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He has owned and overlanded in both SUVs and bakkies – each type has various pros and cons, says Mic van Zyl.
I am not the talkative type at the best of times and even less so when recently sitting in an airport lounge waiting for a flight to Melbourne, Australia. I was happy to oblige, however, when an elderly gentleman spotted my company logo on my shirt and started chatting about four-wheel driving.
It turns out he recently retired and was looking to acquire a 4x4 vehicle for touring. He was undecided as to whether he should get a SUV or a bakkie and he asked for my opinion.
This isn’t the first time that somebody has posed this question to me and I’m sure it won’t be the last time either. While sharing my thoughts, I realised that even I am conflicted about which is better. I’ve owned both types of vehicles and various things about each stand out for me as good and bad.
In my experience, SUVs have an advantage when it comes to off-roading. It’s not a big advantage but in certain situations it is telling.
Most suvs are constant 4x4s which is a good thing in my books, whether you are off-road or on a paved road in the city while it rains. Constant traction from both
axles has to be better than traction from only the rear on a part-time 4x4, as is the case with most bakkies.
I don’t understand why all 4x4 bakkies are not constant four wheel drive vehicles and in my opinion the Mitsubishi Triton and the Volkswagen Amarok have the upper hand here.
The slightly shorter wheelbase of a SUV as opposed to a double-cab bakkie is better when negotiating difficult terrain when going off-road. The longer distance between the axles of double-cab bakkies can get you hung up more easily.
A shorter wheelbase also means a smaller turning circle and the SUVs are a tad shorter than their double-cab counterparts. This is especially useful in and around town.
Most SUVs feature coils springs on the rear axle as opposed to leaf springs on bakkies. Coils articulate better than leaf springs especially when the leaf spring features a pronounced overload or second stage in their design.
Better articulation will ensure more chance of constant traction when negotiating undulating terrain. The rear coil springs are also more comfortable.
While most popular SUVs are based on their bakkie counterparts, they normally feature more luxury and safety features than their bakkie cousins. Again, I find it difficult to understand why this is so.
Double-cab bakkies come into their own when fitted with a metal canopy and a good dust seal kit. This will turn your bakkie’s load bin into a huge utility space that can be configured for overlanding.
While this can be done on a smaller scale in the back of a SUV, you will hear every noise and rattle from your equipment in the back, not so in a bakkie.
Most metal canopies feature side doors that lift up and they are ideal for reaching gear anywhere in the rear of the bin and, in some cases, you can have an entire kitchen built into one of the side openings.
I have also found that double-cab bakkies tow better that their SUV counterparts. The longer wheelbase and heavier weight give them the advantage here.
With the exception of the Hilux and Land Cruiser, most modern bakkies have relatively decent ride quality unlike bakkies of old. Then, of course, there is their dual-purpose ability to also cart away the garden refuse on the weekend or help that mate of yours move house.
The answer really lies in what your requirements are and what you are willing to live with on an ongoing basis. I really like driving my Land Cruiser 76 SUV around town and it is a great off-road and long-distance tourer.
I do wish I had the setup of my previous Ranger in the back, though. Perhaps my next choice will be a double-cab again.
