Regular Cab Regrets?

Thanks everyone so much for your replies, opinions, and for chiming in with such great insight. After a bit of a search, I've got my first Tacoma! I'm so excited. I found an '01 standard cab, 2.4, 2wd -- which is kind of what I had my heart set on. It came up and was a good vehicle so I jumped on it... so that decides the reg vs extended! LOL.
I'm just getting situated and love it already.

 

Auto or Manual?

 

Auto, which is what I was looking for for my daily driver. Love sticks and no doubt more fun better efficiency etc, but I personally just don't want to drive as my only ride.

 

I found the turning radius on the extended cab unbearable, I have a standard cab now that's much less noticeable. I'm 6'2" and it's ok for room, I'd have the seat back further if it was an extended cab but it's comfortable enough during long drives.

 

A rare regular cab long bed.

 

I'm thinking about giving up my 2013 double cab for a regular cab. I've owed 2 pre tacoma pickup regular cabs and enjoined them. Clean low mileage 1st gens are getting harder find.

 

So is that a 1 ton? Most of the longbeds I see say 1 ton on the tailgate. I always wondered what made them capable of hauling that much weight .

 

1 tons we're pretty rare, but they had an 8" rear diff, maybe bigger brakes, upgraded leaf springs. I've only ever seen one. I wish Toyota made a long (7ft) bed Tacoma in 2wd.

 

Took me a year of religiously looking at FB Marketplace and Craigslist to find mine.

 

No regrets. Not my daily driver anymore though. Not married. My daughter and I have been on a lot of adventures though. The tool box provides the somewhat secure storage. Obviously a screwdriver get someone in but crime is not a big problem around me.

 

As a car you would put groceries in and daily life, regular cab is totally impractical. For solo work or a badass offroad machine, the regular cab is a beast. Not the fastest on the highway, but it feels like driving a go-kart on the trails. Absolutely awesome!! To assist with the usability since it's my daily driver at the moment, I put a shell on her and it would definitely be my top most useful mod I have ever done. Shell on any other truck? No way. But worked perfect for the regular cab.

My 4 door Tacoma felt like driving a boat through the same trail. She pulls awesome on the highway. I need to work on getting it street legal/BARd and it'll go back to the daily driver once all that is done.

If I had to chose one truck only, I'd go extended cab and definitely V6 if I had to pick one truck to do it all comfortably for myself.

 

If only I could find a shell for my regular cab. I look everyday on FB marketplace and craigslist but damn they are hard to find when looking for a regular cab shell.

 

there is a shell located at a salvage yard 50 miles from me, from a 95.5 single cab, might need a little touchup (only saw it once)

 

I thought the regular cab bed and access cab bed lengths were the same.

 

They are the same length but the angle on the back of the regular cab vs. the extended cab is different. If you try to use a shell from an extended cab on a regular cab, the shell will rub on the back of the cab near the 3rd. brake light. Only way to get one that will fit correctly is to find one that was made specifically for the regular cab Tacoma.

 

There's a reason it took me years to find my double cab. They are highly sought after. Unless you want / need the short wheelbase, I'd go with the double cab, but that's just me. A double cab with the flip down bed extender has been great for my needs. Camping and road trips are mighty comfy in a double cab

 

Thought I'd chime in, having lived with a base-model, standard-cab for over 4 years.
First thing I did was add an ARE fiberglass raised-height cap. That solves the problem of where to put groceries if the passenger seat is occupied, or where to keep stuff somewhat secure and out of the weather. The cap's windows are tinted so cargo is harder to see, plus I have mats and carpet to help me hide stuff.
Downsides are the cap and tint definitely hinders the rear view while backing up and makes forward cargo hard to reach, though pockets in the bed-liner allow fitting a piece of lumber to keep important items within easy-reach near the tail-gate.
With a 5-speed, I have no complaint about power.
I do have a couple automatic sedans - '96 Camry & '98 Altima - for when I need more interior room and comfort, and less hassle if I'm stuck in traffic.
To improve behind-the-seat storage, I removed the PO's crappy 6x9 speaker boxes, which were deck-screwed to the rear cabin wall. Then I secured a pair of compact 40-watt Radio-Shack two-way box-speakers on the rear floor. My biggest improvement was installing AC two years ago.
While I sometimes wish for more room and other options, I got the truck for just $400, with only 71K on it, so I'm OK with it!

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

If you haven't bought one yet unless your single, not married and have no pets, get the extra cab or bigger. The regular cab is for single, unmarried adults with no pets. The regular cab is for ONE person for daily to from work and driving the trails on the weekend. I take mine on fairly long trips every year. With more than one person or even a dog it doesn't have enough room. For that matter a hamster would be pushing it.

As far as what I use my RC for? It's great for my purposes. Being a 4X4 it works for me on crappy winter roads and mild off road trails. With kids, a family and/or pets? NOT.

 

I'm 6'2" and I have a 2004 RC. I wouldn't say I'm cramped but a little more room would be nice for the 1800 miles I drive on vacation every summer. As far as "space" for daily driving? I'm fine. As far as driving trails all day long? I'm fine.