Looking for advice on double cab Tacoma

[SFDE71]

Hey guys,
This is my first post, but I have been reading for a while. I am looking at buying a double cab Tacoma, but I am looking for some honest opinions as far as comfort of the rear seats. I have a couple of trips planned that will include four average size adults. We will be in the truck for 8-10 hrs at a stretch. :smiley_drive: Has anybody ridden in the backseat for an extended period and how did you feel after.

I am also considering an 05-06 Tundra. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Matt

 

[Streakerfreak]

Hey guys,
This is my first post, but I have been reading for a while. I am looking at buying a double cab Tacoma, but I am looking for some honest opinions as far as comfort of the rear seats. I have a couple of trips planned that will include four average size adults. We will be in the truck for 8-10 hrs at a stretch. :smiley_drive: Has anybody ridden in the backseat for an extended period and how did you feel after.

I am also considering an 05-06 Tundra. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Matt

Are you looking for an older Tacoma or 05+?

 

[SFDE71]

I am looking for an 05+. I've ridden in the back of an 03 DC and know it is a little cramped.

Matt

 

[Dave Bennett]

The 05+ has a MUCH bigger back seat area, much improved over the previous gen especially the angle of the seat back.

Of course, the new Tundra DC is GINORMOUS in comparison.

 

[viatierra]

I have an '07 double cab Tacoma. This past weekend my parents (60+ yrs) rode in my backseat all weekend. Maybe 6 hours at a stretch... Dad drives a Range Rover & Mercedes so you know he's used to a plush ride and comfort. They seemed genuinely happy comfy after a couple of long days.
:sombrero:

 

[SFDE71]

Well that makes me feel better about the back seat. Now the decision is whether to get the long bed or short bed. I'm a fireman full time, but on the side I am a contractor and could really use the space of the 6' bed. I went from a Ford Superduty with an 8' bed to a ford f-150 crew cab with the short box, and there are times I really miss the long bed. But I would really love to have the rear locker, which obviously means the short box but the useablility of the 6' box would be great. The truck will be used for family camping trips a few times a year and as a DD the rest of the time, so I don't know how much the locker would come into play except those few times a year. I also am not sure about wheelbase and how concerned I should be with the 6' bed. Although I could sleep in the back of the long bed which is a bonus. At least until I can swing an Adventure trailer with a RTT. Sorry for all the questions, I am just having a hard time deciding.

Thanks
Matt

 

[asteffes]

I think the rear locker is one of those things everyone thinks they want but many never actually use. You might find that replacing the factory tires with some BFG ATs or similar gives you enough off-road grip that you'll not need the locker- you'll still have four wheel drive to get you through. The short bed makes for a very maneuverable truck but if you do any real work with it for a living I think you'll wish you had the long bed.

 

[Streakerfreak]

I think the rear locker is one of those things everyone thinks they want but many never actually use. You might find that replacing the factory tires with some BFG ATs or similar gives you enough off-road grip that you'll not need the locker- you'll still have four wheel drive to get you through. The short bed makes for a very maneuverable truck but if you do any real work with it for a living I think you'll wish you had the long bed.

I would agree with him on those points. It seems the long bed will be best for your present needs.

 

[SFDE71]

Yeah, I guess the only thing I am worried about is how many people I see talking about wishing they had the locker and the off-roadability of the longer wheel base. I would probably be looking at a few Colorado backcountry trips and a trip to Montana every year. I have just read about a lot of people talking about how much better the shorter wheelbase is off road. But then again, the type of trails I would be looking at I have taken my extended cab, long bed superduty on. Thanks for your opinions.

Matt

 

[Rallyroo]

I'm having trouble deciding between the bed length too. That's why I keep teetering between AC or DC.

What I really want is a DC, 6 foot bed in manual. But, Toyota only has that configuration in the auto.

So that limits my choices down to:

AC, manual, 6 foot bed
DC, manual, 5 foot bed

 

[morerevs]

I used to work for TRD, and was able to buy vehicles at cost. I had a helluva time going through the specs of all the different Tacoma double cabs.
My 6 speed with the long bed and off-road package wasn't available! I had leased a 6 speed xtra cab w/ the off-road package and loved it.
I ended up getting a base dbl cab long bed 4x4. I've read on other sites that the long bed double cab is supposed to have an add'l crossmember in the frame, but I haven't verified it. The suspension was pretty wallow-y until I got the suspension TSB work done, and basically ended up with an off-road suspension..... new bilsteins all around, and a stiffer 4 leaf rear susp. I don't know how they sell the current '08's, if these items come stock. Somehow I doubt it. I've been happy with the truck, and I think the mileage trade-off is worth it compared to a full size truck. As far as the rear seat is concerned, I especially like the fact that there is storage behind the backrests and under the cushions... plenty of room for tow ropes, tie-downs, spare fluids, etc. As far as passenger space, I had my two sons back there from LA to Tahoe and back. Their 6' and 6'2", and they were just barely comfortable. They would need a break about every 3 hours. Good luck!

 

[Cackalak Han]

The back seat of a DC Taco is not bad at all. But for a 8-10 hour trip, it could start feeling uncomfortable. I guess it all depends on your tolerance for discomfort.

A few weeks ago, I went on a trip with 3 of my friends and my friend drove his new '08 Tundra CrewMax. We are all ~6'+. I didn't even know what to do with all of the room that I had. Nobody was calling shotgun, since it didn't matter where you sat. The rear seats even reclined! For the ultimate road trip comfort, this thing was just awesome. Consider this truck if the rear seats will be needed frequently.

 

[buldyourown]

How tall is the driver? The position of the front seat has a lot of impact on how much room is back there. That said, I regularly cram four 6' guys in my truck for 5 hour drives.

As for the tranny. The auto is REALLY nice. I would never buy an auto car, but in a truck, the 5sp is as good as they get.