Ultimate Hunting Jeep Build! What do you think?

I use a cargo rack to pack out the animals we take on a hunt. That part of hunting in a TJ is slick. Carrying guns is not as easy. We make it work though.

Hood mounted gun?

screenshot_20191228-124109_google-jpg.52875
 
I use a cargo rack to pack out the animals we take on a hunt.

I'd like to raise one of those up a foot or two from the receiver for clearance and tie it into the corners of the tub for strength. Having all the fleas and ticks in the tub with me gets old sometimes
 
Do you have a tire size in mind? Pick one and then it gets built around them.

Your current axles are good to 35" tires with the right parts.after 35's
you need d60s(because of ball joints of all things)Dana 44 front doesn't add much strength. 35's and larger are very expensive to build a reliable(and safe) rig around though so keep that in mind.

For your 32's I'd get 4cyl 4.10 axles and run arb or elockers with an s35 kit.they will be cheaper than regearing.

For hunting by myself way out there I'd want lockers,lots of synthetic not steel recovery gear.survival supplies for an extended stay,navigation gear both paper and gps,and coms that will reach out. Make sure you have the oem tire changing equipment.

How do you plan to bring the elk back? Inside?on top? I love a cordless sawzall with pruning blades for quartering large animals. Works great on bone. I've done a few cows easily with one. But i wouldn't pack one all over,lol!

I have a large roof rack I could put it in. Was also thinking I could remove the back seat to make more room inside. I guess I could also remove the passenger seat. I have no carpet inside, the floor is coated with bed liner. Thanks for the advice!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rickyd
I hunt out of my TJ here in Colorado. I either run a rear carrier rack or pull small lifted trailer to put the animals on depending on species I’m hunting. On 99% of the trails in CO you will be fine on good 33-35” tires. I’d suggest at least one locking diff, proper axle gearing, a winch and associated recovery gear and training to use it and a satellite communication device if hunting alone, don’t forget to keep an emergency kit in the Jeep in case you can’t make it back to camp also. And depending on what area and season you hunt a set or two of tire chains may come in handy. Hope this helps.

Just curious what GMU you are hunting in? I'm headed to GMU 28 looking for mule deer or elk.
 
So the Dana 35 I have in the rear has drum brakes and I just hate drum brakes. Because of this I was really thinking of swapping the axle. Is a disc brake conversion worth it? Thanks!
 
So the Dana 35 I have in the rear has drum brakes and I just hate drum brakes. Because of this I was really thinking of swapping the axle. Is a disc brake conversion worth it? Thanks!

I wouldn’t bother unless you do it along with a complete axle swap.