Future of the Extra Cab?

I will probably get a 25/26 extracab. I have an 06 access cab now, don't need a 4-seater, def need a 6' bed, and don't want an extra long truck.

But I need that back of the seat storage for tools. I haven't actually looked at the new trucks so I don't know how the loss of those suicide doors will affect access to the back seat area. I would never buy a double cab though, so I'm pretty sure I'll get the extracab even w/o the doors.

 

^^^^What you're describing is exactly where I was---- wanted a short cab/long bed configuration for the same reasons. There's no question that it would be much better had they retained those AC doors in the 4G design, but they didn't. While far more PITA to get at your stuff than if opening doors were there, it's not that difficult ---- love having the storage area back there and use it frequently. I felt lucky that Toyota didn't decide to scrap the 2-dr option altogether like Ford and GM did. If starting over tomorrow I'd get the same truck again (despite it being the least popular Tacoma ).

 

I get it 100% and agree. But my only big concern there with the 4th gen Extra Cab would be access. If I were a tradesmen, using that storage and access point daily, multiple times daily, throwing tool bags and pack-outs and tools and plumbing supplies or HVAC supplies or whatever I need for work. Having to manually pull the drivers seat position bar, then moving the seat all the way forward 10 times a day would drive me INSANE. Even if it was electric, and I could have my driver seat position input saved for a memory setting, just the PITA of doing it every damned day would cause me to trade it back in within months. Having all that space and storage room in the Extra Cab, and the only way to really access it being a troubling motion of 5 tasks just to be able to clear the seat enough to get my arm back there.... Let alone things shuffling from taking turns or sudden stops/starts and or forgetting to strap everything in to it's place each and every time.... Really sounds like a nightmare to me. Maybe I've overblown things here, probably isn't all that bad and I'm just crying for no reason lol. But I firmly stand in the Access Cab/Extra Cab Suicide Doors are NEEDED on the truck Always and Forever

 

I don't use my truck for work so I guess moving the seat might not bother me that much. If it did, I might consider a truck bed toolbox. That wouldn't work for me right now because I frequently haul soil amendments and other bulky stuff in the bed.

 

I have a Fullsize F-150. I cant get into the same areas I can get my 2005 Tacoma Access Cab into. My Thoughts Is Toyota Screwed Up by Making the Access Cab without the Rear Doors unable to open. I Guide Hunters, I need to be able to access remote areas but also need space. The ease of opening the rear doors and Not!!!! Climbing over the Front Seats to get to the back area makes a Big Difference.

 

I like the idea of that bed toolbox as well, but I hate the idea of giving up a solid foot of my 6' bed. Being able to use all 6' is exactly why I went with one of the roll up tonneau covers. It's super nice, and quick to unlock the rear, and within 4 seconds either side it rolls nicely to the cab and secures with some metal snap clips. Nice being able to haul whatever fits in under it, and keep away from praying eyes and the elements too.

 

If what I read a while back is true, I don't think there will be any more Access Cabs from Toyota, regardless of customer sentiment. As I understand it, the side impact standards are slated to change, soon, and the engineers came to the conclusion that they could not meet them with a pillarless design.
Perhaps they could be convinced to do something similar to the double cab with a shortened rear section?

 

Nissan would like to sell you a King Cab Frontier, I think I see almost as many KC Frontiers as I do 4 doors still more 4 doors out in the wild because production numbers are greater. For your specific use a Jeep Gladiator would probably work very well.

 

I had a 2009 Sport Access Cab and loved it. I had no need to carry people in back, so I removed the jump seats and rear console and with those suicide doors it was perfect for cargo and the dog. For whatever reason Toyota limits our choices on Tacoma and Tundra when it comes to these smaller cabs. In general, you can't get them with higher trims which sucks. There are a lot of us out here who have no need to ferry people in the back *ever* and are better served with a smaller back cab set up for storage and longer bed. I got my Tundra SR5 in the "double cab" (the smaller one) with 6.5' bed and immediately removed the seats and installed hinged platforms for storage and dog. I'd have got a Platinum, but they just don't make them that way. LOL.

Edit: I'd be sorely tempted to downsize back from my Tundra to a 4G Tacoma except for this issue... and the stupid small gas tank.

 

So this was what was I wondering in my original post. Like, is this the end or is there a chance it could come back? If it's not coming back then I either go with a quad cab, gen 3, or a Frontier. I have owned several great Nissans........

Also, the new four door is already so small that it's kinda like the shortened rear section you're wondering about. Isn't it something like a full size inches shorter?

 

This thinking by engineering is also the thinking that prevented the use of snow chains on the front wheels. My T100 had clearance. My 2nd Gen does not.
Marketing decisions.

 

Yeah, the Tacoma quad cab rear seating area is pretty small so, IMO, deleting the rear seats is the way to go for our use case. Like I did with my Tundra double cab. And you still have rear doors to get easy access. All pretty much plug and play and easily reversed to stock if you ever want. Just 4 bolts.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/easy-diy-double-cab-rear-seat-delete.138698/

 

It's not just the loss of the doors. The rear space is a lot smaller that the older gen extra cabs.

I could live with the loss of doors. Just wish the space was still there.

 

Why would I do that? I have exactly what I need in my Tacoma. I have an Access Cab where the Doors Open. Thats why I still own an Antique.

 

The passenger seat folds forward flat making a work surface and allowing easy(er) access to the rear. Going to the passenger side to get your tradesmen tools out may be somewhat inconvenient but so is trying to open a suicide door when you are in a parking space.

 

The two door access hasn't been an issue yet and I work out of my truck. I keep the passenger seat folded flat and pulled up all the way and am able to reach all the way into the middle and all the way back of the truck from the passenger side to lift any tools up and out. I keep the stuff I don't use often behind the driver seat but even that I can reach by leaning into the truck a little more from the passenger side or reach around the driver seat for lighter items.

Coming from Ford trucks that had the barn door setup on the extracab and the doors never sealed tight enough compared to the two door or crew cab four door. Extra road noise and then as they aged with use got pretty sloppy and would rattle over anything but a perfect road, sounding like a door ajar all the time. I was and am pretty happy the Tacoma doesnt have the barn door setup. Unless Toyota was the only manufacturer that did it right? Ford wasnt the only truck id been in with sloppy extracab doors, just the one I owned.

 

I went to double cab from 2nd gen access cab because the back seat is just for the dog. No way to get him in there with the extra cab lacking a door. And I'm a little disappointed every time I have to do a 3 point turn to park this long wheelbase beast. But love everything else about it.

 

So did you get DCLB? I have a DCSB gen 3 and I feel like my turning radius is great. Although I did hear the 4g has a worse turning radius overall.

 

Yes long bed was a necessity for me. I don't regret it. But the turning radius makes me park further away in parking lots. U turns are more complicated and I tend to avoid them now. But that's about it. Poor me. Small price to pay in my daily use of the truck for all the other upsides. If I lived in a city, no way I would have bought this one. The 2nd gen access cab had no trouble at all in the city and felt nimble.

 

Should have never sold it but things happen , Goose Gear rear platform