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Best Hunting Truck, SUV, or Van?

Another retired sailor here (AOCS/EOD)...on my second 4Runner, this one set up for sleeping hunting (thanks to Covid). 4Runner, Tacoma, Tundra are all bulletproof in my opinion. But all the guys on here will have good advice whether its Toyota or not. Good luck, and congrats on the calling to the chaplain corps!!!
 
Exhumis said:
Yup go as far south as you can. And when you get it treat it for rust. Get that crappy coating off which just traps moisture and spray it with bar and chain oil or another rust prohiber like coorseal (go navy), pqr or something.
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fluid film. I did a lot of reading and YouTube research and that’s the one. Spray it under before winter and don’t do a undercarriage wash throughout the winter when getting the vehicle washed off from salt etc.
 
Also I’m the same boat. I just sold my ok’d truck cheap because the frame was about rotted out. I’m going to tough it out all winter with the old Subaru Legacy hand me down till spring and buy new or newer used.
Im really looking at the f150 with the 2.7 ecoboost or a tundra. I want the tundra but the gas mileage is detering me. I’ll never need to haul really heavy campers or anything either. I really want a 4Runner but I just need a truck. I like the Tacomas but I’d need a double cab if I go that route and then I’d need the long bed because that little bed won’t cut it. Which puts me in the price of a good used tundra or f150.
 
Just going to throw this out there, hope it doesn't backfire on me as I'm looking for one. In my opinion the best all around Hunting, Fishing, and outdoor adventure vehicle is the 1st gen Toyota 4Runner. Two other good ones are the Chevrolet K5 Blazer and the Ford Bronco. Just a quick explanation, Best qualities of a Truck and SUV. Being an SUV you don't have to get out to go to the back to get to your hunting clothes when you get to your spot. All three vehicles are sized to accommodate rear sleeping arrangements, unless you are super tall and own the 4Runner. For times you need that truck bed you can just take the rear top cap off all three. The majority of all the used one's you can find will have a towing package, obviously the the two big boys can tow that bigger boat. Don't count out the 4Runner though it will hold it's own in the towing game.
 
I'm glad I'm not the only guy using a Subaru. Using a Baja over here, you might have to contort your deer a bit to get it to fit in the bed though.
 
Another vote for a tundra. I bought a new to me one a few months ago and love. The biggest drawback is the price,i had to drop 19500 for a 2007. It is in beautiful condition though and has under 100k miles.
 
Allegheny Tom said:
All the above posts are wrong...lol.
Google Quigley van.
I've owned pick ups with toppers for 30 years and they are nice, but nothing beats a cargo van for being able to get up, move around in it, get dressed in the rain/wind/cold, sleep in it, haul stuff. The only problem was nobody made a full sized cargo van in 4x4, and 2wd vans suck for traction. Quigley converts cargo vans from 2wd to 4wd.
But now in 2020 Ford is making the Transit in AWD. My 2006 Tundra is showing some body cancer. When it's time to replace it, I'm going 4x4 cargo van.
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In the 90's I knew a bunch of northwest steelhead fisherman and they were almost all van guys for those reasons. Easier to live comfortably out of for days/weeks at a time than a truck.

There are tons of great YT vids on DIY van conversions. The builds I've followed are mostly built around mountain biking and one guy is living out of it full time traveling the country making riding videos. I'd love to fo one more dual purpose for MB/hunting.
 
PastorKen said:
Lol! I’m a former squid too. I was enlisted from 1985 to 1991. ET2 Nuke. It’s going to be very different for me to be an officer. But I bet everything will be different since I got out 30 years ago! When we’re you in? Officer or enlisted?
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MM2SS Nuke 86-92. Buy a Toyota Tacoma.
 
oldsouth said:
Just going to throw this out there, hope it doesn't backfire on me as I'm looking for one. In my opinion the best all around Hunting, Fishing, and outdoor adventure vehicle is the 1st gen Toyota 4Runner. Two other good ones are the Chevrolet K5 Blazer and the Ford Bronco. Just a quick explanation, Best qualities of a Truck and SUV. Being an SUV you don't have to get out to go to the back to get to your hunting clothes when you get to your spot. All three vehicles are sized to accommodate rear sleeping arrangements, unless you are super tall and own the 4Runner. For times you need that truck bed you can just take the rear top cap off all three. The majority of all the used one's you can find will have a towing package, obviously the the two big boys can tow that bigger boat. Don't count out the 4Runner though it will hold it's own in the towing game.
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4Runner is an excellent choice. Just try and avoid the 3.0 engine. It’s very reliable but lacks power. Like, can’t even get out of its own way power. I’d love an old bronco for hunting but where I live man they’re special money for rusted dilapidated junk. And ones in good shape are $10k plus.
 
A 6.5’ bed Tacoma is plenty of room for sleeping and covers are readily accessible.
 
Congratulations on your selection.

As for the vehicle Jeep Cherokees are a solid all around vehicle. That inline six is nearly bulletproof; 373,000 miles on mine and counting.
 
I'll add another vote for Toyota, I've owned three Tundras and a Tacoma and I keep buying them because when I trade them in I get almost all of my money back out of them. Their resale value is crazy. Plus, the Tundra comes in ranked near the top in the most Amerrican made truck rankings. Their assembled in America and a higher percentage of their parts are made in America then the "American" trucks.
 
Jason Wandling said:
I use a Subaru Impreza most of the time. I have a 3/4 ton truck but I usually drive my car
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For 12 years I hunted out of WRXs and for the past two I added a sweet aluminum Floe trailer and I could haul anything I needed. Rut last year I pull into the property and I had left the trailer there overnight and it was gone. Hard lesson learned. I’ve since hopped to a Rav4 hybrid and I’ve been getting 43 mpg it’s a darn good vehicle too.
 
swampsnyper said:
I just can’t see living without a truck bed. Gas, dog, dead animals, stinky/dirty stuff, bulky items; all reasons to have a bed. Sure you could put a hitch haul on to fill your fuel cans, but why.
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Yeah, I’ve pretty much always had one. And my dad always had one when I was growing up. I know life is gonna be different for me when I’m a Navy chaplain. But I still think I’m gonna want a truck.
 
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