Tundra Double Cab vs. Crew Max

TXFJ60

Member
I’m looking at making the move to a 2nd gen Tundra for my daily driver and family adventure rig. I’ve been driving a 1987 FJ60 for the past 5 years, but we just had our 3rd kid (all of them are under 4) and we have two large dogs, so I’m needing something a little bigger and more reliable. From those with kids, is the double cab doable? I’ll definitely be getting a bed cap to keep our dogs in while traveling and to sleep in. I really wish they made a cab in between the two with a standard size bed (6.5’). I’ll have to compromise on something. I use the FJ60 as a truck often. With the back seat down, j have a 6’ flat surface. I can’t imagine having less than that.

EE45361B-CEFA-402F-9133-28064313AA2B.jpeg
 

Todd780

OverCamper
I've got 2 kids and wouldn't consider anything less than a crew cab. Your kids will start growing like weeds and a comfortable back seat will definitely add to their enjoyment of long road trips.... and subsequently yours, haha
 

tennesseewj

Observer
You can put kids in the back of a double cab, but they definitely will be less comfortable.

Keep in mind that with the tailgate down on a crewmax you'll still have 6' of flat surface. You'll just have to strap in or use a bad extender. Whether or not that is adequate depends on what you're hauling of course.

If you're used to cramming things in the back of an SUV I don't think you'll be that annoyed by the short crewmax bed. They sell a crap ton of them for a reason...

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
 

Todd780

OverCamper
You can put kids in the back of a double cab, but they definitely will be less comfortable.

Keep in mind that with the tailgate down on a crewmax you'll still have 6' of flat surface. You'll just have to strap in or use a bad extender. Whether or not that is adequate depends on what you're hauling of course.

If you're used to cramming things in the back of an SUV I don't think you'll be that annoyed by the short crewmax bed. They sell a crap ton of them for a reason...

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Agreed. I fit my kids in smaller backseats as well. But, no one including me was happy about it after an hour, haha.

As stated above, there is a fair bit of room in a 5'5 bed. You could add a canopy as well if you like.
 

TXFJ60

Member
You can put kids in the back of a double cab, but they definitely will be less comfortable.

Keep in mind that with the tailgate down on a crewmax you'll still have 6' of flat surface. You'll just have to strap in or use a bad extender. Whether or not that is adequate depends on what you're hauling of course.

If you're used to cramming things in the back of an SUV I don't think you'll be that annoyed by the short crewmax bed. They sell a crap ton of them for a reason...

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

I currently use a 5x8 trailer when I’m hauling a lot, but I’d like to get rid of it because there’s not a great spot for it at my house. It’s really too bad they didn’t do a crewmax with standard size bed. They did the double cab with long bed, so I imagine they have a frame for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

dman93

Adventurer
 

phsycle

Adventurer
I currently use a 5x8 trailer when I’m hauling a lot, but I’d like to get rid of it because there’s not a great spot for it at my house. It’s really too bad they didn’t do a crewmax with standard size bed. They did the double cab with long bed, so I imagine they have a frame for it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Trailers are easier to load and unload from anyway. What about a folding trailer?

As said above, you can pack a ton of stuff in the short bed. Bed extender gets the room you need, if that’s what you want.

Also Remember, Tundra payload is about 1,200lbs. Keep that in mind as you load the bed.

Of course, you also have the choice of going with a Ford or Ram. Both of which comes with crew cab (as big or slightly bigger back seat than Crewmax). Or 3/4 ton (if you haul heavy).
 

RAM5500 CAMPERTHING

OG Portal Member #183
I've always been intrigued/confused by some of the comments regarding the crew max versus the double cab.

If you go to a dealer and sit in both side by side, the difference is barely noticeable.

The double cab rear areas LOOKS a ton smaller because of the way the doors are designed. Once inside the difference is really negligible.

I am 6'4" and sat in the back of my 2014 double cab with no issues. Not sure how big these "kids" are that arent comfortable in the back of one, but they must be freakishly huge :)

Note: you see A LOT of double cab short beds in the classified section for sale for a bigger bed. You almost never see it the other way around. "I need less bed space" said no one ever.
 

phsycle

Adventurer
I've always been intrigued/confused by some of the comments regarding the crew max versus the double cab.

If you go to a dealer and sit in both side by side, the difference is barely noticeable.

The double cab rear areas LOOKS a ton smaller because of the way the doors are designed. Once inside the difference is really negligible.

I am 6'4" and sat in the back of my 2014 double cab with no issues. Not sure how big these "kids" are that arent comfortable in the back of one, but they must be freakishly huge :)

Note: you see A LOT of double cab short beds in the classified section for sale for a bigger bed. You almost never see it the other way around. "I need less bed space" said no one ever.

I’ll have to disagree. Crewmax is substantially bigger. I’ve got two family members with double cabs. I take regular trips in a friend’s Crewmax. I can stand maybe 2 hrs in the back of the double cab. All day in the Crewmax. And I’m average height.
And fitting car seat in? Crewmax all the way.

But people do make due with DC’s. Just depends on your level of tolerance for comfort and space.
 
I've always been intrigued/confused by some of the comments regarding the crew max versus the double cab.

If you go to a dealer and sit in both side by side, the difference is barely noticeable.

The double cab rear areas LOOKS a ton smaller because of the way the doors are designed. Once inside the difference is really negligible.

I am 6'4" and sat in the back of my 2014 double cab with no issues. Not sure how big these "kids" are that arent comfortable in the back of one, but they must be freakishly huge :)

Note: you see A LOT of double cab short beds in the classified section for sale for a bigger bed. You almost never see it the other way around. "I need less bed space" said no one ever.


I have to agree. I have a DC and 1 6 y/o. He has plenty of room, I have ridden back there and had people ride back there with no problem. One thing you definitely want to consider with how young yours are is being able to reach them in the back seat ( The I dropped my XXXXX can you get it, I need a snack/water). In my wife's 4Runner it's easy while seat belted) In my double Cab sometimes she can do it while seatbelted, most times she has to unbuckle to get said item. I can't imagine how hard it would be in a crew max. How long will you keep the Truck? They probably won't be "big" enough to be uncomfortable for another 10ish years and by that time you might be shopping for a new one.
 

TXFJ60

Member
I have to agree. I have a DC and 1 6 y/o. He has plenty of room, I have ridden back there and had people ride back there with no problem. One thing you definitely want to consider with how young yours are is being able to reach them in the back seat ( The I dropped my XXXXX can you get it, I need a snack/water). In my wife's 4Runner it's easy while seat belted) In my double Cab sometimes she can do it while seatbelted, most times she has to unbuckle to get said item. I can't imagine how hard it would be in a crew max. How long will you keep the Truck? They probably won't be "big" enough to be uncomfortable for another 10ish years and by that time you might be shopping for a new one.

That’s what I was thinking.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Owyhee H

Adventurer
Double cab is plenty big enough. The back seats are not limo, reclining, stretch-out-straight huge but are sized for normal size adults to be comfortable. Go sit in one and check it out. I would not give up a 6'+ bed for the extra rear leg room and find the current Tundra to be a little too big inside. The arm rests are too far from me when I am driving and the seat is very wide(6' and ~185lbs). It is appropriate they called it a double-cab and not extended-cab. It is comparable to most other full size 4-door trucks (not mega-cab or crew-max)
 

phsycle

Adventurer
One thing you definitely want to consider with how young yours are is being able to reach them in the back seat ( The I dropped my XXXXX can you get it, I need a snack/water). In my wife's 4Runner it's easy while seat belted) In my double Cab sometimes she can do it while seatbelted, most times she has to unbuckle to get said item. I can't imagine how hard it would be in a crew max. How long will you keep the Truck? They probably won't be "big" enough to be uncomfortable for another 10ish years and by that time you might be shopping for a new one.

When our kids were younger, we had the same issue in the van and the truck. This solved it for us.

 

Trikebubble

Adventurer
I hve the DC and my sister has the Crewmax and while I could sit in the back of my DC (I'm 6'2"), their is absolutely no question the difference between the 2 is massive. Their is more room in the back seat of my sisters Crewmax for me to stretch out in, than in the front seat for crying out loud. I don't have kids, and took out my back seat because I transport 2 dogs around, but if I was looking to pack kids in the back and keep them comfortable, and quiet and content on the road (and that is the important thing when "transporting kids long distances, right?) .... c'mon now their is no comparison between the two and the rear seat space in the Crewmax does it in spades.
 

seahaul

Active member
I had a 2007 Crewmax and went to a DC for 2016 to get the larger box. My kids had way too much room for activities with the crewmax and I never seemed to have enough room for camping crap in the box. The shorter box cannot fit a full sized mountain bike or dirt bike. The kids are definitely full sized now and have way less room in the DC. They touch the back of the seat if i'm all the way back in my seat (i'm 6') but I would say its similar to most SUV's now, where as the crew max was limo like. Like it was said, would be nice to have something in them middle but if u need a box get the DC!
 

Forum statistics

Threads
189,848
Messages
2,921,560
Members
233,030
Latest member
Houie
Top