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This weekend offered the opportunity to make a run down to LA to pick up a pristine set of troop seats and side racks out of a B1 that I got on E-Bay. This means I will either have to go with a door-mounted spare (which I don't want to do), swap the passenger-side bench for a first-series bench (with jump seat), or secure the spare lying flat in the bed (no biggie right now as the bed is overfull with M stuff).

What would you advise? My bed is a B1 and while I have the early spare tire mount, it is not yet installed. I'd also have to obtain the jump seat and fabricate that mount. I'm inclined to mount the spare flat, as the truck isn't going to be used as a hauler or daily driver-just the occasional parade or local drive around. I can always "stand up" and secure the spare if I needed to haul human cargo (like in a parade), I suppose.

All responses are appreciated!
Thanks,
Gary

My personal preference would be to avoid the door mount and put the spare in the box, either flat or in the early location. Having the spare on the door seems a real PIA, as its always in the way for getting in or out...

Hi Gary. Mine is in the stock mount in the bed. I like that AND I had 11 adults and two dogs in mine this past weekend for a short hop and so it doesn't really restrict how many people you can carry. We all had a blast. Damn these trucks are good off road !!! But that is another story

Nice picture rixm37, Did you go out for a trail ride?

I have a March 1953 version. What spare tire mount did it comeout with?
Thanks

Snowdad,
Your '53 is a first-series M37 like my '54, and would have had the bed-mounted spare. Since I now have a B1 bed with B1 seats I need to decide from the options I posted originally.

I will probably go with the flat-floor mount.
Gary

Hi T. Yes we took a short run off road. Down a river bed and up the side and back to the dirt road. What surprised me was how well it rode with all the people in it . All of us must have weighed over 1500 lbs. The truck was not unstable or rough riding. When we climbed out of the river bed it was pretty steep. I got a lot of whoops from the rear . In first gear low range the truck acts like a tractor. It was lots of fun and the first real off road run with that many passengers.

Here is my take on the A post mounted spare. I own a B1 and it will never be a show truck. I also use it at least once or twice a week all year. IF I used it every day the spare would go flat in the bed as it can be a real PIA. Much easier in the summer when the drivers window is rolled down, but in the winter I save my energy and just enter and exit via the passenger side. JMO