night drive warning!!

[rixm37]

I just have to relate this to everyone on the forum. We all have read or heard about original tail lights on military vehicles that are at best weak. Last night my wife and I were driving from Tucson to Phoenix on I 10 in our late model pickup. We were keeping up with traffic 80 to 85 mph. Suddenly brake lights on cars were coming on and people were changing lanes fast. I was thinking what the hell is going on ?? Then I saw a black shape looming up fast only one tiny red light on the lower left rear. I switched lanes and flew by the slow vheicle. I took one quick glance and saw it was a dark colored duece and a half with box bed going about half my speed . This all happened very quickly at 80+. It clearly demonstrated how dangerous the old military lighting can be. Seeing is truly believing. Or is that not seeing??
I think I am going to light up my M better! What have you done? Any ideas?

[CGarbee]

Depend's on how much of a hurry I was to get home...
Followed him with my hazards (four ways) on or possibly my beacon lights (if I was in the deuce of five ton with the convoy lights) until we parted ways or stopped at a truck stop, etc...

Waved as I passed and said a prayer for him otherwise...

Illustrates why I have the convoy lights on my rigs in addition to the full red gama goat lenses or larger composites (depending on truck) with LED lighting... I like being seen...

[Lifer]

I'm glad you spotted the problem in time to avoid a "situation." I do wonder, though, why traffic was zooming by at 80 - 85 mph when the speed limit is usually around 65 - 70 mph. The speed limit between Abingdon (where I live) and Galesburg, IL is only 55, but I'm routinely passed by cars, trucks, and motorcycles doing 70 mph or better. I'm beginning to think that everyone but me views the posted speed limit as a "suggested minimum" rather than the "maximum allowable" speed.

[M-Thrax]

I was told by a DOT officer years ago that they did not care what year the vehicle is or classed at,if they caught it at night without current lighting codes he would give them a ticket and let them explain to a judge why they're classic vehicle didn't need safe/current lighting.

[rixm37]

Cabel I like your suggestion of an escort I didn't think of that but I said a little prayer for all of us. Well Lifer the speed is 75 on I 10 between Tucson and Phoenix and its the worst most crowded 4 lanes in AZ . So ya I was going 80 and I was getting passed allot! Everyone drives like they are in a NASCAR race. I dont think they give a second thought as to what might happen when something goes wrong and there is less than a car length between cars and trucks. I try to keep some distance but it is hard, some other person will jam in front of you every time. The whole 120 miles is pretty bad. The state has widened and is widening the road to six lanes and they are wider than the current lanes and those sections are not as bad as the old parts. I think here in AZ you can have whatever your original vehicle had for lights. It may have changed recently but you only had to have a single tail light and blinkers not required last time I checked it out. My M has the larger lightes and blinkers installed somewhere in its military past. I am thinking about some kind of clip on lights that light up the rear more.

[philin mt]

Ebay... NOS Pair of 2 M715 M37 military truck round red lights ...Price is a joke but thay do light up nice (170194044568) Dont know seller, I got mine 20 years ago for 5 bucks each...Phil in Mt

[Josh]

this is exactly why I'm going to be putting LED lighting in mine, along with bixenon HID headlights!

[obxron]

I was rear ended in my daily 3 weeks ago(daytime), my truck was totalled. Made me start thinking about those times when I'm in the M37. I usually don't drive the beast at night, I have brake/running lights but I wanted to warn people flying up behind me day or night that I'm slow moving. So I bought one of those slow moving vehicle reflectors, like the ones for farm machinery. Has anbody mounted one of those on the back of their truck? If so where and how? Pictures always appreciated.
Ron
1954 M37

[DJ]

I think with the slow moving sign you are limited to how fast you can drive.

DJ

[obxron]

35mph, 40mph on a good day is slow when people come up on you at 60+mph but I see what you are saying.

[CGarbee]

A long winded bit about required equipment and slow moving vehicle triangles:

Safety Equipment:
Federal Law (I can look up the statute if somebody really cares...) has a grandfather clause that allows for a vehicle that met safety standards in effect when it was manufactured to be operated with that safety equipment. It does not require that vehicles be upgraded to current standards... There are some exceptions to this (most notably with regard to FMCSA rules that require OTR trucks/trailers (semi's) to have conspicuality markings that where not required previously.

Short answer, is that if the truck was built without turn signals, seatbelts, dual tailights, etc., you can still drive it legally as long as it was equiped with the lighting that was specified when it was built. Most states have inspection laws that state that the lights you do have must be visible for a certain distance, but it is easy to accomplish this and it doesn't take a very bright light to meet specifications. OTOH, it's your life and that of the folks around you and a case can be made if that if somebody runs up on you that even if your vehicle met all requirements that you were operating in an "unsafe" manner...

Slow moving vehicle triangles:
Federal Law specifies that these be used on vehicles that travel at no more than 25mph when in a stream of traffic that is significantly faster (originally used on farm equipment traveling on public highways/roads but since expanded). Use of a triangle on a vehicle that is traveling faster than 25mph dimenishes the effect of the sign for when it is being used properly and puts legitamate users at greater risk... If you put one on a M37 traveling at 45-50mph, the argument is that it makes you a bit more visable, but that folks who come up on a farm wagon being pulled by a tractor may misjudge its speed (or at least the meaning of the traingle affixed to the trailer) since they have seen the sign in use on something traveling much faster. It's kinda like folks ignoring a sign warning of a flagman in the road because the last time you saw a similar sign there was no construction (the crew pulled off the road but forgot to pull the sign) and you suddenly run up on a flagman with stopped traffic...

The actual Federal Code 29 CFR 1910.145(d)(10)
Slow-moving vehicle emblem. This emblem (see fig. J-7) consists of a fluorescent yellow-orange triangle with a dark red reflective border. The yellow-orange fluorescent triangle is a highly visible color for daylight exposure. The reflective border defines the shape of the fluorescent color in daylight and creates a hollow red triangle in the path of motor vehicle headlights at night. The emblem is intended as a unique identification for, and it shall be used only on, vehicles which by design move slowly (25 m.p.h. or less) on the public roads. The emblem is not a clearance marker for wide machinery nor is it intended to replace required lighting or marking of slow-moving vehicles. Neither the color film pattern and its dimensions nor the backing shall be altered to permit use of advertising or other markings. The material, location, mounting, etc., of the emblem shall be in accordance with the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Emblem for Identifying Slow-Moving Vehicles, ASAE R276, 1967, or ASAE S276.2 (ANSI B114.1-1971), which are incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6.


The bolding is mine...

Be safe...

[Cal_Gary]

I have gamma-goat taillights installed and am mounting a removable amber whoopee light on the left-front bed corner. I say left side so I can be seen by all the fast lane drivers to my left, and high enough to clear the cab roof for 360 degree visability at every angle. It does little good to mount one so low that most of the light is absorbed by the cab or bed curtains-nobody will see it unless they are directly in your 8 oclock position.

[Tom @ Snake River]

I farm, and the SMV triangles are a joke except on a tractor and implement, just what they are stated for. Farmers use to slap them on anything useing that as an excuse.
Any more if I have an MV that may be out at night, I make sure and put moderen reflective tape on the back, usually in the shape of a delineator plate. Tom

[rixm37]

I think that reflecting tape and more lights is a great idea. I don't think I will ever drive my M on the interstate. Even with good lighting the speed difference is just too great. I guess a beefy trailer is a better bet. Just load up and tow to the fun spot or wherever you are going.

[Nickathome]

Around here we have Amish buggies to worry about and even with them decked out with reflective triangles, flashing lights etc(all required by the state), there is still the occasional news story of a buggy getting rolled by someone barreling up their six. Even so, its the driver's responsibility to maintain control of their vehicle, so it wouldn't be the buggy driver's fault if he got slammed, same as it wouldn't be the MVer's fault if he wound up getting a Nissan enema.....

BTW - I thought it was bad here as everyone drives 20+MPH over the limit, which for the most part equates to about 75MPH. Its posted 55 on all but the interstates, and then only in certain areas. .