I can’t comment on child carrying but I currently have a Ute and would favour it every time over a cargo trailer (I have a bob-style Edinburgh Bike Coop trailer).
Prior to the Ute I used to do shopping runs with the trailer – weeks worth of stuff at a time. Its shape means fragile stuff tends to die as it gets stuffed in corners etc and actually you are pretty limited at soon as you start to buy big packs of anything. Taking it on and off is, as mentioned, a pain!
On the other hand I have rarely encountered a load that the Ute cannot shift. I agree with the comments above regarding the panniers being a bit silly but it simple required a little bit more ingenuity. The ute gets ridden to work pretty regularly and does the weekly sainsbogs shop (two large reusable bags usually plus very big stuff, juice, bog roll, strapped onto the deck)
I do alot of other load carrying as well as I don’t have a car. Loads that I have recently carried include:
– 6 foot xmas tree (this got some funny looks from the man I bought it from: “would you like me to help you load this onto your car sir…?”
– full size lawyer (he’s a big ‘un)
– microwave, hoover and BIG suitcase (all in one go)
– another big suitcase
– all my gear required to support BigDummy at Hit the North (this included two full size folding dining chairs)
– pretty girl back from pub
– commuting bike with irreparable puncture (at least twice)
It rides really well laden and I’ve done some reasonable distances on it. It’s not done much off-road except a couple of laps of the Boggart Hole Clough CX course.
If you’re anywhere near Manchester you’re more than welcome to have a gander and a test ride. Mine came from Eddie McGrath cycles in Urmston.
This is the Ute at Hit the North (It didn’t bring the Gazebo but the chairs are in evidence)