Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle The Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle or CUCV Program was instituted to provide the United States military with a cheaper Light Utility Vehicle to augment the purpose - built , but expensive , Gama Goat s and M151 series " Jeeps " approaching the end of their service life . It initially provided Dodge D Series and then Chevrolet C / K s with several military modifications . The vehicle has five basic configurations ; cargo , utility , ambulance , shelter carrier , and chassis . The vehicles were purchased in the late 1970s and early 1980s from Chrysler Corporation , Dodge Division , and in the mid - 1980s from General Motors Chevrolet , and GMC Truck divisions . Dodge M880 Series . The M880 Series had 12 volt electrical systems and were powered with the 318 cubic inch gasoline engine . The M880s were an attempt by the U . S . military to use commercial off - the - shelf ( COTS ) vehicles with minor modifications in non - combat roles . They were intended to replace the M37 Cargo Trucks and the M715 Cargo Trucks and related variants . Around 1973 , Dodge began developing the M880 series trucks , which were militarized adaptations of their current model 4×4s . These trucks weren ' t known as CUCVs at the time , but were in use for many years . They had several failings : a gasoline powerplant , 12 - volt electrical systems . ( 24 volt kit was available ) and no power steering . The electrical system was addressed by upgrades where needed , but the gasoline engine proved a fatal flaw as the military moved increasingly to diesel engines . The lack of power steering in the military vehicles was a great hindrance in off road and close quarters work ( although many civilian and air force models had power steering ) . Around 44 , 000 M880s were produced during the 1976 through 1977 model years , and served for the Army and Air Force until the late 1990s . An armored variant was built by Cadillac Gage as the Ranger . General Motors . The GM CUCVs were produced in the 1983 - 86 time period ( model years were 1984 - 87 and mostly 1984 ) and were powered by 6 . 2L Detroit Diesel V8 engine . The GM CUCVs were assembled mostly from the heaviest duty bits and pieces from the light commercial truck lines . 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 - ton utility rig , which was a stripped Blazer uprated to 3 / 4 - ton capacity . With the exception of the M1009 , the trucks were all rated as 1 ton ( commonly called a “ five - quarter ” ) , even though some of them had payloads in excess of that . In the truck lines there were some heavy duty variants , to include the M1028 , M1028A1 , M1028A2 and M1028A3 shelter carriers , the shelter being a mobile command , communications or intelligence operations enclosure . The M1031 was the chassis cab which was most commonly found in the two door version . These latter trucks were all rated for heavier 3 , 600 or 3 , 900 pound loads , vs . the M1008s 2 , 900 pound load capacity . The M1028A2 and A3 models had dual rear wheels . Many M1028s were upgraded at the company level to M1028A2 and A3 specs . The Dual wheel rear end was a result of incidents where the M10128 flipped on its side because of the high center of gravity when carrying the equipment shelters . - - Powertrain . All the CUCVs 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 . Axles . The M1009 Blazer used 10 - bolt axles ( front and rear ) featuring 3 . 08 : 1 gears . The rear axle was equipped with an " Eaton Automatic Differential Lock " ( ADL ) with the front being 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 ( the commercial trade name for the Detroit Locker ) . Though the M1028A2 and A3 duallies have Dana 70 HD axles . 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 , 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 . GM Defense . GM produced some 70 , 000 from 1983 to 1986 most for the military . For the past several years , GM Defense has been working over the newest GM trucks as CUCV - II and CUCV - III units for a new generation . The older Dodge M880s were used on the battlefield in some of the brush wars of the early 1980s and the results were reported to be “ disastrous . ” Likewise , the GM CUCVs saw combat time in Desert Storm and as one unit commander said , the results were “ less than desirable . ” However , CUCVs were not intended for direct frontline combat use , as evident by their lack of bulletproofing and no protection from improvised explosive device s or other ordnances . Windshield , cabin glass , and body panels are civilian - grade and offer no protection from firearms or explosives . As a result some CUCV ' s were replaced by the same HMMWV ' s they were to augment . The original purpose of the CUCV was to be a dollar - saving bridge between out - and - out tactical vehicles and off - the - shelf civilian vehicles . CUCVs were intended to perform " background " roles , much like the rear echelon human troops , providing support for frontline forces , such as cargo transport , background support , ambulance , and communications . It is these roles which the CUCV performed admirably enough , that the U . S . military continued to keep them in active service long after their projected lifespan . CUCVs of all generations are still in U . S . service , though there are also many that have passed through military surplus sales into civilian ownership . In U . S . military service , CUCVs have been removed from MTOE - based organizations in the Army and Marines , but are still in use as base / garrison support vehicles for organizations like Range Control , Base Facilities and Engineering , and other TDA uses . Variants . CUCV Specifications . Model years : ' 84 - ' 87 GM M1008 CUCV CUCV II . Chevrolet had been building a few CUCVs since the 1986 model year , mainly in low numbers to accommodate military markets that need replacements or other units that need this style of vehicle . In 1996 Chevrolet decided to start building a new generation of a CUCV to try and regain their marketplace in this niche . Mostly the US Air Force was occasionally buying small batches of these units and then GM dubbed them as the CUCV II generation . These were produced through 2001 and were civilian units sent to another plant for " militarization " on special order . They are basic 3500 SRW trucks that were originally built as white in color with gray vinyl interiors . After the usual 383 green CARC paint jobs , the bumpers and grill were the next to get customized with pintle and towing / loading shackles , extra leaf springs installed to give them a 5 / 4 ton rating and a host of other small changes . All CUCVs have a 24volt dual battery starting system , The rest of the truck is 12 volt with resistors on the firewall to bring it down to 12 volts . All heavy duty items are used and they are very similar to the early CUCVs . CUCV III . In 2002 , GM introduced the CUCV III with the new body shell . Both the II and III come with AM - FM stereo and Air Conditioning . They also come with available options such as : Brushguard , Air Compressor , On Board Navigation System , 120 VAC Inverter , front or rear winch and runflat tires . Light Service Support Vehicle . Light Service Support Vehicle ( LSSV ) ( Formerly Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle - CUCV II AND III ) and is known in Canadian service as the Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled ( LUVW ) , 4×4 , MIL COTS . The LSSV is a GM - built Silverado 2500 HD and is powered by a Duramax 6 . 6 liter turbo diesel engine . The LSSV is available in a crew cab or standard cab . It can also be equipped with the Enhanced Mobility Package which adds underbody protection , a tire pressure monitoring system , and other upgrades . All LSSVs are produced by AM General , a unit of MacAndrews and Forbes Holdings .