3rd Gen Taco For Elk Hunting

Hey all,

Looking to get a new DCSB TRD OR 4x4 Tacoma soon and wondering if any of you guys have experience with the truck as far as using it for big game hunting out west? Does the truck do alright carrying 2-3 hunters plus gear and quartered deer/elk? Any mods you guys have put on your truck to make your taco a better hunting rig? Shell? Roof basket? Lift? I'm wondering if the truck can handle the weight of all the gear, hunters, and quartered elk or mule deer in the bed. I know I could just get a trailer to haul all this stuff but I'm wondering if some of you out there are able to get it done without one? Thanks in advance for the replies!

 

I’d suggest using a gun or bow to hunt the elk
3 dude plus gear and a carcass in the back is going to make for some cramped quarters.

 

Been out a few times with 3 guys. It was too small for us and all our gear. Maybe if I had a tonneau cover that locked but even then it would have been small

 

take a small enclosed trailer

 

I hunt in AZ and love my Taco for it. However if you are trying to seat 3 guys it will be tight but 2 is very comfortable. Shell will help hold more items but I usually pull a trailer if I need more space. The reason I chose the Taco is because I hunt in some very rough areas and the 2 track trails are tight. A full size truck is a little tight for some trails and turning around is a 120 point turn.

Upgrade recommendations shell for more storage and keeping out the weather, lift is a must for my hunting spots, and a winch comes in handing if you have to go and drag out down game or get out of snow/mud trails.

 

Enough room.

 

I use mine all the time, it'll do 3. 2 is better, get a roof rack, ome rear leafs for weight and go to town. They're kick ass hunting rigs..

 

My friend is a pack rat. Two of us going elk hunting in Idaho was tight. Tighter coming back with the elk. The ice chests full of clothing and food going in was stuffed full of meat and ice. Then there were the antlers. Truck did great with the load. It was packed to the rafters of my topper. I got decent mpg.

I decided on that trip a bigger truck would be better.

 

OME springs for sure.
The jokes that Toyota puts in are complete garbage.

 

maybe just pull a little U-haul behind you?

 

what kind of elk calls you guys using? I have a good bugle call, and a hoochie mama call. Just seeing what you guys use.

 

Best Tacoma picture I've seen !!!!!!!!!

 

fify

 

Magestic af

 

Worked great for me..

 

I bought my Taco in 2010 and have used it on many hunting trips. For a day trip, 3 guys will get crowded once you factor in hunting packs, rifles or bows, food, and any other item. It does work well for 2 guys on a day trip.

For multiple day trips, I purchased a cargo trailer and it is the way to go. We tend to go a little overboard since the trailer came along. Wall tents, wood stoves, chainsaws, cots, multiple coolers, and any other piece of gear are now fair game You can set up camp, lock rifle cases and items you won’t need up in the trailer, unhook and head to your hunting spot. But even when my buddies and I take different rigs (as we live in different areas) we will still take the Taco to get into the woods due to it being more narrow to pass through small logging roads and it’s offroad capability. I’ve only got it stuck one time when I slid off a side hill and hung it up on a stump. No winch at the time. But a winch and V bar chains all the way around will get into areas that make a mountain goat nervous.


Since this photo was taken, I have added heavier coil overs and OME rear leaf packs, which are a must. The stock suspension (when loaded with hunters and gear) would require a chiropractor visit after a day in the mountains.

Just my 2 cents.

 

It does great here in CO. The back seat is tight. Make sure you have a roof rack if you put a topper on. A nice rack wont fit in the bed.

 

I have used mine alot for deer hunting, no elk yet. However, I have a Snugtop shell on it and it worked great.
We mostly do backpack style hunting/camping so the loads are a bit less.
Having the width of the Tacoma is way better than a full-size (which is what my brother has).
My ultimate vote would by camper shell and then throw a yakima/thule box ontop for gear. Its a little tall but make the interior room way better.

 

I took my 2016 TRD OR AC last Sept to bow-hunt Colorado elk. Just me and another hunter, loaded backseat, 600# of gear in the bed ( camping gear, stoves, chairs & tables, 3 coolers etc ).
I had used a roll up tonneua cover with plywood backing for security. We meet two other that flew out and rented an SUV. The 2180 mile trip was completed in two 16-18 hour days from Massachusetts. We averaged about 23 mpg the first half and 21.5 mpg for the second half doing the speed limits. ( Taco does not like the 75-80mph speeds while loaded) The truck performed flawless on the steep and muddy terrain, but the stock GY wranglers had two flats. YES, I would do the trip again, but take 2 1/2 - 3 day ride.