How about a cheap version that i can actually take offroad

[lancasel]

Why can't they make a cheap version? One that you can actually take off road. This is the problem with carmakers, they make cars so expensive that you can't afford them or they are too costly to actually use them for what they should be used for. I am not taking a 50-70K vehicle off roading in the brush or in a mud pit. Jeep has the same problem, they forgot what the truck was originally for. Taking it off road for hunting, rock climbing or just plain fun. I want a 25k truck that has the basics, no computer screen or fancy gadgets. just a plain simple vehicle to have fun in. I also want a gas powered version. If I have to change an engine out, it under 5k, to change a battery out is 20k. NOT EVERYONE WANTS AN EV!

 

[J Alynn]

This was how I addressed the need for a stone simple, no frills gas vehicle that I use for working in the woods and hauling stuff in its bed. It's not something I'd take on a long trip with any regularity (longest drive so far was about 320 miles round trip). No radio, no sound insulation, no AC (a heater was added at some point. It originally did not have one). It's a 6000# truck with a +/-85 HP gas engine. You do not want to get caught behind me going up even a moderate grade. I don't use mine for hard-core rock crawling or as a mud truck, but a friend did take his out to Moab, Utah for some rock crawling where it did well. It maxes out at 55 MPH (and it doesn't like that very much), but some folks have put modern engines in them for highway use.

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It's a 1951 Dodge M37, made for the military in the Korean War. Basically, the military version of the Dodge Power Wagon of that time. (Fortunately, the M37 is abundant and inexpensive, unlike the civilian Power Wagons.) Purchased for $7000 in running condition. Needed some brake work, and I ended up having the transmission rebuilt. As I tell people: "It may be old and slow, but at least it's ugly."

While I suppose I could set up my future Traveler or Terra for such use, that is not my intent. I have no interest in subjecting a new expensive vehicle to that sort of abuse. Maybe sometime decades from now, someone will be picking up a used Scout Terra for this sort of use.

Love your truck

 

[John Mc]

Love your truck

It's definitely got character, which is a big part of why I got it.

That sense of character is also a big part of why the Scout interests me (along with some interesting looking technical specs.)

 

[TreeKiller]

Why can't they make a cheap version? One that you can actually take off road. This is the problem with carmakers, they make cars so expensive that you can't afford them or they are too costly to actually use them for what they should be used for. I am not taking a 50-70K vehicle off roading in the brush or in a mud pit. Jeep has the same problem, they forgot what the truck was originally for. Taking it off road for hunting, rock climbing or just plain fun. I want a 25k truck that has the basics, no computer screen or fancy gadgets. just a plain simple vehicle to have fun in. I also want a gas powered version. If I have to change an engine out, it under 5k, to change a battery out is 20k. NOT EVERYONE WANTS AN EV!

The "cheap" gas version for under $25k you can take off road is going to be a mid-late '70's Scout II, although probably very few are out there under that price. So, it's an old Jeep CJ, YJ or TJ. If you've got $25k to spend on either of those, you can get a REALLY nice one.