rmvivas
New member
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- Location
- Columbia County, NY
I notice that a common thread in many posts about private ownership of former military vehicle is about ongoing disagreements or difficulties with various Departments Of Motor Vehicles (DMV's).
It's a shame because everyone is working towards the same goal: putting a motor vehicle safely on the road.
I notice this because I had my first military vehicle/DMV encounter today.
Let me start by saying that NO ONE expects to have a good time at DMV. A trip to the DMV is much like a trip to ex-in laws house for Thanksgiving so the kids can grandpa and grandma; it's the right thing to do , it's not going to be fun and there won't be enough booze.
The DMV here in podunkville is nowhere near as bad as the Chinese Fire Drill that is New York City (NYC) DMV; -that's- just unorganized chaos with acres of shiny Formica.
No, here in Podunkville you should be able to get it done in 5 minutes, maybe 10 if there is a line.
One hour and twenty five minutes. The only reason it went as well as it did was that I made my manners to the County Clerk when I came in (we know each other very casually) and she walked the paperwork through stuff that otherwise would have killed it.
For everyone's general store of knowledge, if you try to register a 1952 Dodge M37 in New York State (NYS), the state will not issue you a title but instead a transferable registration.
Everything generally went ok, but they insisted on registering the vehicle as Commercial because it was over 5,500 pounds. The Technical Manual (TM) states that the vehicle without winch should weigh 5, 683 pounds (I think). I'm told the thing to do is register the vehicles as commercial, take it home and strip enough heavy stuff off it to get the weight down, then drive it to a certified scale and if it's under 5,500 get a stamped receipt, head back to DMV and they will re-register as a passenger vehicle.
So now I have to get it weighed to see what my starting weight is and then see what I can temporarily remove. The front bumper/winch and rear bumper (both non-original add-ons) would get me where I need to be I think but upon close examination they are welded on and I'm not a welding guy. I figure I can remove the windshield and the doors and that should be a step in the right direction.
It's a shame because everyone is working towards the same goal: putting a motor vehicle safely on the road.
I notice this because I had my first military vehicle/DMV encounter today.
Let me start by saying that NO ONE expects to have a good time at DMV. A trip to the DMV is much like a trip to ex-in laws house for Thanksgiving so the kids can grandpa and grandma; it's the right thing to do , it's not going to be fun and there won't be enough booze.
The DMV here in podunkville is nowhere near as bad as the Chinese Fire Drill that is New York City (NYC) DMV; -that's- just unorganized chaos with acres of shiny Formica.
No, here in Podunkville you should be able to get it done in 5 minutes, maybe 10 if there is a line.
One hour and twenty five minutes. The only reason it went as well as it did was that I made my manners to the County Clerk when I came in (we know each other very casually) and she walked the paperwork through stuff that otherwise would have killed it.
For everyone's general store of knowledge, if you try to register a 1952 Dodge M37 in New York State (NYS), the state will not issue you a title but instead a transferable registration.
Everything generally went ok, but they insisted on registering the vehicle as Commercial because it was over 5,500 pounds. The Technical Manual (TM) states that the vehicle without winch should weigh 5, 683 pounds (I think). I'm told the thing to do is register the vehicles as commercial, take it home and strip enough heavy stuff off it to get the weight down, then drive it to a certified scale and if it's under 5,500 get a stamped receipt, head back to DMV and they will re-register as a passenger vehicle.
So now I have to get it weighed to see what my starting weight is and then see what I can temporarily remove. The front bumper/winch and rear bumper (both non-original add-ons) would get me where I need to be I think but upon close examination they are welded on and I'm not a welding guy. I figure I can remove the windshield and the doors and that should be a step in the right direction.
) Taking the bed off an M37 isn't really that difficult (I've done it). Mostly you're removing the six (or more?) mounting bolts in the bed floor, unbolting the gas tank filler neck as it is attached to both the tank & bed. With the help of a wrecker or some hardy friends it should lift straight off*. I took mine completely apart while it was still on the truck (removed the sides first and the floor itself, last). Here is a site that is a clearing house for all things M37 (G741). Worth joining if you're not already a member; 
