Hunting rig debate

So I'm getting tired of the relatively limited capabilities of my Arctic Cat 500 for a marginal improvement in where it can go that I don't really need. I've been looking at selling it and putting the money toward an actual off road hunting rig. Right now I've been looking at CJs/Wranglers or XJ's, which is where the debate comes in. I'd love a Commanche but don't can't seem to find one anywhere nearby, much less I'm good condition for cheap. A CJ8 that didn't cost its weight in gold would be great, too.

I have a bead on a $4k 4-banger TJ that should do the trick. I can weld up brackets for ATV rifle cases, but I'm not sure about throwing a big axis buck in the back. Also there's a rather steep hill climb at the hopefully new lease that makes me nervous with the short wheel base. I'm probably just being a wuss, but I'd like to run it in my own rig first before I'd be comfortable doing it in a stock version. I do have a lot of parts for TJs already, and you have the option of lowering the windshield.

On the other hand XJs are pretty inexpensive and have both a long wheelbase for hill climb stability and a closed cabin--hunting happens in the cold and/or the rain. Plus the cargo space is drastically increased. There's a '92 on craigslist for $3k that sounds like a good option. The field is cluttered with too many 2WD versions, but there are some decent 4x4 examples. As long as it's mechanically sound, the condition of the carpet and all that is pretty irrelevant as it'd be ripped out anyway to bedline the interior. I'd still rather have an open bed, but Rangers and little Toyotas are more than I'd like to spend.

Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

You could cut the top up on an XJ and do a cage to add back the structural integrity. Those things can be found pretty cheaply if you take your time.

Alternatively, what about a Sami or Tracker?

I'm willing to bet what Chris will say. You could add a platform to the top and have a mobile raised blind too. A childhood friend of mine had an old suburban like that. The seats and sides were removable so they could drive around town without the added weight & drag from the stand. It was a pretty sweet setup!

An XJ would work well for such a platform.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

The Samurais or Trackers have even less room than thank the TJ, so they're out, plus I don't know them or have a garage full of spare parts for them.

I've though about chopping the top off, at least behind the rear door, but I'm not sure I want to go that route yet. I may end up doing that regardless. Ditto the mobile blind idea, but that's even more down the "no turning back" route for what I would like to see remain a viable road vehicle. Don't think it doesn't sound cool though

Hey man, have you thought about putting an off road trailer behind the jeep? It would have enough room to haul the game and then voila, it's disconnected and your TJ Hunting vehicle is still a viable road vehicle. You can make a trailer any way you want it too.

Hemi_Tim aka thebigtman wrote:

Hey man, have you thought about putting an off road trailer behind the jeep? It would have enough room to haul the game and then voila, it's disconnected and your TJ Hunting vehicle is still a viable road vehicle. You can make a trailer any way you want it too.

I'm with Tim if you build a trailer you can save a bunch of money and get exactly what you want an elevated blind and a way to haul your kill. just my 2cents

Excellent points, guys. Thanks!

It's actually one thing I've forgotten: the lease is part of a larger piece of family land that they only really use to grow hay and a few head of cattle, but they have a number of implements that would be available to us to use, and that includes a couple of little box utility trailers that would be perfect for pulling behind the Jeep, regardless of what it is. Hell, I'd love to build a pintle hook system for it, too

Hook-Em wrote:

I'm willing to bet what Chris will say. You could add a platform to the top and have a mobile raised blind too. A childhood friend of mine had an old suburban like that. The seats and sides were removable so they could drive around town without the added weight & drag from the stand. It was a pretty sweet setup!

An XJ would work well for such a platform.

I've got a couple of sawzall's!

You replaced that D35 yet?

Yup! got your axle too if you would like it back!

Yeah, I want it back I may need it for spares if I pick up that 4-banger TJ. Unless I throw an 8.8 back there, but for a 4-banger ranch jeep on 30's or 31's it's probably not necessary...

jdldx3 will be bringing an axle with him to the meet Friday. If you're going to be going, you can just bring it along then.

Not sure if i'm going yet but if i do I'll bring it

I have a freind with a 69 jeepster commando. $1700 running. Stock 3.8 v6 with an auto trans. That is a Buick engine that came factory from Jeep. Parts are readily available. It has a winch cherry picker set up on the back bumper and hunting rack with seats over the hard top. These were also offered with a half cab. I am not sure how hard they are to come by. That would be a cheaper option

$.02

That sounds like an excellent option.. Can you pm me the contact info?

Twylla has been batting around the idea of selling her 92 XJ and buying a TJ... Hers is in pretty dang good shape too.

Too late!

Today I picked up '99 XJ with 120k for $2500. Some cosmetic issues, needs new tires, but perfect for the lease.

I looked at the '97 TJ 4-banger. Dude's delusional. Asking $4500, said $4k was his price floor. I offered him $2100 and felt like I was being generous. He declined. He's had it for sale for like 2 months. The laundry list of things wrong with it is ridiculous. It'd make the perfect starting platform for a crawler/trail build, though. Replace the entire drive train (e.g. 5.3L with a 700r4 to tons with 40's), drop in harness seats, break out the sawzall and comp cut it for a big stretch, etc. But that's ALL it was good for.

Well damn. lol. We have to sell hers so I can have another TJ. She wants my JK, and that's the only way she's getting it.

Glad you found ya something!

Me too

Gotta fix the stuck hatch, the passenger front power window is off the track (or broken track), replace the front diff cover (I've got a stock D30 diff cover sitting in my garage regardless), get an alignment and straighten the steering wheel, and it could turn into a daily driver. A/C works great, driveline is great (not devoid of leaks, but only minor stuff), etc. I feel pretty good about it

I'll probably get it painted OD, put a brush guard bumper with a winch on it, MAYBE lift it slightly, and that's it.

The XJs are tough. There's no two ways about it. T's has 100k on it and runs like a champ...

over 200k