New to forum

Hello everyone!!
New to the site and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone.

On 11/02/04 I purchased a M882 from a GSA auction. I had been wanting one for a long, long time. I had been doing alot of research on these vehicles and since I'm a MOPAR guy anyway it was just a shoe in for me.

The one I purchased ($275) is in really good shape, but needs a few things here and there. After the auction, I went a bought a battery, put it in and she started right up and ran like a top. I got in and drove her to the nearest gas station (about 1/2 mile) and there was a big vibration. I thought "oh great" what did I buy??

At the gas station I crawled under her and found that when the Government had loaded or unloaded her. They had used a forklift and one of the forks had bent the rear drivline. A friend who buy's all the time from these GSA auctions said that it's common for this to happen. So I pulled the rear driveline and drove it home on the front one (about 100 miles).

Everything works on her but the turnsignals, and I haven't had the time to look at why yet. Even the blackout lights work.

A fire department had it for a while and painted it red, so i'll have to repaint it in the spring.

I have a few questions. Where can I find some literature on these trucks?? Is there a layout pattern available for the camouflage scheme?? And how about paint brands and codes?? Also how about a description of the M880 series and what the M numbers mean (M880, M881, M882, M883, etc). I know the M882's were communications vehicles, but I would like to know what the whole series means.

Again, looking forward to meeting everyone.<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_approve.gif" alt="Approve">

<font color="green">[3]<font face="Comic Sans MS">Greetings Larry R. Welcome to the forum. Before I get into your questions I need to ask you to put a location in your signature. It's a benefit for all that read it and we kinda get an idea where everybody is. Congrats on the M882. It's a fine truck and about the least expensive way to get into the hobby. You can start with a company called Military Media. They have all the TMs (technical manuals) for your truck on a CD in PDF format. I would also start checking Ebay and some of the literature sites for hard copies of the manuals. These manuals will have a detailed description of the M numbers as well as NSN numbers for all of them. As far as paint you have several sources. I like Gillespie paints. Couple of good sources are Military Markings in the NH I think and Rapco in TX. A quick search should land you the website. I would also start doing some GOOGLE searches on the M880 M882 and so forth. Lots of info out there on these. It's mostly civilian with the exception of the blackout lighting system and the seperate (electrically) 28 volt systems. I've got one and it's a handy vehicle. Again welcome and keep searching the archives, we've already discussed a bunch.</font id="Comic Sans MS">[/3]</font id="green">

Hello Larry,

I'm a real mopar nut myself so I love these trucks for the same reason.

Here's a site that lists descriptions of the variants on the series:

http://www.jedsite.info/transport/charlie/cucv_series/cucv-series.html

Also check out this page for a free copy of the NATO three collor pattern for the M880:

http://www.olive-drab.com/od_mvg_camo.php3

Personally I like the old 4 color pattern better, and I have learned that it was exactly the same four color used on the M880's as was used on the M715's, so if you want, you could use the M715 pattern for that four color scheme.

BTW, you can also check out my web site listed below for much of this info. Good luck!

Thats hillarious! I just clicked over on the jedsite page and checked out the M887. Low & behold that's what it is and it belongs to a friend, Rick Theirs. Then I decided to check out the M888 telephone maint truck. Clicked the pic open and just stared at it. Dang, that truck looks familiar. Its a pic of MY M887! Not an M888 at all! Too funny! Now everybody can see what my M887 looks like!

Sweet Deal!
They go for more than that for a parts truck near me <img src="emoticons/icon_smilie_bitchin.gif" alt="Bitchin">.

Clowns on high lows <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_disapprove.gif" alt="Disapprove">

You may have noticed Saturn Surplus ( site sponsor.)
Here is their M880 page
http://www.saturnsurplus.com/newpage11.htm
Also check out
http://www.swapmeetdave.com/MVBack.htm
#79-MAY/JUN 2000: Dodge M880/M890 Trucks (11 pages)
This is a must have magazine!!!!!!!!!
Heck now that I think of it
I'm gonna order a spare one<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_idea.gif" alt="Idea">

<font color="blue">Hey Bob! Got any close up pics of your 44 GPW's data plate? Did you find the hood number?<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumzup.gif" alt="Thumb Up"></font id="blue">

Some info on it at www.gpw.da.ru
along with it's British Hood #

Thanks for all the info. Looks like the camo repainting is going to be time consuming. However, I think it will look much better than the fire engine red it is now.

As far as the sale went. There were 15 of the M880 variants there. The highest one went for $1200 and it was near perfect. It had been repainted and had new tires, exhaust, and shocks. It had around 75,000 miles on it. Another one went for $1000, and it was almost as nice as the one mentioned above. The one I wanted the most was a M880 still in original camo. It had not been sent to a Fire Department, and was straight as a pin. It went for $800. The other 12 went for under $350. <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_approve.gif" alt="Approve">

You know I was checking out some of those CUCV M1008's in their "Archives" section, and I have to say, I really like the 34094 "383" green. I like it a lot better than the 34079 that was originally used in the four color pattern on the M880's. When I redo the camo on my M880, I'm thinking of using a 34094 green in place of the 34079. I know it's not quite original, but it looks real sharp. BTW, I found out recently that as far as the 383 green (34094) goes, there are two mixes: one from 1987, and a more recent one from 2000. Anyone here ever heard about this?

Hey Bob H,
you got any more side shots of your M882 you could post here? I'd like to get a better look at your "Winter US & Europe - verdant" camo pattern.

Welcome to the site Larry R. Post some pics up if you can so we can get a before and after pic!<img src="emoticons/icon_smile_approve.gif" alt="Approve">

I'll try to get that done.

So, any luck on the pictures yet?

I did not think of this pattern as a winter pattern????????

If my memory serves me right, our sister battalion 5th Battalion 10th Marines, 8" self propelled artillery unit had winter or snow camo that had white, tan, green & little black, my battalion had woodland camo.

<img src="data/Bob H/2004111219745_IM000378a.JPG" border="0">

Hi Bob,

Thanks for posting that picture. Check out this link for more info on the four color camo patterns:

http://www.olive-drab.com/od_mvg_camo.php3

You're probably thinking of the "Snow - temperate w/trees & shrubs" configuration. It has Forest Green, White, Sand, and Black. The "Winter US & Europe - verdant" configuration has no white in it, but field drab instead.

Not yet. Deer season just started, so been kinda busy.

No problem. We can be patient.

Whats the best way to post pictures here?? I have a picture hosting site already. Thanks....

You can just upload them and attach them to your post. Probably ought to keep them under 50 KBytes