The CUCV Build-1986 M1031 Mobile Field Maintenance Assault Vehicle

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Looks like a 80's video game lol everything looks clean as hell though! And I did the '11' haha

Hey thanks! Sometimes going to just 10 isn't good enough!

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

As one who used to ride around in one of these, in the woods, in Europe, in a woodland camouflaged "play suit"---I'm glad some of these wee beasties are being repurposed to fun...I'm looking for one to fix up myself...Retirement needs a hobby, and "Expeditioning" a CUCV would be a lot of fun...A lot of the ones I've seen are in really terrible shape, but I shall persevere...I appreciate your thread, and I'm subscribed...

I'm happy to undertake the challenge of keeping one of these beasts going. Apparently this truck was in Europe during its service and for one reason or another taken back to the states. But that was 20-25 years ago.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Awesome!

That dash looks awfully familiar, glad I'm not the only one sporting the mean green steel dashboard. The dash on my CUCV was falling apart (plus it was a sunfaded shade of purple), so it's sitting in the shed while I figure out what to do with it. I guess one advantage of the bare steel dash is that you can mount all kinds of doodads to it pretty easily.

I was thinking having the dash back on might reduce some of the noise in the cab, but I may be fooling myself.

My old dash was also falling apart. I removed and found all the sheet metal goodness and decided to just throw the dash away. Haven't looked back since. In any vehicle, especially an expedition rig, if something serves no purpose, then ditch it. And really, what does a plastic/foam/vinyl dashboard do?

And reducing sound? Yes, your fooling yourself. If you want to get rig of noise, Lizardskin the firewall and floor. Or get a sound system and bump some tunes.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Plethora this is so awesome! Thats the kind of fool proof set-up I would love in my rig.. Wicked, and thanks for posting those pics. It gives everyone a cool idea of whats going on in your rig... Cheers, Chilli...:Wow1::Wow1::Wow1:

Would prefer a manual trans, but this will do for the current setup. Beggars can't be choosers...

 

[chilliwak]

Are you getting any serious mileage gain Plethora? That would be good to know.....

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Unfortunately, the mileage is about the same, stuck in the mid-teens. But I'm also driving an extra 15mph faster. Eh, you win some, you lose some...

 

[jamesgrizzlyadams]

And reducing sound? Yes, your fooling yourself. If you want to get rig of noise, Lizardskin the firewall and floor. Or get a sound system and bump some tunes.

I think I'll do both! Just have to repair the rusty floor first (and patch the hole left from the headlight dimmer switch which rotted out)

 

[chilliwak]

Increased speed at the same milage is a win win in my books Plethora...:drool:

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

I think I'll do both! Just have to repair the rusty floor first (and patch the hole left from the headlight dimmer switch which rotted out)

Wait, what rotted out?

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Increased speed at the same milage is a win win in my books Plethora...:drool:

And of course! But I wanna hit the mysical "20mpg". Guess I need to do a 300 mile trip at 50mph to see if i can break the "20 barrier"...

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Alright, so one problem with this rig setup is rain and other weather that is less than desirable. Sure, if the weather goes south, you can sit in the cab or lay down in the bunk area. Nah, we wanna be able to cook and play cards and stuff regardless of what the weather is cooperating or not. We're going to try and make such occasions more tolerable.


So this is the current solution. An EZ-UP tent, a tarp, some paracord, and a few tent stakes. It sort of works. It's a pain to setup, takes up a lot of storage space inside the truck, and it's not 100% effective.

So we opted to install a Tepui awning on the roof of the contact body.


Installing the brackets to the roof. Got some 1" square tubing to act as a spacer to get the awning to mount higher to get over the rear upper running lights on the roof.


We can mount the spare tire tie-downs to the square tubing too.


There we go. Some shade and some protection from rain. Unzip the cover, roll out awning, fold out legs and boom, instant awning!

But what about sideways rain?


Something like this that can quickly be attached of needed.

 

[jamesgrizzlyadams]

Wait, what rotted out?

The floor around where the headlight dimmer switch was mounted rusted through. So the military took out the dimmer switch, wired the headlights so they were always on "high beam" then put a mat over the hole.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chilliwak]

Me like Plethora. Easy and simple are cool in my oppinion. Looks fuctional and robust. Let me know how it works out in real life and post pics if you can...

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

The floor around where the headlight dimmer switch was mounted rusted through. So the military took out the dimmer switch, wired the headlights so they were always on "high beam" then put a mat over the hole.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh my, the horror! Sounds like a Chevy problem...

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Me like Plethora. Easy and simple are cool in my oppinion. Looks fuctional and robust. Let me know how it works out in real life and post pics if you can...

Easy and simple was the plan. If we're using this thing on a daily basis, setup, takedown, repeat, it's going to be nice to use if it's convenient to use. If it's a pain to setup and use, then it most likely won't ever be used.