SUV vs. Pick-up

[SGFarm]

So I am thinking I should have a heavier truck.

I currently drive a 1994 Suburban with 350 and 4x4. I have added a leaf to the rear springs. But I have been towing heavy loads of hay and want a 3/4 ton.

I can see advantages to both the 3/4 Suburban or a crew cab 4x4 pick up. Lots of lockable interior dry storage so I can get 30 bags of feed in the rain and not worry with the SUV. But with a truck I can throw firewood in the back. I think the SUV might have better traction in the snow since there is more weight over the back tires.

Just debating.

Thanks

Mike

 

[bigbull338]

weve got the compact suv,an we can get 4 to 6 sacks of feed in it max due to the weight.anymore weight than that an we use the pickup.an theres no way you can get 30 sacks of anything in a fullsize suv.you be better off going with a heavyduty 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton truck.

 

[Grateful11]

I don't know where you live but one thing to think about is in NC you can tow as much weight with an SUV that the SUV can handle and not have to have a weighted license tag. She pulls a 14' cattle trailer with her '02 Tahoe Z71. Doesn't make sense to me, the 1/2ton Z71 PU we had had to have a weighted tag to tow the bigger trailers she has with it.

 

[Dmace]

I've always toyed with the idea of having a heavy duty SUV, (suburban or excursion) instead of a heavy duty truck. Then using a small utility trailer or my dump trailer for those days I need long boards or firewood, etc...

I rarely use the bed of my truck as 90% of the time I'm hauling a trailer. With an SUV I get more storage space and still plenty of towing capability. The handful of times we took the truck to the grocery store in bad weather, we had very little room in the back seats with two kids and put most of it in rubbermaid containers in the bed.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I use the bed of my truck just about daily. My bil just got rid if his F150 and bought a Expedition and is already talking about buying a beater truck.

If you need a truck you need a truck but if you just need tow capacity maybe a large SUV is for you. My uncle has a diesel 3/4 ton Suburban that has served him well.

Chris

 

[edlegault]

I used to own a 1990 Suburban. Used it for towing camping trailer and hauling bunches of kids (girl scouts, church duty). Also put a tarp in back and hauled firewood when we lived in a small cabin on a farm across the creek (only 4wd access during rainy season). Can't remember if rear seat came out, or folded, or slid forward, but was enough room for our needs. Pulled tarp out and vehicle was still clean. If I needed to haul a lot of wood I pulled a utility trailer.

 

[slowzuki]

Except for the 4wd, a 1 ton van has acres more interior space than a suburban. I drove one everyday for a few months, I thought it was great! We have a crew cab truck now due to hay deliveries and had to go long bed. Thinking about going flat bed to get more hay on per load too.

 

[Martian]

I like and have bought into the idea of a SUV over a truck. Yes, at times truck is definitely nicer, but since I'm not hauling everyday, or for a living I have Yukon (1/2 ton) but I can fit all the groceries in the back, 3 rows of seats and way better than any pick up in the snow with similar trailering capabilities. Only reason to go truck is if you were die hard diesel or were towing daily.:thumbsup:

 

[jeffsw6]

So I am thinking I should have a heavier truck.

I currently drive a 1994 Suburban with 350 and 4x4. I have added a leaf to the rear springs. But I have been towing heavy loads of hay and want a 3/4 ton.

I think if you compare your 94 to a newer Suburban you will find the 1/2 ton easily as capable as the older 3/4 tons with the small gassers -- just a product of trucks getting better with time. I thought about getting a second Suburban with the 8.1 gas and decided against it because it's just not that big an upgrade.

If you have not driven a 00 or newer Suburban/Tahoe you should test drive one. The new brakes are a huge improvement in handling and they wear more evenly without constant adjustment.

If a P/U is best for your uses then of course, go buy one. For me, the Suburban is a better tool than a P/U most of the time. It tows very well for a 1/2 ton and I pull 3000# to 7000# around town several times a week all summer, sometimes with 1500# tongue weight. I am usually carrying a few items that I do not want in my trailer (or the bed of a P/U) so I'm glad to have a bit of cargo room.

slowzuki mentioned a van. I would love a cargo van but 4x4 ones are rare and that is part of my need. Used vans are a lot cheaper than trucks and SUVs though. If you don't need 4x4 definitely look into a cargo van.

 

[LBrown59]

My pet peeves about Vans SUV's and truck caps is the limited height for hauling taller objects. and the more difficult and awkward loading due to the low ceiling heights.