Re: Advice needed - score another J**p convert!

[Tom Mandera <tsm1@domain.elided>]

Terry Rust wrote:
 
> my jeep has evolved into my daily driver it needs to serve that purpose
> (easy to drive, reliable, reasonable economy, heat and cool), would be nice

Define "reasonable economy"?  double digit MPG?  20+mpg?  Would 10-15mpg
be appropriate?

> right size etc, but the SIIs are more plentiful and have broader
> aftermarket support, plus somewhat more room and creature comfort. A Pick

IMO, yep on more room and comfort.. also standard Dana 44 axles f/r..
then again, more "butt" overhang..

> up (short bed) might be the best compromise though since I could still get
> the 1/4 yard of sand and 400 pavers I need to finish the back patio, plus
> the odd load of wood or ????????

If you want more than 2 people, you'd be looking at a bench seat in a
pickup.  The CabTop came in the SWB Scout II.. but if "in-cab" comfort
is more important than "load hauling", you'll want a Terra cab on the
100" Scout II body.. which will even give you room behind the seat for
stuff.  Of course, only the 4 HotStuff 1980s came this way.. and if you
turned one of those into a wood hauler & gravel machine, someone out
there would probably throttle you.

The good news is.. you could get TWO Scout IIs for well under $2k.  Buy
a Terra and a TravelTop (100" enclosed).  Then you even get extra
parts.. and ALL Terras have the Dana 44 front.

> Input would be much appreciated, and interesting!

Would a utility trailer serve your puposes, Terry?  How about a 100" WB
TravelTop and a pickup-box trailer.  Seating for 5 (4 with buckets),
roll the seat forward for lots of cargo room when needed.. but for LOADS
of stuff, use the trailer.

Slap a Triangle lift on it and a short body lift and some 32s or 33s,
and you're ready to go play on the "hard" but not "insanely difficult"
trails.

No one likes Scouts.  They're cheap beater trucks.  That's the big
benefit over Jeeps.  Jeep = $$$.  $3k was the cheapest I saw when I was
casually shoppin'... Scouts?  $1k.  Every time. ('round here, anyhow)

Heck, Terry, if you get two you might end up with *two* runners.. one
with the parts you want, one with the leftovers.. 

-Tom Mandera, Helena MT
http://www.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout
'77 Scout II - $700 to buy, $200 for the 4spd, $1k for the suspension,
$200 for the rollbar, $250 for the locker.. I already had the (bigger)
motor and (at the time) 31s.