better than a jeep?

While all were considered "off road" vehicles, I believe that the IH Scout as well as the Ford Bronco were superior to the Jeep in many ways. The Jeep was just a basic no nonsense vehicle for a long time, while the Scout and Bronco offered more "creature comfort" options, and would likely run faster than a Jeep. JMHO. Larry, you do realize that a question such as this will open a can of worms, don't you? LOL
 
We had scouts on the job back in 1964-5. They were good, but in deep sand the hydraulic clutch line would pull off and there you were. Got so the store room kept some in stock along with the fluid.
As to comparing a military truck from 1930 something with a civilian 1960's? Like comparing a 4020 and a JD "b"
 
A thousand times NO!! I had some of them at Yuma Test Station/Yuma Proving Ground in the early 1960s. About 1962. Right after they came out. OD bottoms, white tops. Crank up windows, no air conditioning. They fell apart under off-road use. The post commander restricted them to "on road use only". So, I went down to the salvage yard and "procured" some old M38(flat hooded) jeeps. We used those out in our R&D test areas which were about as off-road as you can get. Only restriction on their use was that no new parts could be used on them but there were plenty of parts including tires in the salvage yard. The Jeeps were a lot handier. You could jump in and out of them (no doors) and thoroughly proven as off-road performers. We used them on weekends for hunting. (R&R) Just make sure to wash the blood off before Monday morning. (;>))
 
Not my ever day driver but here is a photo of one of mine. I have owned one since they came out. Bought three new ones over the production years and have restored several.
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John I poked the tree before I read your response.. LOL Anybody knows the scouts were ahead of their time. First SUV.
 
The Scout was a much larger vehicle than the Jeep - 20 inch longer wheelbase, larger cargo area, and nearly a foot wider overall. Whereas the Jeep was a pure off-road utility vehicle the Scout was designed to be more of a small pickup or wagon, depending on the style of top. Although the roles of the two vehicles overlapped to some degree I believe the primary intent was different based on their design and marketing target. That said, my bone-stock '61 Scout doesn't spend much time on the highway. It mostly earns its keep doing stuff like winching trees down, gathering firewood along hedge rows, pulling cars out of ditches, slogging through snow, etc.
 
I had an earlier one, 4 cyl. with a 4 speed and a snow plow on it, would run forever on a tank of gas but I could not keep a front end in it so it went down the road after about 2 years.
 
Dad bought a Scout new in 1965. It was one of the first 4 wheel drives around. Had front and rear posi traction 4 cylinder motor 3 speed trans with Hi & Low. Couldn't believe what that thing could go thru. I was 15 at the time and my younger brother and I really put it thru its paces on the farm. Lots of memories there. My nephew owns it now and still runs it around. In 1965 they were available with 3 point hitch and PTO.
 
I drove Scouts for years, loved 'em. It's just so sad to watch them rust away before your eyes. The road salt around here killed them, even with so-called rust proofing. Four cyl and V-8s were thirsty but bulletproof and the Dana transfer case never failed.
 
Based on physical size and overall vehicle design
the Commando would have been a more direct
competitor to the Scout than the CJ. The early
Bronco was also similar.
 

A friend liked IH trucks so he got his wife a Travelall, and he drove his "Stout Scout" he had to get a new one every other year though because they rusted out so fast.
 
Better in what way? I drove a Scout II as a John Deere service vehicle. What a piece of junk! 304 V8 that ate gas like crazy and a body that seemed to fall apart even when parked.

The original military Jeeps were built for a purpose and it wasn't to be an "SUV" on a highway somewhere. For that, not much comes close. I think the first Ford Broncos come the closest.

Military Jeep has an 80" wheelbase.
First Ford Bronco - 92" wheelbase.
First IH Scout - 100" wheelbase.
 
What a piece of junk! 304 V8 that ate gas like crazy and a body that seemed to fall apart even when parked

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Well that part sounds a lot like a Jeep.
 
During the '70's, I worked at a 4wd specialty shop and did installs on aftermarket parts after hours. I did front axle, transfer case, transmission, clutch, and rear end repairs too. Back then I owned 2 Jeep CJ's, an early model Bronco, and a Super Scout II.

These were the early "SUV's"....But they weren't todays crop of highway vehicles that can be taken off road. They were off road vehicles that were capable of being driven on the highway.

You couldn't give me another Scout. Body was junk. Had electrical issues. Never thought too much of the engine.

Loved the Bronco, but it had it's share of issues. Mostly related to front suspension/steering.

You cannot beat a Jeep for true off road capabilities. Best models were '60's through very early '70's. Had a '75 model CJ5 with 4-speed that was bullet proof. Later model 3-speeds were a little fragile for my liking. Jeeps had so little body overhang in the front, rear, and such short wheelbase. They're like small block Chevy engines, or John Deere planters....TONS of aftermarket parts and accessories so that you could fine tune their capabilities to your individual needs.

As far as which one's I did the most work on....Since there were probably 10 times the number of Jeeps as opposed to Scouts, I worked on more Jeeps. Hated seeing a Scout roll into the parking lot. Never did like working on 'em.

One more that has been left out, and should be considered in this conversation....Toyota Land Cruiser. A flippin' TANK that would go anywhere so long as it wasn't deep mud. They would climb like a mountain goat. And tougher'n a $2 steak!
 

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