Siber Express

The Dog thing is the only thing throwing a curve in it, some people say a Sibererian is a large dog but others concider it a medium dog. If you plan on putting a shell on it no problem but as other have said the Expy might be better

marshallr

If you don't need a 3rd row of seats a Supercrew with a cap on it is a darn good choice. It'll do anything else a full size SUV does, cost less even with the cap and will hold more of it's resale value. I've gone that route since they started making 1/2 ton trucks with 4 full size doors. The camping gear or luggage is secure and dry in the back with tons of room. if you need to haul something dirty it is easier to hose out the back than clean out a SUV.

We've used ours on multiple cross country camping trips and vacations with 4 adults in comfort. More than 4 adults and you really need the 3rd row of seating.

Ddh1

My wife and I have a 2014 F150 screw and a 2015 Explorer. We have 2 kids, one is almost 2, other is 2 months. Also have 2 Bulldogs and a Chihuahua.
The Explorer has 3rd row seating, but we basically treat it as 2 row, never use the 3rd. So, for seating space, the F150 has more room. In the Explorer, our 2yo has a rear facing carseat and that requires the front passenger knees to be in the glovebox basically. For the middle carseat it's ok, just barely squeezes between the seats.
In the F150, my wife complains whenever she has to reach back for say a pacifier because there's a lot more space requiring her to sometimes fully turn around.
If you need secure storage for the kids and whatever else, the F150 can be a little snug where the Explorer still has a good amount of room behind the 2nd row seating. (If you leave 3rd row up, there's really not a whole lot of space.)
We really like both of the vehicles, usually do any traveling in the Explorer, but if I had to pick just one to do both roles, it would be the F150 hands down. The bed is almost necessary for house stuff/working, but if it was my only vehicle I'd definitely consider putting a camper shell on.

That's my opinion.

davo32683

iTrader: (5)

My super crew is the family vehicle. 2 small children, wife and dog on road trips regularly. Add a camper shell, and you've got anything you could need. That's what I did. Dog and luggage in the bed

uat75035

Many recommended a toppers in this post, is it removable?

Granthol

Yes you can take them off fairly easily.

Siber Express

Four Clamps and a plug for the brake light and 2 High school kids to lift it off, no problem

Ddh1

The one I had on my '99 just had a few bolts. More awkward than heavy if doing it alone (definitely try and have help, lol). I'd just make sure you have a good place to store it.

bassJAM

We have 2 kids, one aged 9 and the other is 18 months, as well as a 70 lb golden retriever and 55 lb mix. Our vehicles are my 2014 crew cab F150, and my wifes 2010 CRV.

For the most part, the F150 has become the "family vehicle" since I bought it in December. It's nicer to ride in, more roomy, and parking isn't bad once you start backing in vs pulling in to tight spots. I drive mine to downtown Cincinnati every day and park in a tight parking garage and it only took a few weeks to get used to having something so large (I came from a crew cab Nissan Frontier).

There has been a handful of times we've put either one of both dogs inside the cab with the kids, and it's not great, even with small kids. One dog can fit in the space in front of the carseat, but with 2 dogs my 9 year old starts complaining about leg room, and she eventually gets scratched up when the dogs start trading spots and fighting to be in the middle. So they no longer ride in the cab, in warm weather and short trips the dogs go in the bed, and in cold weather or on long trips we take the CRV and put them in the trunk.

So for 2 kids and a dog, I think the SUV is probably a better option. And like someone has mentioned, you CAN NOT beat the utility of a minivan. When my wife and I were dating she used to say "please don't ever make me drive a minivan!". Now that we have 2 kids and are talking about a 3rd, her "mom friends" have convinced her to get a minivan and stay away from SUV's. After borrowing my mom's Pathfinder and Explorer in the past when I had more than 5 people to take places, I have to agree that the 3rd row is useless except for VERY short trips.

I actually spent my teenage years riding in my parents minivan, I even had to drive it myself a few times when my old beater truck broke down and I needed transportation. It never had a negative affect on my "coolness" (not that I was ever cool be begin with lol). But my friends even got to where they would ask if I could borrow my parents minivan when a large group of us wanted to go somewhere together.

etekberg

I bought the F150 purposely because I needed a truck bed occasionally and have a family of 5. I think it will work fine for your purpose.

However if I had no need of the truck bed, I'd rather have the minivan. Screw what the kids think is cool or not. It's not their money.