pick-up truck for hunting...... which?

I would go with a 1989~1997 full size GMC exc. cab 4x4 on gasoline. I would NEVER buy a used deisel again (deisel engines are 5x the cost to rebuild or repair, are nose heavy for real offroading, and usually have oddball brakes, tranny's, drive shafts, etc, etc, etc, etc).

I'd avoid the above mentioned "all wheel drive" as they are a long shot from the dependability and strength of 4x4. Also, quirky little items, like quadrasteer, are too fragile for real off road use.

Jeep makes some good 3/4 size and full size 4x4s. The little ####boxes (YJ) ride like poop and are twitchy on the highway. They ride worse than a 1978 GMC short box 4x4 with leaf springs on all four corners. Arcaic technology.
 
I have been interested in one of these, Can you comment on the gas mileage and how the truck is for repairs and all that stuff? Anything you hate about? I really really like the truck and want to get one but not sure and everytime I got to the dealership, it is closed.
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So far I have been getting about 19-10k's per liter. The only thing I dislike about the truck is that it's a little narrower than my old GMC. As far as repairs and parts It's going fot the first service next week so I don't know yet.
All in all I am very happy with it.
 
Ok I've done a few miles off road. Your big problem is going to be that you want to seat comfortably 4 people that will limit you to either a crewcab short box or a SUV of some sort.

This is my bush baby 98 3/4t 4x4, Note the winch, you must have one, if your really serious you need one front and rear. Good tires are important, I have 2 spares. I have a bigger quad (honda450) and no drybox now. A full size box is nice.

truck.jpg
 
Boer seun said:
So far I have been getting about 19-10k's per liter. The only thing I dislike about the truck is that it's a little narrower than my old GMC. As far as repairs and parts It's going fot the first service next week so I don't know yet.
All in all I am very happy with it.
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Thanks for a reply. How many liters is the gas tank? Around how much does it cost to fill? How many km's can you go on a tank of gas?

Sounds like a good truck, I might have to stop in tonight.

Thanks
 
Oh sorry I see I wrote 19-10k's I meant 9-10, That is the other thing I am not too fond of, the tank is small (compared to my 100Ltank on the old truck)
about 60 some Liters.
I get about 600 and some kilo's per tank
I like this truck I only got the base model so nothing fancy in it.
But like I said plenty power and mileage is good
 
Boer seun said:
Oh sorry I see I wrote 19-10k's I meant 9-10, That is the other thing I am not too fond of, the tank is small (compared to my 100Ltank on the old truck)
about 60 some Liters.
I get about 600 and some kilo's per tank
I like this truck I only got the base model so nothing fancy in it.
But like I said plenty power and mileage is good
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Thanks for the info. I am not looking for a fancy truck. I am looking for a basic truck with good mileage that is realiable without having a $40k sticker on it. I like the looks of it and see lots of people with them so they must be decent. They are small and nice.

I have a 54 liter tank on my sunfire and only get 450 km's a tank so this truck would be even better and I could accually take it to my friends camp since it's all logging roads, my car doesn't make it far and I always have to walk an extra 2 km's :(

Thanks again for your little review.
 
Try and find a S10 in good shape, either the pickup or the SUV. I've owned a couple of them, and these along with the XJ Cherokee would be the best choices fro a compromise vehicle, in my experiance. Relatively cheap to buy and fix, pretty reliable, decent off roaders, and reasonable milage for a 4x4. - dan
 
Get a Toyota Tacoma and never look back. You might pay more in the beginning, but that's what you call an "investment". The extended cabs have 2 SMALL seat in the back, or the newer quad cab ones with 4 doors have slightly more room. The 2000-2004 quad cabs had a really small bed, so an ATV wouldn't fit, but there is plenty enough room for a dead animal. The 3.4 litre gets decent mileage. I have one of the newer ones with the 4.0L V6, and mileage is OK, though not stellar.

Or, if you're looking at an SUV, you can do much worse than a used 4runner.
 
I have to agree with Ryanb . I am a mechanic at a Toyota dealer , and I have heard alot of complaints over the years but I have never had a customer complain about the off-road capabilities . If you can afford one ( I can't) they are a great hunting buggy . If budget is tight the older models are still are great off-road but you won't seat 4 unless you go with a 4-runner . actually the pre 95 models have a steering box instead of a rack and pinion much tougher for off-road abuse .
 
Here's a pic of my gas guzzlin Chevy project. 1978/1984 3/4 ton 4x4 with the old style bomb proof running gear.

Chevy2.jpg


I started with a frame. Virtually everything is new. All seals, bearings, u-joints, pumps, brake system yada yada. Its extremely capable. ;) I have an old 1200 lb winch that I will be mounting on the front.
 
heres the one ive been beating the crap out of for that last 5 years...this old truck has pulled out it share of dodges and fords...ask any that know me what this truck has been through:D

dadcar.jpg
 
Salty said:
Here's a pic of my gas guzzlin Chevy project. 1978/1984 3/4 ton 4x4 with the old style bomb proof running gear.

Chevy2.jpg


I started with a frame. Virtually everything is new. All seals, bearings, u-joints, pumps, brake system yada yada. Its extremely capable. ;) I have an old 1200 lb winch that I will be mounting on the front.
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If you haven't done anything with the diffs yet, do a search for "econo-locker". Basically it's a kit that converts a standard spider gear diff to a detroit locker type diff. I've had a kit in my '90 GM 4x4 for 4 years or so, and I drive it hard. I couldn't keep posi units in it, kept blowing the side out of them.

Having a full lock differential makes a world of difference in mud and snow. A little squirly on icy roads, but you can't win them all.
 
I drive a '94 Ranger ext. cab with 9" of lift. I run 33" BFG A/Ts for highway driving, and fror the winter. I run 35" Pro Comp M/Ts through spring and hunting season.

The 4.0L OHV has plenty of power(with 4:10 gears in the diffs), and has never let be down. The only weakness is the 5 speed Mazda tranny, but If you want an auto you wouldn't have to worry about that.

Gas milage is ok for running those big tires. I get 400-450kms on a tank of gas.

vennzm.jpg


It gets me where I need to go.:D
 
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