We’ve shared some great value rigs to the forum this January, and today’s low-mileage 1998 Stewart and Stevenson M1078 with 25,xxx-miles is one of the best to date. If you’re in the market for a capable four-season live-in vehicle with the payload to support all the luxuries of home, look no further. At just $40,000 OBO, this rig represents exceptional value and has already undergone a huge amount of work and upgrades to support full-time living. These include 300 amp-hours of lithium batteries, 600 watts of solar, 42 gallons of water, and much more. The Stewart and Stevenson vehicles are a desirable platform for expedition builds; previous adventure-ready examples include this $190,000 1994 M1079, a $120,000 2004 M1088A1, and a $55,000 1999 M1079. Today’s M1078 was meticulously built by Dirt Trails Wanted with full build specs (and known issues) listed on their website, and it can be seen exploring Southern Utah on their YouTube.
From the Seller:
“One of the things we love most about this truck is its uniqueness; it turns heads everywhere you go and is a very quick conversation starter. When we built this truck, we set about to create something that we could easily live full-time in (which we did for seven months), and we spent many years weekending in it after that. We wanted a rig with enough room to stand in and enough space to host friends and cook delicious meals while traveling. We wanted it insulated, with running hot water. We opted to skip a shower and toilet setup for simplicity, and since we generally camped in wild places, those needs were easy enough to address outside. With all this, we also wanted the vehicle itself to be simple, easy to work on, diesel but without DEF, and most importantly, 4WD and capable enough to go anywhere we wanted to go. All of that is what landed us on an M1078 in this configuration.”
1998 Stewart and Stevenson M1078
The M1078 is fitted with a Caterpillar 6.6-liter diesel engine that is very reliable and field repairable. In stock form, it delivers 225 horsepower, 735 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to an Allison MD3070 PT automatic 7-speed transmission. A dependable motor and drivetrain are matched with go-anywhere capability thanks to full-time 4WD, high and low range, locking interaxle differential, snorkel, super single wheels with Goodyear MV/T tires, and more. Inside, the cab is intentionally utilitarian but does showcase some aftermarket upgrades such as sound deadening, a phone mount, LED headlights, and more.
Distinguishing Features
- S-280 shelter with full camper build-out
- Battle Born lithium batteries (300 amp-hours), 600 watts of solar, 3,000-watt Victron Multi Plus inverter, and more
- Super single wheels with Goodyear MV/T tires
- Isotherm fridge/freezer
- Freshwater (42 gallons)
- Haldex air cleaner
- Elgena hot water heater
- weBoost cell phone signal booster
- Exterior LED floodlights
- Dual burner induction 1,800-watt cooktop
- Tern Overland windows, roof hatch, and cargo hatches
- Custom 80/20 roof rack with two light bars
- Wen 56235i Super Quiet 2,350-watt generator
- Front hitch for bicycle rack
- Air compressor
This 1998 Stewart & Stevenson M1078 with an S-280 shelter is listed for $40,000 OBO and is currently located in Carbondale, Colorado. Check the full vehicle specifications via the original Expedition Portal forum post here.
Contact Information:
Email: dirttrailswanted@gmail.com
Instagram: Dirt Trails Wanted
