Help me pick a yak fishing vehicle

[Bill]

I have decided my Jeep Wrangler is not the best yak fishing vehicle. Basically I can only really fit one person in it at a time and the security is not that great, especially in the summer with my soft top.

So what I am looking for is a great yak fishing vehicle in the 10k - 15k range, used of course. I am assuming an SUV but I am open to suggestions. It has to be reliable as this will be my daily driver as well.

[alantani]

bill, i've got a 1994 ford explorer with 4wd that my 84 year old father in law is driving.  i think it has 64,000 miles on it.  interested?  i need to get them a vehicle that my mother in law can drive as well.  i'd love to keep it "in the family."

[Bill]

I think your mother-in-law wants a jeep!!  

I have some checking to do still. I have to see how much my car loan is right now to make sure I am not underwater.

I will let you know next week if I am interested.

[Mooch]

IMO:

Any 4 door pick up truck with a camper shell (Toyota Tundra  4WD )

Gotta have room to store your rods as well = nothing better than having a camper shell on the truck.

Chris / Cpyak just got a new sweet ride / Nissan Titan.

come on Bill....just listen to the texas red neck in you.....pick up truck with monster truck tires......KC Fog lights....beer holder....gun rack.....extended front fender grills so you can run over your neighbors trash cans and recycle bins without worry  ....the neighborhood kids will really look up to you  

[Bill]

So why a truck with a shell and not a SUV?

[Mooch]

SUV's are great but need a lot of juice to run....especially when you use it as a commuter vehicle....

[Bill]

The smaller ones are not that bad, like 4runners, xterras etc...

I am truck shy. I owned one before and you pick up a lot of truck friends, I don't need that.

[Mooch]

brada.....If I made millions (like you)....I wouldn't go half-ass....I'd go with a HUM VEE....come on Bill...I know you can afford one   (especially now that you are collecting money from our big fish derby   )

[Bill]

Yes you are correct. I am filthy rich off the $160 total pot from the big fish pool. What was I thinking!!!

Hum-Vees for everyone!!!!!  

[KZ]

My full size chevy works great as a yak transport... I just have a tonneau cover and with the tailgate down, all I have to do is slide my yak inside the bed, latch it in, and I'm off and running.  No lifting above my head and the mess is all confined to the bed which can be washed down if it gets full of fish slime or mud.  I can lock the Tonneau cover for a semi-security to deter theifs if I'm parked overnight.

On the other hand, if you need a commuter vehicle AND a reliable Yak transport, We're selling our 2004 Subaru Forrester 2.5X if you're interested... brand new... only 5,500 miles... All wheel drive, 165 HP four cylinder, and has a roof rack and custom leather interior (an aftermarket upgrade that the dealer did on this particular car).  Asking $20,950....

Reason we're selling it is that we're both too tall... when we put the baby seat in the back seat, you have to move the front seat forward a couple inches, and being that I'm 6'4" and my wife is 6'2", we can't fit comfortably under those conditions.  Decided to sell it and buy a Honda Pilot as a more size-appropriate Mom-Mobile.

Erik

[Bill]

Erik your kid is going to be 7' tall man...

[Mooch]

Toyota 4 Runner  

[Bill]

There are a lot of cheap 4runners around thats for sure. It is high on my list.

[promethean_spark]

I like my extended astro van.  It holds more gear than practically anything else, I have a bunk that I can put in the back so it sleeps 2 for overnight trips as well.   Getting kayaks up top takes a good military press, but I can fit two up there with no problem.  I just store my sporting goods in large rubbermaids and obsolete recycle bins and throw the tubs I might need in the back on friday night.  It can probably hold about 12 of them...

It is a bit under 20mpg though...

[scwafish]

I don't think you can beat a Toyota pickup.  Low profile shell for the "man nest, and good rack and you are good to go.  IMHO the bed of the truck is a lot more user friendly for wet wetsuits etc.  Leave the shell on and tell your truck "friends" to take a hike.