I drive a troopy and boy I'd never say it was Comfortable on the journey; once you've parked up though it's a different story! Plus, it's a legitimate compromise in offroadability with the height, weight, and long ass wheel base compared to a ute or wagon.
Great video as always, thanks. I'd like to add one point in favour of a UTE, as I recently switched from a UTE to a SUV. Loading dirty stuff. Sounds like a small thing, but stuff like a oily chainsaw, even just goodies used on a visit to the beach. In a UTE, chuck it on the back, no problem. In an SUV or station wagon it's tricky to pack dirty stuff. Roofracks are all good and well until something leaks shmoo on the roof paint. I didn't think much of it until I made the switch, but it definitely rearranges your approach to what and how to pack.
as a person only recently starting to learn about 4wd's, im very happy to see a welcoming comment section on most of these videos i watch. im leaning towards getting a wagon personally :)
Like you said, it really depends on what you plan on doing with your 4wd as to what you buy. If you're camping with just 1 or 2 of you often a ute will be better because it's way easier to get away without towing a trailer, even for longer trips. But then they might not be as capable off road, depending on the ute or wagon you're comparing. One big plus for utes that you forgot to mention is that if you want to chuck in a load of fire wood for camping or tools for work or dirt and rocks for a backyard reno a ute is by far the better option as it's not in the cab with you and it's easier to clean out with just a hose, no doubt about it, but that's just 1 aspect. In the end it really just comes down to what you want and how you build it. Almost all 4wds are just as viable offroad and for camping if you're smart with the build so you can't really pick a clear cut winner.
I discovered your channel about a month ago, and so far, it's changed my life. I've decided to take my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I was building into a rock crawler, and change directions, and build an overlanding rig. I live in Utah, USA and everyone can crawl rocks here, and everyone DOES, but overloading is the new thing, and not everyone can do it, so it's probably far less crowded and isolated...and I want to be a part of it. Thanks again.
I chose a wagon because I like to have my bed in the back over customs drawers, no flapping tents or dirty dusty swags. Snug as a bug, love it. But there can be no winner because it just comes down to personal needs ie. People who ride motorbikes gonna want a ute etc
That was honest factual with no crap. black and white, really well done. After that video I recon (not that I know much) , 2 Door ute or extra cab tray back, with less over hang, solid axles , 4 coil , 4 wheel disc, turbo diesel. Thanks for another great video Ronny, with no crappy sponsor driven options. Well done.
Great topic Ronnie, I guess it's personal preference mostly but I like the wagon. Bear in mind that many of smaller utes ie Ford Ranger, don't have a large GCM so when towing big stuff the load carrying capacity is greatly reduced. A GVM upgrade does not necessarily increase the GCM. Highway comfort is another big issue especially here in WA driving a screaming bouncing Rodeo for 700km did my head in.
I ordered some shirts and a sticker one day, and had them delivered the next! amazing service guys. Love the quality too. After having a dual cab Ranger I changed to a wagon (LC200) and love it. Comfort and no dust in the gear.
Great video Ronney. I have a duel van ute with a canopy Would love a wagon. People with a wagon would love a dual cab ute with a canopy. Both are great and no one is really happy with what they have...
Practical and unbiased comparison. It is all about person's needs and preferences. 👍 You can't have vehicle for everything. More ground clearance, less stability at high speeds. More comfort and luxury, more defectives and repairs. More capacity for carrying, more weight to handle during offroading. They are vehicles meant only for offroading (high off capability but no comfort and no features Vehicles meant for city (poor off capability but very comfort and luxurious) Vehicles meant for offroad/city (middle off road capability and middle comfort & luxury).
Excellent comparison! From my personal experience, having owned several of both, I prefer the versatility of the Ute to customise to suit individual needs.
Having owned both it’s a close call....the Ute has more space which made it easier to go overlanding, touring, the Wagon is more comfortable and definitely handles obstacles better. What would I pick - probably the wagon....200 series for the win!!!
Yah 200 series 2014 gxl here modded, mate has 2015 lc 79 ute with canopy. i like to drive it, he likes to drive mine..but i love the auto and electronics in low 4. 200 for sure
Had a Ute, then a wagon. Then back to two more utes. First was a single cab full size. Put a king size bed in the back with tool/storage on the sides and sliding under. Best short notice camping vehicle ever. At a mates place and the conversation turns to what the he'll, lets go now. This is no problem with that setup. Problems were three people max, parking and weight. It always was fully loaded but could be called on to go for a week or two with zero notice. The wagon was great for carrying more people, that was the main reason for purchase. It filled that role well. It also off roaded better because of the shorter wheel base. A full length roof rack with 1inch square mesh made it the best spotlighting vehicle I've seen in 30 years of shooting. Mattress on top with a wind brake and sand bags for distance shots. However, it failed badly when transporting meat back. A Ute can be washed out easily. A wagon cannot. Throwing game on the roof rack might look bad assed but its just a pain in the ass. So I went back to its but this time dualcabs. A compromise between the two. Too small for a bed in the back like a full size ute, but it can carry more people. A canopy provides a balance to keep gear in there for short notice but its too small to make it a full time instant trip vehicle without restricting its day to day usage. So I got a bigger dual cab. Its a good mix of everything except economy and certain off road conditions. Quite honestly, there is no vehicle that does it all very well. So pick the ones it does very well with what you need or want now. Just bear in mind, your needs will change. My 1st Ute carried three people and a king sized bed. But I was single and going out with the guys meant two vehicles and tents. Now I'm married, no kids, and the idea of a single cab with a bed in the back is ideal. The wagon for me had more disadvantages than anything but that was my particular case. I can see how for many it would be the best choice. Sometimes working out what is really important comes after the purchase. Be prepared for the limitations that you can't live with.
Very good comparsion, thank you. I think the structure of the UTE is rougher or stronger for overlanding while the wagon is better for the road, the city and family.
I own both and couldn't agree more. My wagon is more family friendly and more capable of road. So we load the roof rack and pull a trailer for the big family trips. The Ute goes away when I'm fishing with the lads. The Ute ticks more boxes when you need space. To me there is no perfect vehicle. Knowing what you need pre purchase is the key. Another great review cheers mate
I have both. I have a 3/4ton GMC Crew Cab short bed 4x4 and a Second Gen Nissan Xterra. The GMC is long, heavy, slow, under powered but has tons of space for my family of 5 (plus dog). It has the topper on it with locking dark-tint windows and we have room to spare for gear for a weeks trip. The Xterra gets better mileage, better weight/power ratio, still a good amount of room for people but we have to pair down our gear for a week to just the essentials if we don't want to use the roof rack or a hitch carrier.
For me, a wagon is better by FAR. My wagon has an official "van conversion" so it's limited to just the front seats, but I only pay 10% of taxes I'd normally pay. I also converted my wagon so I can sleep inside instead of a roof tent. So for overlanding, it's a lot more subtle and safer. Would love to have an even longer wagon than the 110 I currently have.
After stating the pos' and neg's of both, there is no winner...it comes down to budget and use....you guys are lucky to be living in such a beautiful country
I have a wagon because i do little trips, carry not much, can sleep in it and transport surfboards. I live in Vietnam and we have a long rain-season, so things inside stay dry. But I totally agree with Ronny about both cars' strong points and wouldn't mind a Hilux as well.
I have just transitioned from owning 3 utes to my first wagon. I am not sure if I have made the right decision, but I do like my new 76 series. I have been so used to piling heaps of crap on the back. Now I guess it will be the roof.
Being from the USA, it was good to finally understand that a UTE is a truck(/pickup) :) And buy extension, a 'wagon' is what we like to call an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). "open tray" is bed or truck bed? "GVM" in usa GVWR (max) or curb weight(current weight). In USA, payload is carry weight. "ramp angle" is break over angle. UTE 'tub'? is this what we call a truck 'bed' in USA? Another example of "two countries separated by a common language" It's fun learning how language changes over time in various geographic places. US/AUS/UK slang and terminology while not separate languages they are diverging slightly over time.
except for price, ouch. And the craftsmanship needed ot do it right, so could be al ot of not so well done oneso ut there. But assuming all that, yes best of both, id be very happy to chop a GU to dual cab and put a 1600mm lng tray on the back (im ok with it being a pain to park, my D22 is a pain to park most the time anyway and its not really supposed to be the daily drive)
Matthew Ray you clearly don't know what it costs (not much more than a 79 series) and there is people out there who do really good jobs and not hard to find.
Age is also a factor. Always had some type of 70 series when I was younger, for 20 years and they were great. Now I'm older and the body gets sore and likes comfort more, so the wagon is the go.
and then there is also the toyota troopy... which in some ways could be an in-between alternative, and even not considering this it would always be my clear preference! (mainly because it is big and can be customized in many many ways)
You didn’t mention about Camping/touring when the weather turns bad..... I would have thought that the wagon would have the advantage here due to being able to fit larger awnings on the side of the car. Wagons/Troopies can be better setup for wet weather in my opinion....
I think you can mount that same choice of awnings to a dual cab as a wagon? And in stock form yeh wagon is better but when you consider all the canopy options, some of them are really good at being weathproof like the stainless steel or marine hooded ones.
Matthew Ray I was thinking more the full length awnings that run down the full length of the vehicle. With utes, I would have thought there would be issues with the different flexing between body and rear tray if u tried mounting the full length awning down the full length of the vehicle? For the amount of shade and protection from rain, I think wagons are a bit better in this area. When looking at the type of vehicle most commonly used for over landing around the world, I reckon the majority would be some form of a wagon....
New dual cab ute was the winner for us. Comfortable ride and interior, auto and intelligent traction control make off road trips easy as. tonnes of room for surfboards, kayaks, dogs, eski, tents, chairs, whatever we want to take, without taking up seating space. Makes it easy if you move furniture or carry tools and gear for work. Great on fuel and was less than half the price of a similar spec wagon to buy. Does the job for our family, so i think thats what it comes down to mate, personal preference for your own needs, i dont think we could do quite as much with a wagon.
Wagons for families?? These comments surprised me. Two kids, two adults trips away, trying to carry minimal gear, chose the Ranger dual cab with mods to carry the gear comfortably and tour in comfort. Love it. Wagon way too small, even the cruisers. Was worried not toyota, but so far it's great. Lots of storage under the canopy (and I have dust proofed it - can be done) seems more than capable enough and really comfortable. Carting gear for a family of four can be tricky to work out, but the dual cab is popular for a reason. Great videos Ronnie, love your stuff. Thanks.
Missed one, flexibility. The Ute can be used to haul larger stuff and questionable stuff when not configured for overlanding. Especially stinky stuff, wet stuff and fuel/chemical stuff. Who wants THAT inside?
IMHO.There are so many individual choices that go into what is needed. Just watching Ronnie's and other Overland sites helped me decide what type would suit may Overland style. SO, there is NO "winner" It depends on YOU.
I had a tray back hilux it was great for what i needed at the time spotlighting ,work fishing etc, aside from the security issues the biggest problem was everything got soaking wet when it rained even with a tarp when you went to get something out it got wet. i now have a well body hilux with hard canopy access is a problem as i am not young and agile anymore having to crawl in and out to retrieve gear from the front is a pain in the proverbial. the amount of dust that gets sucked in terrible.Great videos Ronny
Great video again ... Ute wins in my opinion, I've had a wagon before and the are just too limited, I love being able to customize my canopy and camping setup.... and it's always evolving!
In my opinion depends on region (temperature/rain range), regulations and budget. - As a European, expected temperature is between +30 and -20 degrees Celsius and rain between none and daily. - Regulations are the heavier the car, the more expensive the road tax and insurance. - My personal base budget is up to 10k. My purchase as of 01-06-2017, a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2006 (wagon), 160k on the clock for 7000,- euro.
I bought a new Triton duel cab in 2016 to tow my small caravan. Had lots of issues with trailer sway no matter what we tried. Sold it and bought a new Pajero Sport wagon, based on the triton same running gear etc. No sway issues at all. So an expensive lesson learned. I will stick with wagons from now on.
having owned a newish dual cab ute and a wagon i would say if your single/married and no kids go the ute they are great for the weekend toys and packing for camping can be made easy by putting everything in boxes to just throw in and go but with a family the wagon comes into its own with all the inside space and comfort needed to keep your sanity with kid on long trips.
Thanks Ronnie , good episode. Have a 100 series getting an additional vehicle next year. Been researching and tossing up for 6 months , new 200 series plus works or new 79 series plus works. After much advice , research and chewing it over I decided to go for the new 200 series GXL which I will custom up for touring. Love the 100 series it’s the second one I have had. Really enjoy your channel, thanks.
there is now outright winner. what is the right vehicle is an individual thing depending on what a person requires. All you can do is point out the pros and cons of the two as you have just done. what is good for one may not be for the other.
In Canada there is often nasty weather and you don't want your stuff out in the back exposed to it, plus you don't want to spend a lot of time outside dealing with your stuff. Also they spray salt all over the roads so in a wagon your stuff is protected from that.
I currently have an 80, but I personally I say trayback ute wins. Yes it might cost more but you can make dust proof canopies for utes and completely customise it to how you want, even the jack off ones! Then you have loads of storage. But yes you do have to watch the gvm. I would really like to chop the 80 one day.
Hello from Panama Ronny! Great video as always. Wagon vs UTE, both great at the end, then comes the little playing vehicles like a samurai/jimny which are not comfortable at all, nor secure, nor great handling big loads, but they are a lot of fun to drive! Source: got that jimny!
Thanks for the awesome video! Good overview of pros and cons. I like the wagon (SUV), but each person has a different use case, so the answer can be different for other people.
There is no right or wrong, you simply need to think about what you want to achieve from the vehicle and go from there. My personal vehicle is a Pajero wagon, which suits me perfectly but my work vehicles are all dual cab utes. Not as comfortable but it serves its purpose.
I like them both had a Tacoma now I'm in a FJ. Love them both it's just a mater of what you want to do with it. I have too many kids for the Tacoma that I had.
When it came time to upgrade my 04 Hilux the two most practical options for a family tourer, bush basher and towing vehicle were a new 3.0L TD Nissan patrol or a 4.5L V8 79 series Cruiser. The 200 series and the new petrol Patrol were too prissy for my driving style. I went with the 79 series because of the V8 and farkin huge 1800x1800 tray which now has a beast of a steel canopy mounted on it. With 35's it is a pig of a thing to drive around the city and U-turns are basically impossible even on wide streets. I'd confidently say the Patrol or other wagons would be better in hardcore offroad and also much better in urban areas, but out here in the Riverland and pretty much the rest of central Australia the Landcruiser ute is king.
(US viewer here) I think it is toss-up. I really like both myself, and have liked wagons for a longer time. For me, my choice between a 4Runner and a Tacoma was made when there was no longer a manual transmission available for the 4Runner. Tacoma it is, then.
Another great Vid Ronny, hard to call, I have a '14 Hilux DC decked out for touring, recently purchased a '00 GU patrol will be modified for 4wd play with the club and mates. Too hard to call for me so i had to have one of each. Cheers from one Ronny to another.
I've got a GQ wagon and a mate has a GQ single cab. Mine is a turbo intercooled TD42, his a stock TD42. But on the highway he can flatten hills ok once up to speed. It's way easier for him to sling the stuff in the back when packing up but as Ronny said it's way easier for someone else to sling your gear into their ute... He has a 12v fridge and swags in the open that wouldn't last long left alone... Mine's all coils so it walks where my mate's leaf sprung ute has to pick careful lines. Another mate has a 60 series wagon, so he has the wagon advantages but with leaf springs.. They get hung up really often off road. Oh and it has the 2H motor, which accelerates "gently".. People from many countries must be envious of the v8 diesel ute which isn't available there... They go well, sound awesome and once you solve the mud-in-the-low-slung-alternator problem they are reliable. There is heaps of potential to wake them up and get great power too.
I had wagons...yes it´s easier to maneuver...Just bought a UTE it´s still stock, but the fact that I can customize it as I wish Makes me fcking happy...and that is what 4wheeling is all about...TRUE HAPPINESS!
Also depends if you are touring in cold or warm climate. Wagon gives you ability to sleep inside, when it is 2C, rain pouring down and strong wind. Nothing like a good nights sleep, without messing around with tents leaking and flapping. Just get in fast and get some rest.
I'm just baffled, as if utes don't offer protection of any kind on its two cabins? From my experience, wagons are just pride family horses on pedestal, enough said. They wouldn't even dare to bring 50K wagons on some mild offroad tracks, it's just too precious and expensive for that.
1-2 People, pack light, sleep in the back, SUV wins all day every day. My wife and I (in the US) do 6-7,000 mile trips living out of the back of our 1999 4Runner with ease :) BUT (again, for the US people who don't have amazing options like y'all), IF you need more room for more people PLUS gear, a first gen Tundra or second gen Tacoma would be great with something like a Vegabond Drifter Wedge Camper Shell. Seats don't have to be folded down like the 4Runner or Landcruiser to sleep in the back, room to drive with multiple people, low profile, room for more gear, etc. 1-2 packing light, Wagon all day every day. Whole family and needing room for gear and to sleep still, Pickup with a wedge :D
I've used both for multi day offroad trips. The best part about the pickup is you don't have to listen to all your shit rattling around. But your stuff doesn't get dirty/wet. I'm using a wagon right now, and packing and hearing everything is the biggest problem. Being able to sleep in the wagon is nice too. It's a wash for me.
Nice! Another category "safety" on and off road. One of the problems of SUV's ("wagons") is all that crap you bring is liable to hit you in the head be it an on or off road situation. Now the same could go for an extra or double cab truck if you have many unsecured items up front, There is however an advantage having the partition esp if you add a "headache" rack. I'd imagine many SUVS are safer than trucks being designed for families, but That pickups have some other safety plusses.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
a trip off road, regardless of what you drive means you're winning...
nah, depends on how much cargo
A troop carrier offers combined benefits from both utes and wagons. That’s the winner ;)
I love my troopy
But very expensive
I drive a troopy and boy I'd never say it was Comfortable on the journey; once you've parked up though it's a different story! Plus, it's a legitimate compromise in offroadability with the height, weight, and long ass wheel base compared to a ute or wagon.
Manual only and no 5 star ancap
The one that wins is the one that chooses the most appropriate vehicle for their own needs.
Mike Duckworth *** often its a matter of what you want, not what you need. AND YOU WILL BE MUCH MORE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU WANT. and happy is the goal.
Great video as always, thanks. I'd like to add one point in favour of a UTE, as I recently switched from a UTE to a SUV. Loading dirty stuff. Sounds like a small thing, but stuff like a oily chainsaw, even just goodies used on a visit to the beach. In a UTE, chuck it on the back, no problem. In an SUV or station wagon it's tricky to pack dirty stuff. Roofracks are all good and well until something leaks shmoo on the roof paint. I didn't think much of it until I made the switch, but it definitely rearranges your approach to what and how to pack.
as a person only recently starting to learn about 4wd's, im very happy to see a welcoming comment section on most of these videos i watch. im leaning towards getting a wagon personally :)
Like you said, it really depends on what you plan on doing with your 4wd as to what you buy. If you're camping with just 1 or 2 of you often a ute will be better because it's way easier to get away without towing a trailer, even for longer trips. But then they might not be as capable off road, depending on the ute or wagon you're comparing. One big plus for utes that you forgot to mention is that if you want to chuck in a load of fire wood for camping or tools for work or dirt and rocks for a backyard reno a ute is by far the better option as it's not in the cab with you and it's easier to clean out with just a hose, no doubt about it, but that's just 1 aspect.
In the end it really just comes down to what you want and how you build it. Almost all 4wds are just as viable offroad and for camping if you're smart with the build so you can't really pick a clear cut winner.
Ute for me. Two seats Limits the hangers on. And they gotta convince the dog to vacate his seat. Ain’t gonna happen...he’s a better listener anyway.
throw out the rear seat and extend the drawer platform, water and battery below plus some packing space. Still all dustproof provided it is a Cruiser.
@@robwilson7654 lol
Awsome comment!
I discovered your channel about a month ago, and so far, it's changed my life. I've decided to take my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I was building into a rock crawler, and change directions, and build an overlanding rig. I live in Utah, USA and everyone can crawl rocks here, and everyone DOES, but overloading is the new thing, and not everyone can do it, so it's probably far less crowded and isolated...and I want to be a part of it. Thanks again.
Toyota needs to start making the 80 series again
gullf1sk Technically they still do but it's now the 200
yeah but, the 80 is coils and live axle front and rear, not IFS and torsion bars
200 is Coil now
still ifs
but at least its solid rear
They do not need to make the 80series again but the 105seres again
with the factory twin turbo v8 and 6 speed auto from the 200. lol
love the sound effects on each transition.
I chose a wagon because I like to have my bed in the back over customs drawers, no flapping tents or dirty dusty swags. Snug as a bug, love it. But there can be no winner because it just comes down to personal needs ie. People who ride motorbikes gonna want a ute etc
Gibbet Hoskins completely agree
not many swags out there with windows, lights, electricity, tunes and air conditioning
You can get a rear bar setup that can carry a motorcycle if you're super keen
That was honest factual with no crap. black and white, really well done. After that video I recon (not that I know much) , 2 Door ute or extra cab tray back, with less over hang, solid axles , 4 coil , 4 wheel disc, turbo diesel.
Thanks for another great video Ronny, with no crappy sponsor driven options. Well done.
I love the 80! So much that I dual cab chopped it. Now I've got both, comfort and luxury of wagon, space and flexibility of ute.
Great topic Ronnie, I guess it's personal preference mostly but I like the wagon. Bear in mind that many of smaller utes ie Ford Ranger, don't have a large GCM so when towing big stuff the load carrying capacity is greatly reduced. A GVM upgrade does not necessarily increase the GCM. Highway comfort is another big issue especially here in WA driving a screaming bouncing Rodeo for 700km did my head in.
I ordered some shirts and a sticker one day, and had them delivered the next! amazing service guys. Love the quality too.
After having a dual cab Ranger I changed to a wagon (LC200) and love it. Comfort and no dust in the gear.
Great video Ronney.
I have a duel van ute with a canopy
Would love a wagon.
People with a wagon would love a dual cab ute with a canopy.
Both are great and no one is really happy with what they have...
Practical and unbiased comparison. It is all about person's needs and preferences. 👍
You can't have vehicle for everything. More ground clearance, less stability at high speeds. More comfort and luxury, more defectives and repairs. More capacity for carrying, more weight to handle during offroading.
They are vehicles meant only for offroading (high off capability but no comfort and no features
Vehicles meant for city (poor off capability but very comfort and luxurious)
Vehicles meant for offroad/city (middle off road capability and middle comfort & luxury).
Excellent comparison! From my personal experience, having owned several of both, I prefer the versatility of the Ute to customise to suit individual needs.
owning a toyota 4x4 is a win in itself
Having owned both it’s a close call....the Ute has more space which made it easier to go overlanding, touring, the Wagon is more comfortable and definitely handles obstacles better.
What would I pick - probably the wagon....200 series for the win!!!
Yah 200 series 2014 gxl here modded, mate has 2015 lc 79 ute with canopy. i like to drive it, he likes to drive mine..but i love the auto and electronics in low 4. 200 for sure
Gleno D - For sure....always been happy with how mines performed.
Wagon for the win.
200s are busses to drive. not digging the ifs front, to much low angle on the front.
Had a Ute, then a wagon. Then back to two more utes. First was a single cab full size. Put a king size bed in the back with tool/storage on the sides and sliding under. Best short notice camping vehicle ever. At a mates place and the conversation turns to what the he'll, lets go now. This is no problem with that setup. Problems were three people max, parking and weight. It always was fully loaded but could be called on to go for a week or two with zero notice.
The wagon was great for carrying more people, that was the main reason for purchase. It filled that role well. It also off roaded better because of the shorter wheel base. A full length roof rack with 1inch square mesh made it the best spotlighting vehicle I've seen in 30 years of shooting. Mattress on top with a wind brake and sand bags for distance shots. However, it failed badly when transporting meat back. A Ute can be washed out easily. A wagon cannot. Throwing game on the roof rack might look bad assed but its just a pain in the ass.
So I went back to its but this time dualcabs. A compromise between the two. Too small for a bed in the back like a full size ute, but it can carry more people. A canopy provides a balance to keep gear in there for short notice but its too small to make it a full time instant trip vehicle without restricting its day to day usage.
So I got a bigger dual cab. Its a good mix of everything except economy and certain off road conditions.
Quite honestly, there is no vehicle that does it all very well. So pick the ones it does very well with what you need or want now. Just bear in mind, your needs will change. My 1st Ute carried three people and a king sized bed. But I was single and going out with the guys meant two vehicles and tents. Now I'm married, no kids, and the idea of a single cab with a bed in the back is ideal.
The wagon for me had more disadvantages than anything but that was my particular case. I can see how for many it would be the best choice.
Sometimes working out what is really important comes after the purchase. Be prepared for the limitations that you can't live with.
Very good comparsion, thank you. I think the structure of the UTE is rougher or stronger for overlanding while the wagon is better for the road, the city and family.
I own both and couldn't agree more. My wagon is more family friendly and more capable of road. So we load the roof rack and pull a trailer for the big family trips. The Ute goes away when I'm fishing with the lads. The Ute ticks more boxes when you need space. To me there is no perfect vehicle. Knowing what you need pre purchase is the key. Another great review cheers mate
I have both. I have a 3/4ton GMC Crew Cab short bed 4x4 and a Second Gen Nissan Xterra. The GMC is long, heavy, slow, under powered but has tons of space for my family of 5 (plus dog). It has the topper on it with locking dark-tint windows and we have room to spare for gear for a weeks trip. The Xterra gets better mileage, better weight/power ratio, still a good amount of room for people but we have to pair down our gear for a week to just the essentials if we don't want to use the roof rack or a hitch carrier.
For me, a wagon is better by FAR. My wagon has an official "van conversion" so it's limited to just the front seats, but I only pay 10% of taxes I'd normally pay. I also converted my wagon so I can sleep inside instead of a roof tent. So for overlanding, it's a lot more subtle and safer. Would love to have an even longer wagon than the 110 I currently have.
After stating the pos' and neg's of both, there is no winner...it comes down to budget and use....you guys are lucky to be living in such a beautiful country
thank you, best comparison video i've seen. Going wagon for myself and the wife gets the truck. 4runner/tacoma
LC78 Troopy. Best of both worlds.
I have a wagon because i do little trips, carry not much, can sleep in it and transport surfboards.
I live in Vietnam and we have a long rain-season, so things inside stay dry.
But I totally agree with Ronny about both cars' strong points and wouldn't mind a Hilux as well.
UTE! I own a 4.2TDI GU Patrol and love it!
Just recently bought a stock Nissan patrol GU S2. Doing it up slowly and i've never been happier.
Whenever I need a ute.... I simply hitch up a box trailer after the wagon :)
whenever i ont nee ute i imply cover the bck
Simple
Ute for the win!
G wagon professional. All in one. Solidarity axel, did locks, and wagon. Pay load 1200 kg. Not much to spend 😉
i’ve been torn between getting a 75 series and a gq shorty, this definitely helped, thanks Ronnie!
Ute for me. I can pile heaps of crap in the back, then hose it out after.
love it
Road kill fits straight into the tub. You can hoist a carcase on crane/block and tackle, and butcher to yore hart's contents.
I have just transitioned from owning 3 utes to my first wagon. I am not sure if I have made the right decision, but I do like my new 76 series. I have been so used to piling heaps of crap on the back. Now I guess it will be the roof.
Being from the USA, it was good to finally understand that a UTE is a truck(/pickup) :) And buy extension, a 'wagon' is what we like to call an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). "open tray" is bed or truck bed? "GVM" in usa GVWR (max) or curb weight(current weight). In USA, payload is carry weight. "ramp angle" is break over angle. UTE 'tub'? is this what we call a truck 'bed' in USA?
Another example of "two countries separated by a common language" It's fun learning how language changes over time in various geographic places. US/AUS/UK slang and terminology while not separate languages they are diverging slightly over time.
Awesome video, thank you. I'll be looking into wagon style for security reasons so no one steals my MTB. Love your vids btw!!
This is why i have a chopped 200 as it is best of both worlds!!!
except for price, ouch. And the craftsmanship needed ot do it right, so could be al ot of not so well done oneso ut there. But assuming all that, yes best of both, id be very happy to chop a GU to dual cab and put a 1600mm lng tray on the back (im ok with it being a pain to park, my D22 is a pain to park most the time anyway and its not really supposed to be the daily drive)
Matthew Ray you clearly don't know what it costs (not much more than a 79 series) and there is people out there who do really good jobs and not hard to find.
Age is also a factor. Always had some type of 70 series when I was younger, for 20 years and they were great. Now I'm older and the body gets sore and likes comfort more, so the wagon is the go.
Best on the net! Thanks for sharing, Ronny & Team!
and then there is also the toyota troopy... which in some ways could be an in-between alternative, and even not considering this it would always be my clear preference! (mainly because it is big and can be customized in many many ways)
I feel ashamed that it took me this long to find this channel. Thankfully that is easily remedied. SUBSCRIBED! 😀
You didn’t mention about Camping/touring when the weather turns bad..... I would have thought that the wagon would have the advantage here due to being able to fit larger awnings on the side of the car.
Wagons/Troopies can be better setup for wet weather in my opinion....
I think you can mount that same choice of awnings to a dual cab as a wagon? And in stock form yeh wagon is better but when you consider all the canopy options, some of them are really good at being weathproof like the stainless steel or marine hooded ones.
Matthew Ray I was thinking more the full length awnings that run down the full length of the vehicle. With utes, I would have thought there would be issues with the different flexing between body and rear tray if u tried mounting the full length awning down the full length of the vehicle? For the amount of shade and protection from rain, I think wagons are a bit better in this area.
When looking at the type of vehicle most commonly used for over landing around the world, I reckon the majority would be some form of a wagon....
i have a 79 dual cab with a canopy and i have a 2.5m awning on it
Curious.... is it attached to the Tray section only or to both tray and Cab?
exo frame over the canopy with an exstension to take the length so no wobble
New dual cab ute was the winner for us.
Comfortable ride and interior, auto and intelligent traction control make off road trips easy as.
tonnes of room for surfboards, kayaks, dogs, eski, tents, chairs, whatever we want to take, without taking up seating space.
Makes it easy if you move furniture or carry tools and gear for work.
Great on fuel and was less than half the price of a similar spec wagon to buy.
Does the job for our family, so i think thats what it comes down to mate, personal preference for your own needs, i dont think we could do quite as much with a wagon.
absolutely love the title cards sweet breakdown compared to other vids very clear
Add air bags to your spring rear end , that help with weight and towing scenarios . Got 100 series FTE mother chipped ,great vehicle. Cheers
Wagons for families?? These comments surprised me. Two kids, two adults trips away, trying to carry minimal gear, chose the Ranger dual cab with mods to carry the gear comfortably and tour in comfort. Love it. Wagon way too small, even the cruisers. Was worried not toyota, but so far it's great. Lots of storage under the canopy (and I have dust proofed it - can be done) seems more than capable enough and really comfortable. Carting gear for a family of four can be tricky to work out, but the dual cab is popular for a reason. Great videos Ronnie, love your stuff. Thanks.
You make all good points For both Ronny , I still like my Ute apart from friend wanting me to help move house
😂
I must say for the first one you can get a soft canopy stock with the 79 and if u get a single cab a double mattress will fit in the tray
Missed one, flexibility. The Ute can be used to haul larger stuff and questionable stuff when not configured for overlanding. Especially stinky stuff, wet stuff and fuel/chemical stuff. Who wants THAT inside?
IMHO.There are so many individual choices that go into what is needed. Just watching Ronnie's and other Overland sites helped me decide what type would suit may Overland style.
SO, there is NO "winner" It depends on YOU.
Hi Ronny Dahl, you're a wonderful person, thanks for all what you're doing. I think UTE wins.
I had a tray back hilux it was great for what i needed at the time spotlighting ,work fishing etc, aside from the security issues the biggest problem was everything got soaking wet when it rained even with a tarp when you went to get something out it got wet. i now have a well body hilux with hard canopy access is a problem as i am not young and agile anymore having to crawl in and out to retrieve gear from the front is a pain in the proverbial. the amount of dust that gets sucked in terrible.Great videos Ronny
Great review mate!
Another great review. Thanks Ronny.
Brilliant Ronny! I would have said ute but ive just installed some gull wing doors in the rear side of my wagon. Really works well!!!
Great video again ... Ute wins in my opinion, I've had a wagon before and the are just too limited, I love being able to customize my canopy and camping setup.... and it's always evolving!
winner 2 ton4x4 van conversion , best of both worlds.
Tim Kirkpatrick unimog?
Good job and video mate! You've made very good points! Congrats
BJ73 is my favourite cruiser. MWB ftw.
Another great video Ronny thanks mate ! I have a 75 series cruiser and an 80 series wagon love them both.
Great video Ronny
In my opinion depends on region (temperature/rain range), regulations and budget.
- As a European, expected temperature is between +30 and -20 degrees Celsius and rain between none and daily.
- Regulations are the heavier the car, the more expensive the road tax and insurance.
- My personal base budget is up to 10k.
My purchase as of 01-06-2017, a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2006 (wagon), 160k on the clock for 7000,- euro.
I bought a new Triton duel cab in 2016 to tow my small caravan. Had lots of issues with trailer sway no matter what we tried. Sold it and bought a new Pajero Sport wagon, based on the triton same running gear etc. No sway issues at all. So an expensive lesson learned. I will stick with wagons from now on.
having owned a newish dual cab ute and a wagon i would say if your single/married and no kids go the ute they are great for the weekend toys and packing for camping can be made easy by putting everything in boxes to just throw in and go but with a family the wagon comes into its own with all the inside space and comfort needed to keep your sanity with kid on long trips.
Great video as always ronny
Thanks Ronnie , good episode.
Have a 100 series getting an additional vehicle next year.
Been researching and tossing up for 6 months , new 200 series plus works or new 79 series plus works.
After much advice , research and chewing it over I decided to go for the new 200 series GXL which I will custom up for touring.
Love the 100 series it’s the second one I have had.
Really enjoy your channel, thanks.
Good points, I reckon troopy is in the middle which brings it to be the best option. But with 1HDFTE engine ofcourse.
there is now outright winner. what is the right vehicle is an individual thing depending on what a person requires. All you can do is point out the pros and cons of the two as you have just done. what is good for one may not be for the other.
In Canada there is often nasty weather and you don't want your stuff out in the back exposed to it, plus you don't want to spend a lot of time outside dealing with your stuff. Also they spray salt all over the roads so in a wagon your stuff is protected from that.
I currently have an 80, but I personally I say trayback ute wins. Yes it might cost more but you can make dust proof canopies for utes and completely customise it to how you want, even the jack off ones! Then you have loads of storage. But yes you do have to watch the gvm.
I would really like to chop the 80 one day.
very good video thanks ronny
buy both! have 2 defenders 110 one ute and one wagon and a defender 90 soft top for serious offroad
I like both. The winner is whatever suits your needs better
Awesome topic! Thanks Ronny
great video thanks Ronny
Haha fair enough on the translation for us Americans. Wish we could get some of the vehicles you guys are able to. Keep up the great videos.
Hello from Panama Ronny! Great video as always. Wagon vs UTE, both great at the end, then comes the little playing vehicles like a samurai/jimny which are not comfortable at all, nor secure, nor great handling big loads, but they are a lot of fun to drive! Source: got that jimny!
awesome video ronny thanks mate
Thanks for the awesome video! Good overview of pros and cons. I like the wagon (SUV), but each person has a different use case, so the answer can be different for other people.
Canadian geologist here. I have both, a 2016 Tacoma TRD Pro with a canopy and a 2017 4Runner.
The 4Runner is my wife's truck..........
I own a 76 and loving it but 79 is my dream overlander
There is no right or wrong, you simply need to think about what you want to achieve from the vehicle and go from there. My personal vehicle is a Pajero wagon, which suits me perfectly but my work vehicles are all dual cab utes. Not as comfortable but it serves its purpose.
I like them both had a Tacoma now I'm in a FJ. Love them both it's just a mater of what you want to do with it. I have too many kids for the Tacoma that I had.
That truck version would kill it in the states. Much love from south Texas man
J M And the Land Cruiser might die in the USA after 2023.
Really is a personal preference. I have a Ute, suits me. In-laws have wagons.
When it came time to upgrade my 04 Hilux the two most practical options for a family tourer, bush basher and towing vehicle were a new 3.0L TD Nissan patrol or a 4.5L V8 79 series Cruiser. The 200 series and the new petrol Patrol were too prissy for my driving style. I went with the 79 series because of the V8 and farkin huge 1800x1800 tray which now has a beast of a steel canopy mounted on it. With 35's it is a pig of a thing to drive around the city and U-turns are basically impossible even on wide streets. I'd confidently say the Patrol or other wagons would be better in hardcore offroad and also much better in urban areas, but out here in the Riverland and pretty much the rest of central Australia the Landcruiser ute is king.
(US viewer here) I think it is toss-up. I really like both myself, and have liked wagons for a longer time. For me, my choice between a 4Runner and a Tacoma was made when there was no longer a manual transmission available for the 4Runner. Tacoma it is, then.
I like both options. They both have their purpose.
Your channel is awesome.
cheers mate, happy watching and thanks for watching.
Another great Vid Ronny, hard to call, I have a '14 Hilux DC decked out for touring, recently purchased a '00 GU patrol will be modified for 4wd play with the club and mates. Too hard to call for me so i had to have one of each. Cheers from one Ronny to another.
I've got a GQ wagon and a mate has a GQ single cab. Mine is a turbo intercooled TD42, his a stock TD42. But on the highway he can flatten hills ok once up to speed.
It's way easier for him to sling the stuff in the back when packing up but as Ronny said it's way easier for someone else to sling your gear into their ute... He has a 12v fridge and swags in the open that wouldn't last long left alone...
Mine's all coils so it walks where my mate's leaf sprung ute has to pick careful lines.
Another mate has a 60 series wagon, so he has the wagon advantages but with leaf springs.. They get hung up really often off road. Oh and it has the 2H motor, which accelerates "gently"..
People from many countries must be envious of the v8 diesel ute which isn't available there... They go well, sound awesome and once you solve the mud-in-the-low-slung-alternator problem they are reliable. There is heaps of potential to wake them up and get great power too.
Always entertaining. Thanks. Ute for me.
To be fair, should have used a 76 or 78 to compare to your 79. 80 is way too comfortable ;)
I have a ute and a wagon, both great and both great for different reasons
I had wagons...yes it´s easier to maneuver...Just bought a UTE it´s still stock, but the fact that I can customize it as I wish Makes me fcking happy...and that is what 4wheeling is all about...TRUE HAPPINESS!
Also depends if you are touring in cold or warm climate. Wagon gives you ability to sleep inside, when it is 2C, rain pouring down and strong wind. Nothing like a good nights sleep, without messing around with tents leaking and flapping. Just get in fast and get some rest.
I'm just baffled, as if utes don't offer protection of any kind on its two cabins? From my experience, wagons are just pride family horses on pedestal, enough said. They wouldn't even dare to bring 50K wagons on some mild offroad tracks, it's just too precious and expensive for that.
1-2 People, pack light, sleep in the back, SUV wins all day every day. My wife and I (in the US) do 6-7,000 mile trips living out of the back of our 1999 4Runner with ease :)
BUT (again, for the US people who don't have amazing options like y'all), IF you need more room for more people PLUS gear, a first gen Tundra or second gen Tacoma would be great with something like a Vegabond Drifter Wedge Camper Shell. Seats don't have to be folded down like the 4Runner or Landcruiser to sleep in the back, room to drive with multiple people, low profile, room for more gear, etc.
1-2 packing light, Wagon all day every day. Whole family and needing room for gear and to sleep still, Pickup with a wedge :D
I've used both for multi day offroad trips. The best part about the pickup is you don't have to listen to all your shit rattling around. But your stuff doesn't get dirty/wet. I'm using a wagon right now, and packing and hearing everything is the biggest problem. Being able to sleep in the wagon is nice too. It's a wash for me.
“Tight on budget” gets an 80 series😂
Ben Whitmore that fuel efficiency though!
I can only imagine what they would do fully loaded on the highway!
Would be pretty good being turbo diesel
About 12l per 100 on the highway, 14l city. That's on 33s, roof rack, bars etc 1HDT manual.
24l a 100km in my 80s series 3FE. Thank god fuel prices have dropped!
Nice! Another category "safety" on and off road. One of the problems of SUV's ("wagons") is all that crap you bring is liable to hit you in the head be it an on or off road situation. Now the same could go for an extra or double cab truck if you have many unsecured items up front, There is however an advantage having the partition esp if you add a "headache" rack. I'd imagine many SUVS are safer than trucks being designed for families, but That pickups have some other safety plusses.