K39x4 USA and related vehicles

[rc_brooks]

I was wondering if anyone can tell me more about the K39x4 USA and related types (understanding that the K39x4 was a 4 wheel version of a 2 wheel model).

I can't find anything about dimensions, surviving examples, years used, etc..

While really a pre WWII vehicles, there's not really a forum for it.

[Gordon Maney]

You are saying it was a Dodge?

[rc_brooks]

Yes, that is correct. It was a Dodge. Their first 4x4 I believe. According to one internet source it was part time 4 wheel drive. 1934 was their premiere as claimed by one site.

This is one of just a handful of mentions of it online.

http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_dodge_early.php

[Gordon Maney]

Let me check with someone.

[Gordon(Scotland)]

( Yawn )

Morning all, the other Gordon woke me up as an early Dodge question had turned up.

Just going from memory here, but I believe we are discussing two different trucks. There was a '34 1.5 ton military, David DeWeese has a particularly nice dump truck, unrestored, in Plano. I've seen text that suggests they did a 4 x 4 version of the '34, but nothing to back it up - not sure though, as the pics I've seen labelled " 4 x 4 " did not have visible driven front axles.


The Mound Road plant opened for the 1939 series of trucks, and most people will have seen the 1940 military Dodges, T202 code VC half tons and T203 code VF 1.5 tons, but there was a 1939 truck which is what you might be looking for.

The T203 series were complete trucks, with their own manuals, but some time back I bought a military manual that was for the TF40x4 series ( I forget the engineering code. ) This was a 1939 military 1.5 ton 4 x 4 cab and chassis produced in relatively small quantities, with the 'x4' standing for factory 4 x 4 production.

I don't know if they were delivered as cab and chassis, or had standard Budd bodies, but the manual was just for the cab and chassis with no body illustrations or mentions. Typical early manual told you very little other than where to oil and grease the thing and where the door was.

That's almost all I have on it, except to say I sold the manual to Dave Cirillo in Oregon, and I'm sure I did that because he told me he had the one known surviving truck.

K39x4 isn't a designation I recognise. I think the 1934 trucks were KH series and x4 would be right for factory 4 x 4, just don't know of any.


I'll go back to sleep now.

the other Gordon

[Gordon Maney]

Sorry to wake you, and thank you for your great comments!

[rc_brooks]

Yes, thank you very much! That's more than anyone's had to say on the matter.

Is there much information on the KH trucks? I head read a mention of KH, but there was equally little information easily searchable online.

Here is a photo (supposedly) of said truck.

http://www.offroadvehicle.ru/AZBUCAR/Dodge/K39x4USA.jpg

There is also this...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15826935@N06/5674915402

Where it looks like the truck just behind the one the soldier is leaning on, has a differential up front.

Don't know if that helps at all.

I had asked on another forum and got one reply that had this to say..

"I think it was the first 4x4 that wasn't full time and if I remember correctly running gear had a Marmon Herringtion transfer case and Timken banjo axles was pretty much like the VF. It came out right before Dodge went to the chrome cross front sheet metal."

They also said that it was believed less than 800 K39's were built. I was advised to pursue knowledge in other forums that might be more knowledgeable on Dodges in particular.

[Gordon(Scotland)]

Two points there

Well done.

That's the same truck I remember but the angle is low enough to show a front diff. It is definitely a 1934 pattern KH series military truck. The other visible difference is that it has two mounted spare wheels, where the 4 x 2 versions I've seen only had one spare mounted on the drivers side.

We are still getting caught up in a tangle between 1934 and 1939. That image is a 1934 K series, the truck that came out immediately before the 1940 VF 1.5 ton 4 x 4 was the TF40x4 I mentioned earlier - pretty much the same as the VF series but a year earlier and in smaller quantity.

Nice image, taking a copy of that, don't know any survivors though

[rc_brooks]

Thank you for the clarification!

Are there any books or similar resources you might recommend for more information?

[Gordon(Scotland)]

I don't know of any.

I expect all this will be in Fred Crismons US MILITARY WHEELED VEHICLES but not in any depth.

I can't think of anything specifically on Dodges that would cover it - anyone?

[scuppernongwine]

I thought I'd bump this thread. I have a 1934 Dodge 4x4 K39X4USA. Check out pics of it at this link...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2988415...7632906422958/

She hasn't run in a long while but she's fairly complete and the only known survivor.

[Paul Cook]

To confuse this issue...

An internet search shows that the definitive information about the Dodge K39x4 originates from duplicate postings by "scuppernongwine" submitted on http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=777715, http://forums.aaca.org/f148/my-1934-...-a-345441.html, and other web sites.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1943 in the United States. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilia...ervation_Corps

Scanning through Don Bunn and other Dodge history references suggests that the CCC shared trucks and other construction equipment with the Army, to include various early Dodge 4x4's. Would this CCC connection be another worthwhile area to explore?

[scuppernongwine]

Yep, I've posted on a number of forums hoping to glean some more information on these trucks. For such a significant vehicle there is quite a dearth of first hand knowledge concerning these trucks. I'll look into the CCC and see if I can find some more info. Meanwhile, if you'd like to see some trucks from this era in action then check out these old movies...

http://www.militaryhorse.org/forum/v...php?f=3&t=8825

http://resources.ushmm.org/film/disp...?file_num=4052

[Kaegi]

1934

what I remember reading years ago in a book pre internet was that 1934 was the first year they built one and Chrylser invented the disengagable transfer case setting it apart from anything ever built. prior to that everything was full time and with all gear drives that doesnt work out too well. everyone else after that had to pay royalty to Chrysler to borrow th technology for however long the patent lasted. Wish I could remember where I read all that.........
I would love to restore one of those. suicide doors and all!

[318cu.in.]

Over here, may be?

what I remember reading years ago in a book pre internet was that 1934 was the first year they built one and Chrylser invented the disengagable transfer case setting it apart from anything ever built. prior to that everything was full time and with all gear drives that doesnt work out too well. everyone else after that had to pay royalty to Chrysler to borrow th technology for however long the patent lasted. Wish I could remember where I read all that.........
I would love to restore one of those. suicide doors and all!

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/transmis...G-history.html