Bugout vehicle - M1163 Prime Mover? AKA Growler

[The Heretic]

There seems to be a reason all the "best" rock crawlers have solid axles...

There are exceptions, but I believe the main reason would be the availability of very strong axle shafts and differentials, that can take a lot of abuse from high horsepower and getting traction suddenly.

but all the best dune/desert machines have 4 wheel independent suspension

Speed over rough ground.

.....wasnt there a civilian UTV/sxs vehicle with a Cummins?

I kind of doubt it. Even the 4 cylinder 2.8 liter in the Growler weighs 500+ pounds. Most UTVs are under 1K#

 

[The Heretic]

prime mover from Grandpa's day
View attachment 997196

Mules are better

 

[The Heretic]

FWIW - mice have damaged the wiring harness on my BMW X1. Replacing the harness would cost close to $2K. Repairing it (not sure it is possible yet) will probably be $1K. The car drives ok, but ABS and other things are disabled and the computer is very confused. I am not sure if the AWD works or not - maybe not. Not sure if it would pass emissions with the constant confusion in the computer - DEQ plugs into the computer to get their info on late model cars - they do not put anything in the tailpipe.

Vehicles with complex systems like this are nice for daily drivers - I like my X1 and prefer to drive it over my trucks, even though my trucks have had mouse problems too.

In a SHTF situation something that is simpler and easier to repair or work around issues, it probably better to have.

 

[CamoDeafie]

In a SHTF situation something that is simpler and easier to repair or work around issues, it probably better to have.

Doesn't get much simpler than the Steyr Puch Haflinger 700, and it has sort of 4 wheel independent suspension... but I don't think it has 4 wheel steering.. on the other hand.. there's the M274 Mechanical Mule that can have 4 wheel steering?

 

[03A3Sporter]

I always stayed away from foreign surplus vehicles for concern parts would / could be a problem .

I would say its awful hard to be a CUCV most of it is readily available at the parts store or the junk yard save the 24 volt electrics which were hardened for the apocalypse . Plus its a Diesel so there is that .

 

[CamoDeafie]

I always stayed away from foreign surplus vehicles for concern parts would / could be a problem .

I would say its awful hard to be a CUCV most of it is readily available at the parts store or the junk yard save the 24 volt electrics which were hardened for the apocalypse . Plus its a Diesel so there is that .

Yeah... thats true. The issue with the 1980s CUCVs is that they're pretty much either way beat up for the prices, or need a lot of work. The best time to get them was in the late 90s-early 2000s when they were phased out for the Chevy Silverado LSSVs in 2005ish for the USAF I think? I could be wrong but I do know that there are the military Silverado 2 and 4 doors in the 2000s

 

[03A3Sporter]

Yeah... thats true. The issue with the 1980s CUCVs is that they're pretty much either way beat up for the prices, or need a lot of work. The best time to get them was in the late 90s-early 2000s when they were phased out for the Chevy Silverado LSSVs in 2005ish for the USAF I think? I could be wrong but I do know that there are the military Silverado 2 and 4 doors in the 2000s

I bought a refurbed CUCV from a military vehicle dealer back in the early 2000's that I used around my place in Oklahoma . I think paid $3000 for it at the time and it had been rebuilt at the depot so it was basically like new. I am sure the pickings are much slimmer now days , but yes when I was in Iraq and Afghanistan I saw the military using newer Chevy Pickups for FOB duty.

I will say I would stay away from a military HUMMER I think most people are really unaware of how expensive they can be to operate , were that not a consideration I would probably buy a 998 in a heartbeat .

 

[RicInOR]

2010 General Dynamics M1161 ITV-LSV Growler 4x4

Bid for the chance to own a 2010 General Dynamics M1161 ITV-LSV Growler 4×4 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #40,069.

bringatrailer.com

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Anyone have any experience with these? Any Jarheads?

4x4, four wheel steering, short wheelbase, independent suspension (?), central air system (both tires and suspension), diesel, tie down/lifts.

Looks cool - I wonder if the auto trans could be replaced with a manual?

I would rather have a sherp

 

[The Heretic]

I would rather have a sherp

Pretty much go almost anywhere, but they do get stuck - sometimes. They have a new version.

Hell on the budget though, and slow.

 

[CamoDeafie]

I will say I would stay away from a military HUMMER I think most people are really unaware of how expensive they can be to operate , were that not a consideration I would probably buy a 998 in a heartbeat .

Indeed. I think most of the cost is directly related to maintaining the portal hubs, central air inflation system and wheels/tires? Otherwise, it looks to be using a GM diesel engine, GM automatic transmission, and is stupid simple otherwise with the interior furnishing... maybe the 24v wiring is another issue...

I did have a silly idea to see if someone would build a custom Jeep frame utilizing the military Hummvee portal hubs, custom independent 4 wheel suspension, the Hummvee's driveshaft systems.... sort of making a giant UTV/dune buggy but with a Jeep body lol. I mean, I know the standard is to put portal hubs onto a 1 ton-1.5 ton solid axle sets and put under standard coilovers and such on Jeeps but.... why not do an overbuilt 4 wheel independent suspension, portal hubs Jeep sized vehicle?

 

[CamoDeafie]

In all reality... I think it probably would be easier to have a shop fabricate a modernized take on the M274 Mechanical Mule or an US made version of the Hafligner but I'm not sure what components could be used that would provide the same features and load bearing? Probably have to spend a lot to get totally custom 4 wheel steering system? Be cheaper probably to just build using 1/2 ton axles or old Dana 44 Jeep front axles on both front and rear?

 

[The Heretic]

Indeed. I think most of the cost is directly related to maintaining the portal hubs, central air inflation system and wheels/tires? Otherwise, it looks to be using a GM diesel engine, GM automatic transmission, and is stupid simple otherwise with the interior furnishing... maybe the 24v wiring is another issue...

I did have a silly idea to see if someone would build a custom Jeep frame utilizing the military Hummvee portal hubs, custom independent 4 wheel suspension, the Hummvee's driveshaft systems.... sort of making a giant UTV/dune buggy but with a Jeep body lol. I mean, I know the standard is to put portal hubs onto a 1 ton-1.5 ton solid axle sets and put under standard coilovers and such on Jeeps but.... why not do an overbuilt 4 wheel independent suspension, portal hubs Jeep sized vehicle?

I think a major part of the cost comes from the fact that parts/etc. are not from a commercial vehicle that is widely supported by the aftermarket and dealer networks - like if you want a wheel bearing for a Ford pickup, it is probably easily found at almost any auto parts store because there are hundreds of thousands of these pickups out there being driven every day. Then there is the fact that a lot of pickup trucks share parts across the different brands - the diffs and transmission and u-joints on my Dodge are probably the same as those on a many Fords and Chevies because a New Process transmission is used in some of the pickups in all of these brands, as are the Dana axles.

A HUMVEE on the other hand, not very common, and many parts will only come from the surplus market, or are special order from the manufacturer, if they still have them in stock.

In short, single source vehicles have these problems, whereas consumer vehicles share many parts and a LOT of people own them.

 

[308]

Yerd dog dune buggies, probably very light loads.
View attachment 997110View attachment 997111
Military UTV
View attachment 997112
Honda FX series Pilots View attachment 997117 View attachment 997113

Unknown buggy, probably Yerf Dog type?View attachment 997116
Polaris single seat beasty
View attachment 997115

Hafligner by Steyr Daimler Puch, related to the Pinzgauer, probably the closest to being as agile as a small ATV while having decent load carrying.. bonus points for that Unimog in background lol
View attachment 997114

Those are excellent for adjusting a persons spine and ribs in a random and usually painful fashion

Of course there are always tactical goats!

 

[Ura-Ki]

Want something with speed and is inexpensive, how bout an old VW Baja build? Use one of the westy 4x4 drive trains in a Super Beatle Pan with 2.5L Suburu engine! Even better, build a Schwimwagen, there are kits out there to build one, That would be a seriously awesome rig!

 

[The Heretic]

Want something with speed and is inexpensive, how bout an old VW Baja build? Use one of the westy 4x4 drive trains in a Super Beatle Pan with 2.5L Suburu engine! Even better, build a Schwimwagen, there are kits out there to build one, That would be a seriously awesome rig!

Maybe a buggy frame, but not the old Airhead VW tin can. One of my first jobs was working at German Motors (Salem, private VW specialist) in the early 70s. Those old VW beetles were ok off-road, but they would not be my choice in surviving an accident (off-road rollover or collision) - at least not without a roll cage/etc.

 

[CamoDeafie]

Vw pan based dune buggies. Make your own rollcage. A 4x4 westy system on one of these would be a hoot.

 

[Ura-Ki]

That's the beauty of the VW builds, anything is possible, and there are 50+ years of aftermarket parts and stuff for them, the sky is the limit here!

 

[The Heretic]

Vw pan based dune buggies. Make your own rollcage. A 4x4 westy system on one of these would be a hoot. View attachment 997347View attachment 997348View attachment 997349View attachment 997350View attachment 997351View attachment 997352View attachment 997353

Yeah, I would just get a tube based chassis instead. I've seen too many pans that were broken.

One of the guys I worked with at GM - Ernie was his name - had a VW bus he had shortened and it had a nicely modified engine and transmission. IIRC the transmissions in the buses were stronger than those in the beetles. His shortened bus was less than half the length of a regular bus. He was always bragging about how it did better than Jeeps and other 4x4s off-road.

 

[Ura-Ki]

A slick little build would be to harvest a old Subaru Justy 4X4 turbo ( With Low Range) and build a small rig from that!
I would have a bunch of Steal Plate CNC Plasma cut to shape and build it as a monocoque!

A Bigger more powerful version would harvest one of the last of the Ford Exploders with the Independent suspension and 5.0L V-8 drive train, same Steel Plate Mono chassis/cage as above, just bigger! I'm thinkin Mad Max beyond Thunderdome War Rig!