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New (to me) 1997 M1081

sjohn116

New member
122
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Location
Baltimore, Maryland
While waiting for delivery I've been reading through TMs and studying up on my new purchase.

After many headaches with trucking companies, namely brokers brokering deals with several downstream brokers, the M1081 I won on GP two weeks ago was loaded onto the trailer out of Ft., Bragg yesterday morning, and delivered roadside at 9pm last night. It fired right up, all lights worked, CTIS is actively monitoring the tire pressures, and then backed it down the semi trailer in the pitch black darkness of rural Maryland. 10pm it was sitting on the shoulder of the back country roads, idling, and once warm, we drove it the 1/4 mile up a hill to my house. In that short time, the only other vehicle driving in the area got right behind me and stopped in the road as the truck turned into the long gravel driveway. Coincidence...I think not.

Everything seems in line with the condition as reported on GP, just a few minor issues. The driver's door doesnt latch, and you can see that something is missing from the door itself, three bolts are partly reinstalled, where something was taken off the door, inside the jamb. I'll get a picture uploaded later today and see if anyone can point me in the right direction of where to buy the mystery piece that keeps my door from latching shut. Driver's side window is either missing or rolled so far down that the glass and track got fubar'd. I'll remove the inner door panel and see whats going on inside. One mirror was shattered between the auction and transport. But other than that, and my limited ability to give the beast a good look at 10pm in the darkness, I'm quite satisfied with the condition of the truck.

The best part of this whole scenario is the back story. I was in the market for a brand new Tundra (40k) that would only be used to drive to/from work in the snow, and the occasional short trips to HD/Lowes/TSC. I couldnt justify that money for something that would be used so infrequently, especially when I would still drive my 220,000 miles and county economy car to/from work everyday. I presented the logical argument to my wife: we can buy a Tundra, and watch $40k rot in the driveway, or we can buy a surplus military truck AND a subaru AWD for her, so she too can get to work in the snow, but still have good gas mileage year round. She being a person rooted in logic replied, "as long as the military truck doesnt cost $40k over the next 5 yrs (terms of a loan), and its something that I could reasonably drive, then I see no problems with this plan." I was expecting "NO, THATS STUPID." The hunt began. M35A2 was the first line of inquiry, well priced, parts are abundant, but the steering was not gonna pass the wife's test. LMTV was the next line of inquiry, and well, based on the title, won out. I showed her one, and said "it has power steering and a panoramic view." She smiled and laughed.

Unbeknownst to her, I bought one at auction two weeks ago. I was trying to get it here, delivered while she was at work, so I could surprise her when she got home, saw a 2.5 ton military truck in the back driveway, and asked "WTF is that?" My brilliant plan almost worked, the truck was supposed to be delivered today, but the truck driver requested to drop it off last night so he could get to Baltimore, get his next load, and get outta dodge. I obliged. So I got home from work at 2030hrs, walked in the door, spoke to her for 5 minutes about the day, then my phone rang..it was the truck driver...he was 7 minutes away. I had to spill the beans, to explain why I was walking back out of the house and down the road to help a man unload a truck off a semi parked on the shoulder. I spilled the beans as quickly as I could, and waited for the worst. She smiled, shook her head, and said, "well, okay."

skip ahead an hour...

She hears the airbrake pressure release and steps outside, sees the truck, and falls over laughing at its proportions. ITS HUGE!!! I"M SORRY, I DONT MEAN TO LAUGH, BUT IT IS HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE. She's a good sport, climbed into the truck like a baby spider monkey, and sat at the driver's seat, wondering "how many ghosts are contained within this truck." After posting about it last week, I felt like I wasnt lying or glossing over the truth when I told her, "this truck was restricted to training purposes on an Army base, and never saw action overseas." She climbed out, looked into the bed and saw the troop seats pulled out...more laughing..."more seats, yes, we definitely needed more seats."

We go back into the house, go to bed, say goodnight, and she says one last statement. "Youre NOT having a midlife crisis." It wasnt a question. It was a bold statement...like she was saying..."you are not allowed to have a midlife crisis at a later date, nor are you having one now, this is your one and only time to pull something like this and get away unharmed."

She's the best. Rooted in logic. Laughs at life.


I'll get pictures taken once the sun comes up, and post them up here. I know how much you guys get annoyed with posts about NEW TRUCK and there are no pictures. I'm the same way. I'll get them to you soon.
 

mkcoen

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
5,637
381
83
Location
Spring Branch, TX
Congrats on the new truck. Sounds like the door latch is missing. Easy enough to verify by simply looking at the spot on the passenger door but the latch takes 3 bolts and if missing the door won't stay shut. When you find a latch I would recommend replacing the slot head bolts with ones that take a hex driver. That'll make taking them out in the future much easier.
 

Bobcat701

New member
92
1
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Location
Autryville, NC
Welcome to the club. The LMTV is the most fun vehicle I ever owned. It was suppose to just be a toy however I use it now a few times a week. Thanks for sharing your story.
 

sjohn116

New member
122
6
0
Location
Baltimore, Maryland
Went outside after the sun came and the door latch itself is missing. They left me the screws. Good call on changing the screws to bolts. Does anyone have a good lead on where to get the latch only? I have the inside and outside door handles and the components that are inside the door shell.
 

mkcoen

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
5,637
381
83
Location
Spring Branch, TX
Went outside after the sun came and the door latch itself is missing. They left me the screws. Good call on changing the screws to bolts. Does anyone have a good lead on where to get the latch only? I have the inside and outside door handles and the components that are inside the door shell.
PM Recksmilparts. He's been pretty good at finding smaller parts for these trucks.

Here's a pic of the replacements I used for the bolts.

image.jpg
 
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sjohn116

New member
122
6
0
Location
Baltimore, Maryland
Update on trucks condition after daylight walk around:

PM's JWade about the missing door latch, he was very quick to call me back and say he would get me a replacement latch within a few days. He said that GP would get me a latch one way or another, and wanted to make good on the issue. So far i've very pleased with their timeliness and help.

Removed the inner door panel, to see what was the issue with the window crank...the issue is the driver's side door glass is shattered and in a pile of pieces in the bottom of the door. Talked to a few SS members already, and it appears these are very difficult to find parts. It has just enough curvature in it to make it difficult/costly to have one custom made. I'm going to continue relying on the wealth of information this forum has to offer, and see if anyone has a good lead on a replacement window. If not, does anyone have a good suggestions aside from "remove passenger window, take dimensions, and have company make you a mirror image of window, reinstall both windows." I hear these windows are a pita to R&R, and i'd prefer to not R&R both sides when only one side really needs it.

Aside from the two above issues (please send me all the help/suggestions/advice you have on the window issue), the truck looks great in the daylight. A little surface rust where you would expect it, tires are 90% tread or greater, spare tire is 100% brand new, and there are only a few little leaks in the cab at the panel junctions. Some weatherstripping replacement is in order, especially before winter arrives.
 

TNriverjet

Active member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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38
Location
Clifton, TN
Congrats sjohn116! It sounds like we've arrived at the place of LMTV discovery about the same time! We will likely be able to learn together as we get familiar with our trucks. I have good glass, so I can't help there. I also "had" two working door handles. Unfortunately, the passenger side is now half broken due to someone (one of my teenagers) grabbing it and yanking improperly. They seem to be made of gold so I'll bee looking for a fix for that too.

Keep us updated on your progress as you have time to spend working on the truck.
 

sargentwolf

Member
195
1
18
Location
st louis/mo
Congrats!

Every now and then on fleabay, there are people parting out trucks. You can usually message them about it and see what happens.
 
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