What hunting rig are you running/how do you use it

Has anyone tried or considered a sprinter van? Might not be the most capable offroad, but tons of room and payload capacity for gear/sleeping. The price of the built out campers is prohibitive, but the price point on a diesel awd cargo doesn’t seem too far from a lot of trucks these days. I’ve really enjoyed my little diesel canyon, but a growing family has me wanting more cab space. Solo hunting it’s been more than capable.
 
Bought a new daily driver with the intent of it also being a hunting/fishing rig.

2023 with the 3.5 EB, Fox 2.5 suspension with Icon UCA's, method 17's with 34.2x11.5 AT4W's and the snugtop rebel. Using an EZ Flate CASE compressor for air up/down. Been testing the limits on some nasty trails more suited for quads/sxs and been super impressed.

Roll-A-Cot fits great in the 6.5' bed. Hunting I'll throw an Igloo 150qt back there beside it, so the Rtic 65 food cooler goes in the cab. Offroad recovery gear fits in a low tote under the cot nicely.

Got about 15 nights in it between summer fishing and scouting since June. Pull over anywhere that's flat and crash so I'm not tied down to a specific camp spot. Up and moving in about 15 minutes in the morning.

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Has anyone tried or considered a sprinter van? Might not be the most capable offroad, but tons of room and payload capacity for gear/sleeping. The price of the built out campers is prohibitive, but the price point on a diesel awd cargo doesn’t seem too far from a lot of trucks these days. I’ve really enjoyed my little diesel canyon, but a growing family has me wanting more cab space. Solo hunting it’s been more than capable.
I picked up a 144" 4x4 cargo van for about the same price a Trail Boss Custom in 2022. This was the first hunting trip I did in the Blackwater for turkey. The DIY route was even a stretch for me financially but well worth it. While progress has allowed me to ditch the air mattress, make no mistake you don't need the interior to be all swanky to get outside.
 

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New to me this year ‘98 Tacoma 4 cyl 5 spd with manual everything and I love it. Added a headache rack and truck box, Lexus seat swap, and a customized 4Runner center console I worked up. Great mpg and thoroughly impressed with the ability to crawl through the nasty stuff.
Curious to learn what Lexus seats work in the first gen Tacoma? I’ve got a 96 in which I’d love to upgrade the seats.
 
Curious to learn what Lexus seats work in the first gen Tacoma? I’ve got a 96 in which I’d love to upgrade the seats.

Grab whatever bolt holes you can and modify the mounts for the other bolt holes. Sometimes you can reuse your rails even.

I stuck some honda seats in mine. Time to upgrade again though..
 
Just take the ol daily turd and hope I didn't scratch it or dent it too bad
 

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I took my new to me 2023 F150 tremor this year. I can sleep in the cab or the bed.

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Has anyone tried or considered a sprinter van? Might not be the most capable offroad, but tons of room and payload capacity for gear/sleeping. The price of the built out campers is prohibitive, but the price point on a diesel awd cargo doesn’t seem too far from a lot of trucks these days. I’ve really enjoyed my little diesel canyon, but a growing family has me wanting more cab space. Solo hunting it’s been more than capable.
I did briefly with a Ford Transit T250 cargo van. Mine was a 2WD with LSD. If you stick to gravel and dirt roads that are in good shape, dry, and wide they do fine off road like any 2WD. They are very limited by the low ground clearance. The Transit didn’t have front tow points. The space is great and easy access to the cargo area is very nice. It is sealed so no dust gets in like a pickup bed with a cap. But a con to that is stinky stuff stinks up your cabin. Gas cans, things with motors, mulch, garbage, dead animals, etc. I think it depends a lot on how much and what type of off road it will see because that is the real limiting factor as a hunting rig. Everything about them is on road oriented. And do you use your truck bed for truck type things.IMG_0238.jpegIMG_0237.jpeg
 
I did briefly with a Ford Transit T250 cargo van. Mine was a 2WD with LSD. If you stick to gravel and dirt roads that are in good shape, dry, and wide they do fine off road like any 2WD. They are very limited by the low ground clearance. The Transit didn’t have front tow points. The space is great and easy access to the cargo area is very nice. It is sealed so no dust gets in like a pickup bed with a cap. But a con to that is stinky stuff stinks up your cabin. Gas cans, things with motors, mulch, garbage, dead animals, etc. I think it depends a lot on how much and what type of off road it will see because that is the real limiting factor as a hunting rig. Everything about them is on road oriented. And do you use your truck bed for truck type things.View attachment 768743View attachment 768744
I found myself rock crawling with the 4Runner way too often this season. I have decided a quad is in my future for next season. The van would be perfect with a small trailer behind it with a quad. Then you have base camp and can still hit these nasty trails and be in a new location everyday.
 
Has anyone tried or considered a sprinter van? Might not be the most capable offroad, but tons of room and payload capacity for gear/sleeping. The price of the built out campers is prohibitive, but the price point on a diesel awd cargo doesn’t seem too far from a lot of trucks these days. I’ve really enjoyed my little diesel canyon, but a growing family has me wanting more cab space. Solo hunting it’s been more than capable.
If you look at my rig you’ll notice George, my 2003 econoline 350. He has 150k miles. I bought him for less than 25 k built out with a quigley 4x4 conversion. He’s not fancy. Everything is utilitarian. I can stand up. He has a cheap Chinese diesel heater. There is space to cook, store water, and do everything I need in the woods. If he gets scratched it’s ok.

Long story short, there are cheap, good options in the van world that check all of the boxes. You just have to keep an eye on Craigslist and Facebook marketplace.
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads...running-how-do-you-use-it.365444/post-3709074
 
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