Best all-purpose family/hunting vehicle?

I drive small SUVs and such during the week for work, but my sporting/hunting truck is a full size Ford 4x4 with extended cab. I can pull. tow, haul, or drive though any river I need. It also pulls my toy hauler and/or my holiday trailer, Has a canoe rack, and can load any building materials, plywood, or lumber. Its a little harder to park, but I don't drive it in the city. Its a pleasure to drive, even for smaller people/ladies.


Each to their own brands, but if you're going to have the expense of a second vehicle, you might as well have one that suites all of your needs.
 
drifter dave said:
Xterras are body on frame. Nice try though.
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Going on second hand information. Mounting points were either cracked or let go completely, spot welds let go in places they shouldn't have, etc, to the point so much structural work had to be done, insurance choose to write it off instead of fix it. They bought a half ton after, more suited to their environment.
 
One of the best reliable vehicles is the Toyota Tacoma.........low maintenance, great on gas, 240 HP, 2 or 4 door option. Great family and hunting rig, can even fit in a mule deer buck.;)


 
TXS said:
The front end was replaced at least 3 times before it finally gave out and twisted the unibody to the point it wasn't worth fixing anymore. They bought it new, didn't make it through the second winter.
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Xterra's aren't a unibody. They're built on the same frame as the Frontier and Titan. Many guys build them up as off road rigs.

That being said, I've owned one for the past 5 years, and I won't ever buy another Nissan. I've had electrical problems with it since day one, and the coolant leaked into the transmission (because of an engineering fault that was never recalled), which cost me $6400 to replace. The stealership was completely useless.
 
You need a new Ford half ton. The only half ton at our worksite that hasn't had a major failure, and there are a lot of them on site. I'm not brand picky, but seeing my brother's dodge blow a tranny at 70,000kms, my coworkers at 50,000, our company truck new Dodge 2500 blow a rear end at 8,000 (yep, 8,000), another coworker with a gas 2500 go through a transmission, and complete engine, I don't like the new Dodges. Chevy makes a decent truck just until recently behind the times on refinements and power. The half ton is the class of vehicle you're after, and given it's Ford's bread and butter, and number one seller, they pay an impressive amount of attention to it and put out an excellent product.
 
aaron v said:
I run 2 older trucks, a Sonoma for most of the town and lighter hunting and a gmc 3500 crew cab for when it is needed. The big one is hard on fuel and a pain to park in the city but it can haul a lot. Occasional driving insurance keeps the rates way down ( $35 a month for one) and it's nice to have a back up.
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$35 per month insurance !!!
If I paid anywhere near that I'd have 20 vehicle sand decide what one I wanna take hunting
300$! per month for a 1998 silverado in ontario...
 
'85 Chev 3/4 ton, 4x4, 4 speed Muncie. $125/year to plate and bullet proof.

Lil crossover or SUV for rippin around. Works for us, I like to keep the blood n sweat outta my grocery getting/church goin' vehicles :)
 
Rugdoc said:
I'm looking to replace my 1995 Nissan 4x4 pickup as the frame is cracked beyond redemption.

I live in a city and need a general purpose single vehicle to scoot around shopping etc., but something that can make numerous trips to local marshes with a load of decoys and assorted waterfowling gear from October to January. I also do some serious 4-wheeling in May and June black bear hunting and usually make four or five serious big game trips September to November too, packing enough gear to stay out 3 or 4 nights. This requires room of course, rough mountain road capability and as snow falls I need all season capability too.

I'm thinking of an SUV like the Nissan XTerra for example or even the Suzuki or GM Trackers type vehicles too, though I prefer something big enough to sleep in or at least have room for a mule deer.

What works for you?
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Suzuki XL7 is my current bush beater. It is stock height but I will probably do a small lift in the near future.

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My old hunting partner that I sold

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And the current project to replace the old partner and XL7

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You really cant beat the suzuki platforms for reliability and cost of repairs/modifications. Their offroad ability is second to none IMO, basically an ATV with heat that doesn't get stuck or brake down as often. Just make sure to get one without rust issues.
 
jeep wrangler rubicon and don't look back ;)
I've got a far from stock, ugly as hell 92 jeep wrangler YJ with the inline 6 , 4:10 gears and some xtras for keeping up with the quads and sidebysides in the bush and in all the years I've ownered her , daily driver all 4 seasons , hunting, fishing, playing, she never fails me ;)
 
Sebaz said:
$35 per month insurance !!!
If I paid anywhere near that I'd have 20 vehicle sand decide what one I wanna take hunting
300$! per month for a 1998 silverado in ontario...
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How many speeding tickets/other convictions haha? That's so high! I just went from a 2006 Hyundai to a 2013 Sierra and my insurance went down. I would look into getting a new vehicle if I were you. They said my ins. went down because the Sierra is a much safer option and its not considered a vehicle people invest performance parts in.

As for the OP, as stated above, I have a 2013 Sierra ext cab 4x4 Z71. Currently averaging 12.9L/100km. Not great but it's costing me roughly $250-$300/month to fill. Between payments/insurance/gas the truck is costing me roughly $6-700/month. No complaints so far other than the location of the door handles on the inside. My friend who is 5'2 on a good day drove it and outside of it being a little tough to park at first she loved it.
 
I like your advice TXS.

I'm looking for something used in the $10,000 range.

I have worn out a 1985 Nissan 4x4 I bought used in '92 and discarded in 2004 and now the 1995 Nissan 4x4 I bought in 2004.

Both those vehicles were perfect for my needs and I want a similar vehicle. In my dreams I'd have my 1985 Nissan 4x4 pickup back with the 4 cylinder dual ignition engine, only brand new.

The V6 in the 1995, gobbles fuel and I'd like something more economical.

I am not in a financial position to own, run and insure two vehicles.
 
Lately I've been thinking the best (for me) hunting vehicle would be something like a Ford E350 cargo van with a 4x4 kit. Could set it up for rough camping and still haul a quad in it and pull a trailer with the river boat on it or sleds, more atv's, argos or what ever.
It may not make a good daily driver but there is no such thing as a best for everything whatever....its always a comprimise.
The best of the best might be a UniMog motorhome and a couple of trailers.:)
 
Not to knock the Jeep YJ's, suzuki's or the likes but there is no way they will go where a quad will and survive....a worthwhile hunting vehicle needs IMO the ability to haul an ATV and boat at the same time and if the boat will also haul the atv then so much the better. :)
 
If you are looking for economy then I'd say a four door Toyota Tacoma is about all that will meet your criteria. If your not worried about mileage as much then I would buy a four door full size pickup.
 
Get the 4 door truck of your choice. I like my little Denali as my work play, family and haul dirty bleeding things vehicle. If you use a SUV the same way you'd never get the stink out of it. My wife would kill me if I got so much as a duck close to her Yukon.
 
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