the impactzone
New member
The high rack hunting transformation
Picked up a 1990 ford f150 with 77k on it and all the maintained records of every 3k oil and filter change on a straight 6 / 4.9 as well as every other repair and with a cedar flat bed for $1200.
5 New 6 ply mud tires, ignition module, 2 gas tanks and fuel pumps and a few other $25 parts, cargo rack from an old deer lease suburban and off to the welder friend, and some old bass boat seats. We have a vision
Removed the wood slate side rails, (to high) picked up a couple of 70” ramps at harbor freight, to use as side rails/load ramps/ and to put under the tires, for, not if I get stuck! but when! Looking at bed liner paint for the cab, but until then the cammo color primer works well as do the ramp side rails when you back over a culvert in a rice field.
Had it unstuck before my brother could finish a cigarette
Got the head ache rack put on and the cargo basket above the cab, the welder weights is 330 lbs and he stood on the front edge and we had less than a ¼ inch of flex. Added a 2” square hitch front and rear of the cargo rack for the trailer hitch cargo baskets, giving me twice the bed cargo area if needed for ice chest and other stuff. The rear cargo rack works well as a seat with boat cushions added and secure enough to ride and scan from, even with my driving. Added another 2” square hitch point on the rack to one side for the game hoist and one to the right rear corner of the bed, this gives me the ability to hoist 450lbs 8’ with a hand boat winch and swing it into the bed or 12” and onto the top rack. Then welded a spare tire mount to one side and a removable ladder, tire doubles as a hand rail getting up top. had a friend accuracy test the front seat with a 10.5" SBR and 2 MOA dot on at 10" plate at 200 yards, not a problem
Had to field test it, the front high rack seat is off of a tripod stand with rifle rest, removable and swivels separately from the seat giving easy access and 360. the rear is a bass boat seat also removable, that when I use a tripod I’m able to scan and shoot over “well above” the person in the front seat as Deidera can attest too. With the suppressor she could only see sparks well in front of her and had no ear blast when I shot.
We took 2 bobcats a fox and coyote and called in and missed several more coyotes and fox that winded us or just missed, but being 12’ up we could see coming in.
All in all I like it and will try the high rack more for night hunting and the dog likes it, I don’t’ have to trailer it to the hunting grounds, and can carry more gear than I can use, the lack of 4wd is not that big a deal, all if ever did for me is get me stuck farther off the road
Deidera on the top rack and I have to say she is wearing 2 coats and a vest, and does not normally look like the Michelin man
Picked up a 1990 ford f150 with 77k on it and all the maintained records of every 3k oil and filter change on a straight 6 / 4.9 as well as every other repair and with a cedar flat bed for $1200.
5 New 6 ply mud tires, ignition module, 2 gas tanks and fuel pumps and a few other $25 parts, cargo rack from an old deer lease suburban and off to the welder friend, and some old bass boat seats. We have a vision
Removed the wood slate side rails, (to high) picked up a couple of 70” ramps at harbor freight, to use as side rails/load ramps/ and to put under the tires, for, not if I get stuck! but when! Looking at bed liner paint for the cab, but until then the cammo color primer works well as do the ramp side rails when you back over a culvert in a rice field.
Had it unstuck before my brother could finish a cigarette
Got the head ache rack put on and the cargo basket above the cab, the welder weights is 330 lbs and he stood on the front edge and we had less than a ¼ inch of flex. Added a 2” square hitch front and rear of the cargo rack for the trailer hitch cargo baskets, giving me twice the bed cargo area if needed for ice chest and other stuff. The rear cargo rack works well as a seat with boat cushions added and secure enough to ride and scan from, even with my driving. Added another 2” square hitch point on the rack to one side for the game hoist and one to the right rear corner of the bed, this gives me the ability to hoist 450lbs 8’ with a hand boat winch and swing it into the bed or 12” and onto the top rack. Then welded a spare tire mount to one side and a removable ladder, tire doubles as a hand rail getting up top. had a friend accuracy test the front seat with a 10.5" SBR and 2 MOA dot on at 10" plate at 200 yards, not a problem
Had to field test it, the front high rack seat is off of a tripod stand with rifle rest, removable and swivels separately from the seat giving easy access and 360. the rear is a bass boat seat also removable, that when I use a tripod I’m able to scan and shoot over “well above” the person in the front seat as Deidera can attest too. With the suppressor she could only see sparks well in front of her and had no ear blast when I shot.
We took 2 bobcats a fox and coyote and called in and missed several more coyotes and fox that winded us or just missed, but being 12’ up we could see coming in.
All in all I like it and will try the high rack more for night hunting and the dog likes it, I don’t’ have to trailer it to the hunting grounds, and can carry more gear than I can use, the lack of 4wd is not that big a deal, all if ever did for me is get me stuck farther off the road
Deidera on the top rack and I have to say she is wearing 2 coats and a vest, and does not normally look like the Michelin man
Last edited:
