Dodge 3 tonner

Anthony Main · #1 17-03-09, 00:11

Did Dodge Canada make a 3 ton 4x4 for use in the British Army in WW2 ?

cliff · #2 17-03-09, 00:29

Not to my knowledge. All the 'D' series MCP Dodge trucks from 15cwt to 3 ton were 4X2.

David_Hayward (RIP) · #3 17-03-09, 00:57

I agree that there are no known 3 ton 4x4s to British order.
L 5875076 to 5877075 under SM 6257 for 'LORRY 3-TON
4 X 4? G/S' must be a mistake and were 4 X 2 D60L/D T-110-L-9???

gordon · #4 17-03-09, 10:20

You hesitate to say 'never' but that's pretty close.

Dodge production was all light truck, half ton to three ton, but the vast majority was 1/2, 3/4, 1.5 ton in the US and up to 3 ton 4 x 2 in Canada.
That batch David quotes was two thousand trucks, and any 4 x 4, 3 ton produced at that rate would have been mentioned somewhere else before now.

Intersting possibilities that might apply to the discussion;

The WK60, a 3 ton 6 x 4 Welles-Thornton conversion, which must have made about that quantity.

Any prototype CMP Dodge D60 that were made. Colin has one photograph of a conventional CMP 13 cab made by Dodge, so no reason why any prototypes couldn't have included a Dodge version of the C60 / F60, but if they did they didn't make it into production quantities.

Dodge three tonners came as heavy or light 4 x 2 configuration, with Canadian D60 T110L series being much lighter trucks with 236 cu in engine, and the early war VK60 series heavy duty US built with 331 cu in engine like the later Burma Dodges. I've not seen any front axles that would support a 3 ton Dodge 4 x 4 as either heavy or light configuration though, just 4 x 2.

David_Hayward (RIP) · #5 17-03-09, 11:15

L 4552457 to 4553198 SM 2023 LORRY 3-TON 6 X 4 BREAKDOWN [GANTRY] 168” w.b. [from Chrysler Corp. of Canada] E.g. L 4552511 1940-41 CANADIAN DCM-4? With Welles-Thornton rear bogie Serials # 8,300,001 – 8,300,742?

The prototype photo if it's the same one is of a 'D15A'.

I had a sudden thought that I have the complete parts list references so can check to see if there were ever any 3-ton 4 x 4s listed for US, Canadian and British order.

gordon · #6 17-03-09, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_Hayward

The prototype photo if it's the same one is of a 'D15A'.

I had a sudden thought that I have the complete parts list references so can check to see if there were ever any 3-ton 4 x 4s listed for US, Canadian and British order.

It'll be the same photo, but if you have a close look at it you can see the front hubs are not driven, so it is really just a CMP version of the D15, with no 'A' for 4 x 4.

I have the US Master Parts List here and a number of US and Canadian manuals and smaller parts lists - no references to a 3 ton 4 x 4.

Anthony Main · #7 18-03-09, 00:45

I was talking to a 51st Highlanders Vet, Who says he drove a 4x4 Dodge
in France. The photo he showed me looked like the front axle could be
Driven!

cliff · #8 18-03-09, 04:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony Main

I was talking to a 51st Highlanders Vet, Who says he drove a 4x4 Dodge
in France. The photo he showed me looked like the front axle could be
Driven!

Show us the photo and I may believe it but until then I believe all 'D' series Dodge trucks were not 4 wheel drive.

Are you sure it was in fact a 'D' series? Could it have been an earlier US Army Dodge 4X4 or similar? These at a quick inspection did look the same as the 'D' series.

Pictured is a Time/Life photo showing US Army Dodges crossing a pontoon Brige in 1940.

David_Hayward (RIP) · #9 18-03-09, 09:22

Quote:

L 4450258 to 4451757 SM 2012 1,500 LORRY
30 CWT. 4 X 4 G/S EX-FRENCH 143” W.B. INCLUDING SERIALS
# 8833986 AND# 8834236 VF-40x T-203B [T-203-B-143] L.H.D.
Serials possibly # 8833573 and up

There may have been Canadian T-203B models.I will check when I can.

gordon · #10 18-03-09, 10:56

The T203 VF 1.5 ton was made in the US for the US Army, after which they made the T203B export batch, all during 1940 I think.

I don't know of any US T203 trucks that got outside the US, though samples may have. The T203B was built for export, but is only a 1.5 ton and not a 3 ton, though much of the sheetmetal and so on looks the same.

There were a number of technical differences, such as the T203B only having one type of front axle universal joint, and a brake servo.

Anthony Main · #11 21-03-09, 01:28

On seeing 44(5) on the door my first thoughts were GMC.Can't see the front/rear of the truck, But the hood looks Dodge!
I'm unable to borrow the photo to share with you!
David's 2nd post looks to have the info, i'm looking for.

Hanno Spoelstra · #12 21-03-09, 12:17

Could it be a GMC ACK-353 (Truck, 1 1/2 ton, 4x4, Cargo GMC)? I can see this being mistaken for a 3-ton Dodge. . .

Scan from Bart Vanderveen's "Observer's Fighting Vehicle Directory, WW II"