Steel Hood Mack R Post Covid Camper

[Oldmopars]

I’m calling this the Post Covid Camper. The story goes that Covid just keeps mutating and the strains just keep getting worse. Ten years in, over half the population has died and the people that remain are forced to survive without all of the thing we are so used to having right now. The power grid is down, the monetary system has imploded and nearly all Government has failed.

Greg and his wife Heather, along with their 2 kids needed a way to survive. As a Mechanic before Covid, he had the ability to make an old truck that had been abandoned run again. This Steel Cab R Mack had been in the service of the Military back in the 80’s, but by the early 2000’s was sold to a scrap metal hauling yard.

By the time Greg got the truck, the right door and left hood half were missing. He was able to scrounge these up, but the door came from a Nuclear waste hauling truck and the hood from a Military truck, but from the Iraq war.

As a 6x6 Military truck it was well suited to his needs, but need some upgrades. He added a very large winch under the bumper and a Bull Bar to protect the front incase he needed to blow through any road blocks.

A shipping container was modified and bolted to the back to create a camper to keep his family safe. A wood stove was added, a steel entry door and barred window. A ladder helps him get to the roof top storage area where he collects things he finds and may need. A roof top solar panel allows the use of LED lights on the inside. An external water storage tank hangs below the rear corner and allows them to have fresh water. Two oil barrels are at the front above the cab and store any kind of oil or fuel they can scrounge, including Transformer oil from power poles. As a former Military truck the UN specs for fuel are very broad and allow this truck to use almost any Hydrocarbon based fuel. A cardboard box up front is additional storage. A spare tire hangs off the rear door incase it is needed as well as another spare on the roof.

As the Government has failed, he saw no need for tail lights or any additional lighting. This also allow him to only run the headlights at night to minimize the chance of being seen. The windshield and the camper glass are both cracked, but replacements are not easy to find. A shot Gun is attached to the dash for protection.

The base for this was the MPC DM-800 frame. The Cab is from the AMT R685ST and the hood is a cut down and modified steel hood from the DM-800. Hood sides are brass, the fenders are Aluminum so they could be dented.

The Shipping container is from Italeri, cut and modified to fit.

The oil barrels, cardboard box, solar panel, ladder, platform, door, window, roof rack and all cargo, Bull Bar, winch, front axle, Transfer case, and hood are all scratch built. Front tires and wheels are Scenes Unlimited.  

I know I am leaving things out. This was a fun build and I may do more like this in the future.

[spencer1984]

Awesome looking truck and great story to go with it!

[larman]

Great weathering and details! A lot of thought put into this and it shows!

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Awesome build! It looks real in the pictures!! Is that a real solar panel? Cool story! Excellent weathering! Top notch build!!

[Russell C]

Nuts, I was hoping we'd survive the pockyclypse, but oh, well. Nice container re-purposing! (wondering if the dogs would be relegated to a dumpster doghouse on a trailer...)

Edited February 19, 2022 by Russell C

[yh70]

That is Awesome..the weathering is on point..

[Bills72sj]

Very creative project. In the 1:1 world you would have to be pretty strong to lift the spare tire that high to hang it. Full 55 gal drums would be quite a challenge too.

[ChrisR]

VERY NICE!

[Dutzie]

This is sooooo cool! Great job!

[PappyD340]

Very cool indeed, weathering is phenomenal, well done!

[Mopar - D]

Scott I enjoyed following your build on this awesome build. Looks so real in the outside pictures. 

[redneckrigger]

This is an incredibly well done build. In today's world, it is becoming less far fetched every day. That said, the details are wonderful, and the whole package works. But, the part that I notice the most is the absolutely stunning weathering. The rust patterns, the freshly torch cut metal, the welds, the dirt and grime etc. are PERFECT! 

[vincen47]

A great backstory, and an even better build! I enjoyed watching this one come together. You added so much since I last looked at the WIP. Love the fold down porch, a clever way to add more security. Your choice in outdoor location for photos is perfect, too!

[Oldcarfan27]

A very plausible build. I like looking at it over and over again to see more details. The story adds to the theme!

By the way, does the door glow in the dark?

Edited February 22, 2022 by Oldcarfan27

[kilrathy10]

Awesome looking beast, here... Very nice work, and very imaginative... So glad the words "Zombie Apocalypse" weren't used in the title... ? Excellent work...

[happy grumpy]

What others have said x2. The weathering in the real sunlight makes it so real.

[Paul Payne]

Love the weathering! I will use it as reference for my Dodge Power Wagon.