I assume that a new set of modern treads would make these trucks that much better?

The original tires are probably pretty dangerous on the highway, in any situation other than dry pavement.

Surely the story is similar off the pavement.


I myself have considered an M1078, but have my own reservations about them, mainly the motor and the MPG.
 
T

toylandcruiser

Expedition Leader
Maybe you should air it down a bit?? In the 12 years in the army, I've never been stuck. Not any worse than anything else. I've been stuck in my Mog more than an lmtv. Maybe it's driver error?
 
T

toylandcruiser

Expedition Leader
Davidl13 said:
You serious? Lol... I did... And the way I understand it, Mode, does not change what wheels get power, it does change the power distribution slightly, leaves some wheels still doing nothing and disables the top two gears...

D
Click to expand...

Lol. I'm serious lol.
It splits the power 50/50
Look. I've been to h8 school in the army. We try to get trucks stuck. These trucks are callable.
 
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