Xtra vs. Double Cab

Could someone tell me the pros/cons of these 2 options? I've been looking into buying a Tacoma with an Xtra cab, but I'd like to broaden my selection and would like to know if the Double cab was worth considering.
Thanks

 

Whatta ya need it for?

There's really no question why you'd want one or the other.

If you need seats for 4 people - get the double cab.

If you need the 6' bed and don't need seats for 4 people, get the extended cab.

Or - if you buy a new tacoma, you can have a Double cab and a long bed.

 

I originally just wanted some extra room to put stuff (backpacks, groceries, ect.) but I have a kid now and maybe more down the road, so that may turn into a major issue. I used to have an F-150 regular cab and hated that there was no extra room.

What is the MPG difference like? Does one handle snow/ice better than the other?

 

FYI, Carseats don't fit in the back of an access cab.

 

Seems like you answered your own question, especially with a child.

It also looks like the majority of your day to day hauling (non-human) is stuff you would like to keep dry or contained somewhat.

4 doors soulds like the move for you.

 

That's interesting, because I just noticed they have a hook built in above the rear seat specifically for attaching a car seat. Good to know that it doesn't actually work. We don't have kids, so the xtra cab size is perfect for backpacks, clothes, gear, helmets, dogs, etc.

 

I have my carseast in the back of my Access cab and it fits no problem. I keep in on the passengers side. My son is 2 now, so a rear facing seat might have been an issue. I bought my '09 after he was born. I use the seatbelt. They make a clamp of sorts. You feed the belt through and crank it up and it tightens the seat down. It will not go anywhere.

 

Sorry, Rear facing carseats dont fit. I tried four different ones and then gave up. Ended up getting a DC.

 

The hooks are on the drivers seat. You can use the passengers seat with the seatbelt and the clamp I mentioned (any baby store has them). I can have my wife in the passenger seat and the little guy in the back and everyone has room. As he gets older, he will go into a backless booster and that should fit even better as that seat is smaller. I don't see any problems.

 

Like I said, I got the truck after he needed a rear facing. Had I been faced with that issue, I might have gotten a DC.

 

I personally like the xtra cab and 6 foot bed better. The whole truck seems more proportional, and the 5 foot bed just seems too short. However, if you plan to have more than 3 people with you in many situations (are you a...family man?) then go with the DC.
I assume you are talking about 1st gens because this is the 1st gen forum, so in that case the DCs are all V6 auto and the Xtra cabs have I4 or V6 and manual or auto. I told that to a guy once when he was considering an 03 DC and he suddenly decided to go back to an Xtra cab because he did not want a V6.

 

Like everybody else said, it depends on what your priority is. I have the xtracab, it fits my 2 dogs just fine, but anybody bigger than about 60 lbs is going to hate sitting back there. The bed of my xtracab is just big enough to fit my motorcycle, but if/when I trade in my 01 I'm definitely getting a 4 door, or maybe the newest gen. tacoma.

 

i had an 02 xcab that i could put a sweat shirt in the back.the 4 door short bed is good for nothing but shopping bags. i got a 08 d/c cuz a newborn.

 

I have a 2001 extra cab and my 4 and 7 year old fit in the back. 4 y/o in a backless booster, 7 y/o is tall enough without anything. For a newborn in an extra cab...maybe just you and him/her. The hook in the back is for putting the seat in the front and running the strap to the hook, best I can figure.

 

Double cab. I have had single cab, extended cab and just got my 4 door, never looking back. It also fits my mx bike in the back as long as you keep the tail gate down. The bed has not been a issue what so ever. Double cabs will also hold their value longer. Any thing else is for kids.

 

I thought double cabs are five seaters, atleast the 2nd gen's are.

 

Well my DC with the short bed has hauled a lot more than shopping bags, my motorcycles fit just fine, I cant close the tailgate, so what. I have hauled drywall, sod, landscaping stones, you name it. I shortage of a foot is no big deal, plus the backseat is actually useable for carring people. For the OP, go with the DC for sure, you will not regret it.

 

I love my dcab. The only downfall is the short bet they have. If you don't haul long things in it, it's not too bad. I have a shell, so I can't put tall things in there, but it's no biggie. When I have to haul something long, like lumber, I just put it through the sliding window & everythings cool. I can pretty much get anything up to 9 foot in there & still close the tailgate & shell window.....

 

I have a 2001 Double Cab with a cap, and have two Yakima roof rails mounted onto the cabs rain channels, and two more Thule roof rails mounted flush to the cap.
Bringing 12ft. lumber home from Lowe's is not an issue, and of course it could be any other long material, or a bike rack for that matter.
The Double Cab looks a little unusual proportionally, but I have owned Access Cabs, and prefer the Double Cab.
It's just a preference.

 

FWIW you can't get a Double Cab with the 4-cylinder engine - but you can get the Access cab with a 6-cyl. From what I've seen on here, the mileage difference between 4- and 6-cyl seems to be less than 5 mpg, which would increase fuel cost by less than 25%, which still could add up over a year's driving. Overall "heft" feel of the 6-cyls/double-cabs is heavier, too. Finally, with kids to think about, the seatpost the DC has would probably be safer in a side-crash - the extra cab has no seat post. I think Vtrac or whatever Toyota calls traction control, and side air bags may be harder to find in Access cabs also.