Why no manual transmission with 6' beds?

Hi all. I'm the original owner of a '92 extra cab 4x4 pickup and am thinking about selling it and getting a 4th gen Tacoma. My main issue is that I can't buy the same truck that I have. I'm thankful that Toyota still puts out a manual transmissions, but the main issue is that I can't get a manual transmission with a 6' bed. Seems like all that would change, from a drivetrain perspective, is a longer driveshaft. Any insight as to why the longer bed mandates an automatic transmission?

 

I suspect you can't find one with a manual. Only 2% of the Tacomas come with a manual. Or am I wrong?

 

Because they really don’t sell many manuals at all and adding more combinations increases production costs

 

That flat out did not offer manuals in the extracab variant.

Best option wpuld be to go for a 3rd gen access cab with manual.

 

I attempted to use the search inventory function & appears to be down....
So cant verify if they dont exist or if you just havent seen one on the lot...
Ive been on the lots plenty of times & manuals aren't that hard to come by...
But then again you want an xtra cab, those are usually always longbeds from what ive seen...
manual x-cab, no idea...

The search inventory tool is your friend:

https://stage.webservices.toyota.com/search-inventory/

 

The engine and axle ratios in your 92 were designed to work well with a manual transmission that was designed a truck. The engines and axles put in newer trucks are designed to work best with an automatic transmission. The manuals they put in newer trucks are designed for cars and are done as an afterthought to appeal to a tiny segment of buyers.

If you want a truck to do truck things with you don't want a manual. They stopped putting manuals in real trucks designed to haul and tow years ago because automatics do everything better. That includes all of the 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton pickups. Even the big rigs on the road. Most of the guys opting for manuals really want a sports car, not a truck. I guess they figure those buying the 6' bed are more interested in a truck.

 

We use to replace clutches all day long 10+ years ago as a ford tech, that work has drastically fell-off as theres been less & less produced...
In-house flywheel resurfacing lathe collecting dust....
Ive always had manuals growing up but when I sold my 95 mustang & went to an auto, was very pleased with the transition....
Less & cheaper maint is another added bonus...
Ive run the scenario in my head & theres more cons to a manual truck vs pros...
wouldn't want a manual offloading, nor would I want one pulling a trailer like a boat trailer out of the water, etc...

 

Yep. Aside from the nebulous “feel better,” there are zero advantages to a manual in a truck in the modern age. Towing with our old 7.3 manual flat bed is fucking AWFUL compared to the 2015 6.7 with a six speed auto

 

Just to make you mad

 

doesnt make me mad, not my truck....
just trying to give someone another perspective....

Yeah, In a mustang ide consider another manual....
especially if it was a needle in the haystack scenario like a 91 fox body, manual would be more fun...
But theres no thrill / adrenaline factor in putting around a truck, treating it like its a track car,,, blasting around corners, etc...
no need.
my 2 cents

 

No manuals are offered with 6' beds, which is what I want.

 

I get better gas mileage on my manual transmission compared to the wife’s truck. I know they are same gearing same everything exasperated year and transmission. Unless mapping / computer systems are different. But I’ll get a 2 to 3 mpg difference between the two trucks, wife has an anvil for a right foot so both are bad if she drives plus she rides the clutch. That’s only reasone I would have a stick over automatic.

 

There are none offered by Toyota, period. Just trying to figure out why.

 

Good point. I have a manual sports car already, but I've driven manuals all my life and mentally am having a difficult time with opting for an automatic. I have never met an automatic transmission that I truly like.

 

I can see that as a great argument for an automatic. I don't tow anything, so I still prefer a manual.

I haven't found any disadvantages. The original clutch lasted just over 270K miles and 28 years with no issues.

 

Autos are better for hauling, off roading, driving in inclement weather, and pretty much everything else you do with a truck. My first gen is manual and I love it but modern autos are just too good.

 

I look after an '11 3speed + D auto with that 4cylinder that beg to differ just too good
And I am sickly tired of wheeling it around on the freeway at 70mph in D and it basically refuses to downshift smoothly to 3rd automatically when it needed
Trying to climb out of the valley and starts losing speed
So I have to manually shift the auto out of D into 3 to maintain pick up speed so I don't impede

 

In 2024, long bed accounted for 15.6% of sales while manual transmission accounts for 1.9% of sales, so the combination of these two minority configurations isn't offered. This data is available to most dealer sales staff:

Times are changing. Note the hybrid adoption rate (3.4%) is higher than manual transmission's.

The double cab long bed config was never offered with a manual in the past 20 years. Meanwhile the xtra cab/access cab config has become endangered species, not available with the Colorado, Ranger, Gladiator (or the Tacoma in Canada).

 

You’d have to downshift in a manual also. That’s all an issue of having a 150hp heavy vehicle, not the transmission

 

Pretty simple. They don't want to.

Nische sales like this don't have enough margin to be bothered with.