Blazer High Rack Build (Updated w/ pics of finished rig)

R

RockinT

New member
Heres the deal. The truck I use to hunt out of now is a 1969 International Scout. It works great but I have to trailer it to each ranch we hunt. I mostly hunt one ranch per night so this is no big deal. Lately I have been thinking it would be nice to have a street legal rig. I currently drive an 05 Dodge Dually w/ a Cummins so hunting out of it wont happen. I also have a 1994 single cab Dodge 2500 w/ a Cummins and a 1989 K5 Blazer. I could use either of these and build a rack for it. I would prefer the Dodge 2500 cause it is way better for longer trips. The Blazer would only be good for less than an hour or so (6" of lift on 35" tires). But I am not sure about using a 12 valve Cummins for a hunting truck. Do any of you use a loud diesel to hunt out of at night. Remember a 12 Valve Cummins is about as loud as they get. Should I use the Blazer and just trailer it on long trips? Pulling it is no problem. I am ready to start on this project since I will be tied to the house in the upcoming few months with a new born. I just cannot decide what truck to use??? I see some pictures of your trucks and see alot of big Fords are they gas or diesel?
 
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The sound of any truck is going to cary a bit, but your right, the 12 valve is a loud truck. But, remember, most of the places you're hunting are ranches. Some of those ranches probably have diesel trucks checking the cattle or tractors that roam the place feeding. My point is, it may be a sound the critters are used to anyway.

Our typical approach once getting to our calling spot is to be quite for a bit. Kill the truck, be quite getting into the stand & just scan with the spot light a few minutes before we start calling. We also drive through the place "lights out" on the truck, just using a red lense spot light to scan & see where we're going.

The louder truck will be more of an issue on really quite nights. If you've got at 10-15 mph wind or if any places you hunt are near roadways you'll have a little more cover for the sound of you coming in. Also working the place into the wind if at all possible. Don't drive through the spot you think they will come from just to get to the spot you want to start calling from.

Either way, I don't think it will matter much. Use the one you want to. But, consider making a stand that will readily fit in both of them.
 
I drive a Honda Ridgeline - - - it's a pickup, NOT a truck. I reckon it's about as quiet as you can get and still be driving a V-6. I agree with 'Slim - it shouldn't matter if you are willing to kill the engine and sit quiet for a good 5 minutes or so . . . IMO
 
I've hunted out of a powerstroke for years. No problem with them hearing it that I can see. We've driven within 10 yards of a cat sitting in brush, and have been going down a ranch road, spotted a coyote 100 yards out, killed the truck, then killed the coyote. We do have a lot of oilfield as well as ranch traffic, but I don't think they associate the noise with the dying rabbit that squalls 5 minutes later.
 
That is what I was wanting to hear Randy. I knew I had seen your truck and thought it was a Power Stroke. Cen Tex Slim good point a 12 valve does sound alot like a tractor.
 
CenTex and I often use my 24 Valve Dodge with a high degree of success, when we can hit something anyway. As long as that 12 valve still has catalytic converter and muffler on it, you should be fine. If not, it will just sound like a Case tractor with a blown head gasket at 3,000 rpm, and you should be able to spot them easly in high gear over the far horizen /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I dont know, I am thinking of using my K5, I have been saving it just for this purpose. I used to drive it every day and it is in great shape. The height is awsome, I think the view from a high rack would be sick. I normally hunt fairly close to the house and could drive it there no problem. If I made a long trip I could just trailer it and use it when I get there. I like it because it is an awsome 4x4 lockers front and rear, tall, has a fully enclosed rear to lock stuff up in as well as keep out of the weather, I am able to fully dedicate it to hunting (still work out of my old Dodge), It is already torn up enough (paint and interior) that I am not afraid to take it anywhere. I am going to get started w/ some measurements tonight after trick or treating. Once I get it to our shop tomorrow Ill take some before pics and go buy some steel. Get ready boys this is gonna be sweet.
 
With a new baby in the house this had been on the backburner for the last few weeks. Finally got started monday afternoon and finished last night. Besides for adding some gun racks all I have left is getting the rack powder coated black, and I am going to get the truck sprayed w/ a tannish green flat acrylic.
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The whole rack comes off with 8 bolts. Behind the uprights there are flat straps the rectangular tube bolts to. The shooting rail has another set of legs that raise it to 32". I have to put the short legs on to get it into the shop. The total height w/ the tall legs on the rail is 11'.
 
Nice Blazer!!! Coyotes aren't scared of vehicles down there? Up here in Idaho if a coyote even sees a glimpse of a vehicle they are gone. Id like to do that to my Blazer but I don't think they'd come in to a call.
Roger
 
It looks like you did a fantastic job!
Boy, I'd love to see the looks on my neighbor's faces if I pulled up with that killin' machine here in NY!!! Talk about pricelsss...

Post another pic when you powder it up!
 
Really slick design! I like how the base fits under the shell and how the ladder anchors to it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Great job.......now go kill somethin'!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Take care and God Bless,

Rusty
 
The truck is in the body shop, the rack will be ready Thursday, starting on a light bar tonight that will bolt to the front of the rack and hold two K.C lights and two light force 170's w/ red lenses. Anybody got an idea for red lenses on the K.C's? Thanks for the compliments and I will post updated pics soon.
 
What is dykem? I just called K.C hi-lites and they said in 30-60 days they have red filters coming out that will fit day lighters and slim lights. Randy how do you like the light foce driving lights on the front of your rig? I got two 170's to try. I notice with my 170 walk about it goes from a spot (focused) beam to a open (large halo) pretty quick, where my K.C lights do not focus and put out a larger ligt beam w/o a halo.
 
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