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Hi Guys,

Has anybody noticed that the Dodge M37 doesn't have arm rests on the doors? Didn't the civilian Power Wagons of the time and the M715 have arm rests? Why doesn't the M37? Cost cutting maybe.....or could there be some tactical reason for omitting them? Just dawned on me the other day.........and now I'm curious. Any ideas?

thanks,
bob

they were an option on most trucks back in those days. My 61 D300 I have right now didnt come with any. Sometimes you see with just one on drivers side in the civilain trucks. my truck only has a key hole on passenger side! which was very rare by 61. don't know why military didn't want them.

Hi Kaegi,

Makes sense. I keep forgetting that back in the 50's trucks were incredibly simple vehicles with minimal creature comforts. Today you can't even buy a truck without all those "car" features. My first vehicle was a hand-me-down '67 Ford F100 stepside. Manual brakes/windows/choke, am radio, 3 on-the-tree, straight six. Air conditioning consisted of opening up the vent window. Wonderfully simple vehicle. The other weekend I rented a new F150 with more crap in it than I can remember. I felt bad not taking my shoes off before I got in it. I think the pendulum has swung too far again.

later,
bob

Cab is tight enough without an arm rest. I don't know where one could fit in there.

-jim lee

right by the window

right by the window

Ouch!

But you're probably onto something with it being too tight in there Jim. The Army did intend for the cab to hold 3 people when transporting troops........so arm rests sure wouldn't help that situation.

regards,
bob

Went on a long drive in the M37 yesterday with the wife. ( 150+ miles ) We're driving along and she comes out with. "Gee, I wish this thing had arm rests." This got me looking around and there really is room for them.



-jim lee

if you are going to put some in the mid 60s dodge truck arm rests are being reproduced and are a very durable design. I am into the 60s civvy dodges and they usually still in usable condition which says something about the durability.

MVs with doors did not come with arm rests until the commercial trucks of the 70's and 80's (M880 Dodges and M1008 CUCV Chevys). Remember this truck was built for combat not comfort. The GIs comfort was secondary to function. You don't need an arm rest if your going into battle right? To paraphrase what was told to workers at the old Tank Plant (now the IX Center) here in Cleveland. "It's an Army truck not a Cadillac."