Do You Regret: Short-Body vs Long-Body

[JayceeP]

Hey guys, just curious: If you bought a Yukon or Tahoe, do you regret not getting the XL or Suburban? Conversely, if you bought an XL or Suburban, do you regret not getting the Yukon or Tahoe?

I'm still exploring my options. I initially thought I'd get a regular Yukon, but part of me thinks I should get the XL. We have a 4-month old and 15-year old with possibly one more to come... but by then the 15-year old will be in or near university and we even have his own wheels by then- short of family road trips, he probably won't be hanging out with us much . We don't "need" the extra length but I can see where it would come in handy. I also hate how crappy the 3rd row is in the short-body... like what was the point of even putting them in there? Lol. The first and second rows are amazing however. Other benefits of short-body are slightly better towing ratings and ability to fit in th garage. A long-body wouldn't leave much room lengthwise... if I can even fit that is.

Anyway- words of wisdom would be appreciated.

 

[cardude2000]

For me it was looks plain and simple. I love the look of the SWB and very much dislike the look of the LWB. Extra room would be nice...Maybe 3X a year or so.

 

[sam123]

I have both a LWB and SWB and while the SWB is easier to maneuver, I prefer the suburban because of the extra space. For me, it's the fact that I can load up the rear and still recline the seats as there is space to spare. In the SWB I wasn't able to do that making it less comfy on long trips.

 

[crunchcity]

Should be based on your needs...I drive alone 99.9% of the time. If the option to delete the 3rd row was available for the SWB I would have done it.

I don't know why they bothered putting 3rd row in SWB either...just offer it in the LWB and maximize cargo capacity for the SWB.

Or at least make it an option, imo...which it kind of was when the seats were removable in the last gen.

If the 3rd row seats were removable in the current gen they would have been out on the first day I took delivery and not returned until the the vehicle was traded in (lol)...

 

[chicagofan00]

I've only ever wished I had the Suburban a couple of times and those were when I had the third row up and filled with people and then little to no room for cargo. However, 99% of the time the Tahoe fits our needs perfectly and don't regret the decision at all. Another reason why I didn't go Suburban was the fact that it would never have fit in our garage and there is no way I would want my truck sitting outside all the time here in AZ. Just too damn hot during the summer months.

 

[007matman]

I'll never own a SWB Tahoe or Yukon. The big thing for me is storage space and the extra room. You can have things in the back and still use the 3rd row. When camping or travelling long distances (which we do several times a year) I can fill the back up with luggage and still have room (and not have to have a rooftop carrier).

I've owned a '04 Yukon XL Denali for about 6 years and then traded it in for an '10 Escalade ESV last summer. We looked at the SWB versions but it just didn't make sense for us. I suppose if you don't need the extra room you could make the case that the SWB version will work for you. If so, good.

We have 4 kids so the SWB version wasn't an option for us. 2 kids and you'd probably still be fine with the SWB but over that and I bet you'll want the LWB.

The difference in towing capacity is based on the additional weight of the longer wheelbase truck. GVWR is the same between the two. The longer wheelbase will actually track better.

Just my two cents..

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Just bought a SWB after driving a bunch of LWB. Was convinced we needed a Suburban with 3 kids 2 dogs....wife was uncomfortable driving it, was tight in the garage, and our kids are all out of strollers now.....so SWB it was. Like the look better anyways (SWB). The bigger rear seat folded down is good enough for all but major trips storage wise, dogs normally will ride in my Silverado if need be. Just depends on needs.

 

[Danny3737]

I miss my 2002 XL for the space, but I made it up by buying a Stowaway hitch carrier.

 

[swathdiver]

LWB and no regrets. Never considered the SWB, don't care for the looks or lack of space. IMO, the LWB handles like a car or minivan, no, better!

 

[Sevenevez]

Short all the way for me. I just love the look better whether it's a truck or an SUV. I just sold a Suburban which was good because you could actually fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood in it. But for the most part all i have ever owned as far as GM full sizes all been shorties. If you use your truck for work reasons i completely understand long beds. It just visually looks unbalanced to me. To each his own though

 

[cardude2000]

I always wanted my truck to handle like a minivan!!

Wait...

 

[swathdiver]

I always wanted my truck to handle like a minivan!!

Wait...

LOL, I should have said BETTER than my minivans! It does handle and drive better/nicer than our two Pontiac Montana vans.

 

[Glocksub]

I prefer the space and looks of the suburban. My garage length isn't suitable for the lwb though, leaves almost no room to walk in front or behind it and I have grown tired of parking outside, as I have with my pickups for the last decade and a half. So, all that being said, I'm working on a deal for a tahoe.


I've got one child now and probably one more in the coming year. As of today, the tahoe seems adequate for a family of four on a road trip. But, once we move and have a slightly larger garage, I will likely move up to a suburban. You can never have too much space for cargo, in my opinion.

 

[PNWMuseumman]

My wife and I both have shorties. My Z71 doesn't even have the mounts for a third row and that's exactly how I like it. My wifes Nali has the third row, which she never lets me take out for fear that we may go somewhere and not have enough seating for everyone... (Has yet to happen where we've even needed the third row...) But for us it came down to fitting them in the garage. It is a tight fit as it is given it is a 2 car garage with one side tandem deep... So the muscle car goes in the back, the Nali behind it with about 6 inches to spare, and the Hoe on the other side with the cabinets / freezer, also only about six inches to spare.

My in-laws are now on their second Burb (an NBS) the first was a OBS they ran to 275,000 miles on original 350 / transmission. They LOVE having all that room, but they don't park it in the garage, and they have like 6 cars... so when it is your dedicated people hauler / workhorse, all of that room is definitely the way to go.

 

[adventurenali92]

I have no regrets going with my 2006 denali xl. The room alone sold me. Before the denali, I had a 2001 durango limited, which had quite a bit of room with the third row folded awat, which was a true fold away and it was excellent. But I had out grown the space and towing capacity of my durango, so I started looking at bigger suvs. The SWB didn't offer any more rear cargo room for all of my detailing gear because of the third row still being in the way, when it's folded up, and taking it out isnt an option for me because i dont have a garage so there's no place to store my extra third row seat when its not in the truck. With my xl, it's folded up and has a ton of room for all my gear. Then there's the fact that the xl, in my opinion, drives and handles alot better on the road than the standard wheel base. Especially while towing. The SWB tends to be a bit squirrly around corners and towing. Yeah its a little harder to park and manuever, but the ride quality alone out weighs that factor, and I've adjusted to the length in maneuvering and parking. As far as garages go, I don't have one so it fitting in the garage isn't an issue for me. In the near future as im saving up to buy my first house, one of my main criteria is a large garage, big enough to fit my XL all the way in, and big enough to have storage and work space in addition. So that isn't an issue for me. When I do have a garage it'll fit either way haha. Long story short the XL is perfect for me and I have no regrets buying an XL over a SWB!

 

[Miami-Dade]

For me it is the SWB..It is only me and my other half.

When I go to New Jersey [2-3 times a year] and go out with my buddy's wife and 2 kids I have take all my gear out and bring everything up to my hotel room as I need the 3rd row seat..But since that does not happen often it no big deal for me.

My buddy has a Sante Fe but when I am in New Jersey he only wants to go out in my Hoe so my Hoe gets no break when I am in N.J.

I generally hear people who own a Tahoe say I should have got a Suburban..I never hear people with a Suburban say I should have got a Tahoe.

If I had to do it all over again I would still get the SWB Tahoe.

As far as looks go I like the SWB and the LWB equally.

 

[JayceeP]

Thanks everyone. I know it's very subjective but it sounds like everyone is very happy with their decision either way. I do feel the LWB looks a little odd with the 18" base wheels but the 20's and 22's look awesome.

For my family, the SWB is definitely sufficient but it would be purchased knowing that the 3rd row is useless unless occupied by small kids. My 4Runner has a better 3rd row lol.

 

[PNWMuseumman]

I don't know that I would go so far as the 3rd row is "useless" for adults. I have on multiple occasions let friends borrow my wifes car for group outings like bachelor parties, and used it myself for a trip with the guys. I wouldn't call it the most comfortable thing, a 3rd row in a burb is definitely more comfortable, but I have had several adults ranging from 5'2" 120 to 6'3" 260 in the back for a 45 minute drive to seattle. Granted the 6'3" was a little cramped, but for most of my friend group that is 5'8" - 6'0" and 200+ they are totally fine in the third row.

 

[cardude2000]

agreed. We've driven adults in the back for short trips (out to dinner etc) and its fine for that. If you want a human hauler thats comfortable for all, even for long trips, a minivan is the best choice IMO.

Though I prefer to let my passengers 'suffer' for 20 minutes 3x a year than drive a van lol...

 

[adventurenali92]

agreed. We've driven adults in the back for short trips (out to dinner etc) and its fine for that. If you want a human hauler thats comfortable for all, even for long trips, a minivan is the best choice IMO.

Though I prefer to let my passengers 'suffer' for 20 minutes 3x a year than drive a van lol...

Totally not true. Lol. My sister has a 2010 Toyota sienna. And even short trips are awkwardly uncomfortable. Theres no head room whatsoever and I'm 6'0. I'm not that tall. Lol. And forget driving it. I hate it when I get stuck being DD and we took the mini van. It handles so awkwardly and the blind spots are terrible. The tiny ass camera screen in the center dash info screen is useless. And her mirrors don't move like mine do. Backing up anywhere is almost impossible. Haha