Best shooting truck for me??

[E. Bryant]

I was wondering why no one mentioned the F-150 until this last post. Any particular reasons?

There is nothing particularly new, novel, or interesting about suggesting the best-selling half-ton truck, and therefore you are going to get a bunch of recommendations for just about anything else.

Go drive one for a bit and see how you like it. The F-150 is pretty big and heavy for a half-ton truck, and I don't like that I can't easily reach into the bed to grab a toolbox or gun case. I am also not a huge fan of the 5.4L V8, as it is not particularly efficient or powerful as compared to the competition (it is, however, much better in both characteristics when compared to the trucks with which I grew up, and thus I find my own complaints to be a bit silly). The interiors are generally pretty nice, they ride and drive well, and their popularity means that there are a lot of aftermarket parts (not that this would be a problem with a GM or Ram, but the F-150 wins due to its shear popularity).

It's really tough to go wrong with any of the full-size pickups from the Big Three or Toyota.

 

[timelinex]

There is nothing particularly new, novel, or interesting about suggesting the best-selling half-ton truck, and therefore you are going to get a bunch of recommendations for just about anything else.

Go drive one for a bit and see how you like it. The F-150 is pretty big and heavy for a half-ton truck, and I don't like that I can't easily reach into the bed to grab a toolbox or gun case. I am also not a huge fan of the 5.4L V8, as it is not particularly efficient or powerful as compared to the competition (it is, however, much better in both characteristics when compared to the trucks with which I grew up, and thus I find my own complaints to be a bit silly). The interiors are generally pretty nice, they ride and drive well, and their popularity means that there are a lot of aftermarket parts (not that this would be a problem with a GM or Ram, but the F-150 wins due to its shear popularity).

It's really tough to go wrong with any of the full-size pickups from the Big Three or Toyota.

Good point. My main concern Is that the one with 4 doors I like are pretty damn long. Are they still gonna do fine going over sharp hills or valleys without dragging the rear end or high topping ? I know even my friends Cherokee drags its trailer hitch ball on some of the sharp valleys (I'm not sure if that's actually the right terminology for the terrain)

I'm not too concerned with power/MPG of the engine, but just reliability of the engine and truck overall.

A lot of good suggestions on this thread, thanks for all the input. Might be my most popular started thread ever!

 

[thejeep]

Saw a lot of toyotas mentioned. I have had some they are great. Jeeps 4.0l motor is pretty good to.

I must say check out a Toyota land cruiser 93-97. 4.5l dohc inline 6. Lots of room inside. Locking differentials front and rear from the factory. In stock form it will take you basically anywhere a person would want to drive. And cruise at 75 with ac. Probably about 8k. Check out IH8MUD

 

[Gunga]

I have a 1990 Dodge Ram Charger that has been great for hunting and fishing. It has a V8 and in 4 wheel drive low it will climb a tree. The SUV type enclosed bed keeps all my gear dry and secure. It has been very reliable mechanically and I think they look good too, especially with some nice mudder tires on them.

 

[GunKnowledge]

Good point. My main concern Is that the one with 4 doors I like are pretty damn long. Are they still gonna do fine going over sharp hills or valleys without dragging the rear end or high topping ? I know even my friends Cherokee drags its trailer hitch ball on some of the sharp valleys (I'm not sure if that's actually the right terminology for the terrain)

What you're talking about is quantified in the off-roading community in angles. Most commonly compared and published are approach, departure, and breakover.

Basically approach is the angle you can drive into without scraping, departure is the angle you can drive off of without scraping, and breakover is the angle before scraping in between the front and rear axles.

For used model trucks that you might be considering the angles are:

F150 - Approach 26 Departure 24 Breakover 16
4Runner - Approach 30 Departure 26 Breakover 22
Grand Cherokee - Approach 34 Departure 27 Breakover 20

Keep in mind these are measurements with stock wheels/tires/suspensions/bumpers. You can increase these numbers vastly with a few aftermarket purchases.

Also remember that pickup trucks vary in length quite a bit, while SUVs do not. Very few SUVs have different length variations, and theyre mostly the large ones. (Escalade vs Escalade EST and Expedition vs Expedition EL) Pickup trucks usually offer quite a few cab/bed length combos. For example, you mentioned the 4 door F150s seemed long to you. You can get a 4 door F150 SuperCrew (full doors) with beds from 5"-8", and that 3 feet can make a big difference.

As for if they would do fine, I go offroading a bit in the Phoenix area to get to shooting spots or hiking trailheads(I live in Mesa). Nothing serious, and I only drive an Explorer with minor modifications (not the new crossover model/the previous generation with the truck frame). If you're towards the shooting spots that I'm thinking off like the washes towards Tonto/Beeline or south outside QC then you'll be fine with minor tweaks to any major manufacturer truck.

Part of offroading in the desert is learning to drive up and assess the terrain and pick out routes. Out here it's great since we don't have to follow an exact trail rutted out for us where there isn't even 2 feet on working room on either side of the truck. You can back up and approach another slope, and learning how to do that and what angles to take will allow you to reach the far majority of places without needing a very specialized 4x4.

Next time your buddy takes you out to the spot, stop and take a measurement of what you think the steep angles are, you'll probably be surprised. A lot of internet ninjas will say they go up 40+ degree slopes all the time, but people I've gone out have balked and stopped the truck thinking they get drove up to a solid vertical wall when it's not even 10-15.

 

[GunKnowledge]

I'm not too concerned with power/MPG of the engine, but just reliability of the engine and truck overall.

As for reliability, everyone's going to give you their personal experience of (Brand A never breaks, but Brand B is junk. I would know, I had one/two/four of them!) or (Brand C is the most reliable, everyone knows that.)

It's a lot like listening to people with guns. Folks with absolutely no engineering/gunsmithing/armorer/competition shooting experience will say "Glocks/AKs never break or jam, they're 100% reliable." Now they don't actually know why, they can't factually justify it, so their opinion is worthless to anyone actually trying to determine the benefits of object A vs object B, they just want to regurgitate what other people in the community said.

If reliability is really your big factor, then look at the industry in general, not personal experiences.

Sales are an ok indicator, but for who? The average Joe on the dealer lot doesn't know the numbers and engineering that goes into a modern consumer light truck, so he buys what he likes, because whichever one he picks will be good enough. Work trucks are a better indicator; what do construction companies, law enforcement and contractors buy? The far majority of labor industries drive Ford F-series. (these stats were featured in a recent Ford F-series TV ad) These companies are looking to maximize their profits, so some little bean-counter in a room somewhere determined the best financial option based on purchase/lease price and cost to maintain, and Ford F150 and Super Duty dominate. For law enforcement; the industry-standard car is the Interceptor, SUV is the Tahoe/Suburban, and motorcycle is the Kawasaki. Why, cost and reliability.

Next, look at recalls. I'm not familiar with light truck recalls, haven't shopped for one in a very long time. Look up how many recalls certain models have and what type. A recall for a faulty transmission is way worse than 4 recalls for windshield wipers.

Finally, annual premiums, especially aftermarket warranty companies. They know what's up, it's their job, they calculate what any given Year/Make/Model is worth, cost to repair, etc. Those numbers show up on car comparison websites as figures like "5-year cost of ownership" and whatnot. Those numbers with give you a vague idea of which models have more expensive repair issues.

 

[GunKnowledge]

By the way, did you specify; is this going to be your dedicated off-roading toy or your only truck? Whether you have to commute in it, take your better half to dinner in it, and depend on it to take you anywhere in the country at the turn of a key will probably influence your choice.

A lifted Jeep Rubicon with all the bells and whistles makes for a great trail-burner, but driving it at 85 on the 101/202 highways in Phoenix will make you regret it.

 

[azbiker]

Thanks for starting this thread OP. I also live in the Phoenix area this time of year and have been considering a used 4x4 vehicle for the exact same use. The place I shoot is through a wash and up a washed out road with a decent incline, many rocks, and ruts. It's a difficult drive in my Armada, not to mention a little hard on it and I need to keep it in good shape to haul everything back and forth to the midwest.

Some good ideas here!

 

[timelinex]

By the way, did you specify; is this going to be your dedicated off-roading toy or your only truck? Whether you have to commute in it, take your better half to dinner in it, and depend on it to take you anywhere in the country at the turn of a key will probably influence your choice.

A lifted Jeep Rubicon with all the bells and whistles makes for a great trail-burner, but driving it at 85 on the 101/202 highways in Phoenix will make you regret it.

hey thanks for all the great advice.

The truck/suv will be more or less dedicated to shooting or hauling big purchases. The only time it would be used for anything other than shooting or hauling is when my family comes into town once a year, my other cars wont fit 5 people, so i was hoping this would. However this is a rare occasion so its not a deal breaker if it cant.

 

[timelinex]

Alright guys, so I'm finally planning on picking something up this weekend. My price bracket has chagned to 25k or so. I went to test drive a couple vehicles and I fell in love with the toyota tundra, compared to everything else.

Its a 2011 supercrew rwd tundra. Its got so much room and having a truck will be very convenient. It fits all my criteria and drove the best out of all the trucks I test drove. My only concern is how it will do off road.

I would only stay on paths and don't go 'offroading' like over bushes and boulders. However the paths can sometimes have some very deep 'potholes' and angles up and down. I imagine that the main issue with it would be the length of the truck.

Any feedback on this from someone with experience on the AZ/nv type terrain?

 

[pawprint2]

Any love for the FJs?

Hell yes, all the others mentioned are not in the same class! As delivered, an FJ has no equal for its off road durability, and ability etc.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I live in AZ. I have wheeled, shot and hunted in AZ for 25+ years. From desert trails, forest roads, and true rock crawling hardcore "just plain are you stupid?" stuff.

I have a big F-250 that does great, but I do not think it fit your requirements, or your price tag. Roomy, comfortable, hauls anything, but mileage sucks.

I had a 2001 Jeep Wrangler for 12 years, and it turned into a monster over time and would go absolutely anywhere, with a price tag of mods to match a new Escalade. It was the ugliest $50K Jeep you have ever laid eyes on! When it was stock/mild, it did just fine on all but the crazy stuff. It had absolutely no room to carry anything if you had more than two people. But went everywhere I could have wanted before I got into rock crawling and beat it into a bloody pulp. The new Jeep Wrangle JKs are great from what I have seen. The Cherokees were discontinued in 2001, and have issues due to no real frames, the unibody flexes and cracks over time.

I have several kinds of work trucks, and I honestly prefer the Toyota Tacoma crew cabs the absolute best for mountain top/desert site access. The 4.5' bed is a joke for hauling anything, but it would fit you bill tremendously. They are an extremely capable mild off road vehicle, decent gas mileage (18-22), plenty of power, and comfortable off and on road. Nimble enough to get through and over some tricky spots, and we have never had an issue with routine maintenance. If I did not tow trailers around on personal time on a regular basis, I would get one for myself. Not the largest rear seats, but you can fit a 6'4" 320lb guy in the back if you absolutely need to in a pinch! But he will be cussing you after about 30 minutes. Trust me on this. Kids and small guys like me, 5'7" and 155lbs, do OK in the back.

 

[ZombieMonkey]

I think you're putting too much emphasis on the off-road capability of some of these vehicles here in AZ. I have had my 2013 F150 FX4 in some very shitty conditions up on the rim on trails requiring a good 4x4. One particular outing was on some very sloppy trails last spring getting up into the black river, my truck handled it with ease. Everything else up near the valley in the desert areas is cake to get around. You can actually do most local trails with a 2 wheel drive if you are careful and you are sticking to the trails. I think the only time I've really even used 4x4 on any of the local trails has been in some of the really sandy washes.

 

[anon]

Sorry I could not buy foreign. Tahoe, Yukon or a Jeep is what I would buy. I drive a 99 Suburban with 216,000 miles on it. Had a 92 GMC Jimmy that I got rid of in 2012 with 253,000 miles on it and it sill ran good. Who sez US vehicles are not reliable. Doesn't FJ stand for F---n Japanese.

You might be surprised if you look at a VIN decoder for your GM's. Country codes and all. It was about 99 that I took a 727 freighter full of Suburban back doors to Mexico for the production line down there. When we got there they showed up with an itty bitty forklift instead of a K-loader, made for a long morning.

 

[haunas]

Have a Toyota Taco 09 4x4 and love it. Use it for the beach and mountains but prior too really looked hard at the Land Cruiser as that is real capable but mileage really sucks. Their was a company that did a diesel Land Cruiser that would be unstoppable.

 

[GunMax]

4x4 Tacoma that is a 4 door. Like 2002 year is the best. Stick shift.

 

[thejeep]

Hell yes, all the others mentioned are not in the same class! As delivered, an FJ has no equal for its off road durability, and ability etc.

I would say yes to the above if talking about pre 1998 us import landcruisers. (fj40, 45, 55, 60, 62, 80)solid axles. inline motors. if talking about fj cruisers, i would get a rubicon instead. jeeps are shit compared to toyota in fit and finish/over engineering, but ifs blows unless you have deeeep pockets. ie trophy truck deep pockets.

Ive had a 1995 4runner and have a 1995 landcruuiser. ifs vs solid axle. ifs hit a pothole too hard and need a frontend alingment. solid axle you can drive over what ever terain you feel like you can drive on. ( i mean flip the vehicle on its side, in big ass gullies and drive dragging one side of the vehicle in the dirt, come back on to 4 wheels, drive home and drive down the hwy in a straight line with no hands on the wheel.

the 4 runner would surprise other people with its offroad ability. the land cruiser surprises me.

jeep vs toyota. american vs japs.


i also have a 1998 jeep cherokee. one need only go as far as the lug nuts to see the quality difference. toyota wins hands down in all areas.

sorry for the hijack.

op if you get the crew max and are unhappy with 2wd for offroad ability, just get an ARB air locker for the rear diff. and throw a couple of heavy rocks in the back. It will suprise you.

 

[HD1911]

After getting rid of my 2004 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4x4, for a new 2013 F150 4x4 5.0L, I wonder why in the world I ever made that decision... not a day goes by that I don't think about it.

 

[shibby575]

Quad cab pickup truck of your choice.

 

[ddavis]

After getting rid of my 2004 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4x4, for a new 2013 F150 4x4 5.0L, I wonder why in the world I ever made that decision... not a day goes by that I don't think about it.

Good to know. I'm currently in the same 2004 Tacoma with 240k miles on only routine maintenance and will be upgrading in the next couple years. I'm not sure that the 05+ Tacomas are much different reliability wise than an F150, but the F150 just seems too big and bulky for my purposes. I'm 6'2" and it is difficult for me to get anything out of the bed of an F150.

 

[Emergencynrse]

Hard to know what "the best" is for anyone. Everyone likes are different.
All I can say is that one of these will get you anywhere you want to go.

20 years 250,000 miles and has never said "NO"

 

[Guest]

I'm on my second Tacoma, and I cannot imagine owning anything else.
I bought a used 2000 with 100,000 on it in 2003.
I drove it 8 years and they bought it back for $1000 more than I paid for it (Google Tacoma frame rust settlement).
Took the proceeds and put them towards my current 2005 model, which had 105,000 on it at purchase. No serious problems with either.
I had to replace and O2 sensor and muffler on the first one. Nothing yet on the second one.

 

[Smcarroll]

the newest addition to the fleet. 2014 silverado 1500 ltz. It hauls all my toys just fine and I kept my old 3/4 ton DD for beating on. I regret not getting the 6.2, 420 horsepower is just wonderful.