New member from Colorado

[SCarGo02]

I just wanted to say hello from Northern Colorado!

I recently purchased an ex-Army 1975 Dodge D600 (2.5 ton truck). I've been into old Dodge trucks for quite some time and have always wanted one of their old MDTs (although I'm slowly learning about true MVs here on this site!). I know it's technically not a military vehicle (at least I hope not when it comes time to title/register it here in Colorado), but it is a factory stake body truck that had this tank installed by the Army at some point in its life (it looks like it's been mounted on the bed for quite some time).

Does anyone know what something like this would've been used for? It has faded flammable placards on the tank, and although it's mostly dry in there it doesn't smell like old gasoline or diesel plus the nozzle is much bigger than your typical gas/diesel nozzle).

Thanks for any and all insight!

-Ryan

 

[tommys2patrick]

Welcome from just up the road in Livermore. Definitely looks like a refueling rig. Perhaps aircraft/helicopters. Is there a reel for a ground wire with a big alligator clip on it? If not fuel perhaps some sort of chemical perhaps?

 

[SCM35A2]

Welcome to the site!

 

[dmetalmiki]

Welcome to the site and the hobby.
We had trucks running around the base like that that pumped water from fire pits.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Welcome Aboard

Find a bunk, stow your gear, and prepare to get underway

Congatz on the new acquisition!
While you "say" it's not an MV, it really DOES fit this website. It is, by virtue of it's olive drab paint and US Army stencils, a "CU" or Civilian Utility military vehicle. If you look inside the cab you will probably find a Vehicle Data Plate which should show some particulars about what it is, when it was produced, and acquired by Uncle Sam. When you find it, post up a pic for us to review with you.

Again, congratulations on the truck!

John
SS Chaplain
San Angelo, Texas, USA

 

[Karl kostman]

Ryan welcome to the site, and congrats on your new acquisition it looks in fine shape, what engine and transmission? As far as the tank goes I noticed a couple things, there is no ground strap on the truck used to ground the truck to what ever your refueling, If the exhaust on the truck does not come out in the front of the truck it was not a fuel truck, and I have never see a gas engine with the exhaust in this location on any kind of Govt refueling truck they were all PTO driven!! This tank was an old tank that got transplanted on your truck and was used for something that was NOT flammable. The way this truck is setup tells me that this setup was never used for anything flammable!

 

[kblazer87]

Welcome form southeast Indiana..

 

[Tracer]

Welcome aboard from Nevada. Unique truck, keep us posted.

 

[SCarGo02]

Welcome from just up the road in Livermore. Definitely looks like a refueling rig. Perhaps aircraft/helicopters. Is there a reel for a ground wire with a big alligator clip on it? If not fuel perhaps some sort of chemical perhaps?

Howdy! Nice to know there are other folks in Northern Colorado! Definitely no ground reel on the truck (no signs there ever was one either that I can find). The tank almost smells like old kerosene, but I don't think that's it so maybe it was some kind of chemical?

Welcome to the site!

Thank you!

Welcome to the site and the hobby.
We had trucks running around the base like that that pumped water from fire pits.

Thank you! You might be on to something since it doesn't appear to have been outfitted properly for any kind of fuel/flammable liquids! I've yet to find any pictures/information of anything similar online.

Welcome Aboard

Find a bunk, stow your gear, and prepare to get underway

Congatz on the new acquisition!
While you "say" it's not an MV, it really DOES fit this website. It is, by virtue of it's olive drab paint and US Army stencils, a "CU" or Civilian Utility military vehicle. If you look inside the cab you will probably find a Vehicle Data Plate which should show some particulars about what it is, when it was produced, and acquired by Uncle Sam. When you find it, post up a pic for us to review with you.

Again, congratulations on the truck!

John
SS Chaplain
San Angelo, Texas, USA

Hello John and thank you! I'm excited to get this old girl back on the road -- and hopefully registered/plated here in Colorado! It seems like there have been issues getting MVs titled for on-road use, although this has a the same kinds of equipment as one would've been sold at a Dodge dealer in the 70s. I didn't know where something like this truck would fall since it never had any nomenclature like the Dodge M880 series of trucks even though it was built specifically for the Army.

Are you referring to this plate on the dashboard? There's also a Parts Data Plate (MIL-STD-1223) sticker but it looks to be Chrysler part numbers for the axles and transmission.

Ryan welcome to the site, and congrats on your new acquisition it looks in fine shape, what engine and transmission? As far as the tank goes I noticed a couple things, there is no ground strap on the truck used to ground the truck to what ever your refueling, If the exhaust on the truck does not come out in the front of the truck it was not a fuel truck, and I have never see a gas engine with the exhaust in this location on any kind of Govt refueling truck they were all PTO driven!! This tank was an old tank that got transplanted on your truck and was used for something that was NOT flammable. The way this truck is setup tells me that this setup was never used for anything flammable!

Hello Karl! This truck has Chrysler's industrial 361 big block motor with a NP540 5-speed transmission (and Rockwell single speed rear axle with 6.80 gears). The exhaust angles down under the cab; basically a y-pipe, muffler, and the exhaust tip angled down. Very short compared to the smaller light duty Dodges that typically went over the rear axle and angled out behind the rear right tire. As I mentioned above the tank almost has an old kerosene smell to it, but I don't think that's it.

All I know is it ended up at the MTOE in East Helena in non-running condition. Someone messed with it at some point, but either way it sat and hadn't run in several years. I've gotten it running with new plugs/wires/cap/rotors, fuel pump/filter running off a portable marine gas tank!

Welcome form southeast Indiana..

Thank you!

Welcome aboard from Nevada. Unique truck, keep us posted.

Thank you! It's definitely unique although I don't think I'll be keeping the tank/pump/hose reel and plan to put it back to a flatbed/stake bed to make it a little more useful for my needs.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Hello John and thank you! I'm excited to get this old girl back on the road -- and hopefully registered/plated here in Colorado! It seems like there have been issues getting MVs titled for on-road use, although this has a the same kinds of equipment as one would've been sold at a Dodge dealer in the 70s. I didn't know where something like this truck would fall since it never had any nomenclature like the Dodge M880 series of trucks even though it was built specifically for the Army.

Are you referring to this plate on the dashboard? There's also a Parts Data Plate (MIL-STD-1223) sticker but it looks to be Chrysler part numbers for the axles and transmission.
View attachment 787535

Yup! That would be the DATA PLATE.

As you figured out, this truck pre-dates the assignment of Mxxx numbering for "off the shelf" utility vehicles. It was only when Uncle Sam began spec'ing non-standard, non-civilian configurations (such as 24v elelctrical systems) that the bidding began based on a published Mxxx Procurement Contract.

But, once Uncle got your truck, he definitely BRANDED it as HIS.

 

[tommys2patrick]

I noticed that the placard on the vehicle indicates : DOL/ETA contractor". that translates to Department of Labor/Employment and Training Adminsitration. As a training vehicle its purpose could have been training for a variety of pumping and transportation of liquids. Sewage, clear,black,brown waters etc. how to clean such a vehicle/tank, maintenance etc.

 

[Migginsbros]

Welcome from overSEEs

 

[SCarGo02]

Yup! That would be the DATA PLATE.

As you figured out, this truck pre-dates the assignment of Mxxx numbering for "off the shelf" utility vehicles. It was only when Uncle Sam began spec'ing non-standard, non-civilian configurations (such as 24v elelctrical systems) that the bidding began based on a published Mxxx Procurement Contract.

But, once Uncle got your truck, he definitely BRANDED it as HIS.

Not sure if you (or anyone else here) would know, but that data plate says the Gross Weight Rating Max. is 19000, however the Chrysler VIN plate says Max GVW is 24000. Are they not one in the same? Would the data plate have been installed after the Army modified it to their needs?

I noticed that the placard on the vehicle indicates : DOL/ETA contractor". that translates to Department of Labor/Employment and Training Adminsitration. As a training vehicle its purpose could have been training for a variety of pumping and transportation of liquids. Sewage, clear,black,brown waters etc. how to clean such a vehicle/tank, maintenance etc.

Pardon the ignorance, but does that mean it was used as a training vehicle for the Army or it went to the DOL after the Army was done with it?

Welcome from overSEEs

Thank you!

 

[dmetalmiki]

And guess what?..Since replying to your post, and on the same night on "Talking Pictures" T.V. in an old arm comedy film, Through the camp gates came the exact same truck as you have there, In R.A.F. Colors and markings.

 

[SCarGo02]

And guess what?..Since replying to your post, and on the same night on "Talking Pictures" T.V. in an old arm comedy film, Through the camp gates came the exact same truck as you have there, In R.A.F. Colors and markings.

Really? I'd love to see others used by the military! Here's a Google street view of where mine resided in Montana until November of 2019 (along with another tank-converted-flatbed on the left, a late 60/early 70s Chevy/GMC I think?):

 

[SCarGo02]

The wife's family visited over the weekend and the brother in law said he had a use for the 1000 gallon tank; a waste oil tank. Low and behold he came back 48 hours later with a coworker and yanked it off the bed (it even had just under 100 gallons of diesel in it)!

Since I last posted I did get it running off a marine gas tank after a tune up and fuel pump, although it still needs the carburetor rebuilt, fuel tank drained/clenaed, and coolant/hoses replaced before I attempt to take it on a maiden voyage. Slow progress, but next month I get an unplanned/unpaid vacation (furlough) so the plan is to get more done!

 

[twisted60]

Welcome from South Florida

 

[M37M35]

Welcome from Oklahoma!

Nice acquisition!

 

[fasttruck]

Reference post 6: You need to broaden your horizons. The 1200 gallon "tanker pumper units" were issued with gas air cooled Briggs & Stratton motors to run the pump. If the truck carried gasoline no problem. If it had diesel then make sure you took enough gas with you to run the pump for the day. Later models had an electric pump that plugged into the slave receptacle on the cargo truck to which it was mounted. The nozzle looks like the ones found on M49Cs and the TPU units. The fill pipe on tactical vehicles is large enough to take it. Refueling TMPs or commercial vehicles could be a problem that was usually solved by using a 5 gallon gas can and a pouring nozzle that would fit in the TMPS gas tank. Pumps on HEMMETS and 49Cs and such are pto operated.

I drove the evil twin to this truck at the USMA which maintained a fleet of 2.5t commercial trucks to taxi the cadets around. Most of them were IH 1600 loadstars. They all had a full set of racks, bows and canvas, and benches for the passengers to sit on. Apparently they have been replaced with FMTVs as you may recall one rolled over in 2019 and killed a cadet.

 

[SCarGo02]

Welcome from South Florida

Thank you!

Welcome from Oklahoma!

Nice acquisition!

Thanks!

Reference post 6: You need to broaden your horizons. The 1200 gallon "tanker pumper units" were issued with gas air cooled Briggs & Stratton motors to run the pump. If the truck carried gasoline no problem. If it had diesel then make sure you took enough gas with you to run the pump for the day. Later models had an electric pump that plugged into the slave receptacle on the cargo truck to which it was mounted. The nozzle looks like the ones found on M49Cs and the TPU units. The fill pipe on tactical vehicles is large enough to take it. Refueling TMPs or commercial vehicles could be a problem that was usually solved by using a 5 gallon gas can and a pouring nozzle that would fit in the TMPS gas tank. Pumps on HEMMETS and 49Cs and such are pto operated.

I drove the evil twin to this truck at the USMA which maintained a fleet of 2.5t commercial trucks to taxi the cadets around. Most of them were IH 1600 loadstars. They all had a full set of racks, bows and canvas, and benches for the passengers to sit on. Apparently they have been replaced with FMTVs as you may recall one rolled over in 2019 and killed a cadet.

Now that is very interesting to hear! Do you have any idea if these trucks (or at least something like this stake body Dodge) were purchased specifically for this purpose or were they retrofitted at a later point in their lives? There were a few other holes cut into the wood bed (not used for this setup) and it looks like it had some other equipment mounted to the frame too (long gone, just poorly cut holes remain).

There is a 5-gallon gas can in the larger box on the side of the bed (along with some oil and other supplies) -- so that definitely falls in line with what you described!

Thanks for sharing!

*EDIT* or the gas can could've been for the Briggs & Stratton too.