East Coaster Driving Out West for Elk Hunt

[Tator98]

Hi y’all,

Planning my first trip hunting out west as a non-resident this fall. I’m looking at about a 36 hour 2500 +/- mile drive. I’ve purchased a new 3/4 ton crew cab long bed 4x4 gas pickup this spring. I will be going with one other guy who can also drive. Looking for some advice from others who have made a similar trip.

We would like to bring with us one four wheeler and of course will have all our gear. Trying to figure out how to get all our stuff out there without getting it ripped off in a motel or truck stop parking lot. It seems like theft is rampant along the interstates these days. I’ve had a camper shell in the past and liked it, but obviously that doesn’t work with a four wheeler. We don’t want to drag a trailer out there. Thoughts on something like the decked drawer system with the four wheeler on top? I’d imagine I’d want to cable/lock the four wheeler and anything else exposed to the bed.

I appreciate any thoughts or advice. Thanks

 

[Truaxdw]

My son and I have been driving cross country from Virginia since 2020 to hunt different western states and Canada. We don’t bring a four wheeler with us. If somebody goes in to a gas station, somebody always stays with the truck. If we’re going to stop at a hotel, which we normally do only on the way out we park in front of the room. Firearms and optics come out of the truck. On the return trips, we will drive straight through, again the truck is never left unattended especially if there are antlers visible.

 

[chtoms]

I think you can only put 2k lbs on top of those drawers, but they are handy to store guns and ammo in. I think your best bet would be all 3; cab, drawers and a trailer. that's what we use to haul our gear up to Canada in the fall.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I don't think you're gonna have enough space for everything without a trailer. Where are you gonna put your big coolers for example? I guess if you're staying at a hotel that's a lot of camp gear and cooking and food you won't need.

I hate to fly and I drive everywhere, 1000-1200 mile one way trips are no big deal for me but I think I'd think about flying if I'm doing 2500 miles.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I would add a 10ft cargo trailer. Under nasty conditions you can sleep in it. Anything in a truck fits in the class of stealables.

 

[chtoms]

My son and I have been driving cross country from Virginia since 2020 to hunt different western states and Canada. We don’t bring a four wheeler with us. If somebody goes in to a gas station, somebody always stays with the truck. If we’re going to stop at a hotel, which we normally do only on the way out we park in front of the room. Firearms and optics come out of the truck. On the return trips, we will drive straight through, again the truck is never left unattended especially if there are antlers visible.

agreed on firearms going in the hotel room overnight

 

[Tator98]

My son and I have been driving cross country from Virginia since 2020 to hunt different western states and Canada. We don’t bring a four wheeler with us. If somebody goes in to a gas station, somebody always stays with the truck. If we’re going to stop at a hotel, which we normally do only on the way out we park in front of the room. Firearms and optics come out of the truck. On the return trips, we will drive straight through, again the truck is never left unattended especially if there are antlers visible.

I’d like to drive straight through but I don’t think we can safely. Probably will need at least two stops, either sleeping in the truck or motel. Any tips for staying awake driving?

 

[Truaxdw]

I’d like to drive straight through but I don’t think we can safely. Probably will need at least two stops, either sleeping in the truck or motel. Any tips for staying awake driving?

One sleeps while the other drives. Earplugs and melatonin for the guy sleeping. Energy drinks and music/podcast/comedy for the guy awake. It’s not for everybody. I got some friends that can’t do it. It seems to work for us.

 

[Marshfly]

1. Buy a lightly used enclosed trailer. I would 100% go with the shortest tandem axle I could find for a trip that long. Sell it when you get back.

2. You might be surprised to find out how much you can stuff in the back of a crew cab with the seats up. I know the rear of my Superduty is simply cavernous. I bet I could put 100% of me and another guy's gear in there minus coolers if we packed smartly. With the long bed you should have zero issue putting a cooler and the ATV in the bed. Lock them both to the truck. Lock the cooler to the ATV. E-scout motels before you leave. You want the ones where you can park right outside of your room door so you can hear anyone screwing with your stuff. Or tent it if you are bringing camping stuff.

3. Do you really need the ATV? I bet you don't. Post up a thread with a general area you are hunting and ask people that have been there.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

We always get ground floor rooms and do our best to park right outside the door to our room. We take weapons, ammunition, and most of our gear into the room. As for the Quad , pull it all the way forward and place anything you don't take into the room behind it. Strap everything down real good. We have never had an issue, but one never knows.

 

[EastHumboldt]

To stay awake… bring a pair of tweezers and pluck your nose hair. Each pluck is prolly worth about 15 minutes. Just tha anticipation when you shove the tweezers in there is worth about five minutes….

 

[FLS]

I’ve driven it straight thru from SC with a buddy several times. One sleeps while the other drives. I best way to do it IMO but it sucks.
Done it solo several times. Never hauled a 4 wheeler though. Guns optics and antlers go in the room with me.

 

[wyosteve]

I’m with Marshall- leave the ATV at home.

 

[Tony Nile]

No motels. Pay for an Air BnB or VRBO with a garage.

 

[Tator98]

1. Buy a lightly used enclosed trailer. I would 100% go with the shortest tandem axle I could find for a trip that long. Sell it when you get back.

2. You might be surprised to find out how much you can stuff in the back of a crew cab with the seats up. I know the rear of my Superduty is simply cavernous. I bet I could put 100% of me and another guy's gear in there minus coolers if we packed smartly. With the long bed you should have zero issue putting a cooler and the ATV in the bed. Lock them both to the truck. Lock the cooler to the ATV. E-scout motels before you leave. You want the ones where you can park right outside of your room door so you can hear anyone screwing with your stuff. Or tent it if you are bringing camping stuff.

3. Do you really need the ATV? I bet you don't. Post up a thread with a general area you are hunting and ask people that have been there.

I’m somewhat familiar with the area, lot of rough BLM/ forest service roads I’d rather not beat a brand new pickup to death on. Thats the idea behind the ATV.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Could always leave the 4wheeler at home

 

[yfarm]

I have stayed several years in transit to hunt with a utv on an open trailer in motels. Always back the trailer up to a permanent structure( concrete base to a light pole) at the motel with the trailer locked to the vehicle. Have yet to have any issue. Also my UTV is an 11y/o utility. Guns in the room.

 

[Idaho Mtns]

I’m somewhat familiar with the area, lot of rough BLM/ forest service roads I’d rather not beat a brand new pickup to death on. Thats the idea behind the ATV.

I’ve seen some crazy setups in our area by the out of town and out of state folks during elk season! Quads over a custom rack above the truck hood, etc.

You mentioned “bringing one four wheeler” and ATV. Assume a quad vs a full size SxS? Given your first hunt trip out West, I would bring your 4 wheeler for the reason you mentioned plus the steeper/narrower trails. If just a quad, seems very doable in your long bed even w/coolers and lots of gear. I see guys running that frequently but also many pulling small trailers. A friend used to run a small quad in his 3/4 ton (no rack, just in the bed) during hunt season and did fine. I tow periodically but wouldn’t want to haul a machine 5,000mi RT.

Good luck on the hunt and post up this fall after your trip.

 

[longrangelead]

you could build a plywood deck over the bed rails to haul the wheeler. Lock it down and figure out a lock for the tailgate. that makes a grab n go much harder.

 

[Don K]

Get a bedcover that the ATV can sit on. Diamondback makes a nice one, ATV on the cover, everything else under and locked up. I check out the hotel lots, try to back up to something where my tailgate cant open and bring the real important stuff into the room. Do your best to what you can but you cant prevent everything. Also check your local Uhaul some give long rentals on enclosed trailers you can rent one and put everything inside.