Your dream vehicle, right?

[MrNoodly]

An International Harvester Scout-based camper? Yeah!

https://jalopnik.com/you-can-live-in-this-scout-based-camper-but-you-cant-d-1826355698

 

[JohnnyM]

Hooo Boy

Gee I dunno. I think I'm gonna go ahead and not bid on that one.

It's no RV show queen, though. Gotta give it credit for that!

Johnny

 

[bullfrog]

You would really have to be able to live out of a backpack. I think just the Scout and a tarp would work better as weight limits where you could go. If you lifted it a little you could sleep under it.

 

[mygypsy]

Oh no this is VERY cool....

 

[HalfShadows]

Peaked my interest, but it soon fizzled! Got my own dinosaur to wrestle with.

 

[Weldman]

I didn’t even get a stir in my pants

 

[Cammalu]

I like it!!

 

[RoamerRV428]

Woof.....yikes but cool

 

[maki2]

A lot of work needs to go into that one. But if it was beautifully restored and I had a barn to store it in what fun it would be to take to vintage RV rallies and vintage car shows or vintage tractor rallies. It would be a real crowd magnet at those events.

 

[ckelly78z]

Rough handling, hard to find parts, bare bones dated styling, bad fuel mileage, and ugly as a mud fence !....go for it !

 

[maki2]

Rough handling, hard to find parts, bare bones dated styling, bad fuel mileage, and ugly as a mud fence !....go for it !

It was a utilitarian vehicle for sure . Every bit as as beautiful as a tractor, a tank or a military truck transport.

 

[Doubleone]

That is cool! Gotta love old trucks, stark interiors, rubber floor mats, the feel of those thin steering wheels in your hand, the smell of real leather and jute. I can envision that all fixed up into a retro style expedition style camper...

 

[bullfrog]

Yes you have to really love old trucks if you actually use them. Lots of friendly people are distracted looking at them as they pass by you. Keeping old brake systems that barely get you stopped working at their best so you don't rear end someone with the latest and greatest computerized systems when they pull back in too quickly. Setting in traffic watching the temperature gauge rise as sweat runs down your crack trying to keep your bad knee from letting out working the pedals sometimes using both feet. Cussing the kid that put that tiny diameter steering wheel on cause it looked neat. Buying replacement parts that don't fit because factory ones are hard to find. Finding a mechanic old enough to work on the things that remembers and is still able is fun. Having a rusty seat spring break and stab you in the rear and rip your pants while trying to get the worn out door to close is another good time. Yes you will have many good stories and memories if you get an old truck, many more than the new one that just took all your money.

 

[rokguy]

Yeah, gotta love old trucks for sure.
I've started on my next venture, building my own tractor gooseneck trailer conversion as I work and live on the road for 8-9 months out of the year.
She's an old 76 Ford Louisville single drive tractor.

 

[highdesertranger]

oooo Rokguy we need pictures of that. highdesertranger

 

[rokguy]

You asked, so here are three teaser pics, I'll have to start a build post later.
Planning on fitting a tray back (for stone picking at the quarries) with maybe a crawl through sleeper and recessed gooseneck ball to tow drop deck living quarters.
 First picture is when I brought him home, second is stripping the chassis, replacing air brake system and repainting it, third is new chrome bumper and grille detailing.

 

[bullfrog]

What a beauty! Don't make it too pretty! What motor does it have ? My old school bus had the gasoline big block with an automatic 5 to 7 MPG. We had a guy moving mobile homes with one that kept having the gearbox go out but it must have had a million miles on it, loved watching it go down the road.

 

[rokguy]

Thanks bullfrog, Yeah, I don't want it to be to pretty but useable. Most 8000 Louisville's down here had Cat 3208's, (Clarke 5 speeds) which wasn't a bad motor if they were looked after but personally I don't like em due to not having liners for inframe rebuilds. Basically a throwaway engine.

I bought this because the farmer (2nd owner) who owned it before me, had hot rodded it, changing the complete engine drivetrain with a 6V53 (bigger injectors) two stroke Detroit, 10 Speed Fuller RTO 6610 and a single speed Rockwell R170 rear axle.
Love the sound of 2 stroke Detroit's, plenty on youtube if your not familiar with them.

As a kid I always lusted after a LN Louisville and for me with the 6V53 I consider this icing on the cake.

 

[bullfrog]

Sounds dandy! Does it have the s cam air brakes or old wedge style? Letting the adjustment get to slack will flip those wedges, what a pain and even though the s cams were so much better I still carried a long 9/16" wrench and checked the automatic adjusters as I never trusted them. Thanks for the memories!

 

[Doubleone]

Yes you have to really love old trucks if you actually use them.  Lots of friendly people are distracted looking at them as they pass by you.... Yes you will have many good stories and memories if you get an old truck, many more than the new one that just took all your money.

Yeah, they got character!  Note I said "retro style" not restoration...  If it were mine, I'd upgrade to a Chevy small block with modern running gear and brakes... but still leave the 'cool factor' and patina intact.  As for seat springs, isn't that what Mexican blankets are used for...