Considering pre-95 LWB or SWB - Opinions please

[uberhahn]

Can anyone comment from personal experience the livability difference between LWB and SWB? Yes, I understand one is bigger... Have you owned/driven both? Given similar setup, please comment on the actual benefits of LWB extra room, etc.

Functionally, is a SWB "too small" with rear passengers (kids in car seats)? I have not had a chance to crawl around in either model, but wanted some first hand experienc.

Primary duties for the truck would be camping trips with the kids, hauling small utility/camping/M416 trailer/ etc.

Any feedback appreciated.

 

[Roving Beetle]

If you don't mind the looks of the LWB - for what you're doing with it the LWB will be a better fit. More room for kids (SWB is fine in reality but the LWB is easier to live with) and towing with the longer wheel base is better for control/sway etc. The LWB will ride a little smoother and if you retain and properly maintain the air suspension it will ride very well and handle the trailering and loading the rear with ease.

I personally LOVE the SWB, always have, and simply think they *look better - plus for off road use the 100 inch wheel base is great, the LWB is just too big a boat to put through trails here in Maine.

I don't have kids, just two black labs and they think there is plenty of room in the SWB.

From the sounds of it the LWB is for you. My .02

 

[az_max]

LWBs are awesome for haulling grown kids or adults around. Can't say for their off-road abilities, as I've never taken one off-road. With the SWB, the kids (5 & 7) in their booster seats can easily kick the front seats if they're back all the way. There's still more leg room than a compact car and plenty of head room. Seven inches doesn't seem like a lot, but it's the difference between coach and first class.

 

[eliaschristeas]

just picked up a 94 that was TOAST. only redeaming thing was how cosmetically sound the interior and exterior are.

did a ton of work to her and I LOVE DRIVING THAT THING. So much so, that although i have it listed for sale, I really wanna keep it.

Tons of room, smooth power, and it feels like a road mannered car as opposed to my 92 which deffinately feels like a trail truck at this point.

i have no problem parking either into the tight space in the back of my apartment. its probably a matter of taste at that point. the debate will go on forever.....

 

[Tugela]

Having owned a SWB I loved it: from a driver's perspective. I am tall and the snug rear seat was not always the most comfortable for my passengers. Still, they did alright. One of the most memorable trips I took was a 4-day multi-sport adventure in British Columbia. My Rangie carried 4 people, 4 sets of skis/boots/poles, 4 sets of ice climbing gear, 4 days of food, plus several cases of beer. My passengers were all happy, and I remember being surprised by how many Canucks had spun out into snowbanks along the Whistler-Lillooet road (and didn't want my recovery help). My heavy duty suspension, autolocking diff, and snow tires ruled the day on that trip.

The front of the Rangie feels so massive that having a smaller rear made for more practical urban and trail driving. That said, if I were to buy another RRC and kids/towing/passengers were going to be regular fixtures, I would shop for a LWB. Good luck!

 

[roverBLUE]

I have a SWB. Tight fit for rear adult passengers when fully occupied. I have a toddler in the back behind the passenger seat that is scooted up to prevent kicking. The extra inches in the LWB makes a HUGE difference IMO in the 2nd row. Cargo room in SWB is plenty without the shelf. I'm perfectly happy with my SWB. I think a LWB would be a better fit for your needs though.

 

[stu454]

Based on your stated needs the LWB is for you.

(I own an LWB and a camping buddy owns an SWB)

 

[aliastel]

If you aren't going to do any off-roading on very tight trails, then the LWB will be more practical for your needs. The wheelbase is a couple of inches shorter than a Defender 110, I believe, so it can still go off-road fine, especially with some taller tires installed. The LWB gives a better ride and more stability on the road, not that the SWB lacks much in these regards, though. The 100 inch of the SWB, shared with the Discovery, does give it a real edge when the going gets tough though. It is, in my opinion, the perfect balance between the Defender 90 and the 110 wheelbases for all around use.

 

[galen216]

I used my SWB to tow an M416 and it did well. I agree with others that an LWB is a better fit. I have heard many complaints about little ones kicking the back of the seat in a SWB.

Offroad I would not hesitate to use an LWB, they aren't that big. I don't get the big argument, park one next to any other truck on the road and they are still a small vehicle. I have seen Sven's offroad and it does well.

 

[p m]

I own and love both 95 LWB and 95 SWB.

Both are equally suited for off-roading - whoever says LWBs are not that great, hasn't owned one or driven one off road. They do kick ass job off road.

Both are equally suited for long highway drives - but LWB has an edge in straight-line stability due to extra wheelbase. For the same reason, LWB will be much better in towing. I flat-towed an SWB with my LWB - it was scary in LWB, and would have been heart-attack-scary in SWB.

SWB is a little easier to park in town and sneak around in traffic.

Cargo space sucks in both.

Rear legroom kicks ass in LWB - but if your kids are small, it should not be a factor. It will only be appreciated by 6"+ adults, and maybe a dog for that square yard of rear floor space to sleep on, instead of cargo compartment.

Looks - LWB looks just as disproportional as Van Den Plas Jaguars or 750iL. In reality, both look disproportional - SWB was designed as a 2-door vehicle, and rear door looks like an afterthought (which it was).

Engine - I like my SWB's 3.9 miles ahead of LWB's 4.2. But it may simply be because my 4.2 sucks and my 3.9 is fantastic.

So.... if I were to choose between the two... I'd have chosen both, which I did.

 

[RoverDude]

Owned pretty much every RRC year and model. I have ended the search and have kept a 1995 LWB. So.... LWB over SWB, 95 over all other years.

 

[Nomar]

I own both.
For kids in car seats, the LWB wins hands down.
I'm 5'11ish" so I don't sit too far back.
The kids can't kick the back of your seat in a LWB.
All the extra length is behind the B pillar.
Front seat leg room is the same for the 100" and 108".
Rear cargo room is also the same.
All the extra length is rear seat leg room.

 

[uberhahn]

This is what I was looking for. I found a local guy with a SWB. I actually followed him to a local gas station and asked if I could look around, sit, etc. He was on his way back from a local off-road park and was more than happy to let me take a look.

Based on the initial review, it seems LWB is the way to go, but still need to find one and take a close look.

thanks for the replies.