All,
I picked up my new, to me, M1009 from Rick (CUCVRUS). It is my second M1009 and I have learned quite a bit since I purchased my first in May of 2011. I waited this long to post something because I really wanted to live with the new truck for awhile and see what I got. I have also been a bit busy lately, as life seems to go in different directions at the drop of a hat.
The first thing I want to say is that this site is invaluable for a military truck owner and I am grateful for it. I have met a lot of really good folks through here and have learned a lot. Good help, tips, ideas and instruction abound.
Second, I am fully aware that we are buying 30 year old plus vehicles and no matter how much work goes into them, something always can, and will, break or fail or just plain wear out, more likely sooner than later. ****, if you want perfect, by a new truck (yeah, right).
Next, there is quite the difference in the quality of vehicles, the workmanship/details that are put into some of the restorations of these trucks and the integrity of individuals selling them, on this site, as well as others. Just because something looks good, doesn't mean it is. The old adage about putting lipstick on a pig comes to mind. You have got to look closely at what you are buying, as well as the person you are buying it from. What do they have going on? Anyone else dealing with them that can speak to the quality of their work (how about a few years down the line ??)? What work have they done and how deep and how far do they get into these trucks? It really does matter.
Now a little bit about my new truck. As with the first one, I have been all over it since I got her home. I have looked in every corner of this truck, underneath and on top. The attention to detail is simply outstanding. I couldn't find one thing to bring to Ricks attention that was an issue with his work, which was not the case with my first purchase. The difference between my first truck and this one is vast. Everything on this new one works as it should. It appears that things were completely taken apart, examined and if it wasn't right, it was properly fixed or replaced and put back right. There were no cutting corners. New nuts and bolts are all over, mainly because things were really taken apart and worked on. There is a real Line-X'd interior and no rust..... anywhere. I went to a small Military Truck show a little while back and none of the CUCV's there even came close. The attention to the little things screams out at you. My first drive was over 5 hours (back to CT) and this truck drove very well, with all systems working as they should. All in all a really nice, well done and well sorted M1009.
What you say, no issues ? Well, yes, there have been one or two, but none of them had anything to do with what Rick did or his workmanship, unlike my first truck. Two weeks ago, my rear window crank assembly decided to break while I was moving my mother's things out of her apartment. When I went and tore the tailgate apart to fix the crank. I was astonished to see how clean it was inside and the detail of the work that had been done by Rick. The inside tailgate cover came off with ease (all new crews and the cover had been Line-X's separately) and everything inside was lubed and in proper working order. The only other issue I had was that I noticed a slow leak in the brand new radiator that Rick installed as part of the rehab of this truck. I emailed Rick and he immediately let me know he will work with me to get a new unit and install it, no problem. Great comms and even though the truck doesn't come with any type of guarantee whatsoever (hey, it's a used truck), Rick will talk and work with you to make it right. It shows he has and takes pride in his work. Thanks Rick, keep up the great work.
OK, I have babbled on enough. I'll try and post a few pics of my new truck tomorrow.
I picked up my new, to me, M1009 from Rick (CUCVRUS). It is my second M1009 and I have learned quite a bit since I purchased my first in May of 2011. I waited this long to post something because I really wanted to live with the new truck for awhile and see what I got. I have also been a bit busy lately, as life seems to go in different directions at the drop of a hat.
The first thing I want to say is that this site is invaluable for a military truck owner and I am grateful for it. I have met a lot of really good folks through here and have learned a lot. Good help, tips, ideas and instruction abound.
Second, I am fully aware that we are buying 30 year old plus vehicles and no matter how much work goes into them, something always can, and will, break or fail or just plain wear out, more likely sooner than later. ****, if you want perfect, by a new truck (yeah, right).
Next, there is quite the difference in the quality of vehicles, the workmanship/details that are put into some of the restorations of these trucks and the integrity of individuals selling them, on this site, as well as others. Just because something looks good, doesn't mean it is. The old adage about putting lipstick on a pig comes to mind. You have got to look closely at what you are buying, as well as the person you are buying it from. What do they have going on? Anyone else dealing with them that can speak to the quality of their work (how about a few years down the line ??)? What work have they done and how deep and how far do they get into these trucks? It really does matter.
Now a little bit about my new truck. As with the first one, I have been all over it since I got her home. I have looked in every corner of this truck, underneath and on top. The attention to detail is simply outstanding. I couldn't find one thing to bring to Ricks attention that was an issue with his work, which was not the case with my first purchase. The difference between my first truck and this one is vast. Everything on this new one works as it should. It appears that things were completely taken apart, examined and if it wasn't right, it was properly fixed or replaced and put back right. There were no cutting corners. New nuts and bolts are all over, mainly because things were really taken apart and worked on. There is a real Line-X'd interior and no rust..... anywhere. I went to a small Military Truck show a little while back and none of the CUCV's there even came close. The attention to the little things screams out at you. My first drive was over 5 hours (back to CT) and this truck drove very well, with all systems working as they should. All in all a really nice, well done and well sorted M1009.
What you say, no issues ? Well, yes, there have been one or two, but none of them had anything to do with what Rick did or his workmanship, unlike my first truck. Two weeks ago, my rear window crank assembly decided to break while I was moving my mother's things out of her apartment. When I went and tore the tailgate apart to fix the crank. I was astonished to see how clean it was inside and the detail of the work that had been done by Rick. The inside tailgate cover came off with ease (all new crews and the cover had been Line-X's separately) and everything inside was lubed and in proper working order. The only other issue I had was that I noticed a slow leak in the brand new radiator that Rick installed as part of the rehab of this truck. I emailed Rick and he immediately let me know he will work with me to get a new unit and install it, no problem. Great comms and even though the truck doesn't come with any type of guarantee whatsoever (hey, it's a used truck), Rick will talk and work with you to make it right. It shows he has and takes pride in his work. Thanks Rick, keep up the great work.
OK, I have babbled on enough. I'll try and post a few pics of my new truck tomorrow.
