Long bed vs short bed tacoma

[p nut]

Sometimes even the longbed is too short..

I'd say that's adequate, not too short. Even my 5' bed was good enough to haul sofas, king size bed, etc. with it all hanging over the back and the sides. However, there were times that I was carrying lumber that I wished for a 6' bed. Also, a few times when I was moving or helping to move, having that extra foot and being able to close the tailgate would've made for a lot less nerve-wracking ride.

 

[Clutch]

Could always argument the truck with a little utility trailer....nice to have low deck height, and no wheel wells. Want an 8' bed only sometimes? Cheaper than buying and maintaining a 1 Ton truck.

This is a 900 lbs. paper sheer, we even pulled the wheels off to make the deck even lower so we could slide it up on. Much easier than trying to get in a fullsize truck.



That day, my buddy with the 2500 Dodge diesel, even brought his little 4X8 trailer, since it is easier to load.

 

[DVexile]

Just to return to the "it depends on the user" topic in a different way...

If you use your truck as a "truck" for hauling stuff a lot - almost daily - then of course buy for that. Someone mentioned flipping houses and lots and lots of trips to Home Depot. Makes perfect sense.

On the other hand, purchasing a vehicle for "just in case" or "occasionally I might want to" kinds of uses can be sort of silly. You may pay a lot in dollars or inconvenience 99% of the time for a 1% use. If you need to haul a bunch of wood once a year, or a couch every five you can of course just rent the appropriate vehicle (or pay for delivery) on those rare occasions. That rental/delivery fee will be a whole lot cheaper then driving a truck around at 19 mpg all the time rather than a car at 35 mpg.

Now of course the long bed vs. short bed is a much, much smaller difference than car vs. truck. But still, consider your actual use rather than rare "I might need to" uses when making such a decision. And that cuts both ways (e.g. "I might need short wheelbase if I ever go off road" or "I might need a longer bed if I ever haul something long").

 

[p nut]

Could always argument the truck with a little utility trailer....nice to have low deck height, and no wheel wells. Want an 8' bed only sometimes? Cheaper than buying and maintaining a 1 Ton truck.

This is a 900 lbs. paper sheer, we even pulled the wheels off to make the deck even lower so we could slide it up on. Much easier than trying to get in a fullsize truck.

I had to get some drywall and only had my LC at the time. Luckily had a roof rack, but man, trying to hoist 8 sheets up top and taking it back down...gave me a good workout. Trailer or truck bed would've been easy-peasy.

On the other hand, purchasing a vehicle for "just in case" or "occasionally I might want to" kinds of uses can be sort of silly. You may pay a lot in dollars or inconvenience 99% of the time for a 1% use. If you need to haul a bunch of wood once a year, or a couch every five you can of course just rent the appropriate vehicle (or pay for delivery) on those rare occasions. That rental/delivery fee will be a whole lot cheaper then driving a truck around at 19 mpg all the time rather than a car at 35 mpg.

But.....BUT.......man, it felt so good to know I had the appropriate vehicle at all times. Just in case I had to pick up 3 bales of hay on the way home from work (happened), text from Mrs "please pick up XXX from Home Depot" (happened/happens), see a bike for sale on CL that I need to snatch up right away (happened/happens).

Annual gas expense at 19mpg: $2,500
Warm truck fuzzies: Priceless

I've been driving a commuter most of the time for the past 5 years while the truck sits. 39MPG feels good at the pump, but man I'm starting to really hate driving that thing.

 

[Clutch]

I had to get some drywall and only had my LC at the time. Luckily had a roof rack, but man, trying to hoist 8 sheets up top and taking it back down...gave me a good workout. Trailer or truck bed would've been easy-peasy.

I have had to do the roof rack thing and dry wall with my 4Runner....the trailer is almost like cheating.

But.....BUT.......man, it felt so good to know I had the appropriate vehicle at all times. Just in case I had to pick up 3 bales of hay on the way home from work (happened), text from Mrs "please pick up XXX from Home Depot" (happened/happens), see a bike for sale on CL that I need to snatch up right away (happened/happens).

Annual gas expense at 19mpg: $2,500
Warm truck fuzzies: Priceless

I've been driving a commuter most of the time for the past 5 years while the truck sits. 39MPG feels good at the pump, but man I'm starting to really hate driving that thing.

I was hemming and hawing on buying a little commuter car....just isn't versatile enough. It is only good for mileage and toting yer butt around. Our Trooper is barely versatile enough...a car to us would be worthless. So you save a little on gas was the conclusion ...big deal. I don't really like driving cars...too low to the ground for me.

 

[tgreening]

I bought a commuter....

[/URL][/IMG]


because my DD was starting to feel a little....bouncy. :smiley_drive:

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[SigSense]

because my DD was starting to feel a little....bouncy. :smiley_drive:

Nice choice for a DD, and the floor of that garage housing the 450 is immaculate. I'd be paranoid about parking on that

 

[tgreening]

I wish I could, but I can't really take credit for the floor. That's where I picked it up when I bought it. Love that stinkin truck fuel sucking beast that it is, but it's pumping over 500hp and pretty sure that in a tug of war I could even give Chuck Norris a run for his money, but it rides like a WWI tank till you get about 4,000 lbs in the bed. It was starting to get a bit old.

 

[p nut]

I was hemming and hawing on buying a little commuter car....just isn't versatile enough. It is only good for mileage and toting yer butt around. Our Trooper is barely versatile enough...a car to us would be worthless. So you save a little on gas was the conclusion ...big deal. I don't really like driving cars...too low to the ground for me.

Can't wait till I'm done with the car. Will be sold off for the new Taco.

because my DD was starting to feel a little....bouncy. :smiley_drive:

Reminds me of the truck from the Unstoppable movie. That thing was awesome.

 

[Fluvio]

Not sure what to add to this thread since, as others have noted, bed length needs are variable and subjective. I currently drive both an ACLB Off Road and a DCLB Sport. The ACLB is my forestry field rig. I would prefer the DCSB for my daily work in the woods because passenger room is more important than bed space. But our corporate leasing company did not provide this model as an option. I currently run a crossover toolbox and two side mount boxes to carry my field gear. My DCLB Sport decision was weighted toward utility (home repair, remodels, maintenance, etc.) and as a sleeping platform. It's also my commuter when I'm not taking the ACLB into the woods. I also wanted the ability to transport climbing/hiking buddies to trailheads and to facilitate backcountry shuttles. I will overland in it, too. The long wheelbase might encumber me on some trails. But there's always a compromise. And my skinny skis are well over 6 feet long, so they will have to go on top or hang out the back regardless of bed length.