- 60
- 129
- 33
- Location
- Anchorage, AK
Hi All,
I've been considering a MV for many years now, I originally joined this forum way back in 2011 when I nearly bought a surplus M35A3 at auction. Back in March I finally pulled the trigger on a cherry 2008 M1079A1R in Illinois with plans to drive it home to Alaska in June. I've started this thread to document the work I'll do to the truck and the journey back home.
Here’s the truck:
I flew down to test drive and inspect it before purchase, and aside from a hastily applied black paint job, it is basically a nearly new, unaltered truck with only 1000 miles on the odo. It was owned by a fire department after Uncle Sam, so even though they didn't put many miles on it they'd regularly start it up to circulate the fluids and keep the batteries charged. The inspection turned up a few minor issues outlined below that I’ll need to sort out before hitting the road.
I plan to do the following upgrades before leaving Illinois:
Basic Maintenance to be performed before the start of the trip:
Undecided/possible upgrades:
Known Issues:
Spares/tools:
The trip:
I'll be flying back to Illinois the first week of June to begin the fun, wish me luck!
I've been considering a MV for many years now, I originally joined this forum way back in 2011 when I nearly bought a surplus M35A3 at auction. Back in March I finally pulled the trigger on a cherry 2008 M1079A1R in Illinois with plans to drive it home to Alaska in June. I've started this thread to document the work I'll do to the truck and the journey back home.
Here’s the truck:
I flew down to test drive and inspect it before purchase, and aside from a hastily applied black paint job, it is basically a nearly new, unaltered truck with only 1000 miles on the odo. It was owned by a fire department after Uncle Sam, so even though they didn't put many miles on it they'd regularly start it up to circulate the fluids and keep the batteries charged. The inspection turned up a few minor issues outlined below that I’ll need to sort out before hitting the road.
I plan to do the following upgrades before leaving Illinois:
- Install Ecohubs
- Install new 14.00R20 tires with balance beads
- Install 3-piece run flat inserts on the front tires
- Add sound insulation to the cab (its LOUD in there and my wife and daughter plan to join me for part of the trip)
- Install LED headlights
- Upgrade the seats & install suspension seat bases (no air ride cab on the A1R)
- Install an Arduino CTIS controller from Plasa
- Install a backup camera
- Security updates:
- Keyed ignition
- Door keys
- Install a puck lock on the box door
- Install padlocks on the battery & tool boxes
- Add a locking gas cap
Basic Maintenance to be performed before the start of the trip:
- Replace engine oil & filter
- Replace fuel filter
- Replace hub & rear diff oil
- Hit all the grease points
- Replace the air dryer desiccant cartridge
- What am I missing?
Undecided/possible upgrades:
- IFS HEUI pump prefilter kit – is this a necessity for the C7?
- Change transmission fluid to ATF – is this worth doing before the trip?
Known Issues:
- CTIS controller not functioning – hopefully solved with the new Arduino CTIS controller
- Turn signals/hazard lights not working – hopefully just a bad relay, I’m bringing spares
- 17-year-old original tires – will be replaced with 14.00R20s with 2020/21 date codes
- Spare tire strap frayed – bought a new strap to install
Spares/tools:
- Spare 12V & 24V relays, circuit breakers
- Serpentine belt
- Milwaukee 18V impact gun & sockets (is the ½” drive gun strong enough for the lug nuts?)
- Full set of wrenches
- Torque wrench
- Breaker bars
- Torque multiplier for lug nuts
- U-joint puller
- Spare U-joint
- Bottle jacks (military 8 & 12 ton jacks came with the truck)
- Gladhand air hose with chuck
- Multimeter
- Electrical tape & silicone tape
- Grease gun
- Jumper cables
- Anything major I’m missing?
The trip:
- Illinois – Iowa – South Dakota – Wyoming – Montana – Alberta – BC – Yukon – Alaska! We've planned for ~12 days of driving.
I'll be flying back to Illinois the first week of June to begin the fun, wish me luck!