South Texas Sportsmen have many mediums to choose from when it comes the “ranch buggy”. I grew up using four wheelers, dirt bikes, rusted out clap wagons, top drives, jeeps, and those one-off “URVs” (unidentified ranch vehicle) you can find at the father’s uncle’s best friend’s ranch. Each type offers a unique benefit and I could spend pages explaining the pros and cons of each. But I just want to outline my favorite.
The CJ jeep, its not the sleekest, quickest, or mobile rig but it works perfect for me. I grew up hunting in South Texas from a young age. Down there everything you see will prick, bite, or sting you. The brush is not often taller than 8 feet high, with ground level visibility of only about 3 feet. This makes it difficult to hunt at ground level, so your best bet is to get some elevation. To accomplish this, my father and I restored an ’86 CJ5 and we have held onto it ever since.
How our top drive is outfitted:
- Full body bedliner paint job with a desert sand color to match the landscape of South Texas.
- 33” radial mud terrains that are impenetrable by the south Texas thorns every piece of vegetation possesses in S. Texas.
- Beefy bumpers with a winch that will surely pull it out of the mud.
- Enough light bars around it to light up the world when you and the gang are ready to make a late night spot lighting trip.
- And lastly, the custom fabricated high rack to sit when you creep your senderos.
The high rack gives the hunter and spotter the ability to glass for animal movement from an elevated vantage point. This changes the game. I often get bored when blind sitting, so another pro is it provides me with more of a “on the hunt” feeling. If you choose go mobile, ensure your fabricator takes into account the weight of the improvements and how they are distributed on the vehicle.
High rack vehicles are naturally top heavy and can be dangerous if not operated properly or are operated foolishly. No amount of “fun” is worth getting hurt out in the country, when the nearest hospital is an hour away.
