Is the AC cab going the way of the dodo?

I have my own Toyota 'Unicorn' First-Gen T100, standard cab, 8' bed:


If memory serves Toyota only made them in this configuration for two years ('93 & '94). If I ever needed to replace this truck, I'd likely replace it with a standard-cab Tundra.

As far as Taco's go. I think Toyota will still make the AC for a long-time to come. As others have said there is demand for them, especially for Taco's which work for a living. My Pest guy and my Gardner both drive 3rd Gen, AC Taco's. I see lots of other businesses using them too.

For my purposes I went with a Double Cab, but that had to do more with the fact that I needed space for my GF's teenager and it's nice to have a secure space to lock things up at. The flat-folding seats and the cubby holes are a nice touch too.

 

To be sure yes, though his standup and music stuff was always the draw for me. Cannot neglect his appearance on "Married...With Children" either..

Very cool rig.

I am a married man with no kids, nor will that change. Vast majority of the time I'm by myself..if more room is needed my wife has a Rav4.

While my truck was getting a frame earlier this year I had a 2019 or 2020 Nissan Frontier DCSB rental for most of that 3 months. Sizewise overall it was way more inside room than I have need or use of really. I would rather have the 6 foot bed, not that I use it regularly though.

 

Yeah I enjoyed his standup routines and music too, his role on Married With Children was a classic too.

 

you clearly didn’t read my other posts. I literally said tons of SB owners would respond about all the stuff they can fit strapped into the bed but my point was it’s easier to load a long bed and close the tailgate opposed to tying it down hanging of the back of a short bed.

I never commented on GVWR. I just said it’s EASIER to load a long bed and some people will always value/prioritize that.

I also specifically commented on VOLUME not GVWR. Of course same frame with same engine and running gear is gonna carry the same weight.

I still stand by my point it would be dumb for Toyota to only offer a 5 ft bed. Plenty of folks still want a “long” bed (by Tacoma standards).

 

Thanks!

I get what you're saying, that's why it's great that Toyota gives a couple of different options when it comes to the Taco. The vast majority of the time my rear seat is empty or folded-down. I have driven four adults ~400 miles in my Taco and it was fine (the people in the rear seat were small adults). IMO The rear seat in a DC Taco is better suited for occasional use. If I needed a Taco-sized vehicle with a more useable rear seat I probably would have bought a 4Runner.

 

I had to have the longer bed because I sleep in the back of mine a lot, I even built a nice sleeping platform back there. I'm a biologist and am frequently out in remote places where I camp out in my truck. A DCLB was not an option because of the longer wheel base and once I removed the back seats in the AC and made a platform back there I found that it was pretty close in size to the rear cab of a DC. It's nice to have these options so I hope that the AC is around for a while. I really doubt they would stop making them because of the fleet use, as someone already mentioned. What I think will eventually happen is they will no longer make them available in the other trims, like the OR. It was really hard to find mine and I got lucky finding this in an OR because they were getting snatched up before I could even blink.

 

One of my sons' owns a stick '05 4-cyl SR5 AC-LB. Even though I have a double cab, IMO: his AC is the perfect spec'd Tacoma. When we went to look at it and test drove it, I knew a Tacoma would be my next vehicle. We took it on an extended trip soon after he bought it and the main thing I noted was that it had excellent pick up, and just sipped gas: 30+ mpg was easy. He lives in another state now, but not too far away when I need a 6' bed. lol.... (brush, firewood, bulky junk to the town transfer station). I ended up with a DC SB not necessarily because I thought it was the ideal config, but rather because it was the best choice for me at this point in my life. ... and I got a good deal on it with the four boxes that were checked as required: AT, DC, SB, and 4x4. Everything else was gravy.

 

If they do it will be the last tacoma I'll ever buy.

 

He could have a bigger family if he had a truck with an 8' bed.

 

I guess my '17 OR AC is a unicorn. Who knew...?

 

There are still out there.... Lucked out on a ORPremium AC that wasn't spoken for.

 

Both Tacomas I owned were 4x4 AC TRD ORs.

Haven’t seen any decline on lots.

 

Maybe not Gen 4(although this is when I think it will transition simply Due to supply headwinds) but certainly by Gen 5 I would predict Tacoma having 1 cab, one bed format. The number of people they would lose to competitors would be minor compared to the cost savings of refined part and supplier workflows. Not to mention their competitors aren’t going to be offering them either. Business decision.

 

Still making lots of them, 22’ or ac

 

I looked at an AC before I bought my DCSB. I personally think the AC is the "best" looking Taco, but my kid was 4 at the time and his legs were already touching the back of the seat, so I could see the writing on the wall.

I like the DC part of my truck for the interior space and as a contractor who uses his Taco as a work truck, the SB part has not been an issue. I don't sleep in my truck either.

If I was childless or single I would have probably gotten the AC.

 

The access cabs are rare as hens teeth here in California. When I tried to get one allocated or ordered or whatever you call it two dealers didn't even know what an access cab was.
After about two months a dealer called and said they had what I was looking for, a SR5 AC 4x4, the MSRP was 34900.00 which is fine but I wasn't paying their 6k market adjustment.

 

What really stinks is I recently bought a 2022 OR DC but wanted an AC but guess what can’t get AC OR
in MT now.

 

Yeah the 2nd Gen in 2015 was the last year you could get that combo (unless you live in Canada) otherwise l would have chosen that too.

 

Every time I tried to build an OR AC, it never showed as an option. Just set my zip to somewhere in AZ and voila. I’ve been under the impression that the elusive OR AC was a myth not a unicorn. Learned something today.