What is a top drive?

The Evolution of Top Drive Hunting Vehicles

The origins of top drive hunting vehicles trace back to the rugged brush country of South Texas. This region, known for its flat terrain and dense brush standing 4-8 feet tall, presents unique challenges for hunters. Visibility is often limited to cleared areas or ranch roads, forcing hunters to rely on chance encounters with wildlife.

To overcome this, resourceful hunters transformed trucks and SUVs into elevated platforms. By moving the driving controls and seating to the roof, they dramatically increased visibility and, consequently, wildlife sightings. These DIY creations eventually gave rise to custom-built vehicles by specialized shops, using donor vehicles as the base.

The Drawbacks of Traditional Top Drives

While these elevated vehicles offer clear advantages, they are not without significant downsides:

• Difficult Access: Climbing up multiple steps to reach the platform is cumbersome.

• Compromised Stability: The elevated structure raised the vehicle's center of gravity, increasing the risk of rollovers.

• Weight Issues: Added weight often exceeds the design limits of the donor vehicle, leading to poor performance in sand or mud.

• Cost Overruns: Building these vehicles often involves unforeseen expenses, making the final cost unpredictable.

• Limited Versatility: The fixed elevated position is ideal for brushy terrain but impractical for areas with large trees, where visibility under canopies was restricted.

The Ultimate Top Drives Difference:

In 2015, Ultimate Top Drives set out to address these challenges with a groundbreaking solution. The result was the Cabra, a hybrid-electric hunting vehicle that redefined what top drives could achieve.

Fast forward to 2025, and Ultimate Top Drives is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the launch of the all-new Cabrito. Designed to expand the versatility of top drive vehicles, the Cabrito is perfect for a variety of terrains, including:

• Brush Country: Easily raises the cab to spot wildlife over tall brush.

• Open Plains/Farm Areas: Maintains the benefits of an elevated position for expansive visibility over tall grass and standing crops.

• Heavily Treed Areas: Operates like a traditional off-highway vehicle with its cab in the lowered position, allowing visibility under tree canopies.

With its patented articulating passenger cab, advanced series-hybrid powertrain, and user-friendly removable rollover protection system, the Cabrito combines innovation, safety, and adaptability. It delivers all the benefits of a traditional top drive vehicle while solving the issues that have historically limited their use.

As Ultimate Top Drives marks this milestone, the Cabrito stands as a testament to a decade of dedication to innovation and excellence in hunting vehicle design.