1948 Dodge Power Wagon Walkaround, First Drive In 13+ Years - Dead Dodge Garage

A look around my 1948 Dodge Power Wagon, as well as a test drive and a short history lesson on America’s first production 4x4 truck.

[@bretteslife1907]

What a awesome truck! It's like a pice of yard art but able to drive. A Old power wagon is my all-time favorite truck, can't beat the functionality. Go plow a field, power a saw mill, tow a barn, feed the cows, take the family to dinner, and finally on Sunday go to church. Then it all starts again on Monday. Lol thanks for sharing your awesome truck, got a sub from me 🤠👍

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Exactly! It would be parked in my yard with a sign hanging on it if it wasn’t in runnable shape. I love it. I never thought I would get to own one. It needs some tender love and affection before it tows any barns but I hope to get it there some day. And thanks!

[@davidridgway2043]

Appropriately test driven to a cemetery…that thing is awesome man!

[@bruhay7531]

Pure awesome and keep it as is. You might check out double-clutching - makes a huge difference when shifting,

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Agreed. I wish it rode a little better but it is as it was meant to be. Already did. You can actually hear me start to double clutch in the video when I realize I need to. What I haven’t mastered is rev match down shifting…

[@allanperryman388]

I absolutely love the chrysler Industrial Flathead 6. We had them in our forklifts...bullet proof! Will run with almost no compression.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Hell, they came *stock* with almost no compression…

[@jimwhittaker5838]

Awesome truck. Please keep us posted 👍

[@johntaylor1947]

I have owned two power wagons the last was a 1950. I added power steering and changed the steering wheel to a smaller one then it had more room as the cabs are small.ai thought about changing engine but the flat head sis ran well and moved it just fine. It handled about like a small cement truck. Mine was a flatbed to it was great for building a house.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Right. That’s where I’m at with this one. I would love to repower it with a diesel, more modern axles and springs… but the flathead just runs so well. It’s happy. I could never bring myself to take it apart. Cement truck sounds right. I’m thinking at least a few of the leafs are extra… but can’t really afford to lose ride height either. So it may be a balancing act. I plan to get back to finishing the 12 volt conversion soon and get it fully operational. But it fires right up every time I need it to.

[@allanperryman388]

Awesome adventure

[@USAFpj]

DDG- Thanks for sharing your ol' PW. I've got a 43 WC52, but these are wonderful as well.

[@bigwrenchtech]

What a unit!!

[@MinnesotaisRust]

Love this truck!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Me too! I need to get back to it…

[@user-mf7yq5xr9s]

I always thought these trucks were fantastic,,, especially if they have a windshield you can see out of ! 😉🇺🇸

[@JDawghasaTruck]

Yea, non synchronized until a few years later. Double clutch

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

The first of these trucks I worked on was the ‘51 M37, and it had synchronized third and fourth, so I assumed the ‘48 would as well - have since been schooled on that. And I did start double clutching in the video when I realized what was going on.

[@punxsutawneyareabmxriding598]

Your supposed to to double clutch those power wagons they don't have a synchronized transmission push clutch in pull the shifter to neutral push the clutch in pull into the next gear i drove power wagons and another antique trucks before i old enough for a drivers license on farms and drive Truck for a living once you master double clutching a old Truck then you can float the transmission into gears without grinding & with out using the clutch after first gear.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I actually started double clutching in the video and say as much. The truck I serviced before getting this one was an M37 with synchronized 3rd and 4th, and I had thought this had the same transmission. I learned it didn’t on the first drive as you saw. Haha. I am good at double clutching it now but cannot rev match downshift the thing to save my life.

[@lotsoffish]

Man does that truck bring back memories. Just to let you know, they all drive like that, LOL. You wouldn't happen to be interested in selling it would you?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Oh I know. Lol. They’re basically designed to drive bad. Well… it’s a possibility. I have since found an almost correct bed for it and pulled the flat bed (but still have it,) and then accidentally put a nail through one of the inner tubes. I love the truck but it’s definitely being neglected right now. It fires right up whenever I need it to. It would cost $15k. If you’re seriously interested, shoot me an email at [e-mail]. Thanks.

[@JDawghasaTruck]

Here’s a tip. Start in second gear.😉 your welcome!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Haha. I’ve done a lot of seat time in 80s Dodge trucks with the NP435, in which first gear is absolutely unnecessary most of the time… but I still use it. It’s like a tick

[@thechriswatsonproject]

I got me one of them!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Oh hell yeah!

[@Mg-1234x3]

I own a few of these myself. They do not have two PTO's like you stated in the video. There is only one PTO.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

www.t137.com/ClintDixon/rearpto.htm you can see details on the rear PTO setup here. Mine does not have this, but some did. Interestingly, mine does have an extra drive flange on the back of the transfer case - I suspect this would have been used for 6x6 military models, and it’s the same case. Oh, and if you’ve got a spare bed kicking around… feel free to send that my way.

[@Mg-1234x3]

@@DeadDodgeGarage I know Clint Dixon. There is only one PTO on these trucks. It Can run things at the front or back of the truck, but it's all done off of ONE PTO.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

@@Mg-1234x3 Noted. I see your point. I repeated something I read in literature about the truck. I don't think it's particularly important that we spend our days splitting hairs about whether or not a single PTO that can put power out in two directions can or should be referred to as two PTOs.

[@topherkline9698]

I want this one. lol

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I’ll keep that in mind. Lol. I love it though…

[@baxterscientific]

Cool truck! Want to trade it for a 1967 vw split window bus??

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Oof. That’s tempting… I do also have a Dodge A100, which is kinda like a split window bus, except in any of the ways that matter. Haha.

[@baxterscientific]

Its strange how all the cool stuff went astronomical on price!! That truck is really cool because its original to a point.. Well keep in touch if you decide to get rid of her.. Keep the vids coming. I have some 40s era dodge wheel cylinders from my 43 . If they fit you are welcome to have them.

[@darrinfry2251]

What is the clicking sound when you stop.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Pumping of the brake pedal against the metal floor to get it to stop?

[@stuckinmygarage6220]

​@@DeadDodgeGarage😂

[@fuppeduck6120]

Hay i got a 1972 harlely i would take it out of the collection an swap you for that dodge

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Cool! But no thanks. Haha.

[@jeanyockle5739]

I wantt to buy your truck

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

You’re not the first… I have no plans of selling. Lots I would like to do with it. Little time unfortunately, but I’ll get there.

[@jeanyockle5739]

@@DeadDodgeGarage theres got to be a number,

[@joety1035]

Rumble

[@JDawghasaTruck]

Great truck! Check out my Power Wagon on my channel!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Awesome! I was just contemplating putting synthetic rope on my winch. Also I hope to find a bed for mine some day… do you do much regular driving with yours? I would like to be able to do that but it just rides… bad

[@JDawghasaTruck]

@@DeadDodgeGarage yes, it’s definitely not a daily driver! But I did use it today to move some stuff for someone. I’m in the city now but planning to move in a few weeks to a more country life. She’ll have more interesting rides!

[@sergehorion7155]

You are driving this 1948 truck very badly

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I wish KZbin had sad reacts… but yeah it’s the first time I had ever driven a non synchronized four speed in a truck that rides like a buck board with five pump brakes so I’m gonna have to ask for a pass there