Outer Limits 4x4 Board

After writing off my previouse 4wd im looking to buy another one and was wondering which one is better for 4wding and easier to lift and modify.

The two i'm flipping up against is a GQ petrol shorty (auto) or a deisel GQ ute (manual). I have owned a GQ shorty auto (which just wrote off and was going to buy another one but was wondering about coil sprung ute.

has any one got any experience with the two?

Go the ute, l think it has a longer wheelbase which may make it a bit more stable on the tracks, plus no rear panels to damage.

its a pity you can't buy the shorty and fit the ute body to it then extend the wheelbase about 9 or ten inches so you can fit the dual transfer cases when cheezy gets them sorted