Why did you buy a DBSB, or a manual transmission Tacoma?

I'm trying to figure out what the SB on the Tacoma is actually useful for, after talking to a few people it seems like the truck ends up being more of a pain due to the limited bed space.

The extra seats in the back are great, but they pretty crammed and uncomfortable.

Also what's the benefit of a manual transmission truck?

How often have you used the Rear locker on the Tacoma with the OR package?

I'm just trying to figure out exactly what I need so I don't have to rebuy in the future and I think some help from TW would be good

 

If I could do it all over again, I would have bought the access cab with the longer bed and the manual transmission. The backseats in the double cabs hardly have any room anyway due to the front seats being 2 ft thick. You can't fit anything in the short bed unless the tailgate is dropped, or removed.

I bought mine at a hail damage sale for thousands less, so I guess beggers can't be choosers.

 

As far as the transmission, I am from the old school mentality that you never buy a Japanese mini truck with an automatic transmission... There is no other reason that I own one, they are just more fun to drive.

 

I have an access cab. Bought it before I had children. The double cab seat are probably more comfortable than the access cab seat, but doesn't seem worth it to trade.

I like the manual. The Toyota slushboxes are lifeless.

 

I got a deal. DCLB won't fit in my garage, and the Sports don't have A-TRAC iirc. Access cab / MT was what I wanted. 5' bed sucks if you plan on using it like, I dunno, a truck.
I haven't used the locker since Feburary, because A-TRAC is surprisingly good.

 

Yeah if it's not a 6' long bed it can't be used as a truck

I have kids.

I park in a garage.

Long beds are ugly IMO.

I don't use my V6 1/2 ton truck to do the job of a full sized truck.

 

Long bed won't fit in my driveway. I had an access cab but now I need a back seat. Probably could have gotten a 4 Runner.

 

I don't do any serious offroading so I opted for the Sport over the OR. I did however buy an Access Cab in a manual. I wanted a 'long bed' in a manual, and since they don't make the DBLB in a manual it pretty much decided for myself. I grew up driving manuals and prefer their control in winter conditions.

The backseats are pretty much useless. Pretty sure the only people to sit back there were drunk friends I've picked up from the bars, and that was maybe twice. So I built a (split/removable) platform back there to make everything flat. That way all my gear can sit evenly.

When I ordered my truck (because apparently Sport AC manuals aren't popular) the dealership kept pushing DCSB trucks for future family/growth. They were definitely trying to plant that seed of doubt and sell current stock on the lot. But so far in the last two years of ownership I haven't really felt the need for backseats.

 

Manuals themselves are becoming less popular. Don't know if it's because people are lazy, increasingly strict MPG regulations, or both.

I can't get into the paddle shifters the new vehicles have.

 

Exactly.

 

Got a young kid, we drive up to our lake house every other weekend (at least) so the double cab is great. It's definitely not F150 quad cab spacious but I don't feel like it's too bad?!? Maybe we're smallish people.

A long bed would come in handy a few times a year maybe but the tradeoff for me (parking in the city, living in the city in general) make the short bed a good choice. Fits 2 dirtbikes with the tailgate down without an issue or if I'm solo I can get it in on an angle and close the gate. Honestly, I usually load straight in and leave the gate down. You do have to throw a strap on your stand, gas can and ramp with the gate down though.

Automatic... I'd personally prefer another manual. 2 things- 1) sitting in hours of traffic- an auto wins. More than wins. Chicago traffic SUCKS. 2) (probably the real reason) dealer had 5 tacos on the lot. 4 sports, one off-road. None had a manual. I wasn't in the mood to wait- I push trailers around our property at the lake house and (with a simple mod) 2hi with the rear end locked is awesome.

 

Who needs a long bed?



When it's not in use.

 

If you need a full size truck, well for hell's sake buy one. I don't need or want a full size truck so the DCSB works perfectly for me. I personally wouldn't buy the 6' bed because it's just about as useless as the 5' bed, and the longer bed makes parking in cramped parking structures just that more difficult.

My kids don't complain. If you need a mini van with "comfortable" back seats go buy one.

IMHO there's no benefit of a manual, except that some people really, really like them. Those people should buy a manual, everyone else should drive an automatic.

Thanks to this mod, https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/locker-anytime-mod-for-dummies-2005.353724/I use mine quite often in the winter. My parking garage ramp gets slippery as snot and the locker is just the ticket to getting out.

There isn't a perfect vehicle, period. Pick the one with the least number of compromises for your needs. Your post doesn't give us any idea of what YOUR needs are, so it's hard to offer any help

 

I went from an F-150 Super crew to the DCSB Tacoma. Never even considered the long bed. I'd driven full size trucks for 30 years and wanted something smaller. A DCLB is the same overall length as what I'd been driving with much less payload and towing capacity. if I'd needed more room in the bed I wouldn't have bought a Tacoma, even a long bed. I found the seating in the rear more valuable to me than 1' more bed length offered on the Access Cab.

Even the long beds on these trucks is pretty limited compared to 1/2 tons. Not just length, but width and depth as well. It is payload that usually limits you more than cubic inches. You can't put much weight in any of them regardless of bed length.

I burn a BUNCH of firewood every winter. I figured out long ago that a 5'X10' utility trailer will haul at least 2X more firewood than I could put in the bed of a 3/4 ton with an 8' bed. Even the little Tacoma pulls that with ease. It is a lot easier to load and unload heavy cargo from a trailer with a ramp than getting it up into a truck bed and it doesn't beat up the bed.

The 5' bed with a cap on it hauls 90% of what I need to haul. The trailer does the rest.

AT vs MT? In 2017 manuals offer zero advantages. An automatic costs more initially, but is worth more down the road. Cost is a wash long term. But if someone just likes stirring the stick as they drive down the road then they are welcome to do so. What ever makes you happy.

 

i wish the 2015 tacoma limited came with manual transmission but only option was automatic for the limited.
reason i bought the limited is because it came with sub woofer and amp already along with navigation.
saves me money for mods for truck because i dont have to spend for stereo system.

 

The long bed is only advantageous when whatever you're hauling is between 5' and 6'. If it is over 6' long, then you'll be putting the tailgate down anyways. I get why people like the longer bed, but it is not dramatically "better" than the short bed for many applications. My biggest need is to be able to throw some Ugly Drum Smokers in the back. A 6' bed would do nothing but eat up garage space.

As for the double-cab, the kids' seats fit back there just fine and they're comfy. It all gets the job done for me.

Objectively, there isn't really much of an advantage to a manual transmission any longer. They used to be a little faster, a little more fuel efficient, and give you a couple of extra options for gears. The opposite is true anymore (save for some autos still having fewer gears). Other than some specific situations where choosing, and holding, a certain gear is needed, manuals are the slightly slower, slightly less fuel efficient option for people that just love the feeling of driving a stick and nothing more. I went from 10 years of rowing my own gears to an automatic. It's way boring, but at least a little bit functional. I would like to get back in to a DD car with a stick. Commutes are much more engaging with a manual transmission. My DCSB Tacoma has thus far been a great fit for some particular needs, though, so it hopefully won't be going anywhere.

 

I have a DCSB, and i don't regret it. While the short bed sucks, any time i need to haul anything bigger i use a utility trailer, or borrow a friends full size truck. I got the double cab because I constantly drive around many friends, and having 4 people sitting comfortably was huge to me. The only reason I didn't get the Long bed was that I wanted the short wheelbase, as I drive on trails that require this frequently. I also have the rear locker, and use it quite often. But I do tackle challenging trails quite often. If you're not planning on wheeling a lot, the locker is unnecessary, as long as you have 4x4 and good tires, you'll be fine most places. I also got the automatic trans because I have driven both off road, and without re-gearing and/or getting a 2nd T-case, off roading with a manual kinda sucks. But I wouldn't mind daily driving a manual on the road. probably better mpg, and more fun to drive.

 

Short wheelbase is much more capable off-road if you live in a place where you might have to turn your truck around in a small space. The shorter wheel base also is much less likely to high center.

Short Bed is perfectly sized for camping gear, recovery gear, sundries, and typical daily cargo. Get a canopy with roof racks if you need to transport plywood or 10 foot lengths of pipe.

The back seats in the doublecsb are not cramped for a small truck. They are spacious, actually. Anyone who thinks they are cramped failed geometry in high school. It is, after all, a small pickup, and the inside cannot be larger than the outside. You cannot expect there to be a card table and mini-bar in the back. For normal humans, it's totally fine.

I bought an auto so my wife and kids could take turns driving. My 13 year old daughter already has her "hillbilly license" in the silver taco:

 

I've ridden in the back of my truck and I'm an honest 6 ft tall. It wasn't bad at all. My wife and kids never complain about it.

And there's no comparison between the comfort level of the DC seats vs the AC seats rear seats.

 

Buy for the purpose you will use the truck for 85-90% of the time.

I bought an AC 5 lug. The long bed is nice for hauling. I actually like the truck being 'lower' as it's easier to get stuff in and out of the bed/cab.

I have grand kids that occasionally ride in the back, but they are still all under 10. I didn't really buy it for passengers, I bought it more to have inside storage that was more secure, because I didn't want a cap or hard tonneau. I'd be thrilled to swap the rear seating panels with someone that had the utility version of nothingness. And rubber carpet/flooring.

I have no need for a 4 door, 4wd, or v6. It does what I want perfectly.