Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives newer jeep or old scout?

My brother had a Scout, back when he was in college and didn't have a lot of spare change or mechanical aptitude. We spent just about every weekend getting something fixed or replaced so that he could get to class and his part-time job the next week. A neighboring rancher in Nebraska had one that was in pretty good shape, but it was useless in snow and real mud. My Jeep Cherokee got called into service fairly regularly to get it out of something--sometimes, it took the grader to get him out. If you want a project, a Scout will fill the bill, but if you want to get off-road and back, I would get a Jeep.

Scouts were built here in Louisville. A friend of mine had one. He also cleaned out the parts department of IH when they closed down the line. He had the only one I've seen with good body panels, mainly because he had enough parts to replace the ones that rusted off. It helped that he ran a salvage yard, so IH was happy to sell him the stuff he needed before he needed it.

I haven't seen Gary in a long time, but I suspect he's not driving it now. I'm sure his parts stash has dwindled to nothing by now. Still, it was kept on the road a heckuva lot longer than I thought it would be. He sure did love that thing.

my old man bought a top of the line IH pickup in 73 here in PA. by 78 it was completely rotted out. i'm talking everything. inner fenders, bed, cab, you name it. my brother rebuilt it and it was completely rotted out again by mid 80's. our mid-60's scout sat more than it ran.

I had a '67 Scout that I transplanted a fairly snorty Chev small block into. It was distinctive/different from the crowd. Hunted in it alot and towed a small camper behind it some. I also had a CJ5 that I really liked. Anyway, buy the Binder if you wanna be cool but the Jeep is gonna have alot better manners and will be better off road. I want to get another Jeep. I'm happy to let my IH be a fond memory.

Bought a new 1973 Scout II in 1973. Took it all kinds of places. Lifted it, had over sized gas tank installed, and a winch. Never let me down. Sold it in 1989 for 50% of what I paid for it. Bought my first Jeep Wrangler in the late 90's. Lost it in a divorce. Replaced it with a stock Wrangler with only a back seat and a radio in 2000. Sold it in 2014 for a bit over 50% of what I had paid for it. Ran with the top down many a time. Having a vehicle that one can remove the doors is really nice when trying to find fresh tracks of a big desert muley, BTW. I now drive a 2014 Wrangler. It is everything I wish my old Scout and Wranglers had been. Yes, it's a soft top, and the doors come off. E

52-57 Willys...What I would get...YMMV

The "spare" engine on the trailer with the Scout should tell you something. I have had several Blazers over the years starting with my first in '72, never had any compllaints. Offroaded them from Maine to Colorado, never failed to get me where I was going and back. The '72 had a 350 V8 with a 4Bbl and a 4 speed, I opted for just the two front seats and rubber floormats. Added some big tires and 3/4 ton PU springs in the rear, didn't really care about gas mileage as gas was .40 a gallon back then.

I had a scout in the early 90's. 71 I believe. Sold it to another local Contractor. I bet he is still cussing me. I would look for a mid 2000's wrangler If I had a bunch of cash burning a hole in my pants.

Used a old scout while guiding moose hunters years ago. Thought it was pretty bulletproof. It had a 392 V8 4spd. Harder on fuel than my chev with the 502. Takes alittle getting used to. For starters the steering. Takes 3 complete steering wheel turns to make a corner. Ride is awful lots of room. It will go anywhere you point it. If you have deep pockets you'll need it as parts are scarce. Also pack a tidy tank because it's a absolute pig on fuel.

I've had older Jeeps and a couple of Scout II's, an early 72 and an 80 model. Main issues with the Scout were rust, leaf springs all round, they were fairly low to the ground and there was no power steering on either of mine. The dash and speedo were out of the 60's and were retro cool even back when they were new. Mine were reliable but you do need to like to tinker with vehicles. The running gear was bullet proof though - the quality and strength was on par with the gear Jeep fitted to their J20 trucks. As much as I liked the Scout I would not go back to one today.

For cool factor the older Scout wins hands down BUT if you want to drive and not be fiddling with it all the time a newer Jeep wins.

I started building and racing 4x4's Jeeps and Scouts when I was 15, that was 50 years ago believe me if you want something to drive every day go newer.

The new JKU's are where I would go for a more daily driver...My 1971 next to my 2012 JKU...






My latest pick up is CJ6

Coil spring a must for this old back.
Drove a CJ5 for 15 yrs or so (had two of them).
Neat little rigs........but have grown out of that.
I like my Grand Cherokee just fine.

Top doesn't come off.

Has sunroof though.
Good enough.

Grew up in Ft Wayne IN. Scouts everywhere, very few Jeeps.

I like CJ5's, had two of them.
Just need softer ride.

Hit a washboard in a new TJ........expected my fillings to come out.
Was a pleasant surprise (same road in a CJ had you change lanes).

The ol lady wants me to get a TJ and put it on 33's.
They simply want too much $ for the things.

I like my old ZJ's. But around here they too rot away from winter salt.

I have a 89 jeep, bought new. It has been a good vehicle.

Get the Jeep JKU

I always thought highly of the scout...when I was working the oil rigs in centeral KS I. The 80s our driller hasde a scout...it was an old rusty beater...three wasn't a pickup made that could climb the hill up to the rig...we all has to walk up about a quarter mile...we had drug the rig and equipment up with a dozer ..after a few days of walking we tryed the scout...it walked right up even in mud...it was amazing...it was loaded with 5 roughnecks and gear too...

A caution on jeeps....the engineers had some funny ideas....like a little 3 speed tranny behind the big v8 and a then put a bullet proofT18 behind the 6 cyl....I dont get it...the one I would get is the 4 cyl one...they used a gm iron duke and 4 and 5 speed...same drive train as s10..when we were playing with jeeps years ago that was one to find as a Chevy 350 was an easy fit...