Purpose built shooting vehicle.

[chas]

Partly inspired by Gloops quad stick thread, but I would need a fifth leg sticking up my a*** to stop me swaying in the breeze.
I got thinking that if money was no object, within reason, What would be your requirements for the ideal shooting vehicle for all occasions ?

[phoenix]

Anything that doesn't say Land Rover!!
They are the most unreliable, most uncomfortable, most overpriced vehicle around.
I shoot with 2 pals, each of whom has a Land Rover - we need 2 because one is always broken down. Frequently both are broken down - then we take my Nissan X Trail - not because it's great off road (it's not) -but simply because it never breaks down!

Cheers

Bruce

[sunndog]

think i'd have a utv with a removable cab and a high seat in the back, plus a few shooting rests here and there

for me, as its 95% grass land round here. low ground pressure is far more important than off road ability
and if i need some serious off road muscle i could always take my old faithfull landrover (had to add that last bit bruce lol)

[PESCA]

Well, over the years, I've had 6 Land Rovers (2, 3, and Defender), 1 Range Rover, I Discovery, 1 Daihatsu Fourtrak, I Isuzu Trooper, 1 Austin Champ, 1 Nissan Navara and 1 Toyota Hilux.

I don't recall my Landies being any more reliable than the rest, however, they would rot as you stood and watched them. Had a few electrical problems with my Disco which was down to the fact that they were fitted with an archaic British Leyland alarm system (left over from the Allegro or something )

Current vehicles are a Defender on a 90 plate, a Disco on a 95 plate and a Hilux on an 07 plate. Chassis about shagged on the Defender, Disco is great and does a wonderful job. The Hilux is truly outstanding. Just wish I'd bought one sooner

Worst of them all, though not unreliable, was the Navara. Driving position was like sitting in a saloon car, small cabin, a gearbox that always felt like you needed another gear, and an engine that just felt 'soft'.

Purpose built:

Four wheel drive plus difflock
Must be a pickup, for the dogs and getting food out to the feeders
Double cab pickup, but instead of rear seats, a standing platform with hatch above for the shooter
Must have a rear Ifor Williams, for the dogs
Shortend pickup tub for manoeuvering in tight places
Flat bed on roof, for rifle, with 4" sides to stop gear sliding off
Quick detachable bar, onto which could be fitted remote lamps and cameras
Shooting rests fitted to both front doors (the type where you can actually have your window closed when fitted)
Great mud tyres
Brake lights on a switch so that they can turned off
No interior lights
A Japanese diesel engine engine

Well, a converted Toyota Hilux really

George

[sunndog]

austin champ!.....showing yer age there george

[PESCA]

I didn't buy it new

Some vehicle though. Did 55mph forward and 55mph in reverse. It was really hairy going very fast in reverse. Very scary Rolls Royce engine (thinking it was four litre or so) and dual fuel, so you started on petrol and it would then run on paraffin. Evrything on it was fully waterproofed, so that you could fully submerge the engine. Mad.

George

I was going to state that it didn't have any doors, but was sure that some smart arse would say 'so how did you get in?'

[sunndog]

[quote="PESCA"]I didn't buy it new

maybe not but i bet i'm the youngest bloke on here thats heard of one lol

my grandad had a austin gypsy years ago. he sold it after a drive down a steep hill and back wheel overtook him!

[Hartshot]

Very simply.......Unimog.

It's not too big, the roads are too small !

[chas]

Fantasy time.
I would go purpose built if I had the money.
Engine and electric drive, the electric drive for stealth.
Road speed needn't be any more than 40mph for my needs, plus a low ratio box.
Wheel track of 72" to suit tramilnes.
Good size (as in height) wheels to travel well over rough ground.
4 wheel drive and 4 wheel steering.
One big open plan full length and high cab with plenty of room in the back.
Lancaster type rotating upper turret rigged with IR illuminators, camera, screen and of course an opening for a rifle.
Dual electric controls operable from both the driving position and from within the turret.
Oh for a lottery win, I could have the time of my life putting that lot together.

[some bloke]

I'd buy my bruvs SWB 3.5 PaJ.

He stripped off most of the external trim, stripped out the seats and upholstery behind the two fronts, cut an oblong 'sunroof/turret with a flange round the edges so it's comfy to lean against when going down holes or ruts etc then had it sprayed Nato green matt... oven baked no less.

I'd want the rear windows to open a tad though so would have to reinvent sliding ones for it. It's also got a drain plug under the fuel tank for next time I mistakenly put diesel in it again when I go down there on nolidays.