The building of Beagle Pup.

There used to be one a few miles from my house that would bark and chase me for a full mile around the corner when I would ride by on my bike. Despite the noise and chasing, I never sensed he meant harm but was letting me know “that’s close enough.” One time I stopped and he just stayed about ten feet from me and kind of watched me. He could not be coaxed closer to me/further from his home.

Contrast that with a German shepherd a few miles further down the road. That one I sensed he wanted to taste me. The owner would never tie the dog and would halfheartedly try to recall him when he chased. He actually took a chunk out of somebody out for a run this last summer and I think the Sheriff finally made the owner tie him up.

There is a guy with a ton of junk cars near my house I get parts from often. He has a big all black German shepherd that’s super friendly but can look mighty menacing when needed.

Off topic and rambling, but I love dogs more than most people. I’d be lost without our German Shorthair and Schnauzer, even though they’re boneheads.

 

DT360, no question. Love the simplicity of the idi but the 360 is a more robust platform, a true medium duty engine with liners as opposed to the parent bore of the 6.9.

 

Finally got the fuse block,so I installed that,then hooked up my E pump,power inverter,and 12v outlet to the fuse block.
I took pictures,but they aren't going through for some reason.I haven't had much time lately to work on the truck,and with the weather being so crazy,it's even harder.I planned on pulling the truck in the barn to work on it,but I have a couple tractors in there that need some work,and I can't really leave them outside,so this will have to be done outside I guess.I ain't happy about it,but at least I am not in a rush.Hopefully sometime this week I can get to the floor boards.I am waiting to see what's happening with the bus.It will be going up for sale pretty soon,and I have first dibs on it,but I am not sure about the price yet.




Rock

 

Oh, I thought you already bought the bus....

Don't be surprised by the price. School bus prices used to be a hair above scrap value, but now they're all over the map and decent units can bring upwards of 5k.

 

Yeah, I am braising myself for the price, and If it is more than $2000 I will pass on it.

I am on the fence about a lot of things, and it really all depends on whether or not I buy the bus. If I don't get the bus, I might end up selling the truck, and buying a crew cab IDI dually. I know it's a complete change of direction, but since I won't be towing anything an f350 can't handle, and I would like the cab space, it kind of makes sense. If I do get the bus, I will still then do the swap and use the truck. What do you guys think? I am trying to weigh it out here. They each have their pro's and con's, but I think if I had an even choice between both trucks, I would go with the f350 do to it being more practical, but on the other hand, I already have the international. I would appreciate any and all input on which you think is best. Thanks


Rock

 

Right off, I'm biased here, but here's my.02. BUY THE CC DUALLY! Naturally I'm in love with them and will almost always vote that way. Just a few pros other than my bias that would make me buy the F350. You say that you won't be towing enough to require a medium duty truck. The F350 should handle the highway speeds better. It also should get better mileage due to the higher gearing. It will be more pleasant/comfortable to drive (in my opinion and having driven both types before). In some (most/all?) states, the F350 will probably be cheaper to register. It will be a better dual duty vehicle-it may not be perfect, but it would be a better daily driver than the IHC. It will be easier to put stuff in the bed since it sits lower. The parts should be cheaper for a pickup. Plus if something breaks, you'll most likely have better parts availability with more options of where to buy them. Those are a few quick pros for you.

 

I’m with idibronco. The IH certainly has a cool factor but if you don’t need the capacity of the IH, I’d do the dually. I was looking at an F650 with a you know what engine in it, I liked it a lot until I started checking insurance rates. It also rode like a truck. Just to change a tire on your IH is a chore and expense. I’ve driven a few IH 65 passenger buses and I sure like my dually better.

 

I was thinking about this when I mentioned the registration, but forgot to mention it. Thanks for picking it up.

 

@IDIBRONCO and @gnathv - I think you guys are absolutely right, and to be perfectly honest, that is what I wanted to hear in a way. I know it will be an arm and a leg just keeping the IH legal, and I just can't justify it for only personal use and some side jobs hauling. I got the truck so cheap that I have been trying to make it work, but I do think I need to be practical about it, and the CC dually would be perfect, plus I have always wanted one. Well, as much as I hate to say this, I guess I will be selling the IH but at the same time , I know I will be very happy with a CC dually. Thank you guys for leading me in the right direction.



Rock

 

I can't quite say that. It did take me 28 years to buy mine. It's going to take a lot of money, but it will truly be mine when I'm done building it. Not to mention being unique.
Now don't get me wrong. I do like your IHC and I really would have liked to see it built into what you wanted at the time. I just don't think that it would be very practical unless you had a full time use for it or had money coming out the wazoo and kept it just to have.

 

Update- so I got to thinking, since I only have $1300 in the IH, including purchase price and maintenance,that I will keep it and tag it as an antique vehicle. Me and my dad do some carpentry as a side job, so I figured the truck would be perfect for hauling lumber just as it is, and it will be free advertising since the truck stands out. I have just put so much time and work in the truck, that I can't sell it. I am happy to say, Beagle Pup lives on and will just be taking easy driving around town with lumber on the back. I will still be buying a CC dually in the future for towing, the only difference is that I am keeping the IH instead of selling it. I will keep this thread going once I get my shop done and start working on it again.



Rock

 

Farmer or gnathv, where are you looking for insurance for medium vehicles? It has taken me three months to get an insurance policy from State Farm for my '91 plow truck, and that's only 11,000 GVWR.

 

Why has state farm given you so many issues I use them for everything and never have a problem

 

Apparently the truck was once registered as a commercial vehicle, and that is causing them to cause me trouble. I started using State Farm about 35 years ago when I had an old Chevy two ton truck and they insured it without a quibble. Times have apparently changed at SF.

 

I don't see why it being commercial in the past would matter as long as it isn't now, and doesn't exceed those weight limits. I actually never got my IH insured yet, since I bought it last year. I am currently running farm tags, but will be switching to antique plates soon. Here in PA, if you have antique plates, there is no inspection, and you only pay, IIRC $75 every 10 years for registration. Keep in mind, this is for personal use , and the vehicle can't be used more than once or twice a week, although I see all the firewood guys running them on their old trucks they use every sunny day to get wood.

Rock