New M1009 Owner!

[hoplite666]

Howdy gentleman.
I just won an auction for an 85 m1009 and will driving 400+miles to pick her up then driving the rig back home with a buddy following behind in my other car. The truck is up to date on its fluids/maintenance and is totally rust free. Just under 60k on the clock. The seller is totally confident in the trucks ability to be driven home save for some dry rotted tires.
Questions for y'all
Pointers for a pre road trip inspection on an M1009..?
Recommended speed on highways for best mpg and least stress on the drive train? (think its sitting on 31 inch tires)
Any thoughts on running a diesel purge or some sort of other additive in the fuel on the trip home?
Is it worth changing the oil/filter and fuel filter before I make the trip even though its been recently done?
I am a mechanically inclined/ fix it myself sorta guy so checking out a used car is nothing new but I am new to the CUCV world so any and all possible pre trip advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Recovry4x4]

Welcome aboard. Go through the TM Operators manual to completely familiarize yourself with the truck. I would make sure to travel with silicone brake fluid (what the military used) and a fuel filter as well. Check all fluids, change if they need it, otherwise you can do a complete PM when you get home.

 

[Warthog]

Welcome to the site.

Is the truck from a private seller or a government location?

Of course take tools and supplies on the recovery. Also a fuel filter or two. Running a cleaner is a good idea but it may "loosen" some crud in the system.

Ditto on the DOT5 brake fluid. Dot3 and DOT5 don't mix well

Nothing special about the checkout. If you have done others then you should be okay with the M1009. One thing to check is the rubber on the harmonic balancer. Look for cracks or chunks of rubber missing. A bad balancer can break a crankshaft. I broke one driving down the interstate a couple of years ago.

With unknown tires I would keep the speed low. No need for a blowout. A fellow member recently recovered a truck with tires that looked good but where old. While towing the M1009 he had one of the tires blow. He was doing between 30-45mph.

Starting your trip start slow, get used to the noises and quirks then increase speed.

 

[ThunderCracker]

Welcome to the site and I hope you have a pleasant and safe recovery.

 

[Whiterabbit]

+1 on the spare fuel filter!
Tough trucks when maintained. I'd crawl under it and check the U-joints and give 'em a squirt before heading off. Seems like owners (and GI's) always forget to lube those puppies!
Just standard fluid checks and a look over should do it.

 

[Barrman]

I would suggest what the others have already written. Plus to answer your question on speed. I always got the best miles per gallon at speeds slower than 62 mph gps speed with the 31 inch tall tires on mine. The truck was designed to run at 55 mph which was the national speed limit when it was built. If you just want to go. 65-70 gps speed would be my max on those smaller tires.

 

[hoplite666]

Purchasing from a private seller. Please spare me the lecture but I have not yet seen the rig in person. The seller has provided very specific and presumably honest information in regards to the vehicles condition. Most notably the absence of any and all rust. None what so ever. Ive been in the market for an m1009 or m1008 for sometime now and its about time I rolled the dice. I'm confident in my decision thus far and it seems I will soon be in the possession of a fine example of whats been on my mind for t0oo long. However if things do not check and the truck is not in as advertised condition I'll turn around and drive home with out it.

 

[Warthog]

While I don't know the seller, I would give him the benefit of doubt until proven otherwise.

I have bought many vehicles sight unseen. I bought a Suburban from GSA once. Flew to Las Vegas and drove it home 1100 miles. I only looked at the auction pictures. I did have a backup plan in place.

Sounds like you have done your homework and are ready to join the MV addiction.

Good luck on the recovery

 

[ThunderCracker]

Sounds like you have done your homework and are ready to join the MV addiction.

The MV Addiction is horrible and unfortunately there is no know cure!

But welcome to the family

 

[hoplite666]

I would be going down as early as tomorrow morning to pick her up however I need to track down a spare wheel/tire for the trek back. Its too late in the day today to call around the local wrecking yards to see whats available. When I do give them a call should I just be looking for any 6 lug 1/2 ton Chevy wheel (15x 8 ) ?

 

[hoplite666]

After scouring all of northern Virginia I came up with this wheel. 15x8 6 lug. appears to be one of the rally wheels I've read works on the M1009.

 

[ThunderCracker]

That should work for ya.

 

[donalloy1]

Have a safe trip. My O9 recovery was quite the adventure. Hope yours goes as well as mine did. Welcome to the M1009 family!

 

[hoplite666]

Too late in the day to make the 6 hour trip there and 6 hour back today. Plan is to head down on Wednesday and pick her up. Gives me more time to get the transport tags in order with the DMV and to pack a better tool kit/supplies to bring along. Gonna feel like a long Christmas eve til I get there.

 

[hoplite666]

Well gentlemen, 6 and a half hours and 450 miles. She is home! What a long friggin day. Ill be posting some info on the experience and how she drove tomorrow or so and I would appreciate any and all input.

 

[hoplite666]

Spent the day cleaning up under the hood and lubing up hinges and some other squeaky things here and there.
Gonna do the relay mod here soon.
Runs and drives as it should. The three speed sure does take some getting used to. lol.
A few issues:
Gen 2 light occasionally flickers when the truck comes to a stop after its been warmed up.
Slight lope in the idle after warmed up and in drive. (does this occasionally)
... im sure more to come. lol