Ultimate dedicated hunting rig?

Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
5,362
Location
oregon coast
A samurai is a trailer, put all your gear in it and tow it to where you park, then wheel in.

I don't understand the guys who say Toyota and samurais drive like shit. They don't stock, and if you modify them and don't do hack work...they still don't. Sure they're not race cars, but they're not supposed to be. I have no problem driving my Toyota all day. My SAS'd one on 36s actually rode even better than my stock IFS one I had at the same time.

I daily a super duty f350, but it doesn't fit on probably 75% of the roads I want to drive off the mainline when I'm hunting. More lift wouldn't help, a chainsaw is the only way I'm gonna change that! In fact, I've been told by quad guys that my 4runner doesn't fit where I was going either!

Folks choices really say a lot about where they live.
I have had several Toyotas as my daily drivers (only been in samurais) and at the time, I had no complaints and never thought they sucked... it's all relative. I do know my 89' and 91' standard cab Toyotas were rough riding on gravel, especially wash board, but considering the whole package, I would never complain about that. they drive good on pavement, and go pretty much anywhere offroad.

if they made an exact replica of those 89'-94' (and part of 95') for 20k, I would 100% buy one, and in all reality, would probably drive it more than whatever my primary rig was at the time (which would probably be a 2nd gen tundra with a 5.7L) I always thought they were fun little pickups to drive, and I miss having them. they are rougher riding than my 18' taco by a good amount, but they certainly aren't bad.

can't speak too much on a samurai, I have been in a couple but haven't drove one myself. I will soon, a friend of mine is in the late stages of a badass build, they are doing it right. his son is 14yrs old and it's gonna be his first rig, and i'm hoping he gets sick of it soon so I can buy it (he knows i'm interested, haha) the only rig I have had that sucked on the road bad was a 99' wrangler, but it was lifted on 33's, and it wasn't a high performance lift.... that thing was terrible.

I had a 4hr one way commute to work, and one trip to work was enough for me, I sold it on that work stretch.

I think it's all relative... your 1 ton ford is a rough riding pickup vs a 1/2 ton or mid sized current pickup
 
Joined
Nov 16, 2017
Messages
8,699
Location
Central Oregon
I'd definitely buy a new stock Yota, but mine is to far gone from that. But that still wouldn't solve my it doesn't fit the gear. I still think a full size or van pulling an enclosed side by is the ticket.
Anyways, here is my Yota.
3.4 SAS 4.88s lockers, blah blah.
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Joined
Aug 4, 2014
Messages
2,258
Location
Phoenix, Az
I'd definitely buy a new stock Yota, but mine is to far gone from that. But that still wouldn't solve my it doesn't fit the gear. I still think a full size or van pulling an enclosed side by is the ticket.
Anyways, here is my Yota.
3.4 SAS 4.88s lockers, blah blah.
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Totally agree with you. Guys that do not have SxS's hate them. I get it! I used to hate them too until I owned one. Now my 2500 pulls my SxS to the start of dirt and thats it. My body absolutely loves that I own a SxS. I can remember those long hunting days in a my Toyota Tacoma. I would damn near be pissing blood by the end of the day. haha. Loved my Yota, but it does not even come close to a SxS.
 

coiloil37

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 24, 2013
Messages
193
Location
Oz
I run a Jeep. Before I had three kids I had this one, locked on both ends, 4.88 gears, winch on each end, tsl swampers for summer and duratracs for winter plus a set of chains in the back for whenever I need them. (Try and ignore the colour).

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Then I had a third kid and needed the family model. While not as capable it still got everything done for me. I’ve only got it on 35’s with a set of duratracs for winter and bias maxxis trepador swampers for summer. In the photo with the moose I had the boys in their car seats in the back seats. Most of these pics it was still fairly stock.

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I still run a diesel truck and the Jeeps just for playing but oh so handy. I tried a quad but was forever loading and unloading, cold, noisy, etc. The Jeep goes nearly everywhere a SxS can fit, if the muds to deep I winch, chainsaw in the back keeps the trail clear, heater keeps me warm, I can hit the road or hwy without loading anything, listen to the radio, pack my kids around and haul my animals out. Works for me.
 

RazzleDazzle

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 13, 2020
Messages
100
To the OP. I have a 1996 12v cummins. Plenty of room for stuff in the back, put a camper shell on it in late season to sleep in, quad goes in the back if extreme offroad needed, great fuel mileage, tow anything you put behind it, all mechanical and can fix anything on it in the field. Plenty of ground clearance...super reliable, the list goes on. I like to be mobile with out having to tow anything so I can get where I need to go in a hurry. Plenty of room with a long bed to to pack a quad and gear. Toyotas dont cut the mustard for me. No offense to the yota guys, i sold my yota for a 12v.
 

Rock-o

WKR
Joined
Aug 15, 2019
Messages
663
2011 Ford F250 crew cab diesel. Ordered it since I couldn't find what I wanted on a lot. Most of you probably won't understand/agree/whatever but that's ok. I drive it so you don't have to. ; )

Looks like @RazzleDazzle gets me.

Since I haven't been hunting much the last year or so it rarely gets driven. Working on changing my hunting life.
 
Joined
Jul 1, 2017
Messages
36
I’m liking my current rig! Lived out of this thing during deer and turkey season! Throw the cargo rack on the back and drag the deer up on it! It’s like a UTV with air conditioning and heat that’s street legal.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Shraggs

WKR
Joined
Jan 24, 2014
Messages
1,590
Location
Zeeland, MI
I'd go tricked out 4wd Sprinter or Transit that I could sleep in, and haul an ATV in the back or on a trailer when I need off-road capability. Set it up so I could sleep, cook, and a small convertible desk that I could make work as a "Working Remotely" office where I could park near good hunting and/or fishing.

My dream as well!
 

Bcovis

FNG
Joined
Nov 2, 2014
Messages
9
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My current build is 95 4Runner, 3.4 swapped, dual transfer cases, and 4.88s with ARB lockers front-rear. It is going to be great for getting the family into the back country. If I didn’t have kids my dream rig would be a 75 series Landcruiser UTE or a 4WD sprinter van camperized.
 

WKR

WKR
Joined
Jun 14, 2019
Messages
1,901
This is what I'm set up with right now.
First Gen tundra
And my 4x4 Polaris 700
I'll be trailering the quad and sleeping in the camper unless I'm doing a back country hunt.
 

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Robster

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 14, 2016
Messages
282
Location
NW Montana
Don't laugh, this is my fair weather hunting rig. When the snow and mud become a problem, it's back to the GMC Sierra 1500

2003 Toyota Tacoma, 2.4L, 2WD crank windows, no cruise, no clock, no intermittent wipers and manual transmission. At least it has air conditioning. Hauls my dog box just fine too! Planning on getting some stiffer suspension and bigger all terrain tires. This truck sucks in the snow. even half an inch of snow. But it has crappy tires on it. Fuel mileage is in the mid 20's, depending on how fast i'm going.

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kfili

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 10, 2020
Messages
225
Location
VA
Not suprised by the Toyota love- they're good vehicles. I am suprised there's not more jeep love
 

Ripnbst

FNG
Joined
May 17, 2020
Messages
86
Location
HOUSTON, TX
Budget no object it would probably be a Unimog or a Mercedes G55 lifted with 35's.

Bringing this back to reality and having pretty much all the same capability would be a late 80's/early 90's Jeep Cherokee XJ lifted on 35's with lockers. That thing will get you just about anywhere you could want to be.
 

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