RV FEATURE
It's not all rosy for SUVs, though: when fully laden,
their softer rear suspension will allow the tail of
the vehicle to droop further than their crew cab
counterparts when you drop something heavy on
the towball.
Perhaps the tow rating is not so much of an issue
in the choice between crew cab and SUV: be aware
of each type’s Gross Combined Mass. The D-Max
4X4 LS-U, for example, can only be loaded up with
485kg worth of passengers and gear when towing
its 3500kg maximum. The MU-X 4X4 LS-U auto
wagon, however, offers 655kg when towing its
3000kg maximum.
‘BUSHABILITY’
As they often have longer wheelbases than their
SUV brothers, crew cab utes are usually not as
handy in the bush unless they are fitted with after-
market suspension lift kits.
The longer wheelbase impacts bushability in three
keys ways: the longer distance between axles
reduces a ute’s break-over angle, meaning it is more
likely to rub its belly on a hump in the track; most
utes also have a longer rear overhang, reducing the
departure angle; finally, a longer wheelbase means
a larger turning circle, reducing manoeuvrability.
FAMILY ROOM
A deal-breaker in your choice of tow tug is family.
If you need seating for seven, you simply have to
choose an SUV.
Of course, if you fill your SUV with people, there’s
not much room left over to carry all their stuff, which
means you’ll probably need to invest in a roof rack
as well.
However, if it’s just you and perhaps a couple of
teenage children, you can fill that vast ute bed with
chairs, tables, a portable fridge, generator, tools,
etc. But if you do the latter, you really need a lockable
canopy or a lockable cargo lid to keep it all safe.
You could secure the gear with steel cables and
locks, but in addition to being a hassle, the gear is
out in the dust and the elements.
SUMMING UP
If it's only you and a couple of teenage children
travelling, a crew cab ute is probably the better
bet, thanks to the vast storage tray, as long as
you fit a lockable canopy and the weight of the
trailer you’re towing doesn’t ‘eat into’ the vehicle’s
payload capacity to an illegal or impractical degree
(a statement that could apply to most tow vehicles).
But if you need seven seats and want a vehicle you
can used more easily day-to-day, buy an SUV.
Gorgeous sunset on Wallis Lake, viewed from the 100-acre island at the back of the van park.
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