Hunting Vehicle

Lerrooy · #1 07-09-2017, 12:31 PM

Hey guys,

So my 94 Chevy just got written off. Some weenie smashed the rear end in when it was parked.
I was looking at selling it and getting a newer truck.

My new job I applied for means I have to drive a bit further and 13 mpg is not too good for paying for on gas.

Curious what your opinions are on getting an SUV instead?
4x4 of course.
I'm located in Lethbridge. So usually driving up to the porkies or the pass.
Use it as a daily driver. Going hiking and camping with.
Car would be best on gas but an SUV would be the best medium?

Any help and opinions would greatly be appreciated.
Biggest issue I understand is hauling game back unless you poly off the back lol

Dean2 · #2 07-09-2017, 12:56 PM

Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab with the new diesel. Great gas mileage, room to haul game with no blood inside, carries 5 or 6 people, better mileage then 90% of SUVs. On sale, $34,000, cheaper the most used SUVs. Way better payload and pulling ability.

Also, the Wrangler four door is coming out in diesel for 2107, you can get it with no carpet in the back.

Nyksta · #3 07-09-2017, 01:17 PM

Compact suvs are small and efficient and pretty low ground clearance. A full size suv will be heavier and worse on fuel than a pickup. Modern engines are more efficient than what you had in your 94. Find the payload and style to fit your comfort and stick with a pickup.

chedder · #4 07-09-2017, 01:20 PM

Friends have old geo trackers with lift kits. They call them quads with heaters. Th and an old Tacoma

tikka250 · #5 07-09-2017, 01:26 PM

I use an older 4 runner for most of my hunting adventures. Comes with factory dif lock and a fair amount of clearance. I use a hitch mount basket carrier for carrying game. It works great for small game hunting but if i were doing lots of big game stuff i would figure out a sturdier game carrier.

Big Grey Wolf · #6 07-09-2017, 02:12 PM

Grand Cherokee would make a very good hunting vehicle, lots of gears and range in transmission. However your wife will shoot you if you take it into some of the mud we had last fall. Better stay with a good pick-up.

elkhunter11 · #7 07-09-2017, 02:56 PM

A pickup is still the most suitable for hunting big game. The thought of packing a moose or elk into the back of an Suv just isn't that appealing to me.

Deo101 · #8 07-09-2017, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean2

Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab with the new diesel. Great gas mileage, room to haul game with no blood inside, carries 5 or 6 people, better mileage then 90% of SUVs. On sale, $34,000, cheaper the most used SUVs. Way better payload and pulling ability.

Also, the Wrangler four door is coming out in diesel for 2107, you can get it with no carpet in the back.

34,000 for the eco diesel??? I kinda doubt it. Unless its 2wd single cab...then maybe....

270person · #9 07-09-2017, 05:47 PM

Not many decent SUV's still built on truck frames. Toyota 4Runner might be the last one.

Great vehicles but not sure how many dressed moose or elk you can fit in it.

RZR · #10 07-09-2017, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyksta

Compact suvs are small and efficient and pretty low ground clearance. A full size suv will be heavier and worse on fuel than a pickup. Modern engines are more efficient than what you had in your 94. Find the payload and style to fit your comfort and stick with a pickup.

SUV's are not cheaper on fuel is right.

Topwater · #11 07-09-2017, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deo101

34,000 for the eco diesel??? I kinda doubt it. Unless its 2wd single cab...then maybe....

And they don't make the ecodiesel anymore either

Topwater · #12 07-09-2017, 06:59 PM

The title of your thread says hunting vehicle. A pickup truck is answer and can do it all and get good mileage these days. Spend anywhere from $22000 to $120000 for a new one , choice is yours

fordtruckin · #13 07-09-2017, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean2

Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab with the new diesel. Great gas mileage, room to haul game with no blood inside, carries 5 or 6 people, better mileage then 90% of SUVs. On sale, $34,000, cheaper the most used SUVs. Way better payload and pulling ability.

Also, the Wrangler four door is coming out in diesel for 2107, you can get it with no carpet in the back.

Wow 2107 eh? Guess you have time to save up for it!

PolMark · #14 07-15-2017, 04:31 PM

If you are planning on some serious off-road driving SUV will not be good choice. I don't have a full size truck and you don't need one for hunting, mid size will do just fine and there are only 2 good choices: Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier. Toyotas are much more expensive but you can do all the same with Nissan. Check it out.

Trochu · #15 07-15-2017, 04:58 PM

Unless your hauling medium to heavy loads, and want relatively new, F150 with the 2.7 should meet your needs.

sjr · #16 07-15-2017, 10:04 PM

http://www.mahindrathar.com/index.aspx#!thar-CRDe

Koschenk · #17 07-16-2017, 08:24 PM

I've got a 2007 Nissan frontier thats pretty good on gas. I heard they have new ones with a diesel motor option too. Perfect balance for a hunting truck/daily driver in my opinion.

Jucebox · #18 07-16-2017, 08:43 PM

i think the new canyons/colorados have a little diesel in em now, and they have a manual transmisson. Id go there for the efficiency part, but most full size pickups get fairly comparable mileage to the small sized gas trucks.

Personally
Id get either a nice car and then a cheap truck. Mid 90s chevys are cheap to make bush ready, if they arent already. And I dont know any new full sized trucks that come stick, where as the 90s still had em.
Or
A nice truck and a cheap civic for a daily.

Trochu · #19 07-16-2017, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjr

http://www.mahindrathar.com/index.aspx#!thar-CRDe

Hmmm, didn't see Alberta listed in the "Select State" under the price list....

Even has seven slots in the grille!

Jify · #20 07-16-2017, 09:54 PM

I drive a 2006 Chev Colorado. Get's in and out of everywhere my buddies sup'd up F150s and Dodge Diesels do. I run some extra wide tires, other than that, it's a bone stock 4x4 mid-sized pickup.

Picked it up for under $4000 about 5 years ago. Still runs like a top, and get's great gas mileage. Light weight too, almost pull it around with an ATV >

Scoutie · #21 07-17-2017, 08:20 PM

I have a 06 Tacoma on 33's and a new Honda Rancher I'm excited to take out this year. Only problem is I cant fit the quad in the tacoma bed and I dont really want to trailer but I might have to,

Desert Eagle · #22 07-17-2017, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoutie

I have a 06 Tacoma on 33's and a new Honda Rancher I'm excited to take out this year. Only problem is I cant fit the quad in the tacoma bed and I dont really want to trailer but I might have to,

That's the problem when you only get half a truck

sweld · #23 07-17-2017, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoutie

I have a 06 Tacoma on 33's and a new Honda Rancher I'm excited to take out this year. Only problem is I cant fit the quad in the tacoma bed and I dont really want to trailer but I might have to,

Just get a jeep and go where u want

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Smokinyotes · #24 07-17-2017, 09:34 PM

I bought a jeep wrangler for hunting and now its my daily driver. My pickup doesnt get drove unless i need to haul or pull something.

swifthunter · #25 07-17-2017, 10:27 PM

Other then a little geo or tracker a jeep may be another goood option. If your worried about mileage, the f-150s with the Eco boost do pretty good. Best mileage I've ever gotten out of a truck. I can average just over 10L/100km on the highway. But then again I'm gonna sell it for a jeep, so if your interested it's a 2012 with only 35k km on it!

Big Grey Wolf · #26 07-18-2017, 08:30 AM

Best hunting vehicle I had in last 50 years was International Scout truck with a PTO driven winch. The transfer case would drive the winch indifferent gears, could pull me out of anything I would find driving many miles of cutlines/ravens/muskeg. Ran v-bar chains on all four wheels would climb anything in the bush with 2 range manual transmission. Only problem sucker was cold in -40oC weather and sure worked hard hauling moose out of the bush, but always came home.

tacomama · #27 07-18-2017, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoutie

I have a 06 Tacoma on 33's and a new Honda Rancher I'm excited to take out this year. Only problem is I cant fit the quad in the tacoma bed and I dont really want to trailer but I might have to,

I can fit my Foreman into my Taco, 6' foot box though. You have the short box I take it?

Redneck 7 · #28 07-18-2017, 01:30 PM

I got a 2017 F150 base model for just under 30k brand new. My first new vehicle ever and it's amazing. 4x4 with a limited skip rear end, 3.73's, and I get 1070 km per tank of 136 litres, and I just have a basic v6 no ecoboost It is one of the best purchases I've made. I'm a ford guy from the start but it's a great truck, if I were you I'd look into one of those or a used one that had more features that you may like.

I have basic electronics and no power accessories and no carpet on the floor but honestly I don't want that stuff anyways, it just breaks so. Maybe something to look at.

Scoutie · #29 07-18-2017, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacomama

I can fit my Foreman into my Taco, 6' foot box though. You have the short box I take it?

6ft but the oversize tires are wider than the wheel wells. At least as I measured they are. Yours must be pretty snug between them?

tacomama · #30 07-18-2017, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoutie

6ft but the oversize tires are wider than the wheel wells. At least as I measured they are. Yours must be pretty snug between them?

I built a plywood ramp/riser that goes over the wheel wells, works good and still have a few inches on each side to spare just don't have to worry about going over the wheel wells anymore.