Kaiser Jeep M715

Kaiser M715
Overview
Manufacturer	Kaiser Jeep
Also called	Five Quarter Rastrojero M715 (Argentina)
Production	1967–1969 30,500[1]–33,000[2] built
Assembly	Toledo, Ohio
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size pickup truck
Layout	Front engine, four-wheel drive
Related	Jeep Gladiator (SJ)
Powertrain
Engine	230 cu in (3.8 L) Tornado I6 (gasoline)
Transmission	Warner T-98 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Length	209.75 in (5,328 mm)
Width	85 in (2,159 mm)
Height	At bed (with cargo cover installed): 87.7 in (2,228 mm) At cab 75 in (1,905 mm), Reducible to 59 in (1,499 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Dodge M37
Successor	Dodge M-880 series K311 (KM450) series

The 1+1⁄4-ton, 4×4, Kaiser Jeep M715, sometimes called the "Five quarter (ton)", for its 1+1⁄4 (or 5⁄4) ton payload rating, is an American light military truck, based on the civilian Jeep Gladiator (SJ). Design and development for the M715 began in 1965, intended to replace the Dodge M37. In a departure from its purpose-built predecessor, the M715 was the first "M"-series U.S. tactical vehicle to use primarily commercial components; the first in a series of militarized commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicle procurements.^[2]

Aside from the basic M715 cargo/troop carrier, the M715 series included the M724 bare cab and chassis, usually combined with a contact maintenance utility tool body, M725 ambulance, and M726 telephone maintenance utility tool body variants, all 1+1⁄4-ton, 4×4. From 1967 to 1969, between 30,500^[1] and 33,000^[2] trucks were produced at the Toledo, Ohio, plant. The M-715 family saw service in the Vietnam War, but was considered underpowered and fragile, compared to the purpose-built Dodge M37 tactical trucks it was intended to replace.^[2] From 1976 onwards, the U.S. military replaced the M715 series with the Dodge M880 series, again a 1+1⁄4-ton militarized COTS truck.

Kia currently produces an M715-type vehicle named the KM450 for the South Korean Army on license from the U.S. government. India's Tata/Vectra is also entering an M715 type vehicle as a candidate for the Indian Army's LSV requirement.

There is also a variant made by AM General AM 715.^[3]

In 2010 Mopar developed the concept vehicle Jeep NuKizer 715. It was a tribute to the original M715. For the 2016 50th annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, FCA (Chrysler) showed the Jeep Crew Chief 715 concept truck, again a nod to the Kaiser 715.

The M715 family saw service in Vietnam, the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and European bases.

The overhead-cam six-cylinder engines were not very reliable due to lack of knowledge on the overhead cam design and lack of maintenance. They had been dropped from civilian models by 1968. The M715 series also suffered from excessive oil consumption. The M715 vehicles that had front winches were dangerous in rough cross country use because the winch drive shaft would sometimes separate from the winch, the shaft would then foul the truck's steering, causing loss of control ^{[citation needed]}. The 1968 Models sent to Korea also had improperly welded frames causing the frame to break ^{[citation needed]}. This led to the vendor hiring a Korean company to repair several hundred trucks held in depot stocks. By 1970 most of the 1968 models in Korea were in cannibalization yards, being used as a source of parts, to keep the later model trucks running ^{[citation needed]}.

• Length: 209.75 in (5.33 m) without winch / 220.75 in (5.61 m) with winch
• Width: 85 in (2.16 m)
• Height:
  • At bed (with cargo cover installed) 87.7 in (2.23 m)
  • At cab 75 in (1.91 m), Reducible to 59 in (1.50 m)
• Weights:
  • Gross weight 8,400 lb (3,810 kg) ^[1][4]
  • Payload 2,500 lb (1,130 kg) off-road / 3,000 lb (1,360 kg) on-road ^[4]
  • Net weight 5,500 lb (2,490 kg) without winch / 6,000 lb (2,720 kg) with winch ^[1]
• Engine: Inline 6-cyl, 230.5ci overhead camshaft Tornado
• Horsepower: 132.5 hp (98.8 kW)
• Transmission: Warner t-98 four-speed, synchronized manual
• Transfer case: New Process NP200 two-range, 1.91:1 low range
• Axles:
  • front: Dana 60
  • rear: Dana 70 full-floating
  • ratio: 5.87:1
• Electrical system: 24 volt utilizing two 12 volt batteries in series
• Brakes: Hydraulic, 4-wheeled drum
• Fuel type: gas
• Fuel capacity: 28 US gal (106 L; 23 imp gal)
• Top speed: 55 mph (89 km/h)
• Turning radius: 28 feet (9 m)
• Tires: 9.00 × 16 8-ply

• G-numbers
• Weapons of the Vietnam War
• Weapons of the Lebanese Civil War
• K311 cargo truck

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jeep M715.

• The M715Zone
• www.steelsoldiers.com
• M-715 Kaiser 5/4 Jeep – Olive-Drab
• KIA KM450 video