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Keep up with news and features of interest to the reptile and amphibian community on the kingsnake.com blog. We cover breaking stories from the mainstream and scientific media, user-submitted photos and videos, and feature articles and photos by Jeff Barringer, Richard Bartlett, and other herpetologists and herpetoculturists.
Tuesday, June 12 2012
I started collecting in 1988, back when gas prices were high at $1.50 a gallon, and snake hunting had just become legal again, drawing hobbyists from around the world to some of the roughest country in Texas. I collected actively from 1989 until 2001, when kingsnake.com overwhelmed my free time, averaging 40 nights a year in South Texas and the Trans-Pecos. Along the way I wore out one car, twice, and two trucks. I left the car for dead in the desert once, after sleeping in it for several nights until I could hitch a ride back to civilization.
Over the years in my adventures I have been pelted with rain, sleet, and hail so many times I quit counting. I've been trapped by flood waters three times, chased by tornadoes twice, had more than my share of UFO encounters, and met members of virtually every law enforcement agency in Texas, federal, state or otherwise. I have had flat tires, lost windshields and windows, broken timing belts, lost a transmission, a set of valves, lifters, and pistons. Twice I have let people drive me up dry creek beds, miles away from civilization, and get stuck, once having to walk 7 miles back to pavement. It seems once you hit the Trans-Pecos, something always happens. And if it hasn't happened to me, it's happened to my friends.
All those life experiences were the starting point for what one game warden recently described as "The Ultimate Snake Hunting Truck." | 
Ready for Sanderson and Snake Days!
This is our base kit for the field. |
Last November I decided to start building a snake hunting rig that could take eight people deep into the desert to chase snakes, lizards and all sorts of other interesting wildlife. I wanted to take all my experiences in the field, good and bad, and combine it with technologies new and old to build a rig that could get me out of as much trouble as it could get me into. I needed something that was inexpensive to repair in the middle of nowhere in the U.S., where parts could be found where stores didn't exist. It had to be tough enough to go anywhere, and of course it had to be real 4-wheel drive.
Few vehicles fit those requirements as well as Chevrolet's Suburban, and choosing the old steel version guaranteed parts' availability nationwide. I located a nice one with a nice lift and a fresh set of BFG All Terrains on Craigslist for a good price. Stripping the original paint was a chore, but covering it with bedliner was a breeze and left the truck with a brutish snarl to it that could take lots of abuse. Now all that was left to do was add stuff. Lots of stuff.
With the help of a few friends and relatives, and a healthy respect for the awesomeness that is Amazon, I dove into it. I added a ton of lights, electronics, tools, and other gear, powered by a 0 gauge 12V power lead that runs end to end.
As purchased the truck had a nice loadout, with like-new BF Goodrich 33x12.50 All Terrain tires, dual batteries, Detroit lockers in front and rear axles, 4.10 gears and 4" lift, rear sway bar and a factory off road option package with quad shocks and skid plates.
Below is a list of gear that I added, or replaced.
1 Pioneer Stereo AM/FM/CD/MP3/iPhone Head Unit
1 Precision Power 4x50watt Amplifier
2 Pyle 3.5 Coax Speakers
2 Kenwood 4in Dual Cone Speakers
2 Pyle 4x10 Coax Speakers
2 Rockford Fosgate 12 Inch Subs
1 Cobra 40 Channel CB Radio w/dual tuned antennas
1 Uniden Trunk Radio Scanner
1 7in HD Television w/HDTV Saucer Antenna
1 Front Mount Video Camera
1 Rear Mount Video Camera
1 Garmin GPS
1 Apple iPad 1 w/mount
1 Dual Lighter Mount w/2 USB Power Ports
1 Switch Panel w/8 switches
1 External 12v+/- Jumper Block
1 Front Mount Class III Hitch w/Winch Mount
1 8000 lb winch
4 Hella 500 Offroad Fog Lights (upgraded to 100w x4)
6 Hella 500 Offroad Driving Lights (upgraded to 100w x6)
3 Rear Mount Floods - (55w x3)
1 ViAir Onboard Air Compressor
1 Tripp Lite 1800w AC Power Inverter
1 Deep Water Snorkel Kit
1 Curt top mount rack w/ 3 rack extensions
6 Large LLL Reptile Snake Hooks w/mounts
6 Medium LLL Reptile Snake Hooks w/mounts
3 Small LLL Reptile Snake Hooks w/mounts
2 HiLift Jacks
2 Small Shovels
1 Bolt Cutter
1 Full Sized Axe
1 Fire Extinguisher
1 Pry Bar
1 12 foot Extension Pole
2 5 Gallon Jerry Cans w/Custom Welded Mount
1 Custom Welded Rear Spare Tire Mount
1 New BFG All Terrain w/ Chrome Wheel
2 Front Window Motors/Actuators
Recovery gear stored in the truck includes:
2 Nylon 30 Foot Recovery Straps
1 Nylon 10 Foot Tree Saver Strap
2 Snatch Block Pulleys (increase winch pull capacity to 32,000 lbs)
200 ft 300lb Nylon Rope
100 ft 100lb Nylon Rope
2 Steel Screw Anchors
To see all the pictures of kingsnake.com's "ultimate snake hunting rig," or upload pics of your own reptile field vehicle, click here. | 
What it looked like when we started.
Todd Brandt helped strip the paint and cover it in bedliner.
It needed a new stereo system and other electronics.
We adjusted the rack size several times to get the right setup.
We added an iPad, switch panel, and radios to the console.
An 8000lb winch, 2 HiLift Jacks, ViAir Air Compressor,
and 4 100 watt Hella Fog Lights give the front end purpose.
We take a lot of safety and recovery gear into the field .
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Snorkel allows for crossing deep water creeks and streams safely. | 
Full size spare and 5 Gallon Jerry Cans on custom mounts. | 
Field testing in Sanderson on Memorial Day weekend. |
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