Ultimate scouting rig

[MugEye]

Let’s have a little bit of fun. What would be the ultimate scouting rig to handle highway gravel off road. Something like the Mercedes Benz G class but not 150k . This is the criteria . Most be ;
Road legal
4x4
4 passenger
8 plus hr hwy drives before off road starts
Great suspension for high speeds on washboard gravel
handle off-road and non-gravel oil field roads
Good fuel mileage
Storage for 4 packs and 4 weapons
Would prefer to units 10 years and older

This Will illuminate pretty much all half ton and heavier trucks because there to ruff and slow.

And go !

[MugEye]

1990’s land cruisers would be nice

[marky_mark]

Tacoma with a long travel suspension

[Positrac]

A vehicle that meets all of your criteria doesn’t exist.

Vehicles are like women...it’s all about the compromises. Well, except for my wife.

[Smoky buck]

Sounds like you need to find hunting spots closer to home and cut back on the number hunting partners pack in the vehicle lol

Being more serious you are not going to find anything perfect and only way you are going to get close is to modify the vehicle. Sounds like you need to pick a vehicle with enough cab space, A decent engine, and 4x4 then build from there

Pick your favorite brand and build

[MugEye]

Don’t take it so serious . It’s just for fun to see what your imagination will give us. It was meant to think outside the box. And it’s not for hunting it’s for scouting The wonderful province of Alberta with all of it beautiful smooth lol roads and it’s not for me it’s just theoretical .

Mitsubishi pajero , volkswagen vanagon, H1
Anybody out there modify a Subaru or anything like that please share

And go

[urban rednek]

Lots of room and plenty of shooting lanes; don't forget the pool noodles.

[MugEye]

Originally Posted by urban rednek

Lots of room and plenty of shooting lanes; don't forget the pool noodles.

Now that’s thinking outside of the box. I love it thanks for sharing

[GMX]

80's Toyota 4x4 with flat deck

[rugerfan]

Care to explain why a 4x4 pickup is too slow?

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by MugEye

Don’t take it so serious . It’s just for fun to see what your imagination will give us. It was meant to think outside the box. And it’s not for hunting it’s for scouting The wonderful province of Alberta with all of it beautiful smooth lol roads and it’s not for me it’s just theoretical .

Mitsubishi pajero , volkswagen vanagon, H1
Anybody out there modify a Subaru or anything like that please share

And go

If it’s for scouting and not hunting you don’t need room for weapons.

I’d say my f150, it’s not 4 door but I don’t hunt with a lot of people anyways. My wife or my dad usually. It’s great on fuel, 4x4 and capable in lots of back bush roads that Alberta has to offer. Lots of room for packs and extra gear for hiking, glassing and hanging cameras.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Mid-2000's Jeep Liberty is awesome. Put on a bit of a lift and some big tires, it's pretty great. Can tow a small trailer for your quad etc. The Renegade came stock with roof lights as well.



Note: The pic is not mine! Mine is stock and is essentially a grocery-getter.

[MugEye]

Originally Posted by rugerfan

Care to explain why a 4x4 pickup is too slow?

I said most trucks are eliminated not all . For example Ford raptor would work well . If you upgraded suspension to preform like that or better please share your story . Roads that are Fubar can be handled fast and easier with a lighter and better tune suspension vehicle. Most truck are heavy and tuned for carrying payload so you’ll usually chatter all your teeth and vibrate off the road on the bad stuff . And if seen little suvs just rip by on those same roads .

[MugEye]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

If it’s for scouting and not hunting you don’t need room for weapons.

I’d say my f150, it’s not 4 door but I don’t hunt with a lot of people anyways. My wife or my dad usually. It’s great on fuel, 4x4 and capable in lots of back bush roads that Alberta has to offer. Lots of room for packs and extra gear for hiking, glassing and hanging cameras.

Yes about the weapons. I’m a firm believer in practising and training with all my respective gear before season to work out any kinks in my gear list. So I hike with my bow .

[rugerfan]

Originally Posted by MugEye

I said most trucks are eliminated not all . For example Ford raptor would work well . If you upgraded suspension to preform like that or better please share your story . Roads that are Fubar can be handled fast and easier with a lighter and better tune suspension vehicle. Most truck are heavy and tuned for carrying payload so you’ll usually chatter all your teeth and vibrate off the road on the bad stuff . And if seen little suvs just rip by on those same roads .

The little bit of my scouting that isn’t done on foot is usually in my Jeep. It does 80, tapped out going downhill, I’ve never been late though. Maybe you should be looking for a plane?

[CDN offroader]

For those specific requirements, it sounds like a pickup is the way to go. Just drop 10-15lbs of air pressure out of the tires and it'll smooth out just fine on the rough roads, then get a good 12v air compressor for going back on the highways(not a crappy tire special, get something like a viaair).

That being said, if you are driving that fast down gravel roads, I don't know what you actually expect to see while scouting.

I would personally go for a Toyota SUV and a Roof Rack.

[Dvisscher]

Defender 110 TDI

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by MugEye

Yes about the weapons. I’m a firm believer in practising and training with all my respective gear before season to work out any kinks in my gear list. So I hike with my bow .

That’s fair, lots of people don’t try out there gear before hunting trips. Then they are surprised when it breaks or something happens. Or they don’t like it or wish they did something different.

[mrcrossbow]

My 1998 Jimmy is good. Just did a trip to white court and Back home on 2 1/2 tanks of gas, average speed of 130 kmh. The round trip was roughly 1100 km. Seats 4 nicely. Room for 4 packs and rifles plus more room for stuff. ( have had that many ppl and gear before in here) and right now I'm busting though some flooded out mud roads in the bush be hind my place no problem, water is half way up wheels.
Jeep is basically stock. Rusted out, dented up, and full of memory's.

[brewster29]

90's Jeep Grand Cherokee if comfort and space is your priority.
1999-2005 Tracker/ Vitara 4 door if economy is more important.

Both will need a 2" lift and decent tires.

[Jerry D]

I’d go with a 1/2 ton. Just slow down a little off-road...

8hours before off-road starts. Need something reliable. A box would be great for game and camping gear etc. Able to pull a trailer and in that can be a quad or side by side which is really maybe what your looking for!

[tracker]

One of these: https://www.rezvanimotors.com/tank-m...-edition-specs

[Flyingfisher]

I say yes to a G wagon, unlike the OP!

I wonder how much that Rezvani thing weighs. Also, aren't armored vehicles illegal in Alberta?

[Stinky Coyote]

Sounds like you’re after a Subaru wagon. There are some long travel trucks like the Colorado zr2 (baby raptor) which can get diesel and good economy, the real raptor won’t do economy and neither will the new ram trx with its 700hp. A Honda Ridgeline with decent tires maybe slight lift should fit the bill although the gen 1’s get crap mileage, the gen 2’s starting at 2017 get much better economy. It might be tough to beat a Subaru Outback wagon for what you asking. Half the Subaru lineup would do but outback will easily win on the comfort side for 8 hr drives. Just gotta bone out the critters and fire em in the ski box. The Subaru already have great clearance and awd systems but they look pretty unstoppable with the 2” lift and bfg ko2’s.

[MugEye]

Originally Posted by Stinky Coyote

Sounds like you’re after a Subaru wagon. There are some long travel trucks like the Colorado zr2 (baby raptor) which can get diesel and good economy, the real raptor won’t do economy and neither will the new ram trx with its 700hp. A Honda Ridgeline with decent tires maybe slight lift should fit the bill although the gen 1’s get crap mileage, the gen 2’s starting at 2017 get much better economy. It might be tough to beat a Subaru Outback wagon for what you asking. Half the Subaru lineup would do but outback will easily win on the comfort side for 8 hr drives. Just gotta bone out the critters and fire em in the ski box. The Subaru already have great clearance and awd systems but they look pretty unstoppable with the 2” lift and bfg ko2’s.

Great input thanks for sharing

[Tronneroi]

Originally Posted by CDN offroader

For those specific requirements, it sounds like a pickup is the way to go. Just drop 10-15lbs of air pressure out of the tires and it'll smooth out just fine on the rough roads, then get a good 12v air compressor for going back on the highways(not a crappy tire special, get something like a viaair).

That being said, if you are driving that fast down gravel roads, I don't know what you actually expect to see while scouting.

I would personally go for a Toyota SUV and a Roof Rack.

Touche

[Diesel_wiesel]

something that is mechanically sound & gives good fuel mileage and looks like its ready for the auto wreckers, that way if I slide into a tree in the back cutline I wont give to pinches of coon poop, certain types of 4 legged wildlife don't seem to care what it looks like
unless you are talking about scouting for 2 legged wildlife

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

Mid-2000's Jeep Liberty is awesome. Put on a bit of a lift and some big tires, it's pretty great. Can tow a small trailer for your quad etc. The Renegade came stock with roof lights as well.



Note: The pic is not mine! Mine is stock and is essentially a grocery-getter.

LOL.. sweet!!! I just bought my daughters off her. It was her second one.
I love it!
And that is exactly what I have in mind, well in my mind anyways, Mine is mint condition with about 180,000 on it.

[EZM]

unimog

http://www.trucktrend.com/truck-revi...-unimog-u500is

[Positrac]

I run a 2005 Dodge Power Wagon and it works for me. The only down side it’s hard on fuel and it gets tiring pulling other trucks out of the slop when they get stuck.

Soft suspension for a 3/4 ton with Bilstein shocks soaks up the bumps and wash board. A real heavy-duty axle up front that in 200,000km has never been apart and has only had the joints replaced once with Moog Problem-Solvers and is still tight and drives great. Stock 2” lift and 4.56 gears with electric lockers front and rear and a electronically disconnecting sway bar. Stock 12,000lb Warn winch. Tons of power, AC, comfortable, can tow or pack stuff, sleep in the back with a canopy, etc...and they can be found for under $10,000 in decent shape which leaves some money for fuel and pool noodles.

I know...but it’s a Dodge...lol. I personally like them and so far the only thing replaced on mine has been a power steering pump. Despite what I hear online mines been a solid truck and while I’m the second owner the last 6 years I’ve been anything but easy on it.