Tacoma Double Cab Standard Bed or Long Bed?

[fourfa]

I have a DC/LB that I've spent many many months sleeping in. My quick opinion is that if sleeping in it is a priority, get the long bed. The ability to jump in back of a normal-looking truck (no RTT, popped-up camper, etc) is priceless. Back of nowhere, middle of the city, it's just a truck and no one even notices it. Parking does take practice. Short wheelbase is always better offroad, but as this is an expedition/overland site (not a monster truck rock-crawling site) I bet most of us would never know the difference. If your terrain runs to open landscape and sparse forests, it hardly matters at all. If your trips are in dense forests with tight trails that steer around trees, then get a Wrangler or FJ as even the short bed may be too long

[Martinjmpr]

Short wheelbase is always better offroad, but as this is an expedition/overland site (not a monster truck rock-crawling site) I bet most of us would never know the difference. If your terrain runs to open landscape and sparse forests, it hardly matters at all.

I couldn't disagree more. I can think of lots of trails where that 140" wheeelbase will be a big liability.

The trail might be 400 miles long, but even if it's only got 1 mile of tight turns, if your vehicle can't negotiate that 1 mile, you can't do the trail, no matter how well you can do the other 399 miles.

Even open deserts like Moab and Death Valley have mountains with tight trails.

It's not an insurmountable obstacle - certainly, you can negotiate many of these with a long bed DC, but it requires a lot of back-and-forth.

[bat]

If you need the long bed for sleeping and the DC I would not worry about trail problems. You might have to do more home work for trail difficulty,coming from a CC LB diesel 4x4

it has the turning radius of an aircraft carrier.

I did my home work. I know have the DC LB Tacoma the dog said no on the access cab and wife needed long bed space for sleeping.

[Finlay]

If you need the long bed for sleeping and the DC I would not worry about trail problems. You might have to do more home work for trail difficulty,coming from a CC LB diesel 4x4 I did my home work. I know have the DC LB Tacoma the dog said no on the access cab and wife needed long bed space for sleeping.

I have an access cab. Pulled out the seats, made a platform and both my hunting dogs fit comfortably.

It's kinda cozy.... But then you know I remember hunting trips as a kid, with me crammed between the bucket seats of my uncles datsun pickup while my dad rode shotgun. Busting ditch pheasant and listening to John Denver on the 8 track....

It's sort of a lot of space, actually.

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[Martinjmpr]

Something else to consider: If you need a 6' bed and 4 full doors, why not look at a full sized truck?

What I'm saying is this: The usual reason for going with a compact truck (which the Tacoma is classified as) is that compacts generally get better MPG, cost less, and are easier to maneuver on tight trails.

But by the time you add all that weight and length to the Tacoma, you aren't going to be getting any better MPG or maneuverability anyway. And Toyotas are a lot of things but "inexpensive" isn't one of them (I call it "paying the Toyota tax.")

There are lots of full size trucks with 6' beds and 4 full doors. Might be a better option? Most modern full size trucks have a decent reputation and pretty good capability. I've noticed that when I go hunting, compact trucks are few and far between - it's full size trucks, everywhere. Pulling trailers, hauling ATVs and carrying 4 big, fully equipped hunters all over the mountains.

Another point in favor of the full size trucks is the availability of a diesel engine.

As far as maneuverability goes, being that they are full size and have a wider track, they most likely have a smaller turning radius than the DC LB Taco which will have the same length as a full size but has a narrower track.

Being wider also gives a bigger volume to the bed, and if you and the wife are sleeping back there you'll appreciate that extra space.

[Kermit]

Something else to consider: If you need a 6' bed and 4 full doors, why not look at a full sized truck?

What I'm saying is this: The usual reason for going with a compact truck (which the Tacoma is classified as) is that compacts generally get better MPG, cost less, and are easier to maneuver on tight trails.

But by the time you add all that weight and length to the Tacoma, you aren't going to be getting any better MPG or maneuverability anyway. And Toyotas are a lot of things but "inexpensive" isn't one of them (I call it "paying the Toyota tax.")

There are lots of full size trucks with 6' beds and 4 full doors. Might be a better option? Most modern full size trucks have a decent reputation and pretty good capability. I've noticed that when I go hunting, compact trucks are few and far between - it's full size trucks, everywhere. Pulling trailers, hauling ATVs and carrying 4 big, fully equipped hunters all over the mountains.

Another point in favor of the full size trucks is the availability of a diesel engine.

As far as maneuverability goes, being that they are full size and have a wider track, they most likely have a smaller turning radius than the DC LB Taco which will have the same length as a full size but has a narrower track.

Being wider also gives a bigger volume to the bed, and if you and the wife are sleeping back there you'll appreciate that extra space.

Ford's F-150 is available with the ecoboost/crew/6' bed.

400 hp/tq on tap with nearly the same fuel economy as the Tacoma, if not better....plus better payload, and towing capabilities.

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There is just about the same if not more aftermarket for the F-150 that there is for the Tacoma.

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[deadbeat son]

I got a TRD Sport, because I plan on adding lockers later and anyway, the LSD is more useful to me on snowy commutes than a locker is.

Don't forget that the LSD isn't a true LSD on the Tacoma, but rather an "Electronic LSD", meaning it uses the ABS to limit wheelspin. This feature also works on the TRD Off Road model when the locker is unlocked, so there's no advantage to the Sport here.

[Joash]

You do make some good points. I Guess I've never thought of myself as a full sized truck kind of guy. I'd even prefer something with better mileage than a Tacoma. I wonder if Toyota has any ideas re. squeezing out more MPGs?

I am definitely a Toyota fan, so I'd go with a Toyota over a Ford.

[Finlay]

Don't forget that the LSD isn't a true LSD on the Tacoma, but rather an "Electronic LSD", meaning it uses the ABS to limit wheelspin. This feature also works on the TRD Off Road model when the locker is unlocked, so there's no advantage to the Sport here.

You know, I was all set to prove you wrong, but it turns out that since 09+ you are right.

I can only blame the drinking.

Anyway, the sport has the 8.4" rear end not the 8.0" so it is clearly .4 better.

Ok, I won't lie - the real reason I wanted the Sport over the OR was the blinker mirrors....

[Kermit]

You do make some good points. I Guess I've never thought of myself as a full sized truck kind of guy. I'd even prefer something with better mileage than a Tacoma. I wonder if Toyota has any ideas re. squeezing out more MPGs?

I am definitely a Toyota fan, so I'd go with a Toyota over a Ford.

The Ford and the Taco are going to be real close mpg wise. I hear you on the fullsize truck, the Tacoma is about the perfect size in the regular cab, access cab, double cab short bed...but when it is the double cab long bed...might as well get a fullsize.

There will never be a small diesel in the US Tacoma, so I don't see mileage ever going up...maybe with a Hybrid, but those batteries will throw off the payload, not to mention precious space.

Would be nice if they tossed on two small turbos as Ford has done, would help out the Tacoma tremendously. That truck needs near or over 300 hp/tq for its' size, might fetch mid 20's mpg's if you keep your foot out of it. But where is the fun and that!?

There are turbo kits for the 4.0....turbo will yield better miles per gallon than a super charger.