Daily driver / tow set up

[mike8404]

Hello new to the forum looking at a 86 m1008. Have had more modern diesels in the past but none NA.

Several questions maybe I can get some good pointers on.

I have to move back to NC from CO
My trailer will way approx 3-4K
- what speeds can I expect to maintain through the mountains/ hills ect

- what upgrades can I do to improve the trucks ability?

This truck will also be my daily driver
- what mods can I do to improve daily drivability?

Thanks for any help and pointers.
Mike


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[gimpyrobb]

Put a turbo 6.5 in with overdrive. If you've not driven an N/A truck and plan on towing, your in for a slow ride.

 

[cucvrus]

I tow barred many CUCV's from Georgia to Pennsylvania back in the early and mid 90's. I towed pickup's with pickup's and blazers with blazers and a few pick ups with blazers. I towed an M1010 with a pick up twice. The trip was long and hot. the worst place I remember was I-77 into Virginia. I went coast to coast already and from Alabama with the tow bars towing CUCV's also. I always made it. It was a long trip every where I went. With no major expense and doing a good pre-trip on your old CUCV I think you would be good to go. Don't plan on a fast comfortable ride. But you will make it just fine as long as you keep in mind you have a truck with 135Hp and are not going to win any races or break any records. Your main goal is to get there safely and in one piece. If it where me at this point I would rent a truck and trailer and load the truck and trailer the CUCV. But if that is not an option for you. Slow and steady and you will get there. I towed more farther with a stock M1028 A1 then any other vehicle I ever owned. And DUDE is still running at 173+ K miles and over 20 + years. Good Luck. I have complete confidence in the reliability of a good well maintained CUCV.

 

[mike8404]

What speed do you think I could sustain?


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[Ilikemtb999]

I live in Lakewood and have an m1009. Completely empty and before the turbo I had trouble sustaining 45mph on i70. 60mph on 6th Ave in town was hard to do.


Now with the turbo i can do 70mph on i70. I'd think 40mph up into the mountains loaded down would be a push but also North Carolina is all downhill from aurora

 

[gimpyrobb]

I have complete confidence in the reliability of a good well maintained CUCV.

He is looking at one. He will not know the history.

I say rent a truck and buy one at your destination.

 

[mike8404]

He is looking at one. He will not know the history.

I say rent a truck and buy one at your destination.

That's a good option also.


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[cucvrus]

I live in Lakewood and have an m1009. Completely empty and before the turbo I had trouble sustaining 45mph on i70. 60mph on 6th Ave in town was hard to do.


Now with the turbo i can do 70mph on i70. I'd think 40mph up into the mountains loaded down would be a push but also North Carolina is all downhill from aurora

You had definite problems with that M1009. I drove them and still do at 70 mph day in and out. With the original setup.
Mike8404 I know you can do 55MPH most of the time. When you come to grades that will differ with the grade %. I would never be scared to do the trip. Just check it out and start off with a good running truck. Take an extra fuel filter with you.

 

[mike8404]

What are y'all averaging for fuel mpg? Not a huge concern but it does play a factor when doing the $ side of moving.


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[cucvrus]

I think 12-15 MPG while towing was an average. But I drove them hard and kept the pedal pressed down to the floor.

 

[mike8404]

I think 12-15 MPG while towing was an average. But I drove them hard and kept the pedal pressed down to the floor.

Hahaha yeah that sounds pretty similar to me.


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[Ilikemtb999]

You had definite problems with that M1009. I drove them and still do at 70 mph day in and out. With the original setup.
Mike8404 I know you can do 55MPH most of the time. When you come to grades that will differ with the grade %. I would never be scared to do the trip. Just check it out and start off with a good running truck. Take an extra fuel filter with you.

I live at 6000ft and it's only up from there......Loveland pass is 12k ft. Let me know when you aren't at sea level driving at 70mph

 

[mike8404]

What in terms of modifications can be done to improve longevity of the truck?

Spin on fuel filter?


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[doghead]

The 1008 is not geared the same as the 1009, expect much slower top speed.

55 is pretty much all you want to run it at for days on end.

Others will tell you they go faster, but thats up to you.

With 37" tires, 65 mph is good.

They are definitely low powered(in general).

 

[doghead]

Please add your state to your location, as the rules requested.

 

[cucvrus]

I actually drove my M1009 to the Grand Canyon, LA, Las Vegas and all the way back thru Utah , Colorado, Kansas and all the way back to Pennsylvania. i never missed a beat. The CUCV has an altitude compensate valve on it and I never noticed. Now 10 years earlier I did the same trip in my Diesel Chevette. It ran fine and had good power but would idle faster because of the altitude. That is the only thing I remember as being an issue.

 

[cucvrus]

What in terms of modifications can be done to improve longevity of the truck?

Spin on fuel filter?


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Spin on filter will not add longer life to the truck. I have the same trucks with the same parts. taking care of them and servicing them will add decades of life to the truck. I have the same one 20 years and just sold 2 years ago. A member here has it. Completely stock and still going strong. I drove it with the stock LT23585R16 tires and it was fine at 70-75 MPH. It was screaming and I heard crickets but it still stayed together and had no issues to date. DUDE M1028A1was and is still going the last I heard. Good Luck. Have a safe trip.

 

[mike8404]

Spin on filter will not add longer life to the truck. I have the same trucks with the same parts. taking care of them and servicing them will add decades of life to the truck. I have the same one 20 years and just sold 2 years ago. A member here has it. Completely stock and still going strong. I drove it with the stock LT23585R16 tires and it was fine at 70-75 MPH. It was screaming and I heard crickets but it still stayed together and had no issues to date. DUDE M1028A1was and is still going the last I heard. Good Luck. Have a safe trip.

Thanks. I guess I meant that a spin on filter I can go down to a 1 micron filtration filter.


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[gimpyrobb]

That's a good option also.


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I love my MVs, but when travelling long distances, a modern vehicle is way mo better and if its a rental, none of its issues are your's. I'd rather not have to worry about a thing, except where to stop for food.

 

[98G]

Thanks. I guess I meant that a spin on filter I can go down to a 1 micron filtration filter.


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The finer you filter, the easier it clogs....