Anonymous wrote:OP here. The hauling need will be rare. DH will probably never haul sheets of plywood, and if he does, you can usually have them cut in half and then they will fit in the SUV (I know because we have done this in the past). So far, everything we have needed to haul has fit in the SUV. And, he wants the short bed, which is like 5 ft. I'm just not sure it is necessary. We don't have a family car and then a second car for DH to drive. We have 2 cars and switch between them often.

The question is whether a smaller SUV (Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5) has enough room in the back for your dog (small or large??) for at least a short drive; you won't have enough space for stuff for a long trip.

If it does not, let him has his truck.

If he wants a truck, let him get a truck. Let's be honest, it doesn't sound like (as is the case with most suburban men who do nto work in a field that requires it and do not have a hobby like building things) he really NEEDs a truck to haul things. And he doesn't need one for hauling people if you have a pilot, which is a lot more comfortable for your family.

But if he wants a truck and can afford it, let him get it. My DH drives a Silverado. We never haul people in it, but if he likes it, whatever.

A family of four and a dog should have no problem being comfortable in a pick up with an extended cab.

Minivan

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The hauling need will be rare. DH will probably never haul sheets of plywood, and if he does, you can usually have them cut in half and then they will fit in the SUV (I know because we have done this in the past). So far, everything we have needed to haul has fit in the SUV. And, he wants the short bed, which is like 5 ft. I'm just not sure it is necessary. We don't have a family car and then a second car for DH to drive. We have 2 cars and switch between them often.

I would get a car or SUV is you don't need that much hauling. You said you need it for hauling. You can also rent a truck for an hour. I'd get a good sized SUV.

OP here. The hauling need will be rare. DH will probably never haul sheets of plywood, and if he does, you can usually have them cut in half and then they will fit in the SUV (I know because we have done this in the past). So far, everything we have needed to haul has fit in the SUV. And, he wants the short bed, which is like 5 ft. I'm just not sure it is necessary. We don't have a family car and then a second car for DH to drive. We have 2 cars and switch between them often.

I'd get a bigger SUV. The 2020 Ford Explorers advertise they can hold 4x8 sheets of plywood.

DH has a taco but he uses it to tow our small boat as well as haul various crap around. If you'll use a truck get the truck .. you already have a minivan to haul kids around.

If it’s going to be the husbands truck, then let him pick out what he wants. He can always drive the Pilot when the family and dogs go out together. In my neighborhood out in the suburbs 2 of the men on my block traded in their SUVs for trucks. One other neighbor had a Mazda truck and that did seam smaller than the big Ford and GM ones but I do not know if it had a back seat.

If you already own an suv I’d get a truck

DH wants to get a small truck. He likes the look of a Tacoma and thinks it will be useful for our family because it has a bed to haul stuff in. I think a small SUV makes more sense because we are a family of 4 and often bring our dog with us. The dog can easily fit in the rear of an SUV, but wouldn’t fit inthe truck with us. We already own a Pilot.

I think there will be very few times a truck will prove useful and that an SUV will serve us better.

Looking for feedback.