Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Hunting Rigs???

Just wondering what 4x4 people have or would like, for hunting, and why?

I'm not talking about wanting a super tricked out monster truck, but a practical vehicle either they already own or are likely to be able to buy and run..

For me, it would be a crew cab pick-up with a hard top/canopy over the load area for security and bad weather considerations.

Not sure of the exact model as they are many that would be suitable, but I'm guess they would be considered "mid size" in the US.

Favourite at the moment is the Ford Ranger due to a number of factors but good fuel economy being the major one. This is especially true as it would be my every day ride as well... Would like a small lift and some decent but not too specialised AT tyres...

I've had 4x4's that would be more capable off-road, but have lacked load space. I think the crew cab is a good compromise as it does most things well and offers no major down sides for my use...

So what do you guys think would be the ideal vehicle for your own particular situation ???

ive got a stock Chevy Silverado half ton crew cab with a topper on the bed and find its about ideal for where we hunt.....there are times when a shorter wheel base would be nice but it tends to loose out to having the extra space for dead critters, recovery gear for when someone gets stuck, coolers and the like.....my father in law has the same setup except its a Dodge instead of a Chevy.....

for warm weather rodent eradication ive got this

For us it would be a whatever truck is suitable for pulling the vehicle(s) you have on a trailer. A capable offroad rig up here is not going to be street legal, and many folks use boats.

If you want the best and most capable factory production 4WD made....it's called the Dodge Power Wagon, 2005-2010. I have a '06, and love it.

werent for the fact my hunting rig spends most of its time on the black top as its my daily driver i would have seriously looked at a Power Wagon....

We have a '91 Isuzu Trooper II at the ranch that is our primary hunting vehicle when we are there. It has a 4 cyl. with 5 sp manual tranny. Pretty good mileage and gets us around through mud/snow without fuss. Pretty quiet as well, so not spooking game unnecessarily.

I've posted this photo before, but I'm still impressed with the bang-for-the-buck on this rig.




Dad purchased a well-used 4cyl 5spd 98 Tacoma with a winch plate installed. I stuck a used M8000 warn in the front, a local 4x4 shop installed a 3" suspension lift, and we had 33" bias-ply Buckshot Mudders mounted on cheapo Cragar steelies. No other mods were done and this thing goes like crazy. The short WB makes it manueverable and the Toyota badge means it hardly ever sees a mechanic. A 97-03 4Runner could also be modified in a similar manner and would be a neat rig.

You got to be joking right.

k5 blazer

I don't think we the Tacoma in the UK unless its sold under a different name. We do get the Hi-Lux and this was the first popular 4x4 pick-up over here, and the vehicle that started to dent LandRovers sales to farmers and outdoors people.

I've probably used as wide a variety of rigs as any. I've used a large 3/4 ton Int. Harvester Travelall, a couple of 3/4 ton Dodges PU's with a shell top and later a 10 ft. truck camper, an International Harvestor Scout II, and a couple of Jeeps.
Which is best or prefered ? They are all a compromise. Jeeps, for instance, with their fold down tops, small size and removable doors are at their best during warm weather, say desert hunting. Easy to manuver, easy riding, and unlimited visiability can be big assets.
Trucks tend to work best in colder weather, their weight helps in ice and snow, and they often have lots of power and load carrying capacity. Always lots of room for camping gear, or even a fully equipped truck camper, but they ride harder, thus can be pretty tiresome on rocky, rough ground, and they can be very difficult to impossible in really tight places.
It's a matter of experience in where and how you hunt, and how much you are willing to spend on your rig. E

IIRC talking with an Aussie, Tacoma = Hi-Lux.........

Think so! There are a lot of excellent factory 4x4's out there these days. The Pinzgauer is on that spring to mind



Another, much bigger would be the Unimog:



That said, neither are what I would consider "practical" hunting rigs for the average hunter...

Know so!!! That's not a Dodge Power Wagon now is it. you just proved my point Thanks

I see where Ford Australia is making the new Ranger in XLT crew cab 4x4 with locking differential, 5spd, and 3.0L turbo diesel. Like the sumbich wouldn't sell here also.

I guess too many would rather have $50k 13mpg King Ranch Platinum Edition Lariat 7,000lb F150 land yachts.....(grin)

And Unimogs kick azz

im guessing he meant as far as stuff availible for the US guy.....the Unimogs are cool as hell but pretty scarce over here.....

The best FWD ever build in the states that the average guy can afford would be the Jeep Rubicon hands down.;)

i am very much a Jeep guy but i hunt out of full sized trucks for the most part.....

I'm just the opposite I use my jeep all of the time. But my truck is a dodge dully, so If I go where I have to camp the jeep gets towed behind.