Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle


The Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle is a vehicle program instituted to provide the United States military with light utility vehicles based on civilian trucks.

CUCV/COTS

The Commercial Off The Shelf concept, which translated into the CUCV program, was originally intended to augment the purpose-built but expensive Gama Goat 6 x 6, 1¼-ton trucks and M151 series ¼-ton "jeeps' approaching the end of their service life in the mid-1970s. Initially, Dodge D series trucks were provided in the late 1970s with several military modifications. In the mid-1980s, Chevrolet C/Ks replaced the Dodge vehicles in CUCV I and CUCV II guise. GM CUCVs were heavily redesigned in 2000 and their name was changed to Light Service Support Vehicle.
CUCVs are intended to perform "background" roles, providing support for frontline forces, such as cargo transport, troop transport, first aid, and communications. CUCVs are not built for direct frontline combat use, as evident by their lack of bulletproofing and protection from ordnance. Like many of the vehicle parts, the windshield, cabin glass, and body panels are civilian-grade and offer no protection from firearms or explosives. As a result, some CUCVs were replaced in the 1980s and 1990s by the HMMWVs they were to augment.
The U.S. military continued to keep CUCVs in active service long after their projected lifespan. CUCVs of all generations are still in U.S. service, though many M880/M890s and CUCVs have passed through military surplus sales into civilian ownership. CUCVs and LSSVs are in use as support vehicles for military police, troop transport, range control, facilities, and maintenance.

Dodge M8XX Series

In 1973 Chrysler began developing militarized adaptations of their civilian Dodge trucks. In 1976 the M880/M890 series was put into production under a large contract, intended to replace previous Dodge M37 and Kaiser Jeep M715 trucks and their variants. The M880/890 trucks were adopted as part of a drive by the U.S. military to use COTS vehicles, with appropriate modifications, where such usage was feasible. An armored variant was built by Cadillac Gage as the Ranger. For almost a decade the Dodges were referred to as "880", "890", or most commonly called "five-quarters";.
The 1¼ ton M880-series was based on the Dodge W200, a ¾ ton capacity 4×4 civilian/commercial truck. The 880/890 had a 2,500 lb cargo rating, enabling it to have a -ton load rating. The similar 1¼ ton M890-series was based on the Dodge D200, a ¾ ton capacity 4×2 civilian/commercial truck.
The M880/M890 had a conventional 12-volt electrical system; a separate 24-volt system was added to certain variants of the trucks to power communications units, but this precluded power steering on those units—the pump location being taken up by the 24-volt generator. The gasoline engine was out of step with the military's move toward diesel engines during this time period. The lack of power steering was a hindrance in off-road, close quarters, and snow-plowing duties. Around 44,000 M880/M890s were produced during the 1976–1977 model years and were used by the Army and Air Force until the late 1990s.

Powertrain

All M880/M890s were powered by Chrysler's 5.2L 318 gasoline engine with a two-barrel Carter or Holley carburetor. These were rated at and. Most were equipped with the Loadflite 727 3-speed automatic transmission, though a few left the factory with a 4-speed manual. The 880s used a 2-speed NP203 transfer case. A Dana 44 4.10:1 front axle and floating Dana 60 4:10.1 rear axle completed the setup. The trucks were equipped with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. They had a Military rated top speed of.

Variants

General Motors and AM General have produced CUCVs since 1984 in three distinct generations: CUCV, CUCV II, and LSSV.

CUCV

Replacing the M880/M890 series, the CUCV represented General Motors' first major light-truck military vehicle production since World War II. GM CUCVs were assembled mostly from existing heavy duty light commercial truck parts. The CUCVs came in four basic body styles: pickup, utility, ambulance body and chassis cab. The M1008 was the basic cargo truck, the M1010 was the ambulance, and the M1009 was a Chevrolet K5 Blazer uprated to ¾-ton capacity. With the exception of the M1009, the trucks were all rated as 1 ton, even though some of them had payloads in excess of that. There were heavier-duty variants, including the M1028, M1028A1, M1028A2 and M1028A3 shelter carriers. The M1031 was the chassis cab. These latter trucks were all rated for heavier or loads, compared to the M1008s load capacity. The M1028A2 and m1028A3 models had dual rear wheels. Many M1028s were upgraded at the company level to M1028A2 and A3 specs—the dual wheel rear end arrangement was a result of the M1028 flipping on its side because of the high center of gravity when carrying equipment shelters.
GM produced some 70,000 CUCVs from 1983 to 1986, though most were model year 1984. Chevrolet continued to build CUCVs in low numbers from 1986 to 1996, mainly to accommodate military markets that needed replacements for existing CUCVs.

Powertrain

All CUCV Is were powered by GM’s 6.2L J-series Detroit Diesel V8 engine non-emissions diesel. These were rated at and, which was more than the emissions diesel engine of the time. They were all equipped with the TH-400 automatic. All but the M1028A1 and M1031 used the NP-208 chain drive transfer case. The M1028A1 and M1031 units had a slip-yoke rear output version of the NP-205, which was specified mainly for its PTO capacity. The CUCV series had a governed top speed of.

Axles

The M1009 Blazer used 10-bolt axles featuring 3.08:1 gears. The rear axle was equipped with an Eaton Automatic Differential Lock while the front was a standard open differential. The M1008 trucks used open Dana 60 front axles, with the M1028 and M1031 variations often having a Trac-Lok limited slip. In the rear, the M1008s used the GM 10.5" Corporate 14 Bolt Differential with No-Spin lockers. Rear axles on M1028A2 and A3 duallies are Dana 70 HD. The axle gear ratios were 4.56:1.

Electrical

As with other military vehicles, the CUCVs used a 24-volt electrical system. It was actually a hybrid 12/24-volt system that used 24-volts under the hood, 24 volt starter, complete with dual 100 amp alternators, the mandatory NATO slave receptacle for jump starting any NATO vehicle, and hookups for military radios. The rest of the truck was 12-volt.

Variants

In 1987, Chevrolet started building a new generation of CUCV. The US Air Force initially bought small batches of these units, dubbed the CUCV II. Produced through 2001, CUCV IIs were basic civilian Chevrolet C/K, Tahoe, and Suburban units sent to another plant for "militarization" on special order. The trucks were originally white in color with gray vinyl interiors. They received CARC exterior paint, a brush bar, a pintle hitch, towing/loading shackles, extra leaf springs to give them a 5/4 ton rating and a host of other small changes. All CUCV IIs have a 24 volt dual-battery starting system, the rest of the truck is 12 volt.
These light utility vehicles were available with three engines: a Vortec 7.4-liter V8, a 5.7-liter V8, or Detroit Diesel 6.5 L V8. Each engine was coupled with a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. All CUCV IIs have full-time all-wheel drive; a front-mounted winch was available as an option.

Variants

When production of the CUCV II ended in 2000, GM redesigned it to coincide with civilian truck offerings. The CUCV nomenclature was changed to Light Service Support Vehicle in 2001. In 2005, LSSV production switched to AM General, a unit of MacAndrews and Forbes Holdings. The LSSV is a GM-built Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, Chevrolet Tahoe, or Chevrolet Suburban that is powered by a Duramax 6.6 liter turbo diesel engine. As GM has periodically redesigned its civilian trucks and Sport Utility Vehicles from 2001 to the present, LSSVs have also been updated cosmetically.
The militarization of standard GM trucks/SUVs to become LSSVs includes exterior changes such as Chemical Agent Resistant Coating paint, blackout lights, military bumpers, a brush guard, a NATO slave receptacle/NATO trailer receptacle, a pintle hook, tow shackles and a 24/12 volt electrical system. The dashboard has additional controls and dataplates. The truck also can be equipped with weapon supports in the cab, cargo tie down hooks, folding troop seats, pioneer tools, winches, and other military accessories. In the Canadian Army these vehicles are nicknamed "Milverado," a portmanteau for Military Silverado.
The Enhanced Mobility Package option adds an uprated suspension, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, a locking rear differential, beadlock tires, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System and other upgrades. About 2,000 LSSV units have been sold to U.S. and international military and law enforcement organizations.

Variants

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