Heck Pack Game Carrier

You know how it is every now and again a piece of kit comes along that just blows you away with its design genius, such an item is the Heck Pack. Like most good ideas it’s simple and eminently practical too. The concept revolves around the standard 50mm ball hitch that nearly all 4x4s have and a lot of road cars too.
Using this hard point the designers made a quick release clamp system, which mounts a metal basket. This gives you extra storage for all manner of items, but for us hunters it means a great place to carry game be it deer, birds or rabbits etc. This is especially attractive for shooters with road cars as all the blood and snot associated with hunting can now be carried but not inside their clean, domestic vehicles.

One Size Fits All

The heart of the system is the hand attachment clamp, which uses a lever to operate a split clamp that not only goes around the ball hitch but also grips the shaft below it too, so once on it won’t move. The lever lifts up to unlock and reverses to lock, in this position it’s retained by a spring plunger.
The trays measure 500mm front to back and 130mm deep, but you can get three widths – 800 (standard) 1000 and 1200mm. Adding to this is the premium version with a drop-down back, all are available either in hot-dip galvanized (standard) or the deluxe in all stainless steel.
But it doesn’t stop there as Heck Pack offers a number of useful accessories – plastic tray and lid, lockable aluminium chequer plate boxes, lighting kits, vinyl covers and even a quad adaptor that offers a bar that extends out far enough to fit the tray unit. You can even buy the hand attachment clamp separately, so you could fit what you like. For example a winch or even a davit that would allow you to pick up heavy game and swing it into the back of your truck – the possibilities are endless.

Safe Working Load

The clamp has an 89kg (190 lbs) weight stamped on it, which I assume means that’s the maximum it can hold. However, pictures from the website show two men on one, another with a big red stag that must be at least 350 lbs and another with three boar, which must be a minimum of a 150 kg load. What I’m saying is it’s strong enough… heck it can even take my weight and I’m no tinkerbell!
As readers know I drive a Land Rover so was a bit concerned as my spare tyre is on the rear door if the Heck Pack would fit, as I thought the handle would get in the way, which it does. However, the single mounting point allowed me to place the clamp on the ball hitch at an angle then take up a bit of movement on the lever; enough to allow me to level the basket and lock it down. Doubtless a worst case scenario so no problems at all for more modern vehicles.
For road use you might not need the lighting kit providing the tray and load does not obscure your lights or protrude more than 900mm from the rear of the vehicle. However, I would recommend you get a couple of reflector triangles for the rear of the cage for night driving to stop someone running into it.
Though my Landy is very much a working vehicle and I’m not afraid of getting it dirty inside as it’s rubber-lined and washes out easily, the Heck Pack really adds a new dimension to carrying game around. For example handling bigger deer like fallow or reds is almost impossible on my own, certainly when trying to get them into the back of my truck. But the lower position of the tray combined with its easy access means I can manhandle a bigger body far easier. Likewise if I shoot a few roe or muntjac they can all go in the carrier. All you need is a cover to stop the contents frightening the vegetarians on the drive home!
Not a lot more to say, but this is one clever and practical item and well worth a look for many reasons.

For: Extra storage as and when required
Against: Not a thing
Verdict: Brilliant piece of kit with many uses

PRICES:
Standard version (800mm wide) £189 Inc p&p
1000mm £179, 1200mm £199
Premium (drop-down) carrier £247, £227 and £267 accordingly
Plastic tray £105, £99, £119 accordingly
Vinyl cover £85
Aluminium boxes 1000mm £177 (others POA)
Lighting kit £25
Hand attachment clamp £89
Quad adaptor £50