Hunting Rigs

Let's see all the 4runner hunting rigs out there. I am getting a 4runner soon and wonder how people rig out their vehicles for hunting with dog kennels, drawers and etc.

 

Well, I don’t have room for kennels and drawers when there is a monster locked up in the back. It takes all my effort to pull them in the hatch. My friend loaded up a big one in his F-150, then went back to look for a bear he saw. And someone stole it!!!

 

Putting game in the back isn’t suggested imo. I only put ducks and duck hunting gear in the back. The ducks are kept in a cooler. Might want to get a utility trailer if you plan on deer or anything similiar sized.

or field dress your game before putting in the 4runner.

 

I am wondering If I could fit both a draw system for gear and a dog kennel like a gunner style one? I really only bird hunt so don't have large game ussually.

 

a large gunner will not fit in the rear with a tray system. However a large Ruffland and a half style tray will fit in the back of the 4runner. Without having to fold the seats down. If you fold the seats down you can have a full tray and the ruffland over the seat area.

however you may fit a ruffland on a full tray system depending how tall the tray system is.

edit: here is a photo of two large rufflands in the rear to give you an idea of space. Picture courtesy of @Tackl

 

Think it will fit?

 

Just a trailer hitch storage rack and put your game on that. Seems to work well for my buddy and deer hunting. Much easier to clean up also

 

I've put plenty of deer in the back of my third gen. I would think most people field dress game in the field, atleast around here they do.

 

Yep! Take off the bike rack and put on the trailer hitch storage rack!

 

If you decide to go with a hitch mounted shelf, be very aware of where your tailpipe is. The heat of your exhaust if to close to your game , will ruin the hide and meat... just a heads up

 

If you bird hunt, this is the answer. I looked at a lot of different kennels with their measurements before deciding on the Ruffland large size. It is perfect for my 45lb GSP and she can turn around in the kennel just fine. It fits like a glove in the back with seats up and does not slide around. Very happy with the kennel setup. I came from a Titan with camper shell so I had tons of room but never was happy having my pup in the back on long trips in freezing temps.

 

I have a heavy duty hitch hauler with an ATV winch for dragging big game up hills (and stumps and rocks and stuff on occasion), and a collapsable steel pipe hoist with gambrel. I have had 3 dressed out full size axis bucks on it at one time and hoisted a 340 lb hog with it. It has gone through several different configurations over the last 10 or so years with lights, side grab rails, shooting chairs, etc. I have a fresh rebuild planned for it this coming fall. I will take a pic of it tomorrow in the light. It is a pretty nice setup. It turns anything with a 2” receiver into a hunting rig.

 

Here’s my hitch hauler setup. It works awesome. It’s old and been used a lot since it had any love. It needs a little work soon.

 

A friend of mine brought a mule deer back to L.A. in the back of his Toyota P/U. The heat from the exhaust cooked the meat and it spoiled. The same buddy and I brought a wild boar from Monterey to L.A. on the top of the car (FJ40) in 80-90 degree weather (wet game bags and ice in the cavity) and drove down the coast rather than I-5.

We've hunted quail and pheasant all over Cali and parts of AZ without anything special and 1-2 GSPs. Just loaded them up with a box of dog supplies, shotguns, etc.