Shooting vehicle.

[hybridfiat]

My next door neighbour has just bought an old Suzuki Sierra ute and cleaned it up. Fitted bars in the back and LED lights all round. It cost him au$1000 all up and works very well.
A shooting platform cantilevered across the roof with a box to hold spare rifles or shotguns when not in use.

 

[bobjs]

Yes. All sounds very good. I have thought that a vehicle I can do everything with may be a better option long term??

in that case don't get a landy,

the only one I had years ago spent more time in the garage than it did on the road, I have had 9 Suzuki's 2 sj413's and 7 vitaras, cant fault them at all. I know the parts are more than landy parts but if you know where to shop you will be ok,

we have a 110 station wagon on the estate that I could use every day but refuse to use it as the last time I did (mid way through last shoot season) it cost the boss 4K for a new gearbox.

land rovers are a passion .....................and I dislike them with one.

bob.

 

[Geordiehillbilly]

I used to have a Vauxhall Frontera 2.0 Sport which I deeply regret selling. It was perfect for shooting from as the rear roof section was held on by four quick release clips and lifted off easily for shooting from. Plus I never got it stuck in mud or snow.
I would happily have one again!
Well worth thinking about if one comes up at the right price!

My uncle swears by his Frontera and we take off the back and it works well. I'm stuck in the Landrover trap and can't get out!

 

[countrryboy]

Depending how often u lamp and wot else u want from ur motor but lot of expense road taxing ins running costs etc if just for lamping as most 4x4's are a compromise for other jobs.
No 4x4's are cheap to run even Jimny's with a 1300 engine ur lucky to get 30ish mpg

Wot about sticking a tow bar on ur normal motor and buying a cheap quad and trailer and tow it to ur permissions, will go almost anywhere without making a mess of ground and handier if lamping urself. Even if u do get it stuck can usually lift/push it out urself

 

[hybridfiat]

Waaaay back when I was in my early 20s, three mates and I were at a drive-in when a friend dashed over and asked us how much money we had on us because he wanted to buy a car. ????? Some acquaintances of his were broken down and he had offered to buy it. We scraped together about $45 and he went off and bought it. A 1968 Toyota Crown sedan with cloth seats, tinted glass windows, self seeking radio 4 speed column shift (with free wheel option). It's coil was knackered so the next day we went down and got it going, drove to a mates farm and set to work with a cold chisel and hammer to create a sunroof out of which 2 blokes could shoot. One night after a 2 week break we clambered in and noticed a foul reek. Unable to find a boot key the lock was shot out with a .22 WRM. Great restraint was shown as the first option was a 12ga shotgun loaded with SGs. With the boot open we discovered a long dead rabbit in the wheel well and that the fuel tank was directly in the line of fire. The bullet had broken up before hitting the full tank. A 12ga with SGs at that range would have had interesting results. Later unable to open the drivers side window I shot it out with my trusty Savage BA .22 WRM, I'll never do that again. I was showered with glass from the window and insults from my mates who I hadn't warned.
We used it for about 2 years before it finally clagged out.
I really miss the 'good old days'.

 

[Nobleman]

Early 3.1 SWB Isuzu Trooper, Cheap to buy, Reliable, Good off road and easy to maintain, You wont go far wrong with a Suzuki either to be honest.

 

[Boarboy]

Thanks for all your responses. I'm now wondering whether a mule type vehicle might be better for my situation. Kawasaki/kubota e.t.c., As I run sheep and may be handier for feeding, fencing, logs e.t.c as well as shooting ?? Our ground is all grass.

 

[spandit]

Thanks for all your responses. I'm now wondering whether a mule type vehicle might be better for my situation. Kawasaki/kubota e.t.c., As I run sheep and may be handier for feeding, fencing, logs e.t.c as well as shooting ?? Our ground is all grass.

I bought a Mule and although it was completely knackered, it did prove it's use. Was going to buy another one but even second hand they're dear. My Jimny has electric windows, a heater, radio and winch. I've fitted a tow bar to it and although it's maybe not quite as convenient for lugging stuff about, with the rear seats out there's a decent amount of room in the back. It was roughly 1/5 the price of a used Mule. Kawasaki spare parts are pretty expensive too and although you can road register them, I don't think the top speed is that great. Mind you, the Jimny is dreadful on the road...

 

[countrryboy]

All depends on wot u want and need it for? And wot ur ground is like?

The biggest problem with mules is the wieght, prob 4x heaier than a quad but similar sized wheels, on wet heavy ground they do cut up grass esp if travelling same route often ie to feeders/wood/gate, and if u get 1 stuck its a tractor job no chance of digging/lifting it out urself. Also too easy to seriously overload making it even heavier.
Most different types all have various fualts/problems and are quite dear to buy and maintain.
Also quite numb for moving stock if ur stock is 'wild'

They have there uses but unless ur ground is quite dry can be limited, the 6 wheelrs are good tools thou, but dear too.
Quad with a trailer will carry the same ammount of gear with less damage to fields

Pro's and cons to all 4x4's just depends wot suits u best
Jimnys light but not a lot of room and zero power for towing.
Most of the other larger 4x4's are 2+T in wieght so will sink on wet ground

 

[Norrie1956]

Vitara short wheel base

Diesel is better than petrol for economy, and if it's confined to the farm RED can be used, short wheel base turns on a pin head and has enough room with the rear seats out for all your needs and if your lucky pick,up an MOT rust bucket and set about it with a disc cutter,

Good at tyres and it will just about show anything else where to go x****ry if your a good driver like me would love an old 413 with the fold down windscreen how good would that be,

Bob,

Yep,totally agree Bob.... A good friend gave me his old Vitara, an 02 plated , GV, 1600cc petrol engine, and goes where many before wouldn't...like a couple of L200's and a Jeep, oh, and my 406 estate.........still has road tyres on it, got it into a very wet clay bed last week, slipped a bit, but got out eventually with NO help.....it lives on the farm, and will do me for years... Love it...

 

[Greener Jim]

Ferguson TE20........great off road

 

[spandit]

Jimnys light but not a lot of room and zero power for towing.

Mine pulls our 8x4 twin axle trailer off road quite happily up fairly sloping terrain

 

[salopsniper]

I would go for a Suzuki: Jimny / SJ / Vitara or Fourtrack, there preference I would go for Jimny (petrol) if you do any road use/crossing where it rules out red deisel. Reason being that the petrol engines run smoother so if your shooting from the vehicle when the engine is running its smoother for less vibration. Also petrol engines are cheaper and easier to work on.
I have a Jimny as an everyday vehicle so its got no permanant modifications made and there isnt actually much in the way of kit it needs and ive shot alot of bunnys from it.
The only bits i have for it are:
4 port 12v ciggie extension so I can charge my phone while driving, recharge batterys and power the LED "work/spot/flood-light" i have on a mag mount for lighting out the back of the vehicle when reversing or gutting bunnys.
Shelf that I leave in permantly to give a flat surface for the dog box or meat trays and shooting kit.
Thats it really. One of us drives and lamps the other sits in the passenger seat and shoots !

ATB

Matt

 

[Shropshire Dan]

I have the family volvo xc90 d5 with a set of BF goodrich mud terrain km2 tyres fitted it's absolutely awesome and makes lamping a little more luxurious lol. I am about to buy a Defender though as my wife has a fit when it comes back plastered in mud and crap lol

 

[purdey24]

Defenders are great, I am told that 90% of the total made are still on the road.
The other 10% made it home!!
Another alternative if you can find one is the trusty Subaru pick up. They really will go where nothing else will.

 

[cyberstag]

Here is my vehicle, not for stalking but used on the farm a lot for work and good for rabbit shooting in comfort.

 

[Akeld]

I've just got rid of my defender, very good off road, easy to work on, but for me a stupidly small cab and near impossible to shoot from the drivers window (if right handed) comfortably. I also found the visibility limited in the hard tops

 

[shaun22/250]

I used to have a Vauxhall Frontera 2.0 Sport which I deeply regret selling. It was perfect for shooting from as the rear roof section was held on by four quick release clips and lifted off easily for shooting from. Plus I never got it stuck in mud or snow.
I would happily have one again!
Well worth thinking about if one comes up at the right price!

yes had a couple of frontera's for lamping utill i got this
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[EDCM]

I have the family volvo xc90 d5 with a set of BF goodrich mud terrain km2 tyres fitted it's absolutely awesome and makes lamping a little more luxurious lol. I am about to buy a Defender though as my wife has a fit when it comes back plastered in mud and crap lol

Dan are those tyres speed rated for that vehicle? I would check or your insurance could be invalid.

Cyberstag I want one!

Defender would be my choice but I am biased

As the aussie's say ... If you want to go into the bush take a land rover .... if you want to come out again ...take a Toyota

Eddie

 

[Shropshire Dan]

They are q rated (99mph) but I was always under the impression that speed rating is irrelevant, as it goes more on load rating. The xc90 will probably top out at about 110 mph but never go above 80 mph if I'm honest

If this is the case what vehicle are these intended for as most will do 100mph.