Trad Transport

[paleoman]

#6389

I own a 4X that is 12 yrs old. I may pass it on to my son. That said, I really have no use for a 4X4 outside of hunting (I do enough of that at work with their vehicle), and I can walk and proud of it. I want mileage for my next ride. I had a lot of fun 30 years ago with a Chevette! For your avg eastern whitetailer, do you really need it? Again, I can walk:lol: I want 30-40 mpg.

[Doc Nock]

#50800

I bought an F150 in 03′ Used to drive up a gnarly mt dirt road with steep drop off in all sorts of weather, so got 4×4 to hunt that.

It was a 3 mile walk to get where we parked to walk and hunt!

I have/had a cap on it to haul all my gear, being it was several hours away, different area entirely and I never knew what weather or conditions I’d find, so I used the truck to haul my options.

If you hunt really close to home, can’t see the reason. You can get those gizmos to haul deer on a small hitch, or something to keep your interior clean to transport tick-infested, bloody, muddy dead critters.

I preferred to have my dead stuff in the back where I didn’t ride long hours to get to /from those locations.

30 mpg opens several types of smaller SUV types… 2WD trucks do the above if you don’t need 4×4 to get where you start walking.

40mpg might be restricted more to the realm of those high end Prius types… but at that mileage, you get a hefty price tag for the ride!

[David Coulter]

#50928

Paleo, I know a guy who hauled two doe home in his Prius last year! I have a CRV and love it, but it only gets about 27+. I have a hitch rack for hauling deer and extra luggage when traveling with a dog. Mainly, putting the hitch rack on insures I don’t see a deer that day, but hey, I’m not superstitious! david

[Mark Turton]

#51591

Subaru forester, pre face lift without all the techno crap. Tough, reliable, economical and fixable by most competent mechanics.

And you get 4×4 just in case.

Toyota Pius, the worlds most polluting vehicle.

Mitsubishi have a new hybrid that looks good, initially costly but the mpg is….lots (I cant remember)

Skoda Yeti, I’d have a commercial version if they made one in 4×4.

Skoda Superb Octavia, it’s a VW.

Skoda QC and reliability is amongst the best in the industry.

Police in Germany are using the Octavia 4×4 in preference to the BMW’s because of its handling.

I just want a Toyota land cruiser but my bank account wont run to it.

Mark.

[Alexandre Bugnon]

#51647

pothunter wrote: Subaru forester, pre face lift without all the techno crap. Tough, reliable, economical and fixable by most competent mechanics.

And you get 4×4 just in case.

That would be my choice too.

[David Coulter]

#52024

My last car was one of the previous model Forresters. That thing would go anywhere, ice, snow, mud. I loved it. Two things. It got a little small for a family car with a dog as the kids grew. The main thing though is that Subaru engines go through head gaskets. Some don’t ever, some do early. Mine and another one in the family started leaking about 80,000. The proper fix is a triple layer stainless gasket, instead of the fiber one the factory installs. That makes it a lifer, but it’s $2500-3000 for that fix. If it wasn’t for that, I’d still be driving a Subaru. I loved that car. dwc

[grumpy]

#52767

I DRIVE A 1995 GEO TRACKER. This is my second ’95 Tracker (so I know how to fix everything). The first ran to over 250K, then rusted out. Good mileage, and just enough room for 2 people and 2 backpacks. Trailer hitch on the back for firewood, horse manure, dead animals, and in-laws (if I ever have any). I would get better mileage if I didn’t have the knobies/lift kit. You need the 16 valve engine. VERY reliable, and parts are cheap (just replaced a brake caliper @ 106K, for $40, and half hour). Easy to work on, simple, no frills, and cheap parts. On the other hand, a lot were used for beach buggies, and rust out. Mine had the body mounts replaced by a welder.

[Ralph]

#52855

I have my ’03’ Dodge diesel (for some dumb reason, desiel:D is the hardest word in the world for me to spell correctly twice in a row). Had a ’98’ before this one. In my work before I retired I needed the rig a lot of times just to get to work so I could work long enough to retire.

Anyway, do not, again, do not trust any quick lube place to check all your fluids for you without double checking yourself.

A new transfer case is right at the $2K level of replacement.

Never a drop in the driveway to give me a warning, only the clankity clank when I engaged 4 hi.

Ouch.

Anyway I’ll get it back. Gotta have the ground clearance to get thru the mud, sand and whether people realize it or not, at times deep snows here in the Texas Panhandle.

Perhaps oughta stay outta that deep. 6′ fence that be. 😀

At least I have a 30 mpg Ford Escape so I’m not afoot for over a week.

My truck is better off on the hunt being 3/4 ton 4×4 with 6 speed manual tranny. City driving wears me out.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#52962

My 40mpg ride:

Not the best for packing out a large animal, though…8)

[Ralph]

#52973

Well if nothing else, bug venison can be on the menu in the summertime. Tenderized upon contact.:D

[William Warren]

#55377

Over the years I’ve had pick ups with and without 4WD and I’ve never been able to go to the downed animal with the rig to pick it up. My hunting ground always had no roads and a drag was in order to get it to where the truck could reach it. My point is that 4Wd was not necessary in most cases. There were a few times when weather conditions created a challenge with the roads and 4WD became necessary to get into the camp or to the GL boundary. As a general rule when it snows deep enough to make the roads slick you will need it at my house just to get out to the main road and that is only because of the steep hill coming right out of my driveway. If the road were flat it would be no problem with 2WD. But to me a truck is just more useful. I tend to like the smaller or medium sizes versus the humongous models that are offered now. That is why I’m still patching my old 1991 Ranger XLT. It is small enough it can go about anywhere a jeep can go and its lighter weight is a plus when crossing wet areas. It has enough power to pull my small camper so I’m happy I just don’t know how long I will be able to keep it going.

Edit:

dwcphoto, I’ve been thinking I could get by with a Forrester if I had to let the Ranger go. I have longish commute so I drive a Matrix daily. Saves gas and mileage on the Ranger. With retirement approaching one vehicle makes sense and the Subarus are tough vehicles. Our first new car was the 4×4 LX wagon in ’88. The wife slipped off in the ditch during a snow. 11″ of snow later and the next morning I drove it out of the ditch. Forget calling a wrecker!

[James Harvey]

#57312

I’ll tell you what not to get Paleo. I spent a couple of days driving around in a new Jeep Wrangler. There was so much wrong with it it’s hard to know where to start, but the funniest comment was “I think this car’s engine is so powerless because it’s basically a life support system for all these ridiculous speakers”. It’d be an awesome car for a tailgating college student of uncertain sexual orientation 😉

I’ve always liked the look of those Suburus.

[handirifle]

#57324

Well, I for one don’t think it’s a great idea to hand deer on the hood, or on a tailgate rack either. We have enough issues with the non hunting public to overcome as it is. Besides, I don’t want road grime added to the things I need to remove when processing it.

IF I were to hunt out of a non truck again (I doubt it) it will have a small trailer behind it. If it’s only going to be on the road, one of those $300 Harbor Freight models, even a folding one. They make one that is like 4×6. You could tow that behind ANYTHING.

It would be rigged with sides and a canvas top to cover what ever it was I had killed.

Personally, I’d rather have a truck. I have more than enough needs for one anyway.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#57330

ausjim wrote: I’ll tell you what not to get Paleo. I spent a couple of days driving around in a new Jeep Wrangler. There was so much wrong with it it’s hard to know where to start, but the funniest comment was “I think this car’s engine is so powerless because it’s basically a life support system for all these ridiculous speakers”. It’d be an awesome car for a tailgating college student of uncertain sexual orientation 😉

[James Harvey]

#57338

Hahaha, Bruce, that gif is perfect :lol::D

[paleoman]

#57431

I put a coat of wax on the old girl, and nary a pimple of rust on her complexion. I am just an enviro questioning the sense of owning basically a gas pig. But, I get the trade offs…midlife crisis and I wanna new toy:roll: But also cracked concrete crisis, deck rebuild crisis, the usual arse pains of keeping the homestead up.

[Col Mike]

#57466

Paleo

I hear that. Been doing yard and house maintence for a couple of weeks—possible business buyers visting next week end.

Sorry can’t add to the trad transport as I walk less then 1/4 mile to my hunting area and when I take a deer I pack it out.

One of the nice things about our location is I don’t have to drive to hunt or stump.

[wojo14]

#57941

mike is right! His place is great!

I have to take my f150 30 min to my 40 acres of hunting grounds in PA. Or drive 30min-3hours to hunt public.

[paleoman]

#57992

[quote=colmike]Paleo

I hear that. Been doing yard and house maintence for a couple of weeks—possible business buyers visting next week end.

Sorry can’t add to the trad transport as I walk less then 1/4 mile to my hunting area and when I take a deer I pack it out.

One of the nice things about our location is I don’t have to drive to hunt or stump.[/quot

Mike – I envy your access. Not too bad for me here, but still, I had it like you for a long time growing up. Feel like I’ve been on a Reservation ever since. Best of luck with the buyers! I hope it works out. Have you figured out “where to” after the sale?

[paleoman]

#57997

ausjim wrote: I’ll tell you what not to get Paleo. I spent a couple of days driving around in a new Jeep Wrangler. There was so much wrong with it it’s hard to know where to start, but the funniest comment was “I think this car’s engine is so powerless because it’s basically a life support system for all these ridiculous speakers”. It’d be an awesome car for a tailgating college student of uncertain sexual orientation 😉

I’ve always liked the look of those Suburus.

Yes, Jim, the pimped out urban Wrangler is an embarassment to a real woods runner. I think a stripped down Wrangler still has its virtues… a 4X4 ought to be like an old Russian woman – tough and useful. As an aside, who hasn’t seen the guy with the shiny Hummer towing a load of 4 wheelers. Barf, barf..

[Mark Turton]

#59261

I need one of these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8lLUdyaFO0

[Ralph]

#59750

Duncan, there ya go, urban yeah, rural????????????

[WyoStillhunter]

#59775

I am “on the road” and don’t have all the pictures on this laptop or I would show you my ’96 F-150 that gets me around in the mountains of SE Wyoming. When I get to a USFS gate it is my God given quads, boots, and Leki poles that take me the rest of the way. When Lady Luck smiles on me I add a Bull-Pak to the formula. Five hikes later the meat is in the truck. 😀

[Author]

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