- 692
- 1,058
- 93
- Location
- La Crosse, WI
Well my title and registration finally came through after two nail-biting months of waiting on the WI DMV. Did lots of research reading WI laws but seems some people still have problems registering and titling so it was a big unknown. For the past few months I've been fixing things as I had time.
I am a design engineer and just left the fire service so I needed to have a new project. Wife loves outdoors but hates the lack of comfort involved in camping. Normal RVs are boring and I have two boys that will be helping with the build process so they can learn some stuff school doesn't teach. Current plan is to put a 20ft shipping container on the back, keeping the tire and filter where they are.
Wanted maneuverability, parts availability, something not too much of a pain for the wife to drive, 4 season capable. Ended up buying an m1096 from Midwest Military Equipment. That was a mixture of good/not so good experience. The purchasing process and communication was very good, payment and delivery was quite easy. As I started inspecting stuff I started to run into issues and there was a long list...I'm sure I'm forgetting some.
1. The tires, stated as "395/85R20 Goodyear Super Singles 95% +" are date code 0714, meaning they have basically no life left based on age.
2. The frame has been damaged and a repair has been done, however not done professionally. There are cracks in the original frame and the reinforcement piece was cut too small so the bolts are at the edge of the reinforcement (breaking through the wall). It was also attached with regular bolts and not Huck fasteners. - cracks are small and near the hitch, will be an easy repair and in a low stress area.
3.Door catches and latches and the metal tracks weren't lubricated at all and took lots of force to unlock and open. Broke off the 3d printed handle the second day.
4. All the rubber is cracked/torn on the axle alignment rods, torque rods, tie rods, drag link.
5. It appears none of the zerks have been greased, although they said they were and then it was pressure washed. There was paint on the zerks. Not sure about this one.
6. The aux transmission cooler lines are not secured, resulting in them rubbing on a bracket and causing damage.
7. CTIS quick release valve is missing and hoses left open to elements.
8. Bolts missing in manual cab tilt pump and the cover.
9. The rear cab mount rubber missing pieces and others cracked.
10. Missing one latch on the battery box.
11. Cab hydraulic compression brackets left hanging free, no pins present to attach them.
12. No door keys
13. Wiring to rear taillights done unprofessionally and exposed to UV, open conductors where insulation has failed. Looks to be part of LED upgrade. Wire is also wrapped around hydraulic cooler line. - later found the extra two wires were installed as a patch since the originals did not have continuity. Found a loose connector under PDP and that fixed it.
14. Right front gladhand leaking. - Replaced check valve
15. All gladhand seals dryrotted.
16. Aux cooler positioned where axle will hit it before hitting bumpstops.
17. Only one aux cooler fan connected, haven't found other connector. Also wire hanging loose with multiple feet of slack. - From my looking in the wiring diagrams only one fan should be connected unless artic kit installed, I forget all the details.
I let MWE know about these issues and they sent out (next day) all the replacement parts that were cracked and/or missing. This wasn't an ideal experience from my point of view as I would have thought many of these items would have been taken care of during an inspection, apparently that is not so. Also need to but some pricey press tools to separate the suspension joints. I'm putting this information up so others that are buying vehicles are aware what they may need to ask more questions, for more pictures, etc than I did. I was expecting a bit more from the quotes "Fully Serviced & Gone Thru By Our Shop", "Turn Key 100% Ready To Go Work Or Play" and "Zero Leaks or Mechanical Issues" but that may have been my error. Please lets avoid having any bashing, just use this info as a point of reference as to what you may receive so your expectations are not out of line.
Link: https://midwestmilitaryequipment.co...m1096a1r-mtv-6x6-long-wheel-base-cargo-truck/
Regardless of all that, it does appear to be mechanically solid from everything I've looked at and the above items can be fixed fairly easily. On to the pictures from delivery day!
I am a design engineer and just left the fire service so I needed to have a new project. Wife loves outdoors but hates the lack of comfort involved in camping. Normal RVs are boring and I have two boys that will be helping with the build process so they can learn some stuff school doesn't teach. Current plan is to put a 20ft shipping container on the back, keeping the tire and filter where they are.
Wanted maneuverability, parts availability, something not too much of a pain for the wife to drive, 4 season capable. Ended up buying an m1096 from Midwest Military Equipment. That was a mixture of good/not so good experience. The purchasing process and communication was very good, payment and delivery was quite easy. As I started inspecting stuff I started to run into issues and there was a long list...I'm sure I'm forgetting some.
1. The tires, stated as "395/85R20 Goodyear Super Singles 95% +" are date code 0714, meaning they have basically no life left based on age.
2. The frame has been damaged and a repair has been done, however not done professionally. There are cracks in the original frame and the reinforcement piece was cut too small so the bolts are at the edge of the reinforcement (breaking through the wall). It was also attached with regular bolts and not Huck fasteners. - cracks are small and near the hitch, will be an easy repair and in a low stress area.
3.Door catches and latches and the metal tracks weren't lubricated at all and took lots of force to unlock and open. Broke off the 3d printed handle the second day.
4. All the rubber is cracked/torn on the axle alignment rods, torque rods, tie rods, drag link.
5. It appears none of the zerks have been greased, although they said they were and then it was pressure washed. There was paint on the zerks. Not sure about this one.
6. The aux transmission cooler lines are not secured, resulting in them rubbing on a bracket and causing damage.
7. CTIS quick release valve is missing and hoses left open to elements.
8. Bolts missing in manual cab tilt pump and the cover.
9. The rear cab mount rubber missing pieces and others cracked.
10. Missing one latch on the battery box.
11. Cab hydraulic compression brackets left hanging free, no pins present to attach them.
12. No door keys
13. Wiring to rear taillights done unprofessionally and exposed to UV, open conductors where insulation has failed. Looks to be part of LED upgrade. Wire is also wrapped around hydraulic cooler line. - later found the extra two wires were installed as a patch since the originals did not have continuity. Found a loose connector under PDP and that fixed it.
14. Right front gladhand leaking. - Replaced check valve
15. All gladhand seals dryrotted.
16. Aux cooler positioned where axle will hit it before hitting bumpstops.
17. Only one aux cooler fan connected, haven't found other connector. Also wire hanging loose with multiple feet of slack. - From my looking in the wiring diagrams only one fan should be connected unless artic kit installed, I forget all the details.
I let MWE know about these issues and they sent out (next day) all the replacement parts that were cracked and/or missing. This wasn't an ideal experience from my point of view as I would have thought many of these items would have been taken care of during an inspection, apparently that is not so. Also need to but some pricey press tools to separate the suspension joints. I'm putting this information up so others that are buying vehicles are aware what they may need to ask more questions, for more pictures, etc than I did. I was expecting a bit more from the quotes "Fully Serviced & Gone Thru By Our Shop", "Turn Key 100% Ready To Go Work Or Play" and "Zero Leaks or Mechanical Issues" but that may have been my error. Please lets avoid having any bashing, just use this info as a point of reference as to what you may receive so your expectations are not out of line.
Link: https://midwestmilitaryequipment.co...m1096a1r-mtv-6x6-long-wheel-base-cargo-truck/
Regardless of all that, it does appear to be mechanically solid from everything I've looked at and the above items can be fixed fairly easily. On to the pictures from delivery day!
