I’ve finally reached the point where I’m going to admit that my beloved Tacoma is not the most comfortable vehicle for multiple state hunting (turkey). I’m looking at a 4Runner TRD Off-road. What are some other hunting rigs y’all use?
Vehicle for the traveling hunter
Turkinator
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I love my Ford Expedition...2nd one going on ten years of running them. Plenty of room, plenty of power, gas mileage is okay....I average around 19mpg from Colorado to South Dakota and back plus for days of driving country roads and farm tracks. I'm not a huge fan of the dumbed down 4x4 options, my current Expy doesn't have a low range, but I've figured out the settings that are about equivalent. Good tires and common sense has worked from upland to high mountain big game.
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93 Posts
I have a 2021 Ram Laramie 1500 with air suspension, eco diesel and double cab
The rear seat area with the seats up will fit a small car, the seats were the most comfortable by a mile compared to any other pick up my wife and I tried, no comparison, flat out the best seats and coupled with the air ride is a smooth ride, no leaf springs
The eco diesel gets great mileage, the best vehicle I’ve ever owned, period, although the price just about made me black out, but none are cheap anyway
The rear seat area with the seats up will fit a small car, the seats were the most comfortable by a mile compared to any other pick up my wife and I tried, no comparison, flat out the best seats and coupled with the air ride is a smooth ride, no leaf springs
The eco diesel gets great mileage, the best vehicle I’ve ever owned, period, although the price just about made me black out, but none are cheap anyway
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123 Posts
I replaced my 1981 Jeep CJ-7 with a 2022 Bronco Badlands.
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3,462 Posts
If it is comfort you want . . .
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4,744 Posts
Gentlemen,
I have to admit my Ford Expedition was a seriously comfortable vehicle, the gas milage sucked however, my old Chevy Tahoe got better gas milage and was almost as comfortable, with a little more room. Both were great hunting vehicles.
al the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
Ford Expodition 4X4
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Chevy Tahoe 4x4 with gun safe storage box.
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The ultimate Grouse Hunting/Training set up for us, before the Ford Motor home.
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I have to admit my Ford Expedition was a seriously comfortable vehicle, the gas milage sucked however, my old Chevy Tahoe got better gas milage and was almost as comfortable, with a little more room. Both were great hunting vehicles.
al the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
Ford Expodition 4X4
Chevy Tahoe 4x4 with gun safe storage box.
The ultimate Grouse Hunting/Training set up for us, before the Ford Motor home.
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3,462 Posts
Sorry, Dave, having driven both I wouldn't trade that Expedition for five Chevy Tahoes. That one is my hunting/shooting rig so I drive it only a few thousand miles a year. Considering my total rec expenses the amount I lose to gas inefficiency is a drop in the bucket.
I have another one that is my daily vehicle. I'm sure it costs me $800 - 1,000 per year extra over the gas expense I would have in a small car, and I couldn't care less. The very sophisticated 4WD system, the incredible factory stereo and greater comfort and safety make it well worth it.
I have another one that is my daily vehicle. I'm sure it costs me $800 - 1,000 per year extra over the gas expense I would have in a small car, and I couldn't care less. The very sophisticated 4WD system, the incredible factory stereo and greater comfort and safety make it well worth it.
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4,744 Posts
Coach Super-X,
Please do not get me wrong, my Ford Expedition was a great hunting vehicle, but the gas milage could have been a lot better. Our trips to NH and out west to Montana & AZ proved that to me big time. The old Tahoe was a lot less expensive to run, even when traveling to Trout fish with a lot less weight, the Expedition really ate the gas. My particular Expedition was geared very low, and it worked well in the mountains, in the winter time snow, on the road for traveling it was way to expensive.
I put 1/2 million miles on both vehicles and mechanically they were about the same, Ford however would not guarantee the worn out parts on my expedition, the old Tahoe guarantee covered everything bumper to bumper.
I had walked away from purchasing the Tahoe because they initially were not going to give me the guarantee I wanted, Chevy eventually called me back and gave me the guarantee I wanted, and I purchased the vehicle that day.
The Tahoe cost me 1/2 the amount of money my Expedition did, during the life time of owning and using the vehicles.
Ford does not have a better Idea, that is for sure. The difference in the comfort was not that great, however both had nice leather seats and the Chevy was a bigger vehicle, because it was built on the Suburban frame back at that time. Now you would have to purchase the Suburban stretch vehicle to get the same vehicle I owned back then. I have to admit they were 2 different vehicles from 2 different eras. I also liked the double rear doors on the Chevy Tahoe better. For me the expedition was like moving to a smaller hunting/fishing vehicle, with poor gas milage.
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
Chevy
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Ford
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Please do not get me wrong, my Ford Expedition was a great hunting vehicle, but the gas milage could have been a lot better. Our trips to NH and out west to Montana & AZ proved that to me big time. The old Tahoe was a lot less expensive to run, even when traveling to Trout fish with a lot less weight, the Expedition really ate the gas. My particular Expedition was geared very low, and it worked well in the mountains, in the winter time snow, on the road for traveling it was way to expensive.
I put 1/2 million miles on both vehicles and mechanically they were about the same, Ford however would not guarantee the worn out parts on my expedition, the old Tahoe guarantee covered everything bumper to bumper.
I had walked away from purchasing the Tahoe because they initially were not going to give me the guarantee I wanted, Chevy eventually called me back and gave me the guarantee I wanted, and I purchased the vehicle that day.
The Tahoe cost me 1/2 the amount of money my Expedition did, during the life time of owning and using the vehicles.
Ford does not have a better Idea, that is for sure. The difference in the comfort was not that great, however both had nice leather seats and the Chevy was a bigger vehicle, because it was built on the Suburban frame back at that time. Now you would have to purchase the Suburban stretch vehicle to get the same vehicle I owned back then. I have to admit they were 2 different vehicles from 2 different eras. I also liked the double rear doors on the Chevy Tahoe better. For me the expedition was like moving to a smaller hunting/fishing vehicle, with poor gas milage.
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
Chevy
Ford
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3,462 Posts
Well, with the two rear rows of seats folded down in the hunting rig (an EL model) I can put a stack of 4' x 8' plywood, sheetrock, etc., in and close the hatch. That's all the room I need. I get about 20 mph on the hiway, which seems fine considering how much weight I am rolling. On I-90 last summer I averaged 17 mph going up and over the Continental Divide and down again in a standard size Expy. Seemed fine.
I have been driving Expys for years and have never needed a repair that would have been covered by an extended warranty. I have owned six but never bought a new one. Other than the one that got totaled by a stop sign runner they are all still running fine.
With the old 5.4L (which is all I will buy) you can expect to have to replace timing chains, guides and tensioners at 150-200K. I just budget for that when I buy them. Small price to pay for the nicest ride on the road.
I have been driving Expys for years and have never needed a repair that would have been covered by an extended warranty. I have owned six but never bought a new one. Other than the one that got totaled by a stop sign runner they are all still running fine.
With the old 5.4L (which is all I will buy) you can expect to have to replace timing chains, guides and tensioners at 150-200K. I just budget for that when I buy them. Small price to pay for the nicest ride on the road.
I Started with a 72 Suburban 2x4 and transitioned into a 3/4 ton 4x4 with all the bells
and whistles . It has taken me into the 5 western states for not only Big Game but most
of my Water fowling and Upland too ! The comfort of getting there and back was the
driving force but I have spent many nights , under the stars , with plenty of room in
these trucks , dogs and all !
and whistles . It has taken me into the 5 western states for not only Big Game but most
of my Water fowling and Upland too ! The comfort of getting there and back was the
driving force but I have spent many nights , under the stars , with plenty of room in
these trucks , dogs and all !
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4,744 Posts
Gentlemen,
No doubt about it both are fantastic hunting & Fishing vehicles, not having one right now, with the down grade to the explorer is definitely cramping my style, but I still have the Ford Motor home for medium hunting trips, the gas milage in the old motor home is so bad I can rent a place to stay in NH & Montana cheaper than driving the motor home back and forth. I do mis both the expedition and the Tahoe very much, and with my new Ryman pup coming in April of this year, I am going to miss them even more. I maybe looking to purchase a used Expedition or a used Tahoe shortly.
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
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No doubt about it both are fantastic hunting & Fishing vehicles, not having one right now, with the down grade to the explorer is definitely cramping my style, but I still have the Ford Motor home for medium hunting trips, the gas milage in the old motor home is so bad I can rent a place to stay in NH & Montana cheaper than driving the motor home back and forth. I do mis both the expedition and the Tahoe very much, and with my new Ryman pup coming in April of this year, I am going to miss them even more. I maybe looking to purchase a used Expedition or a used Tahoe shortly.
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
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360 Posts
Cadillac XT5 mid-size SUV. No, seriously. I have found that you can easily put 2 large guys and all their gear in it and drive wherever. It is AWD and has a trailer hitch. If I put on a hitch mounted cargo hauler I can take that super large cooler or even put a whole deer on it.
As for comfort, I am a big guy at 6'6". The car fits me really nicely and has all the creature comforts you would want. And also gets 26 MPG on the highway. I have never gone hunting and thought "I really need a large gas-guzzling truck for this".
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As for comfort, I am a big guy at 6'6". The car fits me really nicely and has all the creature comforts you would want. And also gets 26 MPG on the highway. I have never gone hunting and thought "I really need a large gas-guzzling truck for this".
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4,744 Posts
DanGilbertTX,
Your XT5 is a very nice mid size vehicle, especially in TX, unfortunately it will not hold my 5 dogs in cages for training. I also believe it is not a real 4X4 vehicle, if I remember it is an all wheel SVU. I want a real 4X4 for my mountain hunting in the snow, the driveway back to my mountain log cabin sometimes has 30" of snow on it, here in Potter County, Pa. I do love the gas milage you are getting with your XT5, however I doubt it would get that milage here in our mountains. My new explorer does get 21.5 MPG which is probably what I would get with the XT5. I want to go back to the larger safer 4x4 if possible. If I can get 18 MPG for real, I will be satisfied with either an Expedition or a Tahoe, we will see how things work out in the near future. I will probably have to settle for a used vehicle with about 30,000 miles on it, if I can find one.
Couple of real nice Bucks Dan, Congrats.
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
Your XT5 is a very nice mid size vehicle, especially in TX, unfortunately it will not hold my 5 dogs in cages for training. I also believe it is not a real 4X4 vehicle, if I remember it is an all wheel SVU. I want a real 4X4 for my mountain hunting in the snow, the driveway back to my mountain log cabin sometimes has 30" of snow on it, here in Potter County, Pa. I do love the gas milage you are getting with your XT5, however I doubt it would get that milage here in our mountains. My new explorer does get 21.5 MPG which is probably what I would get with the XT5. I want to go back to the larger safer 4x4 if possible. If I can get 18 MPG for real, I will be satisfied with either an Expedition or a Tahoe, we will see how things work out in the near future. I will probably have to settle for a used vehicle with about 30,000 miles on it, if I can find one.
Couple of real nice Bucks Dan, Congrats.
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
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109 Posts
My 2018 eco-diesel gets 29 mpg hghway. I get 15 mpg towing a 30 ft trailer. I looked at the 2021 prices and after they revived me I bought out my lease on the 2018.
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18 Posts
Several years ago I bought the Tacoma double cab. While pretty i found any trip over about a hundred miles uncomfortable. Realized that Toyota raises the floor a bit to increase off-road clearance. This causes issues to most taller individuals over say 5’10”. the bottom of your legs near the knee don’t make contact with the top of the seat.
After a year I traded for a new f150 crew with 5.0. Was pleasantly surprised at comfort and fuel mileage beat the Toyota. since then I traded the f150 after about 8 years. Driving a newer f150 with 3.5 ecoboost these days. Even better fuel mileage than the 5.0 whether towing or not. Never looked back.
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good evening. Yes the truck is a crew cab and yes, you can lift the seats which leaves the floor open to two medium sized kennels in back.
yes, the truck also has the ecoboost engine and 4 wheels drive. Typical fuel mileage around town stop and go traffic has been decent at just over 16 mpg (hand calculated) and over 19 mpg on highway under 70 mph. Have about 55k on it now with no significant issues. One of the most comfortable trucks I’ve owned.
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929 Posts
Not great mileage my 93 with a 300 inline 6 did better than that heck my one ton diesels do too
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I’ve seen numerous tanks at 22 mpg but the difference in the inline 300/6 banger is it’s rather Sedate when it comes to power. living In western Washington we see tons of hills. I also regularly pull a 7500 lb travel trailer which the older 300 6 cylinder will never do. you Should check it out.
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929 Posts
I wouldn't do that with any f150 if I was towing that kind of weight on a regular basis I would use my one ton as i normally do id get 19 mpg pulling it
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