M1078 LMTV expedition vehicle build

[silvrzuki77]

Less bench racing and more build info please


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[toylandcruiser]

Exactly, slight power redistribution.. Not lockers... Congrats on your army degree... I don't know what callable means, but they could be a lot better with lockers... But hey.. Armies have lots of folks to help... And grade roads...

Better engine, a diet, and lockers... Would go a long way... It's about 7-10,000 lbs heavier than it needs to be... For heavy duty off-road camping use... Carrying tank parts... That's a whole different story...

Anyway, I still like them... And that is my experience based on use and compared to similar class of vehicles...

Capable. You're experience is one test drive. There ya go.

 

[HowardH]

Engaging mode locks the center deferential, similar to engaging four wheel drive on a typical 4x4 pickup. Without the center deferential locked you can end up with one wheel drive.

 

[toylandcruiser]

Engaging mode locks the center deferential, similar to engaging four wheel drive on a typical 4x4 pickup. With the center deferential locked you can end up with one wheel drive.

Not one wheel drive

 

[Rebuilder]

For those who didn't see this over at Steel Soldiers.....



Looking forward to getting back on topic :ylsmoke:

 

[HowardH]

Not one wheel drive

Not sure of your meaning but I guarantee with the center unlocked you are in one wheel drive if traction is lost.

 

[goneagain]

For those who didn't see this over at Steel Soldiers.....

View attachment 364487

THat is very cool! couldnt find the post. Are they made by meritor or? seems like an ideal thing to stick in the thirds when I do a regear. all in all, lockers, thirds, and gears, its cheaper to build LMTV axles than a civilian pickup

 

[toylandcruiser]

Not sure of your meaning but I guarantee with the center unlocked you are in one wheel drive if traction is lost.

With it in mode it'll be two wheels.

 

[HowardH]

Correct

 

[DzlToy]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...Stevenson-BAE-6x6-Build?p=2131877#post2131877

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...ng-a-little-design-work?p=1519023#post1519023

 

[toylandcruiser]

What still sucks when one rut is slippery and no help for miles around.
I dont expect the Army sends lone vehicles to the middle of nowhere very often.

As I understand it, FMTV is a fulltime with some kind of viscous central in its transfercase, that "Mode" setting locks it up ?

Yep
The army has never used lockers. I wish they did use selectable lockers as mogs do. But it is what it is. If you can find a navy or marine corps truck, they use lockers.

 

[quickfarms]

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.

This is probably true for the big fleet over the road trucks, some of them don't even have the ability to lock the power divider.

The vocational heavy and medium duty trucks are a different story.

Almost every real construction truck, this is one that was ordered for the job, has had either Detroit lockers or air lockers in it.

My old Mack had three air lockers in it. One for each axle and the power divider. This truck was a beast off road in the mud.

My big ford has two Detroit lockers in it and an air locked power divider

The little ford has an air locker in it.

I have yet to find a medium or heavy duty with a locker in a driven steering axle.

 

[LostInTheWorld]

Hey guys, thanks for all the commentary. All interesting points.

Here is the situation, though. In my mind, there is no perfect vehicle. On top of that, if you put a financial constraint or any other specific constraint (such as size, state legality, part availability, fuel type...) on vehicle selection, it greatly reduces your options. We compared vehicles for over a year. The M1078 is not perfect, but we think it is the best option for us right now. I would much prefer to have an 80% scale Steyr, with parts that are available at NAPA, and a diesel engine that is CA import legal. That doesn't exist, though. We're pretty happy with our M1078, but we do plan to be a little careful in "sticky" situations "off-road". It is what it is and will have to be treated accordingly.

That being said, we do plan to make upgrades and modifications after we take it out and get to know it for a while. Adding a cab AC and installing high speed gears will probably be at the top of the list. Lockers might be in order at the time of the gearing upgrade if they turn out to be a real option.

We'll post a project update shortly.
Michael

 

[LostInTheWorld]

Little update on the project... we've been making a ton of progress, but in little bits. We've been trying to put in some time on the project every day. Progress has been in 2 basic fronts: fixing the truck and starting expedition truck related retrofit. We're still stripping parts off the truck and "refurbishing" them as we go. Overall, the truck is in good mechanical shape, but we are finding that some parts just need replaced (throttle cable, forward air tank...). We have been making good progress on the roof rack. We're trying to get the roof rack fitted and all mounting holes drilled before we go into any body work / painting. After much consideration, we decided to go with "new" 100% tread XZLs.

 

[Petrolburner]

Are you running the TIG pedal with your knee? Impressive!