Green light! Putting a deposit down on a 2022. Build input appreciated!

Well folks, it’s happening! I have a green light to put a deposit down on a truck of my choice (mostly, lol). I’ve been stubbornly refusing to replace my 99 crown Victoria which has been my primary commuter for the past 23 years. Well, my 17 year old started sharing my car. I cautioned him to drive it gently but I was naive to think he’d show restraint. He blew two pistons, after he admittedly pushed her over 100 MPH on the interstate. Needless to say, he’s lost driving privileges for an undetermined amount of time. Point is, my car purchase schedule has been pushed up! I’ll be putting down a deposit in the next couple days, once I figure out what I want. Suddenly, I’m feeling a ton of anxiety now that this actually happening.

The one thing my wife insists on, is heated seats and an AT. I tried to sway her into the MT camp but no dice. Anyway, now that this is actually happening I’d love some input on the build I’m putting together. Also, and I realize this audience is biased, but if anyone would recommend a mid sized truck from one of the competitors, please chime in. I’d like to stay close to 40 if possible, but 45ish is the most I’d be comfortable spending before tax, title, etc.

Current Configuration: Lunar TRD OR Long Bed, 4x4, AT, Premium Package w/Advanced Tech, Bed lighting, Black Out Emblems, TRD Factory Lift (this option isn’t available for some reason on the long beds, but I’ve heard that some dealers will still install this package). I want all the safety features to work but I’d also like a very modest lift. The Long Bed looks better lifted just a bit, IMO.

Thoughts? I don’t plan to do a ton of off roading, but I’d like the option to do so with confidence. With regards to the bed length, I’m 99% certain that she’ll fit in my garage, barely….but I need to measure this evening to verify. If it won’t fit, I’ll downgrade to the 5ft bed. Any must have factory options that I’m missing?

Anyone regret getting a LB? Anyone regret getting a SB?

Thanks in advance. This community is awesome!

 

Welcome aboard!

 

I was in the same boat with the wife but MT is so worth it. They are a dying breed so enjoy it while you can. I wouldn't be driving a Tacoma if I couldn't row my own gears. How often would your wife drive it?

 

I would purchase the blackout package separately aftermarket, it’ll be much cheaper, you can search on Amazon/Etsy for the Tacoma blackout emblem set and it’ll cost you ~$60 instead of over $200. Could say the same for the bed lighting kit and they’re also fairly easy to install yourself. I would like a long bed as well, but was lucky enough to find a short bed in pretty much the same spec as you so that’s what I’m going with.

I live in a cold ass area so heated seats for myself and my wife was the big one.

I def see someone saying “I wish I had a longer bed” but never the other way around. I’m going to use my truck as a daily driver and to haul firewood with a trailer so the short bed shouldn’t be a huge issue for me.

 

I regret the SB bc it's always just not big enough. Can't tell you how many times it would've been useful to have like 6 more inches

 

I second skipping the factory installed bed lights and installing yourself, instead. Bed lights are a $180 option, but you can buy the OEM light kit from your dealer for like $50 and install them in 5 minutes. All you have to do is take the tail lights off by unscrewing two bolts that hold them in place and plug the bed lights into the plug-and-play harness that comes prewired for them in every Tacoma.

Also…long shot, but if you happen to be in DFW I have a 2022 long bed TRD OR with the AT, TRD lift installed, premium/advanced tech package, blackout, and bed lights. If you happen to be local to me I would be happy to let you and your wife drive it, since you are looking at the exact same truck. Only difference is mine is army green .

 

I have only "regretted" the short bed when loading bikes in the bed. For example my 27.5 was a hair long, and closing the tailgate would compress the suspension about 1/8". My road bike fits fine, and the MTB WOULD fit with the forks on the ground, I was using a fork mount on the front rail.

I did want an access cab then I did my sleeping platform and am now super happy I went with the crew cab instead. I can fit. I wouldn't be able to in the access cab.

5 feet does enough for me. Other than a specific application between 5 and 6 feet, that extra foot of space won't do much for you vs. the difference between a 5ft bed and an 8ft bed, THAT you would notice. At least for me, that extra foot of space, I would hardly notice it. And DCSB is the high runner, made the most configuration, so you have more "buyers power" since another dealer may have a similar vehicle that you can cross compare - DC LB is pretty uncommon, especially nowadays, that a dealer with one won't play ball with negotiations because someone else will pay what they're asking for something less common like that.

 

It's going to be my truck primarily, but she'll still be driving it frequently enough that her concerns are valid. It's not a huge sacrifice for me, especially since I have the LB option available to me with the AT. I was actually going for a much leaner build....basically the same but only the advanced tech package/LED lights, not premium. I figure it's a fair trade. MT for the Premium Package. Honestly, given my current daily driver, I'm just thrilled to be getting such a nice truck, even if it isn't a MT.

 

I have never once regretted having a long bed, in fact I've never had a truck with a bed shorter then 6'. Sometimes you'll have to embrace the 3 point turn in a tight parking lot, but I think its well worth it. If you're going double cab long bed instead of access cab, be aware that it has a very low payload of 1,100 pounds.

Personally, I'd give the new Nissan Frontiers a hard look (an opinion I'm sure I'll get plenty of shit for). Most powerful midsize truck and cheaper than the Tacoma, especially when you consider all the markups new Tacomas often have right now. Trans and new engine have been fitted in the old Frontier for the past couple of years too, so no worries about first model year issues.

 

It depends on how much you want to do to your truck verse just getting dealer installed options and driving it off the lot and that's about it.

For me, I should have bought an SR5 as that would have handled the off-roading I do (fire roads/gravel roads/unmaintained Northern Wisconsin roads) as I've pretty much replaced everything else with better (imo) aftermarket options that came standard on my TRD Off-Road with Premium and Tech package.

 

You're going to want to hangout here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-request-whatever-it-is-called.724431/page-73

Long story short, you can't actually "order a truck". Basically, you are putting yourself on a waitlist for a truck that Toyota may or may not build and then may or may not allocate to the regional distributor that may or may not allocate to your dealer. I know I'm making it sound a bit depressing, but unfortunately that's the truth.

The more open you are to different configurations, the quicker your dealer will receive an allocation to match to you.

 

So which one of these Crown Vics was yours?

 

Went from a 6ft to a 5ft. No regrets whatsoever.

 

I'd like to mention that at least on the TRD OR, you'd need to get the premium package to get heated seats. They're buried in that $5000 package. So keep that in mind, I think that brings you to basically 45k before TTL. I'm assuming Auto, DCSB.

The way you have it configured, That sounds like it would go well over your budget. Just a note. Advanced tech would add more cost, TRD factory lift is thousands more. I think you're looking at 50k or over out the door with all that.

 

That's super generous of you. I used to live in Dallas but am now in UT. Thanks for the offer! That said, I'd love to see some pictures. I'll see if I can find any via your profile. Appreciate the input! Will definitely do the bed lighting myself and blackout, myself.

 

Unless you get super lucky, ^this^ is what we are all experiencing right now. Be willing to budge on some options, Call every dealer within the radius you can handle traveling in, figure out who will sell at MSRP and minimal or no dealer pack. And then put a deposit down at multiple or at least reach out to them on allocation days every 2 weeks.

It's all an odds based game if someone gets a truck close to what you want. Raise your odds by spreading your chips around.

 

I have some wiggle room but if the factory lift is available on the TRD OR DCLB, I'll probably remove the advanced tech. I'm right at 45k as configured before tax/license (without the lift).

 

I'm actually not in a huge rush and would be willing to wait 6 months if need be. I'm commandeering one of our "teenager" cars to get me by. Have you heard of anyone waiting longer than six months? Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

 

Yeah 45,450 before TTL, and if you can find MSRP and no dealer package charges. So it's right on the line of budget. I hope you find it!!! I've seen the lift installed on a LB but it seems like many dealers don't want to do it.

Yeah absolutely. We have seen people get pushed into the next model year. Sometimes that is because it's a PRO, but it all depends on your build, region, and how rigid you are.

 

100$ heated seat kit on ebay , 35$ hog ring plier kit with hog rings, 4$ Add a fuse, and a Saturday in the warm living room watching someone else’s instructions on YouTube in front of me. Easiest heated seats ever. The power driver seat took a few minutes to disassemble the cowling. I would recommend this a million times over after having just recently finished it. Dealership was asking for something like 700-900$ for added heated seats.