Hunting rig?

Justhunt87

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Oct 9, 2017
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Iowa
Been kicking around the idea of getting a hunting rig to keep miles and abuse off of my truck. Narrowed my searches down to a Chevy Colorado, Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Toyota 4Runner. Any experience with these vehicles?
 

SteveCNJ

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Jul 1, 2017
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I had a 2006 4Runner for 9 years and put 152000 miles on it. The only problem I had was the alternator a few months after I got it and they replaced it under warranty.

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EastMT

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Dec 19, 2016
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We had a 1998 4 runner, and that thing would go places the truck couldn’t touch, deep snow, easy to turn around in tight places. Finally sold it at 300k. Those older ones were exceptional, we had a $5 swimming pool in the back while hunting to put game in, worked just fine until we hauled 3 deer out in one day but that’s a good problem
 

UtahJimmy

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I have an '08 gen1 colorado with the I5 motor. I've put 69k of the 128k on it. I've only done basic fluid maintenance on it plus replaced the shocks in the 5.5 years I've owned it. I also replaced the front hubs as I thought I had a bad bearing but turns out it was my tires.

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Venom One

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Another vote for the 4Runner. Smaller than a full size for those overgrown areas, excellent 4x4 capability, and reliability. Unfortunately they seem to have platinum hidden in the frame somewhere based on the current prices.
 

22lr

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If it was my money, looking at those 3 options... 4Runner hands down. Look at an older one, no reason to spend more than 8-10k max (unless you don't care about money). I was looking at one pretty heavy but got a Tundra instead. The older ones even had a v8 option, but id say stick with a v6 unless your trying to tow alot with it. Tons of mods out there for all generations and you can outfit them with used parts on the cheap (bumpers, winches, tires, snorkels).

*from the man who has hauled a handful of deer in the back of a 1990 civic hatchback, back when thats all I had*
 

Geewhiz

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Buy a crappy rusted out beat to crap Toyota pickup or 4runner for 3 grand. That way its cheap and easy to fix and you can rally the crap out of it and drive down brushed in roads and it doesn't make you cringe. That's what I did. Plus the chicks dig it.
 
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I have a 2017 Colorado ZR2 w/Duramax engine, that little truck is a beast for a one-man army style hunt.
 

Maki35

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Aug 21, 2020
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From your 3 choices I would say 4 runner as well.
Or Tacoma if you need a small pickup.
 

banded_drake

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Sep 10, 2019
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I have a '94 ford ranger I picked up for pretty cheap that had a new motor put in it. I'll be building a flat bed for it soon. I run that thing all over our hunting lease and ranch and it never misses a beat. Considering taking it to Colorado with us next year to move around the forest roads with

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Joined
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2013 Toyota 4Runner. So little maintenance so far. I have had it since new. Just now approaching 100k miles.

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Over the years, I have had 3 older 4Runners, 2 4 cylinders, and 1 older 6. They went places I questioned my sanity for going without a hiccup. My only complaint about them was they were slow on the highway and paved roads at getting up to speed; it was a small price to pay.
 
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Don't exclude a Nissan Xterra. Poor man's 4-runner and just as reliable. Only look at 2011s and up though (pre 2011 had radiator issues). Absolutely love mine. And with the money I saved over the 4runner, more money for mods!
 

FLAK

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I bought a 94 Toyo FJ80 Landcruiser with locking diffs.
Not that I needed it, all it will do is tow my mud boat
back and forth to the launch.
Thinkin the boat is my actual hunting "rig".🤔
 
OP
J

Justhunt87

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Oct 9, 2017
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Iowa
Looks like 4runners are tough to beat. Looking at ones in the 2003-2006 range
 
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Oct 15, 2020
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Toyota’s are hard to beat, but the Colorado’s are nice too, if you want the truck bed. All I would say is I would definitely pay for a stage 4 or 5 suspension to make them tolerable to ride in.
 
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