What Has Or Is Your Dream Hunting Vehicle?

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 4:34 am

This has always been mine.

Willys Pickup Truck (made from 1947-1965)

Someday

mod71alaska · Post by **mod71alaska** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 4:56 am

Piper Super Cub on 30" tundra tires in the spring, summer, and fall and skis in the winter (mid-October to early-April):

bigbore442001 · Post by **bigbore442001** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 5:39 am

Hmm. As a child my father and grandfather had IH Scouts. I'd love to see them brought back to life, so to speak. Simple, hard working vehicles that seemed to be very durable.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 6:28 am

casastahle wrote:This has always been mine.

Willys Pickup Truck (made from 1947-1965)

Someday

A big +1. I love Willy's pickups and have always wanted one.
Another is the M715. One cool Jeep pickup.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 6:44 am

this.... to pull that other thing....and an atv

wolfdog · Post by **wolfdog** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:09 am

Out of all the 4 digs and atvs I have had, the Suzuki Samurai was the best. No power house, but got me every where I needed to go, and got 30 mpg getting me there.

Shasta · Post by **Shasta** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:29 am

This is what I'm using now, a 1978 Honda Trail 90:

SHASTA

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:30 am

wolfdog wrote:Out of all the 4 digs and atvs I have had, the Suzuki Samurai was the best. No power house, but got me every where I needed to go, and got 30 mpg getting me there.

I want one of these. I just bought this:

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 9:52 am

Got mine 31 years ago.

Booger Bill · Post by **Booger Bill** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 9:56 am

My rig will still get me anywhere there is a trail to.

piller · Post by **piller** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 10:01 am

I would like to have a HMWWV like I drove when in CSC 1/506 PIR.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 10:04 am

piller wrote:I would like to have a HMWWV like I drove when in CSC 1/506 PIR.

Not real up on Army unit identifications, but would this be the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne?

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 10:56 am

.

I've gone through several hunting vehicles in the past 45 years, finding (of course) that some were better than others for my use(s). YMMV, though.

My exes include a 62 Chevy Nova 4-cyl 2-dr sedan that went where most wouldn't believe (with careful trail driving, tho); a Dodge 4x4 Ramcharger/gashog; a Ford Ranger 2WD P/U; a (then new) Suzuki Samuri 4x4; a Chevy 150 van; and an 4x4 IH Scout II.

The Suzuki Samuri went where none of the others could, w/o a winch.
The van & the Ranger P/U were the handiest for hauling out larger game - and the van doubled as a spike camp.
The most comfortable for in/out multiple area hunts, by far, was the IH Scout II - mostly because it could go most places, yet afford easy in/out entry/egress/etc by a heavily-clad (Fall/Winter der season) hunter(s).

*The Scout's only failing was that it was a rust bucket - leading to it's eventual demise.

*The Samuri lasted 11 years & 120,000, before it too started fatal body/frame rust & was crying for new tranny bearings when I waved bye-bye to it.

*The Ramcharger, besides being an 7mpg gashog, regularly trashed it's ceramic resistor - an integral part of the engine's ignition system - making a dead engine in the middle of nowhere problematic (an extra new resistor rode shotgun in the glovebox)

*The Nova was a hand-me-down, doing double-duty as a work commuter & hunting vehicle, that worked well for 8 years, before I lost confidence in it for hunting due to it's single leaf spring rear suspension.

*I converted the van into a camper van, installing a raised fiberglas roof, and used it until the doors rustred off.

*I still have the Ranger P/U (14years & counting) - no rust, no major issues, regular oil/filter/tire/brakepad changes.

IMO, the best hunting vehicle would be short (manouverable), light (gas mileage), unrustable (fiberglas ?) 4x4 - a Chevy Corvette P/U ? .

.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 11:27 am

I've been through a lot of trucks and cars....anything small, and 4WD is optimal. I'm going to have to be careful with that big van I just got. It has a computerized version of posi that works real good, but, it's still not 4wd...

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:00 pm

Diesel Tomcar with twin tanks.

http://www.tomcar.com.au/applications/

http://www.recoilweb.com/preview-transp ... 26727.html

With 15 inches of ground clearance and a standard 1,200-pound payload for the diesel engine (shown), the Tomcar TM5 is built to traverse rough terrain, especially when hauling a heavy load. An aircraft-grade, full-length aluminum skidplate under the belly helps prevent debris from slowing the momentum of the vehicle during travel.

Read more: http://www.recoilweb.com/preview-transp ... z2Y8BuX6D1

FatJackDurham · Post by **FatJackDurham** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:05 pm

A-10 Warthog....

wm · Post by wm » Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:09 pm

That Honda trail 90 was my first motorcycle.

I rode the heck out of it. It never skipped a beat. Never an issue beyond a yearly tune up, oil & lube and break job. I should have hung on to it but bigger, faster became too strong a siren song for my immature mind.

I would really appreciate a sure footed bike like that now.

Wm

P.S. Really like the scabbard.

jkbrea · Post by **jkbrea** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:26 pm

I use my diesel Dodge Ram 4x4 just to get my gear to the trailhead. Then it's just my Cabela boots.

Someday I hope to use a horse or two.

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:47 pm

Maybe it's overkill, but..........

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:55 pm

My dad had a Willys delivery back in the 60`s. It was a fun rig that would go anywhere but those old flat head 6`s were hard on fuel and about 55 mph. was wide open.
Many fond memories from those days were brought back with your pictures.
A friend had a brand new IH Scout back in the day. It only had a few miles on it when he took me hunting. The first thing I remember was having to roll the window down and reach outside and unlock the door to get out every time. That rig had more issues right from the factory than I could list here in an hour!!

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 3:06 pm

I wouldn't say it was my dream vehicle but I got by with using three different Land Rovers like this one over the years, a 1950 & 1956 series one and a 1965 series two.

The one in the photo ain't mine, it's a 1964 series two, the rifles are though.

L_Kilkenny · Post by **L_Kilkenny** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 4:51 pm

Favorite? Dang that's tough. Started with a '66 F100, I ran a traplines out of a '79 T-Bird for a year or two, called in my first fox sitting 50 yards away from my '79 Monte Carlo, ran a Wagoneer for a few years, S10 ZR2 for a season, too many other trucks to list.

In general I have to say that full size pick-ups work best for me. Skunk sprayed hounds, stinky coyotes and big deer put SUV's on the back burner and the S10 just didn't have the room needed for 2 hunters plus guns plus gear. As for which one......... don't know. While I prefer 4WD now if honesty counts I've had more fun with my old 2WD's. Younger days and all.....

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 4:55 pm

stuff...had a long disposition written and my darn computer lost connectivity. Have to continually go repair connection. That is why I do not post much any more.

Anyways, have had a bunch of vehicles that were my "hunting vehicles" the ones that I think were best:

'75 Ford Bronco 4X4 302 Auto and '79 Ford Bronco XLT 351 4X4 Auto...

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 6:21 pm

For the actual hunting:

For the gettin' there and back, my favorite was my '72 Blazer. 35" gumbo mudders, 4.11 posi in the rear, 4.10 limited slip front, 2:1 transfer case, 350/35HP with 350TH, 4" lift. It could beat Corvettes and just about anything else across the intersection with the transfer case in low!

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:17 pm

I have three trucks that are all good, 90 Chevy 4/4. 01 F250 with 7.3 diesel 4/4. And a 011 GMC four door that will hold a pile of rifles and ammo under the back seat. I am starting to like the 4 door trucks more and more.

44-40 Willy · Post by **44-40 Willy** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 11:03 pm

Years ago, it was 4 cyl Jeep CJ-5. Now it's my Polaris.

piller · Post by **piller** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 11:11 pm

jeepnik wrote:
piller wrote:I would like to have a HMWWV like I drove when in CSC 1/506 PIR.
Not real up on Army unit identifications, but would this be the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne?

Yes, in the Republic Of Korea, 1988, Combat Support Company, First Battalion 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Sadly, they are no longer Airborne. We had HMMWVs (HummVee) and they had the parts to shoot T.O.W. missiles from. They could go in sand, and kind of in mud. The tires were the problem in mud. They could run away from a jeep, they could be hidden almost as well as a jeep, the back seats could be laid flat so that you could sleep there, the diesel engine never quit, and they had planetary drive so that their ground clearance was fantastic.

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:22 am

I love my Ford F150 Crew Cab ---- and I love my Jeep Wrangler -- so in theory, I am going to do a "mash up" of sorts . I would want something as narrow and almost as maneuverable as the Jeep , but with suspension and powertrain performance that rivaled my Ford ---

Basically a new 4 door JEep extended with a pickup bed, and a Ford ecoboost engine -- plus converted to run on CNG -- and the finish needs to be durable enough that I don't need to worry about scratches too much.
This would allow me enough room to keep most of my gear dry, but the pickup bed would be for pack-out so I don't have to share interior space with a fresh kill -- and would be much narrower than a modern pickup truck to get me in tight trails--

I think Ji posted pics of a similar vehicle in another thread, but was not a 4 door

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:16 am

Go anywhere wet in any weather.

303.JPG

65' mothership to 14' Lund. Often brought 7 or so deer at a time onboard and sometimes hung them over the side, like the Lund, to gut them and rinse with the seawater deck hose. Most fun when the kids were killing their share.

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:52 am

I'd really like one of these:

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 12:51 pm

My current vehicle a 2003 Nissan Frontier 4x4 has been a comfortable and reliable workhorse getting to any and all places I wanted to go. Sure I'd prefer it with a 3.0 turbo diesel but they don't import them so I had to settle for the 3.3 V-6 but 21 mpg on cheaper than diesel fuel 87 octane gasoline keeps me happy.

tman · Post by **tman** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:30 pm

I'd like to drop a Hemi, like the one I got in my Challenger R/T in my 2006 Dakota quad cab, along with a lower ratio 1st gear in 4 wheel drive.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:35 pm

tman wrote:I'd like to drop a Hemi, like the one I got in my Challenger R/T in my 2006 Dakota quad cab, along with a lower ratio 1st gear in 4 wheel drive.

I can hear the axel snap.

redlevel42 · Post by **redlevel42** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:17 am

My favorite ever, and I can't find a picture right now, was a 1968 Toyota Land Crusher with a 327 Chevrolet engine. I had an old tractor seat mounted on the hood for quail hunting with dogs. As one fellow said, "If I had enough chain, I could pull up Hell."

Got in a tight for money and sold it, like an idiot.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:07 am

Well I have my Kawasaki 750EI Brute Force !

And I have my old kinda beater 2000 Chevy S-10 ZR2 4x4 to haul it around !

But what I'd really like and this is more sentimental then anything else is a nicely restored Willys 1964 CJ-5 with a steel Kelly full cab like my grandfather used to have !

One in need of restoration with the Kelly steel cab like grandpop had !

While I'm dreaming I could use one of these Bass Pro Shops 1860 side console camo Jon Boats for use on the Eastern Shore getting to the islands in the public hunting areas !

http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/?boat=3510

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:16 am

jeepnik wrote:
tman wrote:I'd like to drop a Hemi, like the one I got in my Challenger R/T in my 2006 Dakota quad cab, along with a lower ratio 1st gear in 4 wheel drive.
I can hear the axel snap.

I had a 1978 Jeep CJ-5 with a factory 304 in it , axle snap was a regular thing for that one while I had it

At the time it was about 3 years old and I was about 2 years outta high school so that mighta had a little to do with the axles snapping .

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:33 am

I have a 66 Bronco(second owner 70,000 miles on it)---100% original
But honestly-----------since I don't hunt from the road

------I currently have my (ultimate) now.
Bought a new Yamaha 700 Grizzly(Outdoorsman Edition) 4X4 ATV

This thing is beyond all expectations that I expected. I am still trying to figure out how in the heck can a 600lb machine(that was the reason I bought that one combined with the EPS system)can plow 18" of snow up my 300ft driveway(and going uphill)without even having to engage the Diff-Lock or using the 4 V-Bar chains(still new in box)

Having this unit with my tiny mountain tent/gun/gear stored in the waterproof large rear cargo case on the back and the Stihl Pro 260 Chainsaw bought new with it(on front lobster claw rack)and the HD Warn 3500lb winch----------------------Not much can stop me!

This is the first machine I have ever had that going down a (very steep)mountain you do not even need to apply the brakes. It's engine braking system is beyond anything I have ever had or seen.

Should last me---------decades!

Just be careful if the white/orange Stihl isn't on it (unless you mark it with GPS)cause it's Realtree Hardwoods HD camo paint job (blends in with the woods(least up in these parts) a little too good!

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:16 am

44-40 Willy wrote:Years ago, it was 4 cyl Jeep CJ-5. Now it's my Polaris.

What its like with deisel fuel. Top speed MPG? Noise? Really curious could of had one real cheap a few years ago.

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:04 pm

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:37 pm

piller wrote:
jeepnik wrote:
piller wrote:I would like to have a HMWWV like I drove when in CSC 1/506 PIR.
Not real up on Army unit identifications, but would this be the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne?
Yes, in the Republic Of Korea, 1988, Combat Support Company, First Battalion 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Sadly, they are no longer Airborne. We had HMMWVs (HummVee) and they had the parts to shoot T.O.W. missiles from. They could go in sand, and kind of in mud. The tires were the problem in mud. They could run away from a jeep, they could be hidden almost as well as a jeep, the back seats could be laid flat so that you could sleep there, the diesel engine never quit, and they had planetary drive so that their ground clearance was fantastic.

A fellow named Donald Burgett wrote four books about the 506th's combat from D-day to the end of the war. I've read them, and when you mentioned the 506th, it clicked and I just wondered.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:39 pm

6pt-sika wrote:
jeepnik wrote:
tman wrote:I'd like to drop a Hemi, like the one I got in my Challenger R/T in my 2006 Dakota quad cab, along with a lower ratio 1st gear in 4 wheel drive.
I can hear the axel snap.

I had a 1978 Jeep CJ-5 with a factory 304 in it , axle snap was a regular thing for that one while I had it

At the time it was about 3 years old and I was about 2 years outta high school so that mighta had a little to do with the axles snapping .

Right foot weigh ten pounds more than the left???

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:56 pm

jeepnik wrote:
6pt-sika wrote:
jeepnik wrote:
tman wrote:I'd like to drop a Hemi, like the one I got in my Challenger R/T in my 2006 Dakota quad cab, along with a lower ratio 1st gear in 4 wheel drive.
I can hear the axel snap.
I had a 1978 Jeep CJ-5 with a factory 304 in it , axle snap was a regular thing for that one while I had it
At the time it was about 3 years old and I was about 2 years outta high school so that mighta had a little to do with the axles snapping
Right foot weigh ten pounds more than the left???

The axles were good in my Blazer, but big tires, posi- front and locking rear were REAL hard on U-Joints! I kept several in a repair box, along with the usual automotive spares for an off-road vehicle. One of the most important was J-B Weld!!!!

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:58 pm

I just got this;

Mainehunter · Post by **Mainehunter** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 6:10 am

My future hunting rig I picked up several months ago:

67 CJ6, Dauntless V6, 3 speed T86/D18 twin stick, D27 front & offset D44

I'm calling it project "Hatari" from one of the John Wayne movies. They used a few of the CJ6's in that movie. One of my favorites!

Hopefully I can start working on it this fall. For now my present hunting rig (daughters daily drive) is a 99 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) which I have been working on for the past two months (new suspension, brakes, tune-up, body work).

Mainehunter

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 7:41 am

Nice, you'll have fun with that. It's fun to take the roof off and fold the windshield down.

Canuck Bob · Post by **Canuck Bob** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 12:42 pm

I favoured my pickups for hunting because dead animals shouldn't ride in the cab and anywhere else is a pain to load to.

I liked Ford's short box standard cabs until family duties were needed and really liked the independent front suspension version. The axles aren't as tough but I never broke any and they handled higher speed bush road travel best. I drive bush roads and old logging trails with mud holes the main problem. In my experience I want some speed, within reason, to carry me through. Stop moving in a mud hole and your day just got much worse. I consider getting stuck in the bush my failure, either bad judgement or bad driving.

My oilpatch truck is a Jeep TJ and if getting there and back was my only goal it is the best I've owned. I am impressed with this thing and once I mile it out for good it will be in the family until I can't drive. My experience in the bush and mountains includes Series 1 and 2 Land Rovers, Ford Bronco (I miss that truck), Toyota Land Cruiser Pickup (real tough and outstanding just unavailable for this discussion), and an assortment of big three oilpatch pickups 2 and 4 wheel.

If money was no object my truck would be an AEV Brute modified TJ with torsen limited slips front and rear. It would have 31X10.5X15 Firestone Destination MT and standard lift with a big gas tank.

http://www.quadratec.com/showcases/aev/brute/

I still think bush vehicle performance are as much tire design as truck once the trail is real challenging. Of course now it seems everyone hunting in the bush has a pickup with a trailer and a quad.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 2:56 pm

Mainehunter wrote:My future hunting rig I picked up several months ago:

67 CJ6, Dauntless V6, 3 speed T86/D18 twin stick, D27 front & offset D44

I'm calling it project "Hatari" from one of the John Wayne movies. They used a few of the CJ6's in that movie. One of my favorites!

Hopefully I can start working on it this fall. For now my present hunting rig (daughters daily drive) is a 99 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) which I have been working on for the past two months (new suspension, brakes, tune-up, body work).

Mainehunter

Very nice CJ6 Mainehunter. They actually did a "project Hatari" in JP magazine a few years ago with one almost identical to yours. I ran a 59 CJ5 when I was a kid.
Here is the current trail rig. An 03 TJ Rubicon

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 7:33 pm

Mainehunter wrote:My future hunting rig I picked up several months ago:

67 CJ6, Dauntless V6, 3 speed T86/D18 twin stick, D27 front & offset D44

I'm calling it project "Hatari" from one of the John Wayne movies. They used a few of the CJ6's in that movie. One of my favorites!

Hopefully I can start working on it this fall. For now my present hunting rig (daughters daily drive) is a 99 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) which I have been working on for the past two months (new suspension, brakes, tune-up, body work).

Mainehunter

I grew up with my grnadfathers 1948 CJ-2A and then the 1964 CJ-5 he bought brand new . Then later in the early 90's he bought an old friends 68 CJ-5, that gentleman had purchased new , when my grandfather got it I think it had about 11,000 miles .

One of the local doctors in our town when I was a kid had a CJ-6 I think thats the only one I've ever seen in person !

loader · Post by **loader** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:10 am

My absolute favorite hunting vehicle was a '72 Chevy Blazer ,dead stock with three speed tranny and a small block v8. My second favorite believe it or not was a 72 Pontiac Lemans full size station with the engine and tranny from a totaled 69 GTO Surprised several folks on the street and was a very comfortable hunting, fishing and camping vehicle. Presently I feel we'll served with a2001 Ford ranger.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:44 am

I was going to post a pic of my boots but Griff beat me to it. In lieu of that I'll say a 1967 Cadillac like they used in the movie, "The Deer Hunter". Did you ever see the trunk on one of those?

Naaaa....Nothing beats a good 'ole Jeep Wrangler with 4 inches of lift, lockers, 33" Goodyear MTR's, .410 gears.--------------6