SUV or Truck

[Bassmaster1]

I am looking to buy a new vehicle, well not necessarily new, but new to me. What would you all choose, SUV or a Truck. I will be pulling my boat with whatever I buy.

[peter]

Ever considered a van. Honda, Kia, and Toyota can tow 3500 lbs per the manual (Honda the best). My boat weighs 2000lbs and I have towed it from the gulf and Canada many times. Works great. Plus you can put all your stuff in the van and lock it up or keep it out of the rain. I got down to the the real late Friday put all my stuff from the boat in the van on one side and slept strteched out on the other at the boat ramp.

I know vans aren't for everybody but the practically of a van for a fisherman is great.

Good luck

[Rangerman]

I like the comfort and the "drive-ability" of my previous SUV's in particular the Tahoe. The problem I experienced with them was I was not satisfied with the pulling power when towing my boat. Overall power was great but pulling power or torque sucked. This created a MPG issue when trying to get more power without a larger engine. With $3 per gallon gas I didn't want 10-15 MPG on highway. I settled on a chevy crew-cab duramax 6.6L diesel with an allison transmission. Lots of power and pulls like a dream with 20+MPG on the highway when not pulling something. I get around 15MPG pulling my boat depending on the terrain. I still like the comfort of the suv but love the power of the duramax.

My ultimate vehicle would be a chevy suburban with a duramax engine and a allison transmission. You will never know you are pulling your boat plus it gets better MPG than any truck of size that I know of. Maybe someday Chevy will wake up on this concept.

[Danny]

I agree, you need to have a truck. I have struggled with this as well. I would love a Chevy TrailBlazer, but I always need the space to haul something or other.

Then I saw it, a Chevy Avalanch. It is a combination vehicle. It has the insides of a SUV, with 4 doors, but a short bed in the back. Then consider that you can lay the back down to increase the cargo space.

Good luck, and let us know what you will be driving when you get it.

Danny

[smljaw]

My last 2 trucks have been Chevy and I will buy another in about 8-10 more years. Danny, i've heard good things about The Avalanch. have never really seen one up close but they're sharp lookin'!

Go with a truck, man. A 4X4. Something you can haul stuff in, like mulch, rocks, dirt, lumber, washers n dryers and what not.

I'm somewhat shocked that a NASCAR arguement hasn't broke out yet on this thread. Chevy!!!! Ford!!!! Go 24, wooooooooooooo hooooooooooooooo!!!!

[MLTSPCS]

The Avalanche is awesome. With the rear seats folded down you have a bed over 8' long and 4' wide with the tailgate closed. On those nice days you can open the rear covers and take out the window and have that open-air jeep thing going on. Helped my dad pick up some drywall and plywood and I can tell you for sure that it will fit 4'x8' sheets of whatever. It also makes a good camper. We just leve the covers on the back, fold down the rear seats, throw down an egg-crate thingy and a comforter and sleep in sleeping bags. Almost no down time to set-up camp. When we get to the lakes we pay our fees, post a reservation sticker and get to fishin'. In the morning we just roll it all up and throw it aside and go. No waiting till the afternoon to come back to camp and tear down a tent that you had to let dry. Rides good, pulls good, camps/sleeps good, hauls good, and you have the best of both worlds. Since being in my dad's a few times, I know the next time I purchase a vehicle, I WILL BUY AN AVALANCHE. For all of the people talking about American made vehicles, here is my deal: I have a Ford and a Honda. My Honda was manufactured in the U.S. and my Ford has parts in it from all over the globe. My Honda gets better gas mileage and has been more dependable. Both have been dealer serviced at the scheduled mileages and the ford has had higher service charges and more actual repairs other than the scheduled maintenance. With the reliability and re-sale value, why not give them a shot? Honda now has 2 vehicles that can pull a boat. Looked @ the Pilots and the Ridgeliners recently and both seem to be decent vehicles, although I do still prefer the CHEVY AVALANCHE. Just my $.02

[the_donger]

Get a truck. You never know when you are gonna need to haul some cumbersome piece of furniture that will not fit into the back of an suv. I have a 2WD Ford F-150 that does everything I need it to.

[MLTSPCS]

The Avalanche bed is not much different than having a standard truck bed. Have you seen one with the rear covers removed? Same open bed and if you are hauling something that can't be exposed to the weather you can easily put the covers on in a matter of seconds, unlike a hard cover or topper. The rear covers make the bed totally water-tight. Lots of toppers and hard covers leak after just a short time, but my father's 4 year old Avalanche still stays as dry as can be when the covers are on. I just helped my father pick up a decent load from Lowe's the other day and had no problem gatting it all in and covering it (it was raining). Undo two latches on each of the back two panels and four on the front, load it, and then slide the panels in place and re-latch them. Nothing to it and you don't have to worry about the weather. What can a pick-up haul that an Avalanche can't? Not much if anything. Washer, dryer, couch, no problem and with the seats down it will accomadate all tournament legal (8') rods. What else could you ask for?

[MsgMills]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-20-06 AT 07:30AM (EST)[/font][p]Buy a truck, open bed to haul stuff when needed, great for pullin boats and women love men who drive trucks...not sissy SUV's like they (women) do...My 2 cents....

Plus...If any one up to 4 peeps that is are needing help with an " A-Plan for friends & Family from FORD" to get the cost down on a new vehicle contact me at [email protected], might as well help out the USA economy...Buy American and keep the money here....

[plowboy]

A truck unless you have 6 screeming youg ones and a wife telling you what to buy. Then get a wood grain sided station wagon with roof racks. Practice saying "yes dear" over and over. Just joking, nothing like family. Just hope I never have to drive a mini van.

[swift1]

I prefer a suburban or yukon xl. Load up 6 or 7 buddies strap on your 21 or 22 foot bass boat and head out set the cruise on 85 and roll on down to okeechobee. Or if you only have a few people take out the third seat blow up your full size air mattress and you've got the best hotel on wheels going. Makes those 12 and 14 hour road trips fly by. Just my opinion and experiences. It really doesnt matter what you by as long as its GMC---- smile ---- TOo each their own. Jarrod

[MrSplitshot]

What kind of space and power do you need/want?

I'd get a truck.

I got rid of my '04 Dodge Ram Quad Cab and went with a new V8 Grand Cherokee. It's a nice SUV, pulls my boat just fine, and comfortable on the road...but it's NOT a truck and I shed a tear or two each day for my old ride. I miss the bed, the stance, and the truck-ness. I've learned my lesson and will NEVER be without a truck again. Unless you buy a Suburban or Excursion, 4 passengers will have just as much room in a quad/crew cab truck than an suv.

I'm a Dodge man...but Chevrolet is close second for me. Go get you a quad cab Dodge or a crew cab Chevrolet.





Splitshot
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