Anyone using a Toyota Highlander as their hunting rig?

[AIM STR8]

I recently purchased a 2018 Toyota Highlander 3.5L AWD for everyday vehicle. I also have a '97 Jeep Cherokee with 230k miles. I want to replace the Jeep for something newer as my hunting/fishing rig. The thing is literally disintegrating with rust. I have been looking at some 4x4 trucks to replace the Jeep but, dang .... that Highlander is pretty impressive. With a claimed eight inches of ground clearance and generous cabin space and impressive gas mileage, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe another Highlander would be a better option. Keeping the Jeep is not an option and needs to be replaced.

Anyway, I was hoping that maybe some of you have experienced using a Highlander for your outdoor adventures and could weigh in with the pro's and con's of using a Highlander.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Dsnow9]

The trunk will fit a cooler big enough to fit a whole cow and hunting gear. I think with the right tires it would do great! I had to improvise when my truck went down a couple weeks ago

 

[Treeshark]

Anyway, I was hoping that maybe some of you have experienced using a Highlander for your outdoor adventures and could weigh in with the pro's and con's of using a Highlander.

Yessir. Almost all of my outdoor adventures in the past 15 years have been in a Highlander. I take one out West from Wisconsin every year, as well as around the woods/on the ice on Winnebago here at home.

Pros: Great ride, extremely reliable, great storage space, great gas mileage, decent ground clearance. Surprisingly capable off-road.

Cons: Looks a bit like a minivan. Also, it’s not a Jeep or truck in terms of off-road capability. I have never had an issue, but there have been a few white-knuckle times when I wish it was.

I would absolutely recommend, I’m on my second one. First went well over 250k without any issue, current 2019 at 180k also without incident. I am torn on my next rig- leaning 4Runner, but the Highlander will be hard to leave behind.

If it’s in my garage, it will be a Toyota.

 

[Treeshark]

My own capacity findings that may help you (two people, all rear seats down):

120 Coleman Extreme
40/50 Qt Roto Cooler
X4 bins (if just two or three, you can fit another 120 instead of the 40/50)
x2 packs
X3 guns or bows (soft cases)
X2 bag chairs
X1 spare tire (donut) behind seat
X1 fishing rod tube
-misc stuff can go behind/under the seats or in rear back compartment

I am a bit fanatical about having an orderly packing system for trips- no yard sales allowed. This can all be packed while still allowing you to see out the back, I don’t like not being able to.

I did replace my donut spare with a full size on a cheap steel rim.

 

[Dsnow9]

Yessir. Almost all of my outdoor adventures in the past 15 years have been in a Highlander. I take one out West from Wisconsin every year, as well as around the woods/on the ice on Winnebago here at home.

Pros: Great ride, extremely reliable, great storage space, great gas mileage, decent ground clearance. Surprisingly capable off-road.

Cons: Looks a bit like a minivan. Also, it’s not a Jeep or truck in terms of off-road capability. I have never had an issue, but there have been a few white-knuckle times when I wish it was.

I would absolutely recommend, I’m on my second one. First went well over 250k without any issue, current 2019 at 180k also without incident. I am torn on my next rig- leaning 4Runner, but the Highlander will be hard to leave behind.

If it’s in my garage, it will be a Toyota.

Get the new Land Cruiser man! And you put some serious miles on that thing. My wife’s is the same year and I think has less than 60k

 

[Treeshark]

Get the new Land Cruiser man! And you put some serious miles on that thing. My wife’s is the same year and I think has less than 60k

I have noticed those too, I will definitely take a look.

And yes I do drive a lot, part of the reason the Highlander has been a practical rig for me.

 

[Dsnow9]

I have noticed those too, I will definitely take a look.

And yes I do drive a lot, part of the reason the Highlander has been a practical rig for me.

Makes sense! Hard to beat that gas mileage!

 

[AIM STR8]

Wow .... nice to hear some positive input. Thanks for the reply's fella's. My Highlander just turned over 100k and currently getting 23/24mpg. Wife and I recently drove out to Idaho/Montana this summer without any issues. Solid vehicle.

 

[kansasdad]

278k on mine, and it has been really good to hunt out of. Bumper hitch carrier adds hauling capacity and there is roof rack also on my 2008 model. This Model has the third row seating that will fit smaller adult sized people, but not Brett, our 6’4” son in law.

With the seats down the surface isn’t flat, so I keep heavy duty cardboard to lay over the valley and with an inflatable sleeping pad I can sleep in the back.

When Mrs kansasdad was the driver I kept 47 tarps in the car to keep any blood from reaching the carpeted surfaces in the trunk area. This is after the first deer in the truck did leak a bit. She didn’t buy my “it creates ambience” argument.

 

[jpc01101]

I wondered how a Highlander or similar would do with a set of KO2’s I’d bet pretty good for 99% of what most people would need.

 

[Irrelevant]

I'm in the market for something. I just can't even start to narrow it down. Highlander seems to big. Rav4 and Corolla cross too small. Sub maybe, sub wilderness maybe^2. 4runner... gas seems just as shitty as a truck with a cap. Frontier with cap checks a lot of boxes.

I'm also torn between the gas efficiency of a new model (maybe even hybrid) or the mechanical simplicity of a pre-2010.

 

[jimh406]

You should consider adding a Prinsu rack or some type of upgraded rack and rooftop tent. Check out some of the overloading sites for more ideas.

The four wheel drive system isn't as capable as a 4Runner or Lexus GX, but as long as you don't push it's ability too much, it should be fine.

 

[Khunter]

Used our highlander to hunt for an ID Elk tag in last week’s tag sale. Slept in the parking lot in it.

Does that count?

I would never try using the highlander on western hunts. Not enough clearance among other issues.

 

[AIM STR8]

The 3.5L in the Highlander puts out just under 300HP and gets decent gas mileage. For me anyway, I'd want something to be able to pull a trailer if need be. And, having to drive a considerable amount of miles to get out west to hunt makes it easy on the pocket book. So, it sounds like most would agree that the Highlander would be a compromise with some limitations but doable. I can't afford new so I'd be looking at used.

 

[270.Rose]

Lol I use my RAV4 as my deer hunting rig. With some extra effort taken in the gutting process you can load a mature buck in the back and not even leave bloodstains.

 

[3855WIN]

At times, you make do with what you have. But a 4WD pickup is a hunting rig.