Dodge Power Wagon

Custom-made 6-wheel Dodge Power Wagon in 2007

Power Wagon as a flatbed version in its original condition

The Dodge Power Wagon was a four-wheel drive flatbed truck that Dodge manufactured from 1945 to 1969. This early version was based on a military truck and is the predecessor of many four-wheel drive trucks today.

history

The civilian power wagon was introduced in 1946. It rested on a 3/4 ton army chassis, had a civilian driver's cab and a specially constructed 2.5 m long box body. It had a wheelbase of 3,200 mm and a side-controlled in-line six-cylinder engine with 3,769 cm³ displacement, an off-road reduction, a 4-speed gearbox with power take-off shafts to drive auxiliary units at the front and rear of the vehicle and 9.00 "/ 16-8 tires on Trilex rims 16 "× 6.5". The 3.8 liter engine was replaced by a model with 4,113 cm³ in 1961. The single-ton Power Wagon had a gross vehicle weight of 3,941 kg. The maximum payload was 1,359 kg.

The Power Wagon was offered until the 1968 model year. A number of improvements were introduced over the years, but the basic construction surprisingly remained the same throughout its production time. Chrysler stopped selling the Power Wagon in the United States in 1969 because the 30-year-old cab did not meet new national light truck safety regulations, but the model was made for export until 1978.

The first light power wagons came out in 1957, the W 100 and W 200 (at the beginning of 1957 the 1/2-tonne pickups with rear-wheel drive were called D 100 and the all-wheel drive were the W 100). These cars had the usual cabs and snouts and the box bodies of the rear-wheel drive models. The complete four-wheel drive was obtained from suppliers. Chrysler Corporation owned the New Process Gear Company , which made all four-wheel drives for industry and many transmissions for light trucks.

The one-ton Power Wagon W 300 came out in 1958. For the next ten years, the model range consisted of the military W 300 M, the W 100, the W 200 and the W 300. Only chassis with a driver's cab or pickups were manufactured in the factory. From 1966 the Power Wagon W 100 was also offered as a "Town Panel" and "Town Wagon". In 1966 the double cab was also introduced for the W 200.

The two-ton Power Wagon W 500 (chassis with driver's cab only) was introduced in 1956 as the C3-HW and manufactured up to model year 1971. This was replaced in 1972 by the W 600 (also only available as a chassis with a driver's cab), which was manufactured until all medium-duty Dodge trucks were abandoned in 1977. The W 400 was introduced as a replacement in 1977.

The name Power Wagon was given up in 1981 with the introduction of the Ram ; the all-wheel drive models were called Power Ram and were manufactured until 1993.

Military power wagon

During the Second World War : the "Weapons Carrier" (WC) as a half-ton, three-quarter-ton and one-ton trucks; the model was used by all units that transported troops or supplies.
In the Korean War : the M 37 three-quarter-tonner, including the B1 variant. Used primarily by the Marine Corps as an all-purpose vehicle.
The M 37 was also used in Canada .

W200, M 880 and M 890

Dodge W 200

The W200 (model name of the United States Army M 880 Series ) have been procured in large numbers for the US Army since the early 1970s. They replaced the M 37, the first edition of which had already been used in World War II .

These vehicles belong to the second generation of the Dodge D-series and are built on the Chrysler AD platform . They largely correspond to the civil versions, with W standing for all-wheel drive and 200 for the payload (0.75 sh tn or 680 kg). A disadvantage for the logistics was that the Dodge W200 had a gasoline engine , which meant that in addition to the commonly used diesel, additional gasoline had to be carried in tankers during operations. That and the fact that the W200 was a "drunkard" (even with careful driving 18–20 l per 100 km) prompted the US Army Logistic System to retire the car after about 10 years and replace it with the new one Humvees and partly to be replaced by the pick-ups of the M 1008 series ( CUCV ).

Today the US Army only uses very few M 880s - mostly for nostalgic reasons. Huge contingents were scrapped or sold to private individuals and companies by the US Army collecting society in Europe and overseas. Often you see them with civil registration numbers and otherwise unchanged.

The M 880 Series were delivered to the US Army in the following versions:

Type	Drive formula	description
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 880	4 × 4	Basic type
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 881	4 × 4	other electrics, 24 V
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 882	4 × 4	Bracket on loading area for antennas
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 883	4 × 4	different structure for shelters
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 884	4 × 4	Cross member for shelter construction
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 885	4 × 4	Cross member for shelter construction
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 886	4 × 4	ambulance
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 888	4 × 4	Telephone maintenance truck
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 890	4 × 2	Basic type
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 891	4 × 2	other electrics, 24 V
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 892	4 × 2	Bracket on loading area for antennas
Truck Cargo 1.25 ton M 893	4 × 2	ambulance

There was also the type M 887 4 × 4 with complete welding equipment as an independent model.

General data of the basic type M 880 4 × 4:

Type: Dodge W 200
Empty weight: 2,108 kg (4,648 lbs)
Payload: 1,134 kg (2,500 lbs)
Total weight: 3,515 kg (7,748 lbs)
Axle load, rear: 2,068 kg (4,558 lbs)
Axle load, front 1,447 kg (3,190 lbs)
Wheelbase: 3,3274 m (131.00 inch)
Ground clearance: about 0.21 m (8.50 inches)
Height: 1.8758 m (73.85 inch, without superstructure, tarpaulin)
Length: 5.556 m (218.74 inch)
Width: 2.0193 m (79.50 inch)
Engine: Chrysler V 8 cylinder, regular gasoline, overhead valve
Displacement: 5.217 l (318.3 cu inch)
Output: 150 hp at 4,000 rpm
Top speed: 72 km / h (45 mph , recommended) but actually 150 km / h and more
Transmission: automatic, three-speed with reverse gear and two-stage reduction (transfer case, only with 4x4)
All-wheel drive: permanent (4x4)
Tank capacity: 75.7 l (20 gals)
Engine oil: 4.732 L (5.0 qts) without filter, 5.68 L (5.686 qts) with filter
Cooling: 17 l (18 qts)
Tire size: 9.50R16,5D
Rim: 16.5 × 6.75
Electrics: 12 volts (with some types 24 volts for shelter, radio, etc.)
Trailer coupling: US Army version for M 101, 0.75-ton trailers (military payload) or short-term towing with the bar of other M-880 types.

Conversions for the Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps used the M 37 three-quarter tonner frequently. They rebuilt the cars in different ways:

Fully equipped for deep water fords (waterproof motor and electrics, preparation for suction snorkel)
Loading eyes on the front bumper
Protection for the tail lights with loading eyes
Handle on the hood

Dodge three-quarter tonner for special applications

M 152 radio car
M 43 ambulance

2005 – today

In 2005 Dodge reintroduced the Power Wagon name for a version of the Dodge Ram . It is a special off-road version of the Ram 2500 with a 5.7 liter Chrysler Hemi V8 engine. The special features of this model are electronic locking differentials at the front and rear, an electronically disengageable torsion bar , an integrated winch for up to 5.4 tons, ground clearance indicator, black fenders, 17 "wheels," Power Wagon "inscriptions on the doors and tailgate, larger ones 33 "-BF Goodrich off-road T / A tires and 40 mm more ground clearance with Bilstein Monotube gas pressure shock absorbers, which increases the vehicle height to 2,047 mm.

Vinyl or leather is available as interior trim, but this version is only available with a normal driver's cab and a 2.4 m long platform or with a double cab and a 1.95 m long platform.

Weight information:

Perm. Total weight - 3,855 kg
Perm. Gross train weight - 7,700 kg
Axle load (front) - 2.038 kg
Axle load (rear) - 2,781 kg
Max. Payload - 1,019 kg
Max. Trailer load - 4,800 kg

Web links

Commons : Dodge Power Wagon - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ B1- The main difference between the M 37 and the M 37 B1 was the spare wheel that was mounted on the driver's door.

[1] B1- The main difference between the M 37 and the M 37 B1 was the spare wheel that was mounted on the driver's door.