Truck, Cargo, 1 1/4 ton, 4x4 M-880 CUCV

The M-880 is a Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle (CUCV pronounced "cuck-vee"), a military modified Dodge pick-up truck, procured in the mid-1970s to replace the Kaiser M715 5/4 truck and any remaining M-37 Dodge trucks in military inventory. The CUCVs were an attempt by the U.S. military to use COTS (commercial, off-the-shelf) vehicles with minor modifications in non-combat roles. After the M880 series, the U.S. military procured the M1008 - M1009 - M1010 Chevrolet CUCVs as a second try of the COTS concept. This effort to save money was not very successful and eventually all CUCV units where replaced by HMMWVs.

4th Platoon, 295th Military Police Co. with Truck, Cargo, 1 1/4 ton, 4x4 M-880, Seneca Army Depot, Romulus, NY, 9 May 1984
4th Platoon, 295th Military Police Co. with Truck, Cargo, 1 1/4 ton, 4x4 M-880, Seneca Army Depot, Romulus, NY, 9 May 1984.

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Today in WW II: 21 May 1942 Sinking of the Mexican tanker Faja de Oro by German submarine U-160, off Key West, precipitates Mexican declaration of war against Nazi Germany.   

Truck, Cargo, 1 1/4 ton, 4x4 M-880 CUCV

The M880 cargo truck (pick-up body) (NSN 2320-00-579-8942) is the base model of the M880 Dodge Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicles (CUCV) series of trucks. The linked page provides more information on the general characteristics of the Dodge CUCV trucks and a directory of links to Olive-Drab.com pages for other models of the series.

Tabulated data for the Truck, Cargo, 1 1/4 ton, 4x4 M-880 CUCV:

Engine 318 cid gasoline V8, 150 bhp @ 4000 rpm, 230 ft-lbs torque @ 2400 rpm with 2 bbl Carter or Holley carb
Transmission Chrysler Torqueflite 727 Automatic, 3 fwd, 1 rev
Transfer Case New Process NP203, 2 speed, full-time 4x4, chain drive
Axles Dana 44 front, Dana 60 rear, 4.10:1
Curb Weight 4648 lbs (2108 kg)
Payload 2500 lbs (1134 kg)
GVW 7748 lbs (3515 kg)
Wheelbase 131.00 in (332.74 cm)
Length 218.74 in (555.6 cm)
Width 79.50 in (201.93 cm)
Height 73.85 in (187.58 cm)
Electrical 12 volt
Brakes Hydraulic, front disc, rear drum
Fording 16 inches w/o kit
Ground Clearance 8.50 in (unloaded), 8.00 in (loaded)
Tires 9:50 R, 16.5 LT, 4 R-D Cust Flexsteel XG
Tire Pressure 45 PSI front, 55 PSI rear
Fuel Tank 20 Gallons US (75.7 liters)
Maximum Speeds At Governed RPM
High Range		 1st 25 mph
2nd 45 mph
3rd 70 mph
Maximum Speeds At Governed RPM
Low Range		 1st 10 mph
2nd 19 mph
3rd 19 mph

Manuals for the M880 series trucks will be numbered TM9-2320-266-xx where the xx represents the maintenance level. You can purchase the Dodge CUCV manuals at ABE Books.

M-882 Truck, Cargo, 1 1/4 ton, 4x4 w/60-Amp and Communications Kit
M-882 Truck, Cargo, 1 1/4 ton, 4x4 w/60-Amp and Communications Kit. Photo: Courtesy of Brian Redick. Thanks to Bart Schiks for correcting error in weight class.

Dodge M-880 Truck, Cargo, 1 1/4 ton, 4x4 crossing stream at Venado Beach, Army Tropic Test Center, Yuma Proving Ground, AZ, August 1984.
Dodge M-880 Truck, Cargo, 1 1/4 ton, 4x4 crossing stream at Venado Beach, Army Tropic Test Center, Yuma Proving Ground, AZ, August 1984.