Friday, January 30, 2009

The Dodge Power Wagon

Dodge Power Wagon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Power Wagon)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Dodge Power Wagon was a four wheel drive pickup truck produced from 1945 through 1969. This early version was based on a military truck and is a predecessor to the many four wheel drive pickups in use today.

6 wheel Dodge Power Wagon in 2007

Contents

[hide]

[edit] History

The civilian Power Wagon was introduced in 1946. It was based on the 3/4-ton Army truck's chassis with a civilian cab and a purpose designed 8-foot cargo box. It had a 126 inch (3,200 mm) wheelbase chassis and featured the 230 cubic-inch flat head six engine, a two-speed transfer case, a 4-speed transmission with a power take off opening which would send power to the front and back of the truck for operating auxiliary equipment and large 9.00/16-8 ply tires on 16X6.50 inch 5-stud wheels. In 1961 the 230 was replaced with the 251 cubic-inch flat head six.The nominal one-ton rated Power Wagon's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) was 8,700 pounds. Its maximum payload was 3,000 pounds.

The Power Wagon was sold through the 1968 model year. A number of engineering and styling improvements were made over the years, but the basic package remained surprisingly constant throughout its life. Chrysler discontinued the sale of the Power Wagon in the United States after the 1968 model year because its almost 30 year old cab would not comply with new federal light-duty truck safety regulations, but they continued to be built for export through the 1978 model year.

The first light-duty Power Wagons came out in 1957 with the introduction of the W100 and W200 pickups (beginning in 1957 1/2-ton 2WDs were D100s and 4WDs were W100s). These trucks featured conventional cabs and front sheet metal and the cargo boxes used on the 2WD models. Their 4WD mechanical components—axles, transfer cases and transmissions—were sourced from outside manufacturers. Chrysler Corporation owned the New Process Gear Company, the manufacturer of all the transfer cases used in the industry and many of the light-duty truck transmissions.

A one-ton W300 Power Wagon was released in 1958. For the next ten years the Power Wagon lineup consisted of the "military-type" W300M, and the W100, W200, and W300 "civilian-type" Power Wagons. Standard models included pickups and chassis cabs only. Through 1966, W100 Power Wagon Town Panels and Town Wagons were also standard models. In 1966 a W200 Crew Cab pickup was added to the line.

The two-ton W500 Power Wagon (only a chassis cab was built) was introduced in 1956 as the C3-HW, and lasted through the 1971 model year. This was replaced in 1972 with the W600 (also cab and chassis only), which was produced until 1977, when all Dodge medium-duty models were discontinued. To compensate for the loss of the medium-duty W600 a new W400 chassis cab was introduced in 1977.

The Power Wagon nameplate was discontinued in 1981 with the introduction of the Dodge Ram, with the four-wheel-drive models being sold under the "Power Ram" nameplate through 1993.

[edit] Military Power Wagons

  • WWII service: The Weapons Carrier (WC) series of 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks. Used by all services for carrying troops and supplies.
  • Korea (1952) and on: The M37 3/4 ton truck plus the B1* variant. Mainly used by the US Marine Corps, for every purpose.
  • The M37 was also used by Canada

B1*- Main difference between the M37 and the M37B1 is the mounting of the spare tire on the driver side door

[edit] Marine Corps modifications

The United States Marine Corps used the M37 3/4 ton truck extensively. They modified the trucks in different ways. Factory Modifications:

  • Fully rigged for deep-water fording (waterproofed-engine and electrical system, provisions for snorkel attachment)
  • Lift points welded on to front bumper
  • Tail light guards with rear lift hooks
  • Hood handle

[edit] Special purpose military Dodge 3/4 Ton Trucks

  • M152 Radio Truck
  • M43 Ambulance

[edit] 2005–present

For 2005, Dodge resurrected the Power Wagon name on a version of the Dodge Ram. It is a special off-road version of the Ram 2500 with a 5.7L Hemi V8 as the only engine option. Specialities of the model include: electronically controlled locking front and rear differentials, an electronically-disconnecting sway bar, an integrated 12,000 pounds (5,400 kg) Warn winch, clearance lights, black fender flares, 17 inches (43 cm) wheels, Power Wagon badging (doors & tailgate), larger 33 inches (84 cm) BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tires, and an overall increase in ride height with 40 millimetres (1.6 in) Bilstein Monotube Gas Charged Shocks raising the overall height to 80.6 inches (2.05 m).

Interior configurations remain similar to standard production Ram 2500 models. Six speed maunal transmissions were standard, with automatic transmission optional. The configuration was only available as a regular cab with 8 feet (2.4 m) bed (chassis) or a Quad Cab with the 6.5 feet (2.0 m) bed through 2008. In 2009, the Power Wagon is only available as a Quad Cab Short Bed model, and there is no manual transmission available.

Weight ratings:

  • GVWR - 8510 lb
  • GCWR - 17,000 lb
  • GAWR (front) - 4500 lb
  • GAWR (rear) - 6140 lb
  • Max payload - 2,250 lb
  • Max towing - 10,600 lb

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[[Sheikh Hamad]]*[1]

3 comments:

Bullseye said...

Tracy, do you remember that show Simon and Simon ?? I loved that big Dodge Power Wagon they had on that show man. Probably one of my favorite trucks.

Tracy said...

Yeah man, that used to be one of my favorite shows, right behind the Rockford Files.
I could've bought an ugly old WM300 Power Wagon with the PTO winch about 10 years ago for $500. Finally I decided to buy it, but the price had doubled to $1000. Last week I checked to see if it was still there, but it was gone. Oh well.
I would like to find one of the 6x6 versions like in the picture, or one of the old Power Wagon school buses, then put a 2-stroke Detroit Diesel in it for the perfect BOV!

Semi trucks said...

Hey Dodge is a truck which compete with big brands of pickup trucks. This is the brand which has survive as it has maintained its quality. Kudos to this truck.