From Recovery to Restoration: My Journey with International Scouts and RTRI Offroad

In 2018, I underwent major spinal surgery, fusing my L5 to S1 vertebrae. It turned my world upside down, and during my recovery, I spent a lot of my time just trying to stay sane. One way I did that was by endlessly scrolling through Facebook Marketplace. That’s how I came across an ad for two International Scout Travelers in Trail, Oregon.
Scouts had always been a dream of mine, but the timing had never been right. Even though these were a few hundred miles away, I was hooked. I made a deal to buy both. A couple of months later, still recovering, my wife and I made our first trip from Salt Lake City to Trail, Oregon, bringing home Baby Blue Debra Rowe—a 1976 International Scout Traveler.
We had no idea how much that Scout would change our lives.
A few months later, we made a second trip to Trail to pick up the second Traveler. While there, I spotted a third one, but it wasn’t for sale—at least, not yet. The seller promised I’d get the first call when it was, and about a year later, that call came. So, we made a third trip to bring home the yellow Scout Traveler.
As I worked on restoring the first Scout, I decided to go all-in on the second one, turning it into a full resto-mod build. I installed a brand-new GM crate engine and transmission, TeraFlex axles, a custom suspension with Fox coilovers and air bumps, RockJock sway bars, and everything needed for the perfect ride.
But something was missing.
Before diving into Scouts, I had already spent over 20 years designing, building, and restoring classic 4x4s and muscle cars. My journey started with a 1978 Jeep CJ5 rock crawler, followed by a full custom Pro-Touring 1967 Dodge Coronet 500. Along the way, I worked on countless customer builds, handling metal fabrication, mechanical work, wiring, and full paint jobs. That experience gave me the confidence to push further—so when I couldn’t find bumpers or roll cages that matched the look and performance I wanted for my Scouts, I built my own.
What started as a personal project quickly turned into something much bigger—RTRI Offroad.
While my passion lies in building custom Scouts, I also take on select one-off custom builds. Right now, I’m wrapping up a fully custom 1998 Dodge Ram for a customer and will soon begin work on a 1996 Land Rover Defender 130. But no matter the build, my goal remains the same—creating high-quality, purpose-built vehicles that blend performance, aesthetics, and craftsmanship.
Now, as RTRI Offroad continues to grow, I’m excited to connect with other off-road enthusiasts, Scout lovers, and anyone who appreciates a well-built rig. If you share that passion, let’s build something amazing together.