Xtra cab "Back to the Past!"

Yeah the power tailgate is frivolous nonsense, while they took the practicality out of the utility trim, incredibly lame.

He didn’t talk to actual customers and only looked at sales numbers. Well no shit! AC buyers don’t haul passengers! That is the reason we purchased them. I wanted the rear seat delete, but not available with the V6. iirc it was a $1100??? discount too, but no…only available with the 4 Cyl. Think majority of AC V6 owners would have done the same. We use that space for tools, gears and/or dogs. And they fucking ruined it.

Have totes in mine, had them in my 1st Gen too, was a pain in the neck to get them in and out that truck, or just to get into the tote in general. Still have that truck and reminded daily how much better the AC is.

What they could of done is make the floor a tool gear stash, kinda like my make shift version with the DeWalt tool boxes and kept the suicide doors. Though kinda like the DeWalts I can pull them and take the tools to what I am working on. Keep Jumper cables, an impact wrench, etc in those.

 

I actually occasionally bring passengers in my AC. I personally would have left them in since I don’t think they take up much room anyways and I have 2 emergency seats available. Sheldon said 50% of trucks are ordered with the delete option but that I think can only be true for fleet trucks. If you know how Toyota “ordering” works you’ll know that you aren’t actually custom ordering anything.

 

I almost pulled mine and did the Goose Gear delete, but have used them twice. Though in an emergency, they could also ride in the bed. Hell, we grew up doing that.

Think they actually do fleet orders, but keep it on the down low. Most of the farms here buy base SRs by the dozens.

 

One of my long time friends, also a Tacoma person, was considering a new Tacoma in 2017. He has an RV he pulls, and I suggested that maybe he might look at the number one selling truck in the US... the F150. For me, 2008-2012, I drove Ford F150's, 250's, and Chevy Silverados for backcountry work in Colorado. I loved the Ford product. The driving characteristics were much better than the equivalent Chevy at the time. He did purchase an F150 access cab. It was about $10K cheaper than a Tacoma. I have ridden in it, and we have camped with it. It is a great truck. He tells me the F150 pulls his RV as if it was not even there, and he lives in Colorado, so there is some mountain driving. And unlike Toyota, local Ford lots seem to have plenty of selection. I just wish the access cab F150 fit in my garage! (Like the DCLB Tacoma it would be right up against the wall of my garage. Parking without damaging that wall?) Sing it baby! I do love my 2021 Tacoma.

 

The F150 was in my top 4 choices, the others were the Ranger (before they killed the space cab) and the Tundra.

Have been such a long time Toyota owner, real hard to jump ship. Drove my buddy’s 5.0 F150 for better part of a day in the mountains and interstate, really liked the V8, and thought this could work very well for the needs and wants. The ergonomics are a bit different, and do like how the Toyotas fit me. It would really come down to splitting hairs for the next truck purchase.

Do love my ‘21 though…maybe a forgo a new truck and just be content with that for the next 20+ years like what I did with my ‘99.

 

If it was a safety thing to delete full opening doors, why couldn’t they have designed a smaller opening, kind of like the cubby in Rivians?

Toyota is blowing smoke about it. It was funny to see the videos where they were promoting the door delete like it was some amazing revelation.

Seems like they’re more interested in fleecing customers with stupid electric tailgates and removable speakers which probably no one asked for.

 

Sheldon needs to climb over a seat instead of using the AC clamshell doors to access the back of a Tacoma.

 

I would prefer a flat storage floor instead of those lumpy storage cabinets.

And it’s good to have dry climate controlled storage as opposed to putting stuff in the back that’s more exposed to the elements, despite having a topper.

*for clarification, I will never buy a four-door Dad truck because I have like several SUVs if I need to haul people around. I need a truck truck.

 

Yeah even their storage solution wasn’t all that good, the rear gun case thing is pretty cool though.

The DeWalt boxes were a temporary fix until I either built or bought a platform. Ending up liking them being easily removable so kept them. iirc they were $20/piece so a relatively inexpensive solution.

 

@SwollenGoat What exactly are those DeWalt boxes?
I really like those, as you picture them. I use some plain boxes that fit, but they are not durable at all.

This one?
DEWALT TSTAK II Tool Box

$20 DEWALT TSTAK II Tool Box, 13", Flat Top, Holds Up To 66 lbs, Flexible Platforms for Stacking (DWST17807)

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWST17807-TSTAK-Toolbox-Organizer/dp/B00B6K4V80/

 

Yep those are it. Also bought one of those mechanic kneeling mats, that I was going to lay that over everything to make it totally flat, have to cut out for the console, but never used it. Just the boxes work well enough. There is a thread on here somewhere with different platform solutions. Now if Sheldon would read that he would have saw how most AC owners are using them.

$39 Bedrug | Folding Track Mat / Knee Protection Mat | TrailerWare | 2' x 4' / Charcoal Grey | TW2X4MAT

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0097JQ32O?ie=UTF8

The totes are Craftsman 10 gallons, not very durable, can’t really toss them around, but like the shape and how they stack. Use a few in the bed too. Wish I could find something the same shape but more durable.

 

@dleithaus

think this is the thread, only skimmed through it

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-seat-delete-decks.632134/

 

FWIW, I agree with everything you said above. My long term plan is to replace my current Crew Cab truck someday with a 6' bed Access Cab. If I had one (AC), the rear seats would always be stowed or removed. Obviously, it won't be a 4th generation Tacoma. Fortunately, there is a long line of years, and three generations in which they made to choose from. It makes no sense to me that they would drop this configuration. (rear suicide doors) "Not growing sales" is a strange reason for dropping the model; although I guess it's perfectly fine though, as a business model to completely eliminate them, and the revenue they bring in going forward for MY-24 and beyond. Go figure. Used Access Cabs are going to be popular in the used vehicle market.

 

They aren’t losing money, that should be enough reason to keep the access cab. Toyota is not gonna go broke because they left the rear jump seats in a couple of trucks.

 

Not trying to be a dick, but Toyota doesn’t care about you they care about the DCSB buyers who buy the top trims and basically advertise for them.

 

Intagrammers have done very well for Toyota.

Take a top trim Taco, toss the whole aftermarket parts catalog at it, drive out into the woods, take a few selfies, preferably looking like you’re over the moon high on antidepressants, done….

 

I’ve been a Toyota customer for 30 years, but somehow I’m not considered their “target audience” for anything.

 

I would like to fully understand the dynamics and results of Toyota's focus groups --which generally include the full spectrum and "target audience" of Tacoma owners. It is obvious that accounting ("bean counting") took priority over same in the 2024 configurations. Toyota knows that, in the US, they will sell as many Tacomas as they manufacture, regardless of configuration. It is a nice position to be in, but long time customers can feel left out.

 

Salesman tried to push me into a DCSB, told him, nah…those things are fucking idiotic. His response was, ummm, ok…

…also if you’re gonna try any more bullshit, I’ll drive across the street and buy a Super Cab Ranger, and almost did. Had a $500 deposit on one, Toyota however was faster getting the truck in.

 

We went to several Toyota dealerships when I was looking for my access cab utility package SR 4x4, and one of the salesmen looked at my wife and tried to tell her that it only has one passenger seat (like I was keeping it from her) and the DC has seating for 5 and she just said “it’s his truck for hauling his shit and most of the time no one else is going to be sitting in it.”