This is my first military vehicle but the second owner. The truck was bought from the military last June 2010. I checked all of the fluids and drove the truck before I bought it. The guy I'm buying it from is replacing the cab corners and I'm picking it up on Friday.
The front axle is almost bullet proof, they can still be damaged by being wet. Jack it up and roll the front wheels to make sure they spin freely. Also grab the top of the tire and the bottom of the tire and try to move it, both left to right and top to bottom. It should be really solid top to bottom and you should be able to move it laterally, with resistance. We are looking for free lateral movement. If you find movement, figure out where it is before you drive off. Take the flex brake lines and bow them between your finger and thumb, do not try to crush them, but roll them around and look for deep cracks or signs of seepage or swelled spots. I would check the rear axle bearings the same way. They make so much noise, a growly bearing is hard to pick up on from the cab.
Is there anything I need to look for before I pick it up?
Obvious fuel leaks.
Will Goodyear Wrangler MT 37x12.5R16.5 Military 4x4 tires fit on the truck or is there a better tire?
I'll let somebody else jump in here, I am not much for lifting these trucks.
Will it be okay to drive it on the highway for 200 miles?
If it is good, drive it 1000 or 2000 miles, I would mine. Remember though, these are low rpm engines and the truck is low geared. A lot of guys say they run 65, but that is flat screaming for a 6.2. I am probably at the other end of the scale, 45 to 50 is a good speed for the M1008.
The truck is completely stock and has 54000 miles on it.
We can only hope that is factual, the military did not trouble shoot odometers, they just replaced them. If it has a million mile odometer, you know it has been replaced.
The first owner only put about 1000 miles on it.
It is borderline criminal not to drive and use these, they are excellent trucks.
Thanks for the help.
Good luck with it and welcome to the forums. Glen