What should I do?

Greetings all. I am new to this forum and to the Tacoma world. Last week I purchased at 2012 Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport with short bed. I love the truck in every way, except I'm starting to think I may regret the short bed. I know this debate has been on here before. The dealer however, offers a return policy and i could exchange it for a long bed that's on the lot. It could be a little bit of a hassle but in the long run, it's a big investment, so I want to be happy with it. Here are my questions.

Is exchanging and going through that process crazy just to gain an extra foot of bed space?

Is the cab itself any bigger on the long bed?

Is the bed width any bigger on long bed?

Thank you all in advance.

 

Cab size stays the same

Bed size increases

 

I love my long bed! but if you don't use the bed often (many of us sleep in it when camping) youll get used to it and know its limits. just figure out what youre going to use it for most and judge off of that. TONS of people love their short beds.

 

I love my short bed, but wish I would have got a long bed. Next Tacoma will be a long bed.

 

oh crap its him

 

everytime I wish my DCSB was a long bed, I remember each time I am able to fit it in my standard size garage without a problem, and that thought goes away

 

The difference between a DCSB and DCLB is only bed length and wheelbase. The cab is identical and the bed width is the same.

What do you think you'll need the extra bed space for?

 

It would be crazy not to if that is what you want. It will only get way harder and more expensive to do it later.

Nope

Nope

 

Welcome to TW! You should get what you want. The short bed has a better turning radius, which I really enjoy in both urban and off road environments. I haven't come across anything I haven't been able to haul in my short bed that I was able to do in my previous long bed, the difference is just usually that the tail gate needs to be down and more use of straps. I also appreciate that the shorted fits in the garage, whereas the long bed would not.

 

I had the same questions you did, but I went with the long bed and am glad I did. In my mind it's not that much bigger or harder to park, and the extra bed space sure is handy. If you live in the city or have to park in a tight spot, you may feel very differently.

Truthfully bed size was always my #1 consideration just because of how I use the truck - I wanted the biggest bed I could get in a double cab. I don't crawl over rocks or seriously off road like some of these guys, so I didn't mind giving up the locker on the TRD OR and getting a 4WD Sport.

Drove both a long and short bed, and the turning radius is noticeably better on the short bed, but otherwise they were the same to me, so long bed was the easy choice. No regrets, and I was used to parking my long bed in a week. It would actually fit in my garage (barely) if I'd clean out some of the junk! Can't blame the truck for that...

Good luck whatever you decide. If you can 'exchange' the short bed you bought for a long bed and that's what you want, jump on it - that's a big plus, most dealers here in NC won't do that, I think Carmax might, not sure.

 

It's only longer and bed width and cab does not increase nor decrease.

All will depend on what you plan to use your truck for. If you're hauling a lot or have motorcycles, of course a long bed is ideal. If you plan to get a camper and sleep in it, long bed is also ideal unless you're under 5' tall for the shortbed.

I've had both and feel that the longer wheelbase is more stable over the short bed for towing. Parking is a different story. The long bed fits in my garage but just barely. In short parking spaces, the long bed sticks out.

 

Ultimately you have to decide what the purpose of the truck is.

I bought a 6ft bed because I wanted a long bed for putting crap in. I wanted to be able to use it like a "truck" so to speak. And I didn't intend to go off-road with it.

The short bed has two benefits in my mind. It off-roads a little better due to the shorter wheel base and shorter bed. And it fits into garages and parking spaces better. (Some argue it looks better too).

You cannot add a foot to the bed. Just keep that in mind. Though you can get "bed extenders" and use the tailgate itself as part of the bed (though don't put anything very heavy on it, it'll bend).

 

Exchange it. You won't regret it

 

Um, its a TRUCK, you ALWAYS get the biggest bed available in the "size" of truck you're targeting. That means compact truck 6 foot, full size truck 8 foot.

If they offered Tacoma with a 7 or 8 foot bed, I would have jumped at it.

The annoying part of this truck's bed is that there is ample space between the back wheels and the bed to widen the space up to a full 4 feet. To be able to lay 4x8 flat in the bed of a compact 4-cyl would be a KILLER work truck.

 

The older Colorado had a feature to allow for just that. I really miss that feature. Someone did post a DIY version for the Tacoma that used cross boards in the 2 slots front and rear and made the tailgate so that it would stop at a 45 degree angle to hold 4x8 sheets of plywood flat.

 

That's NOT what I was talking about.
I'm talking about putting the 4x8 on the FLOOR of the bed, BETWEEN the wheel wells.

And that isn't really a "diy" anything -- that's actually what those slots are there for.

 

The DIY part was the 45 degree tailgate lock position to support the ends of the plywood sheets.

 

Are you sold on a Double Cab? The Extended Cab has the long bed but has no issues parking in a garage or a parking spot. Don't know if that is an option with your dealer.

 

my coworker did this. Bought a used short bed, loaded it up with gear from his side job and went "crap...this isn't gonna work." They allowed him to return it in full and he bought a brand new long bed instead. He said it went smooth. Personally, I'm very happy I have the long bed.

So to answer the questions:

#1) wasn't a hassle, per my coworker.

#2) no, a double cab is a double cab...its still a Tacoma.

#3) no, its the same truck, just a longer bed.

Not really sure how 2/3 are questions, they don't have completely different trucks just for bed length differences. /end slightly rude portion of comment.