Make the trip easier with these pickup truck accessories for hunting
Heading out into the mountains or prairies this year to hunt, and taking your pickup? Here are some pickup truck accessories for hunting that could help make things a littler easier.
1. All weather floor mats
Big game hunting season just so happens to be around the time it rains or snows. Hiking through the mud and/or snow is most likely going to leave your footwear dirty. Then if you get lucky and manage to harvest an animal, you might be even dirtier. Keep the carpets in your truck clean with some all weather floor mats.
Plastic/rubber material is much easier to clean and hose down than regular carpet. Find the perfect sized all weather floor mats at your local dealership parts department.
2. Seat covers
Carhartt seat cover available from Ford
Realtree seat covers available from Ford
For mostly the same reasons as above, car seat covers are great for protecting the original material (especially if you have cloth seats). This will help when it comes to trading in the vehicle. Keeping a truck in the best possible condition will help retain its value. This is why seat covers are one of the top accessories for hunting.
Universal seat covers can be purchased from the supermarkets, car and truck accessory stores, dealerships and even truck-stops. You’ll find form fitting seat covers from your local dealership parts dept. Note that some manufacturers cannot provide form-fitting seat covers yet due to side airbag restrictions. Mopar, Ford and Chevrolet parts stores will be able to get these for you.
3. RAM BOX Holster
For RAM pickup trucks with RAMBoxes, a holster can be added to either RAMBox to gently and securely hold two rifles. The same holster can also be rotated to hold up to six fishing rods.
4. Bedliner
By Abcflorida [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
A bed liner or bed mat will protect the metal from being scratched by antlers or hooves. The texture will also help to minimize your cargo from sliding around in the bed. Spray-in bed liners are now available, usually last longer, and look better than a drop in plastic one. Another great truck accessory for hutning that’ll make it easier to clean.
5. Rifle/bow rack for inside the truck
Secure your rifle or bow safely out of the way by utilizing a rack. Liveoutdoors.com says, “Forget about those old-school, rear-window mounted racks that scratch the stock and rattle the scope lose. Today’s gun racks offer a range of options from how they are mounted, ease of access and appropriate padding and safety locks so they don’t come loose”. There are all sorts of mounts available from the back seat, to roof and front seat mounts.
6. Truck Tent
Planning on sleeping in the truck? How about a tent that goes over the bed, like this one from Chevrolet, as a cheaper alternative to an overbed camper/topper. You may want mother nature to be on your side for one of these though.
Chevrolet Truck Tent
7. Fender well tool box /rifle storage
These sit over the wheel wells in the bed of the truck. Open the tailgate and it’s right there. Some are available with two separate compartments, one for the rifle or shotgun and the other for ammo.
8. Plug-in scent killer
Scent Crusher Ozone Go
Scent Crusher Ozone Go MAX
There can be all sorts of smells in vehicles from stale fast food to your own scent. Scents can make all the difference when hunting. Scent Crusher makes the Ozone Go and Ozone Go MAX that plugs into a 12V socket in your truck.
9. Storage organization
Organize your hunting gear with a storage system of drawers and shelved like this one by Decked.
Truck storage system by Decked. Photo: Decked
For more information on Decked storage systems, contact Ameri-Tech or your preferred dealership.
10. A good jack
No, not the kind that goes with the fizzy black drink, but one that’ll help if you get a flat tire. Traveling off-road in your pickup and/or on dirt/gravel roads can put a lot of strain on tires. Obviously, we recommend good tires in the first place, but if you do happen to get a puncture, you might need a better jack. The ones that come as standard might be fine for a highway wheel change, but a more sturdy jack just might save you some grief in the backcountry.
A couple of other truck accessories for hunting worth a mention are; window mount for spotting scope, a WiFi hotspot, cargo ramp, and grille cover.
What are you favorite pickup truck accessories for hunting? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below.
According to carsalesbase.com, Subcompact SUV’s sales continue to grow across the U.S. Although smaller in size, most of compact SUV’s are offered in all-wheel drive, making them still very practical in mountainous areas and cheaper than a full-size SUV. Here is an ‘on-paper’ comparison of two popular AWD models in that segment. The 2018 Buick Encore and 2018 Jeep Compass.
6-Speed DSG® auto transmission with Tiptronic® and Sport mode.
280hp and 258 lb-ft torque
Sports suspension
Regular gasoline
Estimated fuel economy is at 28 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city.
Exterior
Based on the R-Line trim level, the Passat GT gets the same sporty-looking front bumper with LED headlamps and DRLs (daytime running lights). It is available in four colors; Pure White, Reflex Silver, Platinum Grey, and Deep Black with a red accent line (similar to the Golf GTI’s) on the grill. Volkswagen’s sporty design also includes a black roof to match black mirror caps and door trim. Painted red calipers sit behind the 19″ ‘Tornado’ design wheels. An ever-so-subtle spoiler adds some sleekness to the rear along with blackened LED tail lights. The Piano black trend is also part of the Passat, with the interior featuring a piano black center console. A twin exhaust finishes the look at the rear.
Interior
Volkswagen’s leatherette would have you fooled for leather. In the GT, it’s black with grey inserts and grey stitching. The driver’s seat is 8-way power adjustable and both front seats can be heated. The touchscreen offers 6.3′ of capacitive and colored entertainment. Voice control, Bluetooth, CarNet App-Connect, Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto are all standard. SiriusXM comes with a three-month trial period.
Safety
Tha 2018 Volkswagen Passat is awarded a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Features include; Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), and Engine Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist (HBA).
The drive
The Passat GT handles well due to it’s sports suspension. Acceleration is good with a noticeable difference in revs between ‘Normal’ mode and ‘Sport’ mode. With the car being an automatic, in ‘Sport’ mode, it will rev match (a.k.a blipping the throttle) when braking to keep those revs at an optimum for acceleration. Transmission shifts up are quick and smooth. The exhaust has a subtle growl from the V6. In ‘Sport’ mode, the engine definitely has a European revvy attitude., but in ‘Normal’, the car is easily comfortable enough as a daily commuter if you don’t mind a firmer suspension.
2018 Passat GT, Photo: L Baures
Price
Starting at $29,995 MSRP (as per VW website), makes this great value/power compared to its competitors. Check with your preferred Volkswagen dealer for a quote.
Want More Power?
Fremont Motor Volkswagen in Casper, WY are authorized APR tuners. A stage 1 tune would increase horsepower by around 50, giving it more horsepower than it’s rivals. Find out more about APR Tuning.
I’m just going to jump right into the nitty-gritty about this Mustang Shelby GT350 because let’s face it, if you’re looking at this car it’s not for the towing capacity, it’s about performance. 2018 model year didn’t change much from 2017 other than colors. The 2017 model year included the track pack which added an; engine cooler, transmission cooler, differential cooler, aluminum strut brace, the adaptive dampers and rear spoiler.
2018 Mustang Shelby GT350 in Sheridan Wyoming, Photo: L Baures.
Performance
Shelby GT350 Specs:
5.2 liter V-8
526 hp
429 lb-ft torque
0-60 in 4.2 seconds
First stop in the Shelby is to go get gas, and this is where the car lured me into a false sense of security. The gas station was less than 500 yards away so I potted along gently, easing on the accelerator and clutch not knowing what to expect. It drives just like a ‘normal’ car at slow speeds and through the town. The car is fairly low to the ground (helping aerodynamics and handling) which means care is to be taken on steeper inclines as to not scuff the front underside.
Opening up the car you are met with the meanest of growls from the exhaust, that will sometimes pop and cackle, which in my case, makes me giggle like a 2-year-old. Acceleration is worked for, if you want it, it’s there. You’ll get back what you put in.
Push it half-heartedly and you’ll be met with a normal car, push it hard and the car responds like you just gave it an energy drink. The exhaust is an ‘active valve exhaust’ with a switch in the center stack to make it louder or quieter.
I switched it to quieter briefly going through the town although didn’t notice a huge difference. This may differ on a track though and might be a handy feature not just for your neighbors but if end up at a track that noise tests. This car is after all meant for the track but can also be an everyday driver.
The GT350R is a more aggressive track version of the GT350 with no back seats, bigger front splitter, carbon fiber wheels, wing, and stiffer suspension. The GT500 is the straight-line version, Shelby.
An exhaust note that’ll make you grin like a Cheshire cat.
Ford worked hard on the sound of the exhaust, in a press release they said, “Strum a chord on an acoustic guitar, and you get a clean, simple sound wave – that’s your quiet Brahms’ Lullaby kind of mood,” he said. “Plug that guitar into an amp and crank it up to 11, and that’s your aggressive, crackling sound that really rocks your soul. We call that track mode.”
Video
Transmission
Exclusively available with the TREMEC® 6-speed manual transmission, gear changes are short, easy, and satisfying. Especially considering the redline is 8250rpm. The clutch is not at all what you’d expect for a performance car. Usually, they are stiff with short travel and heavy. No need to be doing left leg squats for this Mustang. The clutch pedal has a lot of travel, sits high off the floor and soft enough to manage even in traffic. The downside to this is if your short like me (5’3″) my knee is up slightly higher than normal.
Handling
It is a muscle car, which to most people might bring up connotations of sloppy soft suspension, but the Shelby GT350 is meant to be taken to the track (you know, one that has corners) so, a soft suspension wouldn’t be much fun in that instance. It’s more like a cross, that I’d call a ‘toned muscle car’. It has the muscle and the grunt, yes, but it’s refined to where it can perform …on the corners.
There is a very distinct feeling of the rear wheels pushing the car around corners. I approached a corner that was initially a big wide sweeping corner. It turned into (no pun intended) a much tighter (from a left 5 to a left 3 tightens in rally driving terms). Feathering the throttle, with weight on the outside of the corner, the g-force takes my ponytail.
The car turns in tight and the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires grip beyond what you’d normally expect. This is very much a drivers car that could easily have potential to go wrong. To help get the most out of the car and hone in those driving skills, Ford performance offers a complimentary track day for GT350 owners.
The MagneRide® suspension is adaptable to both comfortable cruising and more aggressive driving between ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport ‘ modes. I did not have the opportunity to try out ‘Track Mode’ although I’d love to see what this car is capable of on the track.
Interior
The deep Recaro bucket seats are a lot more rigid than say the likes of the Challenger bucket seats. Challenger seats are softer and more ‘forgiving’. You can’t argue the Mustang seats do a great job of holding you in place.
Again, with me being smaller, I don’t have much room between the bolsters and my elbows. Mainly because my legs are short. I don’t think Ford really had in mind a small female when they were designing the car so not the cars fault. Other than the bolsters being too big for me to be comfortable turning the steering wheel, I prefer the more rigid Alcantara bucket seats in the Mustang. This reduces the chance of sliding around in the seat.
Also wrapped in Alcantara is the steering wheel which is beautiful. It is just the right size, with good feedback, ever so important flat bottom and the line at the top. In the center console at the bottom are toggle switches reminiscent of a race car with features embedded such as; launch control, line lock and active exhaust.
Don’t get too excited about the rear seats. Yes, they are there and yes you might fit a small human (unless I’m driving thus making more space in the back!). They are more of a glorified shelf in the form of rear bucket seats.
Apparently, if you fold them down, you hear the exhaust better or create more cargo room.
Some of the features included are;
Track Apps
Aluminum instrument panel (Shelby exclusive)
Aluminum foot pedals
Grey accent gauge cluster
Miko® Suede seats and door trim.
Ford Mustang GT350, Photo: L Baures
In front of the BigHorn Mountains, Photo: L Baures
Brad Lehmam, Sales Consultant at Fremont Ford and Lincoln, Riverton, WY
We interviewed him to find out a little more, here are the questions we asked;
How long have you worked in the Auto Industry?
Brad has worked in the industry as a sales consultant for almost a year.
What is your favorite part of the job as a sales consultant?
His favorite part of the job is meeting new people and getting the experience he gets when selling them a new vehicle.
Where did you grow up?
Brad grew up in Riverton Wyoming.
When you aren’t working, what are you doing?
When he’s not working, Brad says he’s usually spending time with his family, hunting, fishing or in the outdoors. Brad had just gotten back from a week-long hunting trip.
What are you passionate about?
Brad says he is passionate about his family, which is currently expanding.
What is your favorite food?
His favorite is pasta or a steak. “Can’t go wrong with a steak ha”.
What is your favorite Color?
Brad’s favorite color is blue.
How about music. What kind of music do you like?
“My favorite music is country music”.
What was your first car?
Brad’s first car was a 76 Chevy Pickup.
If money was no object, what vehicle would you own?
“If money was no object, I would own a fully restored 1970 Chevy pickup”.
Contact Brad
If you would like to know more about Brad or have him assist you in purchasing or trading vehicles, feel free to give him a call on 307 332 4083. You can also send him an email at [email protected]. Send him a congratulations on his expanding family! Pop into the Riverton Ford and Lincoln Dealership at 1601 N Federal Blvd, Riverton, Wyoming, 82501.
For more information on the dealership, click here.
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