why are Dodge trucks called "Pilot House"

[MarcDeSoto]

I was wondering why are Dodge pickup trucks called "Pilot House"?  And do they only call certain years by that name? 

[MBF]

The B series offered from '48-'53 had a much larger cab than the previous series manufactured from '39-'47. The newer larger cabs also had larger glass areas, and offered as a option the rear corner windows that created much more driver visibility and comfort.  Hence the PH name.  Having a 46 dumptruck, a '49 std cab truck, and another one with the optional rear corner windows the evolution and improvements in the new design becomes quite noticeable..   Mike

[Merle Coggins]

[Geekay]

Great poster Merle.

However, only sort of answers the question.....

 

Pilot House seems to be a contradiction...a Pilot flies a plane...a house is a ......house.  The 2 do not go together.

 

Is it meaning that being in the dodge cabin is like being a pilot?  Maybe a pilot in a WW2 mustang where he had all round vision (as opposed to a commercial airline pilot who can only see forward)?

But where does  "house" come into it?

[Jeff Balazs]

Ah...well it does....but you are looking at it from the wrong direction. It is actually a nautical term. That is right.....ships had pilots long before there were airplanes....or cars for that matter. And in it's best form a ships pilothouse had the least restricted view it can possibly have. That is what Dodge was emphasizing with that term.

And I think they pretty much nailed it. I have one of those parabolic rear view mirrors in my truck and I will tell you right now that the view is as good as any thing made since.

 

Jeff

Edited January 28, 2015 by Jeff Balazs

[Geekay]

"I see the light"......I wondered about a light "house" or a ship reference as we have "Pilot" boats now, didn't realise they had a "Pilot House" on board .....I guess like being on the Bridge of the monster ships that ploughthe oceans now.