tacoma long or short??

[colotaco]

This site has never let me down, every time I have a question I am amazed at the number of responses I receive. So, here goes another... Looking at buying a newer Tacoma, going to be a 2008-2010 four door Tacoma Sport. My quandary is thus, 6ft bed or 5ft bed? I intend to place a new Flippac on it. Besides longer bed is there any other pros or cons for either? The one thing I do notice is the long bed makes the truck rather long from bumper to bumper, would this be an issue off road? I'm very interested in everyones thoughts.

Respectfully,

Bob

 

[horrocks007]

In my experience shorter vehicles are easier to drive around off road, they have better angles for varied terrain, and easier to turn around in tight areas without trashing either the woods or your vehicle.

I like the shorter beds anyway, rare to see around here in NJ.

 

[tanglefoot]

Transmission availability and wheelbase seem to be the biggest differences.

The short bed double cab is available with either the 6-speed manual or 5-speed auto. The long bed is only available with the 5-speed auto.

The long bed has a longer wheelbase. Advantages of this include better weight distribution when adding load to the bed and a smoother ride at the expense of a some turning radius and breakover angle, as mentioned.

I believe the short bed has the same wheelbase as the access cab, so the rear axle is located pretty far forward in the bed. This can magnify the weight transfer of heavy loads in the bed or heavy trailer tongue loads if towing. The rear axle in the long bed is pretty well centered in the bed.

The long bed is a more standard bed size for compact trucks, so the availability of shells, campers, racks and other bed-specific accessories is better.

 

[Plannerman]

Transmission availability and wheelbase seem to be the biggest differences.

The short bed double cab is available with either the 6-speed manual or 5-speed auto. The long bed is only available with the 5-speed auto.

The long bed has a longer wheelbase. Advantages of this include better weight distribution when adding load to the bed and a smoother ride at the expense of a some turning radius and breakover angle, as mentioned.

I believe the short bed has the same wheelbase as the access cab, so the rear axle is located pretty far forward in the bed. This can magnify the weight transfer of heavy loads in the bed or heavy trailer tongue loads if towing. The rear axle in the long bed is pretty well centered in the bed.

The long bed is a more standard bed size for compact trucks, so the availability of shells, campers, racks and other bed-specific accessories is better.

Having a short bed, I can tell you that I've loaded the truck to the gills and the weight balance is fine in the short bed. The long bed will probably tow better.

Also, there are tons of accessories for both the long and the short bed. The Tacoma is crazy popular and there is deep aftermarket support.

The short bed will be easier to maneuver offroad. I would not buy a long bed if planning to do anything moderately technical. Yes, the long bed is capable. But there have been times where I've been in tight situation and barely made it through without damage. I can't imagine how that would have gone with a longer vehicle. The short bed is definitely the longest vehicle I would wheel. If you're only driving forest roads, probably not a problem.

Consider that the offroad model does not come in a long bed. You can get a TRD sport in long bed, but no locker, no progressive springs, and no upgraded brakes. And maybe no ATRAC. (sorry, don't remember).



Sent via fat thumb

 

[Martinjmpr]

A long bed model will also be heavier, just something to consider.

I would go with a shortbed unless you really need a long bed.

And if you need a double cab and a long bed, my question would be, do you really need a 'compact' truck or do you need a full size truck?

FWIW I see very, very few long bed DC's around CO. Even my 1st gen Extended-cab Taco seemed a bit long on some really tight trails (Red Cone, for example) and required me to back-and-fill going around a tight turn where a shorter vehicle was able to make the turn in a single attempt.

 

[Mrknowitall]

Consider that the offroad model does not come in a long bed. You can get a TRD sport in long bed, but no locker, no progressive springs, and no upgraded brakes. And maybe no ATRAC. (sorry, don't remember).

That is correct- regular TRAC on all non-offroad models. Also no hill start and descent control.
My biggest gripe w/ the Sport is that unsightly hood bulge that you have to look over- really hampers visibility.

 

[cmj]

I've driven the long bed DC, and it is looooong. I would never want to take one on any trails. The short bed with a bed extender is a great compromise.

 

[nat]

I like the bobbed look of the short beds.

 

[Clutch]

Depends what you are using it for. More gear, long bed....just people, less gear, short bed.

Though if I had to haul people, would pick a 4Runner over the DCSB.

Don't have to haul people, Access Cab over the Double Cab.

Would take a Chevy extra cab over a Toyota DCLB, as it is a smidge longer in wheel base 143" compared to the DCLB Taco's 140", more rear seat leg room
by 2 inches, plus get a 6.5' bed.

 

[bat]

I would never want to take one on any trails.

I have problems parking it in a parking lot

 

[voodoojk]

I just bought a DCLB ( and I'm in Colorado!) I came across a great deal that I couldn't pass up. I traded in my 2dr jk on 37's and my stk 4dr jk. (For other reasons I'm not going to get into ) but I got a 2009 DCLB TRD Sport with 47k miles for $10k under book. I really wanted a DC TRD OFF ROAD but couldn't pass this up. And I had hours to decide if I wanted it.

It's been one week today since I bought it and in all honesty.. Looking to tade it in already. It is long.. Really long but find myself missing the room of my 4dr jk. More specifically interior room. With a baby and 2 adults we are left with a single seat to put groceries in. Then we have a 6 ft bed but pretty much useless for day to day activities even with a topper on it. It's very odd going from such off rd capable vehicles to a truck that feels like I can get high centered on a speed bump!! Lol living in the mtns of Colorado, I keep thinking how hard even the easiest trails just got. We took our stock jk everywhere.

In the end I really wanted a 5th gen 4runner trail. An SUV would have been a better choice for us. Sorry for the rant!

 

[Martinjmpr]

I just bought a DCLB ( and I'm in Colorado!) I came across a great deal that I couldn't pass up....

In the end I really wanted a 5th gen 4runner trail. An SUV would have been a better choice for us. Sorry for the rant!

Sorry to hear that but I guess it explains why you got such a good deal.

I know there are folks out there who can use a 6' bed, but for me an SUV + an inexpensive 4x8 utility trailer handles all my hauling needs.

 

[tanglefoot]

Sorry to hear that. You may be able to resell it for more than you paid.

 

[Crom]

I have a 2009 short-bed-off-road model truck and I love it very much. I use it for a family of four and it holds all our gear and food for a week just fine. The reason I ended up with the shortbed was because having the rear locker and additional traction system (ATRAC) was the driving factor at the time of purchase.

 

[voodoojk]

its really a great truck.. and honestly the 13" difference is not that much but coming from a 2 dr jk its seems huge. Im not rock crawling anymore but still would like to do trails. I might just build a 1st gen 4runner on 37's and use that along with my m-416 trailer lol

and the reason i got a good deal is because i am a manager at a dealer. And there were 4 DCLB tacomas in the parking lot at lunch today so they do exist here in the mtns. lol