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'Fess Up, Who Hunts out of a Prius?

So, general concensus is that them what have em like em. Noted.

At some point I want to drive the hybrid crosstrek and the AWD prius model. Still probably a couple of years out on a purchase. I don't think I'd want to rely on just electric, but if you have 2 cars I think hybrids are starting to make more and more sense. The wife and I drive, but we drive like seniors and aren't really car people. I just want to get from a to b in one piece for the least amount of money and stress possible.

I've done the beater thing to death. 29 years old and have owned 4 paid-in-cash cars and driven them to 250k or better miles. Literally driven 2 to the point they had to be scrapped. The ole suburban is getting worked until it dies in the field (been driving it for 15 years now), but after that I'm vowing to put the first 200k on every vehicle i own and not the last, payments and be damned if necessary. The subaru we bought has been the easiest and least stressful 50k I've ever driven. Again, not a car guy. I've worked on plenty and did it because I had to. Hate it with a passion. I frigging love making my car payment.

And, driving 15mph vehicles is for losers. 32 is great....50 sounds even better.

Any issues with hybrid battery efficiency in cold weather or any other little quirks folks have found?
 
3/4 of my hunting party drives Subarus. They love them sleep in them the whole nine. Myself. I have a crew cab Colorado. If I could have slept stretched out in the back of a subi. I would have a forester. Never been a hybrid kinda guy but if I was looking for a hybrid for life/hunting I’d wait on an AWD Subaru hybrid. Just my opinion.
 
Lowg08 said:
3/4 of my hunting party drives Subarus. They love them sleep in them the whole nine. Myself. I have a crew cab Colorado. If I could have slept stretched out in the back of a subi. I would have a forester. Never been a hybrid kinda guy but if I was looking for a hybrid for life/hunting I’d wait on an AWD Subaru hybrid. Just my opinion.
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I had two Subarus prior, and was looking at the Crosstrek… side by side specs and price is the logic that ultimately lead to a Rav4. It was hard to leave the Subaru brand tbh, I was a loyalist.

If thinking about hybrids, the next step before full blown EV would be plug in hybrid and I wish I owned one. Almost all your putting around town would be electric, and then don’t have to worry about range if you take off on a longer trip. It’s pretty interesting how things are changing. The Rav broadcasts a sound like electric angels when I back up or am rolling through a parking lot just on the electric motors, definitely doesn’t have the machismo of a camaro with a cam shaft mod.

Thus far 0 issues with battery in cold weather etc.
 
I do not know that I have ever driven a hybrid so I cannot speak to that. I caught a break and work got me a vehicle at the beginning of this year. I ended up with a rental for about 6 months due to a recall. That rental happened to be a minivan. Hunting out of a minivan happened to be extremely convenient. I even had space to let a few turkey fans dry out back there at the same time. I miss that thing.
 
I have an 11’ Prius. I average 45-50 MPG. Bought it 1/2020. Only routine maintenance thus far. Biggest issue would be ground clearance. There is a company that makes a lift kit for them. The fuel mileage does go down a bit in the Winter and when you’re running the A/C a lot. But I still usually get 40+ MPG. I honestly have still taken my Tacoma hunting but that may change this year if gas isn’t any cheaper. If you fold the seat down it’s surprisingly roomy in the back. You could fit a good sized cooler and gear in there pretty easily. I’ve also thought about getting a hitch carrier for mine. My wife says it’s ugly and people make fun of it. But they aren’t laughing with gas prices now.
 
We've never had any issues in cold, or snow for that matter. Only regular PM too, no issues in about 31.5k.
 
Nutterbuster said:
I'm specifically interested in hunters with hybrids. I can't think of any reason not to do that thing, but am looking for the unexpected.
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Toyota Sienna mini van hybrid. Live in it, sleep in it, add roof rack storage to it, tint it and you’re done. Buy inflatable air mattress off Amazon. Fold down rear seats, temporarily remove middle seats and you have a massive sleeping area. Plus if you have friends or kids, there is room for them also. The hybrid Highlander is the same thing but without minivan side doors or the mini van look. I have had both and I feel your pain. My other ride is a Toyota Tundra on 37’s getting 15mpg also.
 
I had a AWD Outback. If you have a tire go bad half way through it life and have to buy a new one. With a conventional car you just may buy 2. But on the Outback you have to buy 4. Has to do with the AWD.
 
GeoFish said:
I had a AWD Outback. If you have a tire go bad half way through it life and have to buy a new one. With a conventional car you just may buy 2. But on the Outback you have to buy 4. Has to do with the AWD.
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That's good to know! I really like the Outbacks and have heard a lot of good things about them. We were looking at them when we were shopping for the wife's car a while back. They have a loyal customer base and that usually means a lot. I'm always looking for the hidden costs, lol.

I looked around for the answer to this and never felt I got a satisfactory answer. What is the difference between AWD and 4 wheel drive? I know with 4 wheel drive that unless I bottom out on the frame, I can get out of a mud hole or a ditch. Ids it the same with AWD or is it more of a traction thing? Thanks.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
That's good to know! I really like the Outbacks and have heard a lot of good things about them. We were looking at them when we were shopping for the wife's car a while back. They have a loyal customer base and that usually means a lot. I'm always looking for the hidden costs, lol.

I looked around for the answer to this and never felt I got a satisfactory answer. What is the difference between AWD and 4 wheel drive? I know with 4 wheel drive that unless I bottom out on the frame, I can get out of a mud hole or a ditch. Ids it the same with AWD or is it more of a traction thing? Thanks.
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www.driveway.com

All-Wheel Drive Vs. 4-Wheel Drive

Wondering if an All Wheel Drive or 4 Wheel Drive is better for slippery conditions, or how they work? Use this quick guide to figure out if an AWD or FWD system is better for your lifestyle.
www.driveway.com www.driveway.com

AWD is the bee's-knees for crappy poorly-drained roads that get craploads of rain on them. The tire thing is goofy, but not hydroplaning is worth it to me.

Also, subject tires cost less than truck tires. Like half as much as my suburban tires if I'm remembering right.
 
Nutterbuster said:
www.driveway.com

All-Wheel Drive Vs. 4-Wheel Drive

Wondering if an All Wheel Drive or 4 Wheel Drive is better for slippery conditions, or how they work? Use this quick guide to figure out if an AWD or FWD system is better for your lifestyle.
www.driveway.com www.driveway.com

AWD is the bee's-knees for crappy poorly-drained roads that get craploads of rain on them. The tire thing is goofy, but not hydroplaning is worth it to me.

Also, subject tires cost less than truck tires. Like half as much as my suburban tires if I'm remembering right.
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Thanks! Yes, crappy poorly drained roads that get craploads of rain on them describes about 80% of what we have around here, lol. I lived in Alabama a while, so I think Ya'll have a few of those too.
 
I guess my question would be, for a hunting scenario where you have to pull over to the side of the road (gravel) and have at least one side of the vehicles tires off in the ditch, is AWD capable of routinely giving you the traction to get out of that if the ditch is muddy or full of water. Where I hunt we don't have designated parking lots like I see Dan Infalt and others talking about in the northern states. We have pull outs with locked gates at best and most of the time you just pull over onto the side of the road near where you want to go in to hunt.

The times I have hunted in Ohio I saw a lot of guys hunting out of sedans like Nissan Altima's, etc. It seemed to work for them. They were pulled off on the side of the road.

The road system on the WMA's around here is comparable to the county gravel roads (better in many cases) and I might be able to get away without 4WD. When I was in that lease there is no way. The roads were dirt logging roads and when it rained you had 3 inches of mud at minimum and bottoming out on the frame of a pickup was not unheard of.

My concern today is two fold. I foresee pulling off on the side of the road and getting stuck and turning around and getting stuck. I have 4WD now, so Ican get myself out of most things. I have considered a smaller vehicle with AWD. I just hate getting stuck with a passion.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
That's good to know! I really like the Outbacks and have heard a lot of good things about them. We were looking at them when we were shopping for the wife's car a while back. They have a loyal customer base and that usually means a lot. I'm always looking for the hidden costs, lol.

I looked around for the answer to this and never felt I got a satisfactory answer. What is the difference between AWD and 4 wheel drive? I know with 4 wheel drive that unless I bottom out on the frame, I can get out of a mud hole or a ditch. Ids it the same with AWD or is it more of a traction thing? Thanks.
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We've got two, the only rub, towing is only good for a four wheeler, so no campers of any kind .
 
NMSbowhunter said:
I guess my question would be, for a hunting scenario where you have to pull over to the side of the road (gravel) and have at least one side of the vehicles tires off in the ditch, is AWD capable of routinely giving you the traction to get out of that if the ditch is muddy or full of water. Where I hunt we don't have designated parking lots like I see Dan Infalt and others talking about in the northern states. We have pull outs with locked gates at best and most of the time you just pull over onto the side of the road near where you want to go in to hunt.

The times I have hunted in Ohio I saw a lot of guys hunting out of sedans like Nissan Altima's, etc. It seemed to work for them. They were pulled off on the side of the road.

The road system on the WMA's around here is comparable to the county gravel roads (better in many cases) and I might be able to get away without 4WD. When I was in that lease there is no way. The roads were dirt logging roads and when it rained you had 3 inches of mud at minimum and bottoming out on the frame of a pickup was not unheard of.

My concern today is two fold. I foresee pulling off on the side of the road and getting stuck and turning around and getting stuck. I have 4WD now, so Ican get myself out of most things. I have considered a smaller vehicle with AWD. I just hate getting stuck with a passion.
Click to expand...
Front wheel drive vehicles are pretty capable, where rwd will leave you stuck if you sinka front tire. My experience.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
That's good to know! I really like the Outbacks and have heard a lot of good things about them. We were looking at them when we were shopping for the wife's car a while back. They have a loyal customer base and that usually means a lot. I'm always looking for the hidden costs, lol.

I looked around for the answer to this and never felt I got a satisfactory answer. What is the difference between AWD and 4 wheel drive? I know with 4 wheel drive that unless I bottom out on the frame, I can get out of a mud hole or a ditch. Ids it the same with AWD or is it more of a traction thing? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Four by, more traditional hydraulics, is by far the best for moving through mud, exclude SD and HD trucks due to weight. Today's AWD are generally electronically controlled and if forced to run in one particular mode, verses alternating tire rotation, they will overheat and shut down. Therefore it comes down to the brains of the vehicle, Subies have a good track record imo. Remember a lighter vehicle requires less force to move it, ground clearance helps.

I'd prefer a gas guzzling 4x4 for my hunting/utility/towing/apocalypse vehicle...
 
I’m a little unfamiliar with hybrids but do you have to plug them in? There ain’t no charging station at the WMA. I guess if you travel to one of those campgrounds with electricity it would work out.
 
Tr33_n1nj@ said:
I’m a little unfamiliar with hybrids but do you have to plug them in? There ain’t no charging station at the WMA. I guess if you travel to one of those campgrounds with electricity it would work out.
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No a Prius has a gas engine. It also has a large battery. When you stop or are going down hill the battery is charged. Also when the battery is low or you are accelerating the engine drives the car and also charges the battery. The computer does all this automatically.
 
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