New Fishmobile

[MoroneSaxatilis]

Originally Posted by Bass Babe

...i may have to transport seal/dolphin/whale heads from time to time, so I suppose a pickup would be best, so I can hose the thing down.

In 20+ years of offshore commercial scalloping, I have never come across a seal or whale "head". I've seen maybe a half dozen dolphin skulls in all that time. With new, increasingly restrictive days-at-sea regs, I think the chances of getting one are even slimmer now. I don't think it's going to be enough of an issue to let it affect your vehicle purchase.
..just my 2¢

[Bass Babe]

Originally Posted by MoroneSaxatilis

In 20+ years of offshore commercial scalloping, I have never come across a seal or whale "head". I've seen maybe a half dozen dolphin skulls in all that time. With new, increasingly restrictive days-at-sea regs, I think the chances of getting one are even slimmer now. I don't think it's going to be enough of an issue to let it affect your vehicle purchase.
..just my 2¢

hey meng, i was told if there are any marine mammals as bycatch that die, the company either wants the whole animal, or i need to at least remove the head and bring it with me. cant blame a girl for being excited to hack the head off a seal, eh?

[MoroneSaxatilis]

Originally Posted by Bass Babe

cant blame a girl for being excited to hack the head off a seal, eh?

Or maybe any seal I come across, I could just remove the head and say that I'm doing " fisheries research".
As a federal fisheries observer, I assume that you'll be making trips on finfish draggers and long liners as well as on scallopers. Undoubtedly, draggers and longliners have far more interactions with marine mammals than do scallopers, although I'm not sure if there are enough interactions that result in a dead animal that has to be placed in the back of your shiney new sand sled.

[RIROCKHOUND]

I can JUST fit a 10'4" blank into my explorer, my 11ft Arra didnt fit.
Good fish truck, I keep the seats down, and keep tools etc.. where the back seat would be and the rest of my crap in the back

[chris L]

I know of a toyota t 100 for sale .

[Mike P]

I can fit a 10' rod diagonally into my 2002 Grand Cherokee. I would look for a used one from the 1999-2004 model year series, with the SelecTrac 4wd system and the 4.0 straight 6. With the 6, you have an engine good for 250,000 miles with reasonable care, and you can expect 20-22 mpg on the highway. The SelecTrac system allows you to run in 2wd most of the time, in "full-time" 4wd mode for wet roads or snow, or "easy" beaches, and "part-time (locked axles) 4wd Hi and Lo range for tough beach conditions. Being able to switch out of 4wd helps gas mileage and saves wear on your drive train.

My second choice would be a 2000 or 2001 Ford Explorer with the old standby 302 V-8. Another engine built to last. The only drawback is that the 302 is only available with "full-time" 4wd (Ford calls it "all wheel drive" but it is really just full time 4wd, without an available low range or the ability to lock the front and rear axles to turn at the same ratio). It's "4wd lite" but still good enough to get you where you want to go on the sand as long as you air down properly.

[Nebe]

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Bass Babe

hey meng, i was told if there are any marine mammals as bycatch that die, the company either wants the whole animal, or i need to at least remove the head and bring it with me. cant blame a girl for being excited to hack the head off a seal, eh?

Hey ya know we always send apprentice carpenters for the boardstrecher or a box of toenails...

[sportyguy33]

How bout one of these. I know you could fit a 10 ft rod in one.
I recently rented one and fit 5 bundles of 10 ft 3/4" pvc pipe
in it.

[Striperhound]

How much are you looking to spend? I have a fleet full of options for you if we can narrow down the price range.

[Vectorfisher]

You could always look into an Escape Hybrid 4x4 luxury and economy all in one package

[Mr. Sandman]

I can't recall if I could get my 10'er in my old explorer or not (I aways kept them on the roof) but I can get my 11'er inside my Yukon XL. It is no reason to buy that vehicle though unless you need to also transport a full family or two a large dog a bunch of gear and also pull a heavy boat. The gas will kill you driving to work.
The pick up is less money but I think you wold like a mid size SUV that has 4wd. It is really nice in the snow and gives you the option to explore some sand. Also, you can take a few friends in it in comfort. Pick ups are great for hauling stuff but not people. Also, the 2WD pick up models suck in bad road conditions unless you fill the back with sand.

I would go for something like a 4wd explorer. The toyota's are also solid vehicles (but I am only buying american these days), my first and second fishing vehicles or "suvs" (they were not called suvs then) were the old style boxy land cruisers until the yuppies addopted them and tricked them up the ultimate soccer-mom vehicle and put a price tag that was out of sight. The old ones were unkill-able simple vehicles with poor gas mileage that could do anything. Took them everyplace you would never take a vehicle today. Whenever you see a snorkle as an "optional accessory" for a vehicle, that is a clue that it can take some abuse.

IMO, get a lightly USED low mileage road worthy 4wd SUV.

[Joe]

A 10-foot interior, guts transporter, stinkable, fishmobile...hmm...
How about.....

[Bass Babe]

Originally Posted by Joe

A 10-foot interior, guts transporter, stinkable, fishmobile...hmm...
How about.....

You all laugh, but that used to be my dream vehicle when I was a black-wearing, angsty, I-hate-everyone, Marilyn-Manson-loving little 6th grader.