Alternative Hunting Vehicles

[chongo469]

dont buy a tacoma to save gas. I have a 96 with a 4cyl 2.7 liter and get 15 in town and 18 on the hwy.

Something has to be wrong or something...My buddy has a 98' with the 3.4 and he only drives around town ( rarely on the HWY) and he is averaging 18 in town......

[PLUVIUSWAPITI]

Have to agree with jmoyer2, don't get a Tacoma. Have a 96 Tacoma and lucky to get 15 mpg. Have 2004 chevy duramax and get 18 mpg around town. Also gas dropped 12 cents a gallon in Raymond today,

[runningboard]

I was looking at the Subaru Bajas but heck they only average about the same mpg as the Tacomas.

don't know about the Tacomas but I did pick up a Baja. doesn't get great mileage, 27-28 but better than any of my 4WDs.

[Machias]

I was looking at the Subaru Bajas but heck they only average about the same mpg as the Tacomas.

don't know about the Tacomas but I did pick up a Baja. doesn't get great mileage, 27-28 but better than any of my 4WDs.

     Really the advertised mileage is 19-21.  27-28 is pretty good.

[yajsab]

I'm with all of you about gas price.  I'm wondering what is the mpg when you build it up like this one.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34941&page=3

[jdb]

I have an 85 Subaru brat 30+ mpg.. Its the older wagons that have the best milage, mainly because they have less of the emissions crap, not to mention the light weight. Here is a forum that I visit regarding Subaru's.
http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/  The vintage you are looking for is 1980-1995 ish Most runners can be had Cheep, couple thousand bucks, are easy to fix, and since they have a cult following all important info is available on the web. To replace ANY PART on the Gen 1 Subaru all you need is a $9 harbor freight metric wrench set, and 3 sockets and a half inch ratchet... Pair of vise grips, pliers and a couple of screw drivers are all you need. Winches are not necessary, however cheep ATV 3000lbs ones normally work. Most of them weigh in right at 2000lbs. You can pack all your gear in a wagon plus they nearly all have roof racks... I think it you could think of it as a wheeling/hunting rig. If you can afford a ATV you can afford a pimped out Subaru. 

thats the route Im thinking of going

[chongo469]

check this 1 out

http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/2368495357.html

[yajsab]

Is your brat a 2wd or 4wd?  The 4wd only rated up to 28 mpg.

[FC]

dont buy a tacoma to save gas. I have a 96 with a 4cyl 2.7 liter and get 15 in town and 18 on the hwy.

My 3.4l equipped 98' gets 15mpg in 4wd driving just around town in the snow. Something is either wrong with yours or you are driving it pretty aggressively.

As far as the older Subies getting better mileage goes, it's due to that old 1.8l motor that didn't make any power! The later ones still get 25+ but they have some real balls, the older ones make me want to get out and push on hills...

[runningboard]

I was looking at the Subaru Bajas but heck they only average about the same mpg as the Tacomas.
don't know about the Tacomas but I did pick up a Baja. doesn't get great mileage, 27-28 but better than any of my 4WDs.
     Really the advertised mileage is 19-21.  27-28 is pretty good.

maybe better qualify, I live way out in Pend Oreille county & 85-90% of my driving is hwy. so maybe thats the difference

[jmoyer2]

dont buy a tacoma to save gas. I have a 96 with a 4cyl 2.7 liter and get 15 in town and 18 on the hwy.

Something has to be wrong or something...My buddy has a 98' with the 3.4 and he only drives around town ( rarely on the HWY) and he is averaging 18 in town......

Maybe, i dunno. It has 221k on it and has been an absolutely bulletproof truck. I love it but the gas mileage is horrible. I have had a few people that have the four banger as well tell me that the 3.4 six gets better gas mileage because it doesnt work as hard. I have to be in 3rd gear @5k RPM to maintain 60 on a hill.

[swanny]

I have an 85 Subaru brat 30+ mpg.. Its the older wagons that have the best milage, mainly because they have less of the emissions crap, not to mention the light weight. Here is a forum that I visit regarding Subaru's.
http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/  The vintage you are looking for is 1980-1995 ish Most runners can be had Cheep, couple thousand bucks, are easy to fix, and since they have a cult following all important info is available on the web. To replace ANY PART on the Gen 1 Subaru all you need is a $9 harbor freight metric wrench set, and 3 sockets and a half inch ratchet... Pair of vise grips, pliers and a couple of screw drivers are all you need. Winches are not necessary, however cheep ATV 3000lbs ones normally work. Most of them weigh in right at 2000lbs. You can pack all your gear in a wagon plus they nearly all have roof racks... I think it you could think of it as a wheeling/hunting rig. If you can afford a ATV you can afford a pimped out Subaru. 

You dont happen to know where to get an automatic seatbelt for cheap for a 93 legacy do you? 

I'll have to check that site out.

[Special T]

Swanny, I do not know but you could find out on that board. As far as 28 mpg vs 30.. let me tell you that it isn't that hard to get it, or damn close. My brother and his buddies have had 30 of them. Here is the one weakness they all have. When your buying a used one listen for an exhaust leak... they have aluminum heads, and when people rally a stock one over something and hang the exhaust up on something the first thing that happens is the head bolts get loose.  A skid plate and custom exhaust with smooth welded pipe and no bolts will save ya... I am told by a local guru that the gen 2 (hard angle body style) has a better/stronger dive train. The gen 1 have the high low range tranny and E81 aircraft engine.. best made... And don't let the Rednecks with trucks give you any grief! you pay less in fuel, can go anywhere they do(nearly) and have more $$$ at the end of the day for gear and beer!

[Jason]

dont buy a tacoma to save gas. I have a 96 with a 4cyl 2.7 liter and get 15 in town and 18 on the hwy.

I had a 99 Tacoma extra cab 4x4 w/2.7 5spd 31" tires and avg 22-23mpg hwy and 17-18mpg city.

[yajsab]

Swanny, I do not know but you could find out on that board. As far as 28 mpg vs 30.. let me tell you that it isn't that hard to get it, or damn close. My brother and his buddies have had 30 of them. Here is the one weakness they all have. When your buying a used one listen for an exhaust leak... they have aluminum heads, and when people rally a stock one over something and hang the exhaust up on something the first thing that happens is the head bolts get loose.  A skid plate and custom exhaust with smooth welded pipe and no bolts will save ya... I am told by a local guru that the gen 2 (hard angle body style) has a better/stronger dive train. The gen 1 have the high low range tranny and E81 aircraft engine.. best made... And don't let the Rednecks with trucks give you any grief! you pay less in fuel, can go anywhere they do(nearly) and have more $$$ at the end of the day for gear and beer!

Hmm...  You had me thinking whether to ditch my Isuzu Pup for this or not.  I've been driving my Pup all these years and it has 32" BFG on it now.