What vehicle do you use for stalking or management?

[caorach]

I run an L200 but one thing to remember is that once you are off road, and especially on small tracks which is often the only way to cross many areas, a pickup is physically big and has a large turning circle etc. With this in mind if you aren't doing long "on road" journeys and don't need the physical size of a pickup then it would be well worth getting something smaller. I used to run the old shape X-Trail and it was much more "usable" in many places than the pickup though clearly maybe not as robust, interestingly according to the manufacturers spec the X-Trail had more ground clearance than the L200, only about 5mm but more none the less.

I run the pickup as a compromise because there isn't, currently, a really good solution as most "off road vehicles" seem to simply have evolved into large luxury cars, pickups seem to have evolved into something for builders to use to carry goodly weights about the motorway network, and so on.

 

[Mike_E]

that is a good point- I'm keen on a Grenadier when it arrives but its the same width/length/height as a 70series landcruiser which is not exactly small!

 

[Tom_Ov]

I run an L200 but one thing to remember is that once you are off road, and especially on small tracks which is often the only way to cross many areas, a pickup is physically big and has a large turning circle etc. With this in mind if you aren't doing long "on road" journeys and don't need the physical size of a pickup then it would be well worth getting something smaller. I used to run the old shape X-Trail and it was much more "usable" in many places than the pickup though clearly maybe not as robust, interestingly according to the manufacturers spec the X-Trail had more ground clearance than the L200, only about 5mm but more none the less.

I run the pickup as a compromise because there isn't, currently, a really good solution as most "off road vehicles" seem to simply have evolved into large luxury cars, pickups seem to have evolved into something for builders to use to carry goodly weights about the motorway network, and so on.

Parked up at a neighbours is an N reg 3 door Isuzu trooper. We had several of these on the farm when I was growing up and it's a really sensible sized vehicle - decent load area, good ground clearance, proper low ratio box etc etc. I can only see a tiny bit of rust on it, bang tidy for a 26 year old car. Compared with a pick up, it's a nifty length!

 

[308tikka]

My other vehicle is a tatty subaru forester but needs a good bit of welding to pass next mot ... quite comfy and great on motorways but old, and I do prefer to be higher up. Plus side with a knackered backnits easier to swing a carcass in... it wont last so on the lookout. Cheers for input

 

[finnbear270]

I might go back to Jimny's,... If I could get my hands on one of the commercials.

 

[Jelen]

At least when its gone you may still have all your teeth in your head, and the constant draft from the doors will stop the ear ache

Not to mention a recovery from trench foot

 

[malmick]

Tatty Terrano 2 that does the job and gets the dogs out on a daily basis.

 

[Pedro]

All depends on what you use your vehicle for. Does it have to do duty as a family vehicle too?

I've got a Discovery 4 (I know, I know). But I only want one car. Obviously excellent off road and a well decent motorway tool. It has 7 seats and a cavernous boot. But it's a compromise. Although it's proved reliable (not a given, of course) the space for your dogs and dead animals of any variety is open to the rest of the vehicle. And even if reliable, the running costs aren't cheap.

 

[Fiadh]

Subaru Forester, fine for my needs and a bit easier to squeeze into tiny supermarket parking spaces when needs must.

 

[308tikka]

All depends on what you use your vehicle for. Does it have to do duty as a family vehicle too?

I've got a Discovery 4 (I know, I know). But I only want one car. Obviously excellent off road and a well decent motorway tool. It has 7 seats and a cavernous boot. But it's a compromise. Although it's proved reliable (not a given, of course) the space for your dogs and dead animals of any variety is open to the rest of the vehicle. And even if reliable, the running costs aren't cheap.

No requirement for a family vehicle. Can have a cheap runner but looking dor something decent on mway, comfortable (back) and can handle gear and animals.

 

[75]

Parked up at a neighbours is an N reg 3 door Isuzu trooper. We had several of these on the farm when I was growing up and it's a really sensible sized vehicle - decent load area, good ground clearance, proper low ratio box etc etc. I can only see a tiny bit of rust on it, bang tidy for a 26 year old car. Compared with a pick up, it's a nifty length!

I used to run a commercial on of these - bloody brilliant bit of kit. Had BFG Mud Terrains on it and it would go anywhere. Wasn't a motorway cruiser for sure, but it was a great shooting truck.

Currently running a pick up (with canopy) as I need a single vehicle that does lots of things. Love the fact I can chuck a couple of reds in the back then give it a hose out and use it for family duties / dogs etc.

Previously also run a Discovery (2x Disco 3s) which were lovely. Very comfortable, hugely capable offroad (on the right tyres) but just too expensive to run. More comfortable but less versatile than pickup.

 

[Heym SR20]

As a pure little off road / mountain runabout the Fiat Panda 4x4 off road are brilliant. Put a tow bar with a rack on it for big deer if needed.

Little bigger is the Renault Kangoo - and the Trekka 4 x4 was briliantvas well.

The Skoda Yeti could be, but how much clearance does it have.

I need good towing capacity, but also abiity to cover long distances so don’t really want a pickup. The Disco would be ideal, but cost, reliability and reputation puts me off big time. The Land Cruiser Prado possibly, but they are now horrible looking - the older ones are OK.

I do like the look of the Grenadier. But its at least 18 months till there will be a few low mileage 2nd hand ones about. The Volvo XC90 could be an option.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Currently using the bosses wife's old Honda CRV, diesel. Kid you not, I've not got stuck yet as AWD. Back seats taken out. Four fat labs no problems,ten or so 25kg bags of wheat,roe munty cwd in plasterers bath,no problems. Plus good heater and heated seats for lamping luxury!
Beats the Landover the estate used to have. Will pull the game cart this season too.

 

[Musketeer]

 

[DDMS]

VW T5 Campervan for me.

Full size rock and roll bed in the back. I've got it down all the tracks on our pheasant shoot and all the fields in the dry. If its wet im on foot. When i get the pop top roof done it will double as a Fixed fox shooting platform with onboard brew facilities..

 

[Husky]

Just bear in mind that most of the double cab pick ups are over the weight limit and can only do 50 mph on A roads and 60mph on motorways.

 

[jimmy milnes]

Isuzu for me at the minute, I've had it 3 years an not had anything major fail.
However I've a Hilux extra cab been on order since March "should be here back of December" so the isuzu will be going, would have looked at a new one instead of the toyota but the discount wasn't as good.

 

[Kentish]

Jimny, 16 years old, 106k, goes anywhere. Take the back seats out and turn it into a go anywhere godsend.
View attachment 218924
Then there is the really trendy version, of course.
View attachment 218923

I was mulling over getting one of these or a "classic" sj. I wondered about how/where you fit long guns in it? Mate has a new Jimny and they go in the back diagonally, but they're a bit bigger I think.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

VW caddy 07 plate pulls my quad no problem and you can get 5 hinds and a calf in the back, 550 miles to a tank of diesel too.

 

[South of the M4]

Perhaps OP was angling after some left field options?
I’m currently in this dilemma.
I’ve run a couple of 3 door Land Cruisers for some 26 years. My latest was bought new in 2003, 233000 miles, no major issues aside from consumables and uprated suspension (not a lift, just less soggy dampers). The other car is an Audi Q5.
I’d love to get another LC, but as I spend more time in London a single modern dual purpose car seems the sensible option.

I’ve thought about a Discovery Sport with a towball mounted Bak Rak :
bags, tow-ball mounted luggage, boxes, luggage, clam-shell bag, carrier, holiday luggage,waterproof bag
And a big strong box from the same company mounted on it…
Max nose weight at towball is 100kg so would take a couple of fallow, keeping the blood and smells out of the car, the mrs having a nose of a bloodhound.

Only downside being the winter days on fallow does, I can often take 7 or 8, so means 2+ trips to the larder 4 miles down the road. This happens maybe 6 times in a year?
A small price to pay for having the expense and bearing the depreciation of just 1 car, but would have to drag carcasses a little further because I didn’t mind getting the ‘Cruiser scratched and covered in mud. (Actually I liked getting it covered in mud).

However the waiting time for a new DS is a year because of the chip shortages. Perhaps a demo or 2 yr old model would be OK, but with Land Rover reliability issues I’d be happier with a full warranty.
The search continues, unless anyone has a better idea?