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What do you use your K5 for?

Mastiff

Mastiff

1/2 ton status
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These trucks are getting a bit old. I'm curious how people are using them these days. I was going to post a poll, but there are too many categories. Here's the kinds of things I'm curious about:
  • Is your rig still a daily driver? Could it be?
  • Have you made it into a 100% off roader that is trailered, or only drives to local trails?
  • Would you drive it on the interstate (70+ MPH?) for long distances?
  • Is your truck more of a project, or does it actually get frequent use?
  • What kind of off-roading do you do, mild trail riding? rock crawling?
Mostly I'm just curious to get a sense of what's still possible with these trucks. For example, I spent a number of years fixing up and beefing up an old Scout 80 (1965) and eventually came to the realization that it just wasn't realistic to make it into a practical driver/wheeler. People were either restoring them for parades, or tearing them to pieces for trailer queen rock crawlers (that would probably shake to pieces about 45 mph). K5's are quite a bit newer than that, but the speed limit was not 85 mph when they were new either.
 
My k20 is solely for rock crawling or offroad in general. Its trailered to the trail but will be street legal and probably driven to work or school once a week along with being a grocery getter. There would be no problem driving to and from the trail but I choose to trailer becuase its nice to start a trial with a full tank and if something breaks it makes getting it home way easier.


My k5 had no problems doing 65 with 40 inch tires, this truck will be the same.
 
After I had a 5.3 4l60e in my K5 it was a blast to daily drive but that being said it was a straight axle truck with a bent frame and bust spring bushings. 70mph was cruising comfortably but 85 and up with the wind and some strange front end rebounds over overpasses things got super sketchy. I think a square body with overdrive and efi would make a fine DD
 
I use mine as a spare vehicle and something cool to drive the kids to t ball, home depot runs and to pull the occasional trailer. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it on long distances. I've driven it on a 500 mile trip and it's sat in traffic in downtown Atlanta with the A/C going strong. It routinely goes 80 on the interstate and I'm not afraid to drive it anywhere. I'm going on a bachelor party trip to the FloraBama this week and it'll probably make the 4+ hour ride. Because it's a lot more fun than my VW DD/commuter...
 
I use mine to tow trailers,as a back up vehicle,as it could take over dd duty right now if it had too,completely comfortable and behaved at 80 plus,weekend driver,and bad weather vehicle,mild wheeling,use in a parade last year,like the way it looks in my driveway.
 
Mastiff said:
These trucks are getting a bit old. I'm curious how people are using them these days. I was going to post a poll, but there are too many categories. Here's the kinds of things I'm curious about:
  • Is your rig still a daily driver? Could it be?
  • Have you made it into a 100% off roader that is trailered, or only drives to local trails?
  • Would you drive it on the interstate (70+ MPH?) for long distances?
  • Is your truck more of a project, or does it actually get frequent use?
  • What kind of off-roading do you do, mild trail riding? rock crawling?
Mostly I'm just curious to get a sense of what's still possible with these trucks. For example, I spent a number of years fixing up and beefing up an old Scout 80 (1965) and eventually came to the realization that it just wasn't realistic to make it into a practical driver/wheeler. People were either restoring them for parades, or tearing them to pieces for trailer queen rock crawlers (that would probably shake to pieces about 45 mph). K5's are quite a bit newer than that, but the speed limit was not 85 mph when they were new either.
Click to expand...

For the record I have a 69 scout 800 that I drive, use it for off-road, hunting, leisure drives and occasionally back and forth to work. It has a propane fired 350 with Chevy drivetrain and 1-tons so it's more like a blazer. I'm currently trying to get it in a condition to where it could be a dd or handle longer trips, probably won't do well with 70 being that it has a th400 and 4.56 gears. It also has full hydro steering which is a bit exhausting on longer drives.

And I'm collecting parts to build a 66 800 for my wife and plan for it to be able to handle dd driving as well as cross country drives. It will recieve an ls swap and od tranny but factory axles.

Biggest thing with scouts (since it's easy to swap in newer drivetrain) is 50+ year old body parts with no aftermarket.

Now as far as my 85 gmc it's a th400 4.56 gear truck as well so it doesn't see high speeds. But with a 5.3 and all the mountains and curves on my 10 mile trip to work it gets better fuel mileage than my 06 2500hd so I consider it my dd. Also use it for hunting, fishing, and light towing. It has been used to drag my scout down a trail when I broke the tranny in half. It has dents and crappy paint so it kind of doubles as a backup wheeling rig.
 
big dan said:
For the record I have a 69 scout 800 that I drive, use it for off-road, hunting, leisure drives and occasionally back and forth to work. It has a propane fired 350 with Chevy drivetrain and 1-tons so it's more like a blazer. I'm currently trying to get it in a condition to where it could be a dd or handle longer trips, probably won't do well with 70 being that it has a th400 and 4.56 gears. It also has full hydro steering which is a bit exhausting on longer drives.

And I'm collecting parts to build a 66 800 for my wife and plan for it to be able to handle dd driving as well as cross country drives. It will recieve an ls swap and od tranny but factory axles.
Click to expand...

That's cool. I rebuilt everything on my Scout and learned a lot. An all new drivetrain would go a long way, but the next things for me would be that the steering is not up to modern standards, and 4 wheel drums with single reservoir is pretty dicey. And closed knuckle axles have a terrible turn radius. So yeah, if you replace the engine/tcase/transmission, steering and axles, you're good to go. :D Plus all new gauges, better heat and air conditioning, and doors that will actually close and keep out rain...
 
All the K5's I had were daily drivers..
I had a '71 CST,a '72 K5,and a '75 2wd K5...

I never saw the need for an off road only rig,since there isn't a lot of places here to go wheeling legally..but they got plenty of use on snowy roads in the winter..all of them could cruise at 65 OK,but back when I owned them the limit was 55 mph on the highways here...

Now the only vehicle I have on the road is my '82 K2500...its getting ripe in lots of places,the front inner fenders are junk,especially the drivers side..all of the body has some rust,but its basically solid,if I had a chance to find a whole nose for it cheap I'd buy it..the bed is pretty toasted,and the cab is saveable,for a 34 year old new england truck its probably solider than most around here ..

The 6.2 and TH400 ,NP-208 have seen a lot of abuse from plowing,and its not the most comfortable rig to drive on highways,I tend to use the "back roads" and stay off the interstates with it..
It will cruise at 65 mph,but it just seems un-nerving for long distances,knowing its likely to have a major meltdown sooner or later...(probably sooner than later if I tried driving 100+ miles at a stretch)...

Funny thing is I used to commute 125 miles a day to work in my '72 and '75 K5's and I had no fear...today I hate trusting anything more than 10 miles from home..the tow bill to drag it home would exceed its current resale value..or scrap value!..
 
My '78 was on 33s and was wheeled but also driven all over England (where I lived) and a daily driver. My '91, stock originally, ended up on 35s, suspension and axles swapped out, totally rebuilt for wheeling. Daily driver, wheeled, driven across Europe, totally reliable truck I'd take anywhere. Now I live in the States, I've just bought an unknown '89 on 35s from Denver CO. Bought it (was running rich and kept stalling in traffic) and drove it back to Pentagon City VA (1900 miles) it cruised at 75 effortlessly. Lighting was a bit sketchy and when it snowed in Kansas I realised that CA trucks (where it had come from) obviously don't use their wipers much. Great trucks :-)
 
I DD my crew cab for about a year 35 min each way to work plus camping and skiing. Then used it for my move from Colorado to michigan. Currently doing engine swap so it's down. I daily drove a 79 short bed through high school and wheeled/ occasional DD my last k5 on 38s. Did about 80 the entire time from co in the crew and it was fine.
 
As a contrast to my last build, it's a dd with improved off-road capabilities. I have, and still will drive out several times a week. Still able to haul stuff to the scrap yard or thrift store because the bed is not all gummed up with gas tanks and other things like a dedicated trail truck might have.

I am going to set it up to do some overland adventures of the 3-5 day type
 
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