The ̶B̶o̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ Pioneer Malibu

Needs a set of bullhorns on the front, like Boss Hogg!

 

Well, yea! That was what I was expecting. A HF blue tarp covered Pioneer Wagon with a Cracker Barrel interior. Keeping that rust spotted green front end too, right? Might bring it back to the show's standards.
The bull horns strapped onto the hood would add to the cl***...

A few years ago, you could buy a 4' high rain barrel that looked like an old wood barrel cut in 1/2 across the 30" diameter. Would have looked about right behind the rear wheels... I can see it now, 1/2 barrels strapped to the sides of the Wagon with bright green or bright orange ratchet straps. (Too much? )

 

wood grain contact paper wrapped around a 5 gallon bucket...

 

Ya, use that faux wooden bucket as a Bumper Dumper. Would need a receiver hitch on the ol wagon for the Bumper Dumper set up.

 

I've been kind of busy with the high school robotics team over the last week. Back to work.

Made a little addition to the fenders. And I've been thinking about the cover for the wagon. Do I want it tall, so it looks right, or short, so I can drive fast with it in place? This is a test bow.

 

If you made it tall like a wagon would have been and had it open on both ends it shouldn’t slow down the six… much.

 

I think a taller one would look better, but would require a lot more engineering. I do hope an arrow or two is part of the decor.

 

20 years go, somewhere south of Hawthorne NV I was running all alone on a straight stretch. Road shimmering in the distance like a spaghetti western. Something coming at me hazy in the distance, rocking back and forth. A set of headlights came out from behind it and dropped back. I couldn’t figure out what it was. When it finally resolved my head figured out what my eyes were seeing.

A wagon, not unlike the spreader shown above being pulled by 3 abreast old horses. Canvas top, full of junk. Right in the middle of the lane with a string of cars behind looking to p***.

You’re starting to remind me of that. Be a good look on the Oregon Trail.

 

inspiration
https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/scotts-bluff-national-mobnument-gm1508917510-523737430

 

A guy could make it out of corrugated metal like a mini quonset hut and paint it like it's fabric, or lay fabric over it.

No clue why my pics give me the x of death, here's a link to what I'm talking about.
https://futurebuildings.com/blog/burying-a-quonset-hut.html

 

If you want to get it right here it is…

 

That creates air turbulance that would slow it down, that's why when they are hauling irrigation pipe on semis they cover the open endof the pipe!

 

The Conestoga wagons weren't really used on the Oregon trail, from what I've read

Yeah, hauling open canvas a 80 mph seems to me to be a problem. I'd thought about the possibility of making it so it would work at two heights, but it seems a bit of extra work to get "the look".

I still have a month to figure it out....

and remember that I'm all about cheap and lazy and "good enough"

 

Well, I think we are all aware of how much drag one of those will be. The picture posted sure reminds me of old culvert drain pipe, though. Wonder if a chunk could be 'found'.

 

Maybe you could recruit the legs from an old easy-up? You could mount the hoops on the top of the legs, then cut the legs so the doubled part was even with the bed sides. Push in the 4 ****ons, and lift the legs to the second height when parked, then push the 4 ****ons and drop it back down below the roof height when on the road.

The square legs of the easy-up would be easy to mount in the corners of the wood bed, and there is about 15" between the highest setting and the lowest, just cut the lengths as needed.

Those easy-up frames and the fabric tops get screwed up pretty often, so the legs shouldn't be hard to find. If you were closer, I'd donate the legs from our last easy-up.

 

Have you considered making it the same profile as the back of the cab, with a flat filler piece at the top of the bed?

 

“Cheap lazy and good enough”. I’d have the long edge of the canvas rolled and stapled to a furring strip. Maybe fastened on one side and loose on the other. Roll it up as a tarp for travel (like a bed cover). Throw the hoops up and take it over the top for parked.

I owned an open sided flatbed with a steel top and side and rear curtains. Looked like a great idea to move materials, protect from the rain, and side load with fork lifts. Turned out to be a pita, back to standard flatbeds and tarp items when needed. Canvas and wind means work, ask anyone with a sailboat.

 

do you mind if i use this line sometimes

 

Bolt some boots to the top of left rear fender.. people will be trying to tell you about the boots as yur driving down the road. Great fun.

 

Dimensionally could be called a prairie schooner which is basically a lighter weight constantinoga (Did I spell that right?) wagon.

 

This is the correct spelling for a "CONESTOGA" wagon

​

 

Drove up to Tucson today, it's 150 miles round trip. Used a quart of oil. It's pretty bad....maybe I should do something about it. Parts are pretty reasonable still, under 200 for rings, bearings, gaskets, timing set, freeze plugs.



It should take about 4 days to pull the engine, take it apart, clean things somewhat, hone the bores, put it back together, and back in the car. Then I won't have to worry about another freeze plug springing a leak, also.

 

Do what the rest of the Internet says they do, dump Comet, or whatever your favorite powdered cleaner down the throat of the carburetor while you hold the engine wide-open! Oh, and please post the video.

I mean your plan is a good second option…..

 

The saved oil will pay for the PARTS. In about15,000 miles or so.
Go, Jim ,go!

I like the entire project.

Ben

 

Had to chuckle at the ''clock delete''. You get the tic marks, plug in the lens where the shaft would be and no hands. As opposed to the clock option, that didn't hold time and lasted 2 years.

 

I ordered a "screen" for this car, also. It's a $50 9" LCD display that will mirror my phone using Android Auto. I have another one that is in the Cheep, after being in two other of my old cars. Kind of handy when going on road trips and getting lost in strange places. The screen will cover up the clock hole, and the non-functioning heater/AC controls.

 

Oil consumption reminds me of our 1972 Vega wagon we had. A 1975 road trip back from Denver to metro Phoenix area consumed 11 qts of oil thru the 4 banger.. That oil thing stopped with the 327 and thm350 installation .. Then the car consumed (broke) rear differentials

 

From the 41-48 merc thread- would haul way more folks than the pink jeeps ever could.

 

Loving the project Jim.

But the safety conscious side of me has a concern.

What would prevent you or your p***enger from getting skewered if some jack-a-loop rearends you?

Shish kabob squirrel doesnt seem to fit your repertoire.
Rotisseried squirrel seems like a helluve a way to go.

Maybe router a few grooves across the side boards, similiar to the creases stamped into the underside of hoods. That way your squishy bits stay intact and on the inside if someone nerfs ya hard enough the boards just bow out and break.