dbl cab long bed vs dbl cab short

i have a double cab LB and have no issues.. iv driven a short bed and to be honest i dont find it that much of a difference. people complain that the LB is hard to turn and park but honestly a full size LB or diesel crew cab LB is much longer and people still drive those..
i figured id need the LB for the space and would rather have it available than to get somewhere and not be able to take something.

only time i could see the LB being a bit of a pain would be a trail. but its not like its 6 feet longer.

 

Getting the SB is my only real regret. I wish I'd have gotten the LB so that I could use it for sleeping in the back. We were shopping for a new home at the time and I was worried about the garage space. As it turns out, I could probably handle the extra foot of length (but it would be pretty tight and a little scary pulling in with the random surges). If you have the space, don't need the SB for hard-core trails, and can tolerate the auto...I'd go LB for the added space.

Edit: I should note that in 1 year I still haven't actually needed the longer bed (lumber and bikes and junk all fit just fine). It just would be nice for sleeping.

 

If some of you think a long bed tacoma is a pain in the ass to park, try parking a 01 ford f250 super duty, lifted with 35" tires! This tacoma lb or sb is like driving a tonka toy! It is just personal preference or life style needs weither one chooses long or short bed.

 

Had an 2001 F250 Crew Cab 8ft box, went for a 2017 DCSB Off-road Tacoma. It is a lot of fun, great turning radius, drives and parks more like a car. I also like the space gained in the garage. I think it looks sharper than the 6ft box. I don't know what my next truck will be but for now it is fun to drive such a small truck that I can still stuff a couple of deer into the truck bed and go off-road with up at our land.

 

I have the DB long bed and would never purchase a short bed - it's a truck and I want a full potential of bed size. Sometimes I wished I had a 8' bed for sheet good, but the short bed is almost useless in my opinion. Since I haul stuff more than I ride on trails, I chose the long bed

 

This is always an interesting question...and the right answer really depends on who is asking it and for what needs they have.

My personal story is I went to the dealer to buy a Tacoma TRD OR DCSB. I figured the short bed would be what I wanted as others have said it is slightly more maneuverable and easier to part. To my surprise when I went to the Toyota dealership to look at the short bed versus the long bed, I found myself gravitating to the looks of the LB more. The proportions just look right to my eyes with the longer nose of these trucks. Then when I went home and thought more on it, for overlanding build up purposes (which I am currently in the middle of) the LB and its ability to haul more just made sense for me...so I went LB and have not regretted it at all.

Also as it has been mentioned above which can be important to some folks, I do and have slept in the bed of my truck. At 6'2" I can't do that comfortably laying straight in a short box especially with my girlfriend or kid sleeping next to me. I have already off-roaded a bunch with the Long box and for up to moderately difficulty trails in stock form (which I still am) I have had no issues. I know I could do more difficult trails with some armor and careful line placement, but that will come with time as I can get sliders and full skids for the underside. Basically this truck will do every thing I need it to do and more off road.

Coming from a small SUV, the first month I had the DCLB took some getting used to parking it downtown where I work, but I have fully adjusted to that now and its now worries at this point. That backup camera is just awesome by the way!

Oh and you asked about the ride? Not sure about the DCSB but the DCLB is smooth as butter to me on the road. I had a short wheel base SUV before this and I felt everything. Maybe it is just the suspension also on the OR trim I have but it is just so smooth for a truck...amazes me every day on the road.

So it just goes to show you how important it is going to the dealership and checking out the short box vs long box for yourself is. After doing that and thinking hard on my uses, the long box was the only way to go for me.

 

I'm not going to get drawn in to a d measuring contest here, I just want to add my real life experience with a short bed. In 4 years of SB ownership, not once have I wished for a long bed. The SB holds my four wheeler, it hauls my generator/fuel/coolers/baby stroller/extra camping gear when I tow my camper, it holds 4x8 material for my Home Depot runs, it holds the max payload of gravel, it worked great when I moved this past summer. A DCSB fits in my garage with a workbench on the back wall and allows me enough room to walk around the truck (a DCLB would not fit in the same space). There's no doubt that some people do need the extra utility of the long bed (especially all those that sleep back there, I can't imagine doing that with my ankylosing spondylitis!) but a short bed is certainly not "useless" like some here try to claim.

 

I got the long bed and I have to say I don't really understand the short bed. My buddy has a short bed and it is a great vehicle but the bed is fairly useless. Skis have to sit diagonal and he cant sleep in the back. My long bed doesn't have those issues and I would never buy a short bed. I'm not judging anyone who gets a short bed, I just never would personally for my uses.

 

Yes, there are pluses and minuses to both. If only Toyota made something that was a compromise. You know, something with a long bed and a shortened back seat that kept the overall length of the double cab short bed.

 

Doesn't help if you want to seat 5

 

This

 

I'm super happy with the short bed. In fact I really wanted and was going to get a 4Runner but because I could get a DCSB I went Tacoma. I love the idea of having an SUV for daily driving or my two boys and I but also having the ability to haul a fridge from Sears, etc.
I bought this basically to replace my Corolla with something that can also launch my boat. The SB and tonneau cover have me the best of both worlds.

 

I guess I think of the short bed as an SUV almost and the long bed as a truck

 

Another vote for long bed. It's more easy to park then a crew cab Silverado.

 

There is no "better" what works for me may not work for you, thus it should be tailored to individual needs.
I've got a long bed, because I need it/use it

 

It really depends on your perspective......Second one is of my crew Guatemala. Pretty much how we got around all the time. I am not suggesting this....

 

Get both.


Although I can't do this with a shortbed and keep the tailgate up to use the backup camera.

12 years with the shortbed and every day I always wished I had more space. Since getting the longbed I've never felt I had too much.

 

If it has a short bed, it's not a real truck!

 

Every time I load my bike (see avatar) into my 6 foot long bed I think it is not a real truck.

 

Still tryn to figure out...was that sarcasm..or plain Ole stupidity.