What do you prefer: SUV or Truck?

Wade! Did you just type mini van??? Ya darn sally!

I just sold the Yukon and now drive an extended pick up. I like the truck!

B

Gotta be able to fit two otter sleds in the back of my truck.

Suburban Hands down. I have been fishing on lake of the woods with Buddies and you see them pull all that Frozen stuff out of their truck in the morning. their House canvas is frozen, their poles are stuck..even the new otter poles. Mine is all nice and Warm in the back of the suburban. See how easy your Auger is after being used the day before and spending the night in the back of your PU at -30F. I can fit an 7 foot Otter in the burb and pulls the boat like a dream. The only reason to go for a pickup would be to save some money, which can be a good reason. Wait there is one more…if you have a hunting dog, I don;t have one, but I could see that being a stinky ride.

I have a crew cab truck with a topper because I haul a lot of stuff in it that I wouldn’t want in an SUV. You need to ask yourself what you will be hauling and get what fits you best and is in your budget. Post again when you have a few choices picked out and some people will be able to give you the goods and bads of each pick. Good Luck.

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Behind the rear, 3rd seat in a Tahoe is 18″, on a suburban, it is 36″.

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From what I remember, the third row seating in Tahoes pretty much touches the back door–no room whatsoever.

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My wife has a Tahoe and there is 18-24″ between the 3rd seat and the back door.

I have an older full size Burban (gets 13-16mpg), works great for me, been doing some remodeling, haul sheetrock, plywood, 12′ 2x’s with ease and out of the weather. Pulls any boat I can afford, and quite a few I can’t. Yet I can take 7 friends or family members on a trip. I have a small trailer for the stuff (dirt, etc) that I can’t put in the Burb. I have to chuckle at all the extended cab pickups with 6′ or shorter boxes that I see at Menards and Home Depot with lumber propped up on the tailgate, getting soake d in all the rain we’ve had lately. Ideally I want an Pickup AND an SUV.

Some possibilities….
($1,500) 1994 F150 reg. cab, shortbox, 5.0 v8, auto., 148,000 mi., many new parts.
($2,800) 1998 F150, reg. cab, longbox, 4.6 V8, auto., 138,000mi., receiver hitch.
Lots of blazers and explorers in the $1,900 to $2,500 range

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Suburban Hands down. I have been fishing on lake of the woods with Buddies and you see them pull all that Frozen stuff out of their truck in the morning. their House canvas is frozen, their poles are stuck..even the new otter poles. Mine is all nice and Warm in the back of the suburban. See how easy your Auger is after being used the day before and spending the night in the back of your PU at -30F. I can fit an 7 foot Otter in the burb and pulls the boat like a dream. The only reason to go for a pickup would be to save some money, which can be a good reason. Wait there is one more…if you have a hunting dog, I don;t have one, but I could see that being a stinky ride.

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So your saying, you throw your iced up Otter, pails, auger, in the toasty suburban and magically, they are dry and warm in the morning ??? I threw a pail in the back of the Durango one time, and then next morning, it was FROZEN to the floor…. not sure what your talking about ??

big G

had small extended cab trucks for years.

one time the rear end swang around and became the front.

I drive suvs now because trucks are just to dang light in rear end.

Len, you need more gear to put in the butt end, G, great point. I never left the Yuk running all night to keep it warm for gear. I like both for different reason mentioned here, matters what you want to do, family, etc. And as far as warm portables go, they stick REALLY nice to the ice imho, been there done that.

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So your saying, you throw your iced up Otter, pails, auger, in the toasty suburban and magically, they are dry and warm in the morning ??? I threw a pail in the back of the Durango one time, and then next morning, it was FROZEN to the floor…. not sure what your talking about ??

big G

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You bet it will!
I have rear heat that will warm up FAST back there.
There is something truly to be said, for pulling out a shack in the morning from the burb, where the canvas isn’t frozen up and everything is functional.

I vote for the Burban too. My 2003 is going strong. But I really hate the looks of the new ones. All that plastic crap hanging in the front so low to the ground. I can just see pieces being left all over the ice trying to head cross country on Winnie.

Man all I know from my experiences is this. I did the Jeep Grand Cherokee thing for a while and A. with the seats folded down I can only fit one passenger and B. It got dirrrrty and wet back there when all the snowy gear was back loaded. It led to melting, then I had to shop vac it out hours after when I just wanted to lay on the couch and marinate. Sure the Jeep is not as big as a burban but I cant imagine you are fitting more than 2 with all the gear that is needed. This poor guy looking to buy a vehicle is going to get ragged no matter what he buys. Snowy gear and muddy boots and wet filthy dogs go in the bed. Add a topper and your are so money you dont even know it.

Pickup with topper has to be the most useful BUT nothing beats a Suburban for road trips with 3 or 4 guys. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. Each person has to get what best fits them.

Gary-suburban is about the only vehicle that fits you!!

This is a good post all around. I have jeep cherokee sport. It is a nice little SUV. I can fit my two person otter in it (just barely) and all my other stuff. It pulls the duck boat just fine. I have twin boys who are just about at the age to come along. I am looking for a bigger boat and a bigger vehicle to pull it with. with a family of 4 I need something that will have seating for 4 and still take my gear. A burban would not fit in my garage. I like the silverado, F150, but also like having an SUV. I think what I need is a trailer for my ice gear and a new truck and a new boat. Does anyone have some good lottery numbers? This guy down the street just showed me his new Tacoma and it is freaking sweet.

I have a Lincoln Navigator and pull a trailer with the Otter and wheeler on that. Other valuable items can be locked inside. If I had it to do again I would go diesel pickup with a topper. Ritter has the perfect rig…and that thing has sold me on the diesel. All he needs is the topper, and I’ll wait for the “For Sale” sign to go up.

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pulling the boat, don’t know what it would be with the Durango, but guessing around 15 if pulling.

big G

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When i had a Durango with a Hemi it got about 9-10 mpg pulling the 18’6″ aluminum boat i had at the time. My Tahoe gets 11-12 mpg pulling a 21′ glass boat.

Went to go look at a 1998 f150 today in farmington. Same truck as my dad has, but man was that thing in rough shape compared to his, I didn’t even bother test driving it. Lets just say, the search continues. Tough finding a decent truck that new in my price range, so gonna hope for a decent older one I think.

Bought a 1997 f150 today. I know i’m gonna hate the gas mileage after my little 4cyl. s10, but should pull the boat and haul the ice gear nice. It needs tires though, Where does everybody buy tires for there trucks? Was thinking about going to a junk yard or whatever and getting used ones from a wrecked truck or something, but my dad thought he only paid like $60 for his at fleet farm. He said they were on sale, and they put them on and rotate them for you for free. Any other suggestions?

I think you made a good choice.