The CUCV Build-1986 M1031 Mobile Field Maintenance Assault Vehicle

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Getting to the roof of the contact body was getting to be a real pain. Some methods include getting a ladder, climbing up the front brush guard over the hood up the windshield, or opening up the whole back tailgate and using the bumper, tailgate, and bunk platform to scamper up there. All these methods were inconvenient and sketchy. The spare tire is up there on the roof and I'm sure there will be other stuff going up there that will need access to. So the solution would be a type of folding up ladder.


These will work great, but the way they will be attached on the one corner of the truck, the cabinet door will hit the side of the step.


So we had to cut, grind, and weld them back on at an angle to clear the doors. I couldn't find them already made at an angle, not sure if they even exist, but we needed them.


Finished step all mounted.


This makes it so much easier to get to the roof! No longer a chore and/or hassle.


The cabinet doors just clear the steps. If it weren't for the angle, the doors would not be able to open.

Oh and happy Halloween!

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

I've really been tossing the idea of a winch back and forth in my head. Being a Jeep guy, it's a no-brainer insurance to just throw one on the front. But I really wanted to keep the truck to look stock on the outside, as it was during it's military duty. And welding up a crazy custom bumper with a built in winch would have been really fun and practical, I think I'll hold off for awhile. Don't plan on getting in a pickle while offroad, but should always have an option. An ancient overlanding philosopher once said:

"There are good drivers and there are bad drivers. Good drivers can get themselves out of a pickle, while bad drivers drown in the pickle jar..."

One anti-pickle option is a Hi-Lift jack. These things are super dangerous, but in the hands of a skilled operator, they can be safe and extremely versatile. They lift, pull, push, pinch, and even winch.


One problem was were to put this thing. Most common size is the 48" for Jeeps and such. But this is bigger than a Jeep, so we figured we'd have room to store the 60". First we thought front brushguard. But that didn't work out because it either was blocking radiator or up too high and obstructing the drivers view of the road. Then there was the roof. No no no, adding weight so high increases your center of gravity. Don't mount everything to the roof, especially jacks and fuel cans. It's bad enough we already had the spare full size tire up there. But hey, this spot on the back worked perfect!

The rear of the contact body is 3/8" aluminum. So we drilled and tapped two 3/8" holes and threaded bolts out from inside the cabinets and just used nuts to secure the jack. It really did fit perfect. The tailgate drops with no obstructions, and the tool rack stays clear too! Tucked up out of the way, using zero real estate space, for that rainy day we hope doesn't come. But it's good to know that it's there, even if it never gets used. Kinda like a first aid kit.

 

[oldone]

Good place for the jack...I'll put the jack, and the first aid kit, in the same category as a gun...One never needs a gun, until one needs one badly...('Tis better have and not need...Than need and not have---)

I like your truck...

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Thanks! And oh yes, gotta have at least one gun. I also hope to never "need" one, but it's there as a Plan B, just in case.


Good thing this truck came stock with gun racks in it!

 

[Herbie]

Getting to the roof of the contact body was getting to be a real pain. Some methods include getting a ladder, climbing up the front brush guard over the hood up the windshield, or opening up the whole back tailgate and using the bumper, tailgate, and bunk platform to scamper up there. All these methods were inconvenient and sketchy. The spare tire is up there on the roof and I'm sure there will be other stuff going up there that will need access to. So the solution would be a type of folding up ladder.

View attachment 313679
These will work great, but the way they will be attached on the one corner of the truck, the cabinet door will hit the side of the step.

View attachment 313680

I love these. Any sense of how much load they put into the mount? I'd love to fit a set to the side of my van, but have been stumped by how to reinforce behind the body...

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Oh geeze, I wouldn't attach these to sheet metal like that. They will most likely tear the metal when you step on them. I'd say that if you can physically move/deform the material with your hands, you shouldn't mount something like these steps to it. I think in an application like a van, they have an actual ladder that goes up the back door.


I think you want something like this, that attaches to the top and bottom where the body is stronger.

 

[Herbie]

If I had rain/drip rails, I could, but I don't have rails. Throw a fiberglass pop-top into the mix, and I don't have much in the way of anchor points on top...

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Hmmmm, maybe you can build some kind of support rib that goes top to bottom inside the van and mount all the folding steps through the sheet metal to the rib. Maybe go buy one of the folding steps and get an idea of the forces at hand and try something. There is always a way to get anything to work...

 

[chilliwak]

Once again some nice looking aditions Plethora. Always great to see what you have been up to. Cheers, Chilli..

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Yep, gotta keep going. Can't wait to start a travel thread! Truck is almost done. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Ok, so we got a place to sleep, shower, and even an awning to cook under when it rains. But where does one poop? Let's face the facts here, everyone poops. For thousands of years, man has been pooping in the woods just like every other animal. Urinating is easy, well at least for us guys. You ladies could also benefit from this entry too. Eventually, we're all gonna need to use the throne. But being an animal and popping a squat in the middle of a clearing in the woods is getting old. Man hasn't gone through the industrial revolution for nothing. So we need a more comfortable solution to the situation at hand.

The Boy Scouts taught me all about poopin' in the woods. There is an eco-friendly method that involves a shovel, some sweat, and some square lashings. That was fun and all for a bunch of silly teenage boys loaded with fart jokes and potty mouths, but we need something a little less time consuming and easier to use, but still using the simple shovel part of the equation. I've seen those as-seen-on-tv things like the "Bumper Dumper" and the likes, but that's just a waste of hitch receiver space. But why re-invent the wheel? Let's just modify it. A trip to the local hardware store!


Looked through all the different toilet seats and picked out the thickest one. Even the thickest seat won't have the support to hold weight in the fashion that it we needed it to, so a support frame needs to be made. The thick plastic was also nice to drill and tap to bolt the seat to the frame.


Welding up the frame and trying to figure out a hinge setup.


A hinge setup because this is what it's going to look like when it's up in storage mode.


And folds down when you need to do your business.


Frame without the seat, all ready to go.


To keep the seat up in it's storage position, a simple bungee cord does the trick. It also doubles as a toilet paper towel holder!


The best method we came up with is a simple milk crate to keep your feet/pants out of the "drop zone". And you just dig a shallow hole right under the seat or get a bucket or a bag or whatever depending the bombing location and scenario. The seat hooks onto the front brush guard and is easily removable so you can take it out into the woods and strap it to a tree if you don't want to have a restroom right in the base camp.


Need to drop the kids off at the pool? Why not have a nice view while your at it? Just think, having a toilet with you, anywhere you go. The possibilities are endless!


The toilet seat comes in handy at super short notice, especially in places where there are no public restrooms, like Times Square in New York City. Seriously, every fast food place there has locked keypad doors on their restrooms and you have to buy something so the manager can escort you in there. It's really horrible there, bring your own toilet...




Ok, now that silly topic is out of the way, back to serious build things. Hmmm, could use a cold beverage while using that toilet. A fridge would be nice, but if only we had an energy source to power that fridge...

 

[k9lestat]

That is cool. And when in the stowed position people think you're a colts fan....lol

Sent from my QMV7A using Tapatalk

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Yea, I guess that's a good way to hide a toilet in plain sight.


Too bad I'm an Oiler's fan...

 

[k9lestat]

Lol

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[PlethoraOfGuns]

The truck needs more power. No, not that kind of power, DC power. Currently there are two group 31 starting batteries that do everything on the truck. We also have one alternator being used to charge those two batteries and have had the other alternator sitting around as a spare. Well, we're going to put that spare alternator to good use in conjunction with some deep cycle batteries. Also going to add in some solar to help out charge all these batteries.


Had this copper piece of buss bar from a circuit panel. Modified it to mount a circuit breaker to the power distribution block on the firewall. Cut the positive distribution bar in half, one half for the starter batteries, and the other half for the deep cycle batteries. Installed the second alternator back in the truck, wired to just charge the deep cycle batteries.


The truck already uses group 31 batteries, so we decided to stick with that. Welded up a battery tray for the deep cycle.


Mounted the battery tray on the drivers side fender. Just a simple metal bar on threaded rod to hold battery down.


Made a simple frame out of aluminum to mount the panels. Elevated them off the roof just a little bit to allow air flow to keep them cool. Ran the wiring through a rubber grommet into the electrical cabinet. Two 50 watt panels should be enough for our needs.


Drilled and tapped mounting holes for the charge controller inside the electrical cabinet.

Now the truck has two separate, independent 12vdc power systems. We can power all kinds of things now! Technically could even jump ourselves by running jumper cables from one set of batteries to the other, in case the starter batteries die. The deep cycle should always be charged by the solar panels.