Soldier buying new Tacoma: HELP ME DECIDE!

Men, good afternoon. I am going home on R&R on 31 July (about 2 months from now) and am going to be buying a brand new toyota tacoma - hence the reason i decided to sign up here... i stumbled across this website and i can say i will be a mainstay here - as long as we arent on mission.

i bank with USAA, being in the military, and i am using their car buying service to get my tacoma. i have done about every option you can imagine and have narrowed it down to the following packages:

1. 4WD DOUBLE CAB V6 AT
-TRD OFF ROAD PACKAGE
-RUNNING BOARDS
=$30,909

2. 4WD DOUBLE LB V6 AT
-TRD SPORT PACKAGE W/ JBL AUDIO
-FRONT SKID PLATE
-RUNNING BOARDS
=$31,071

3. 4WD ACESS I4 AT
-16'' ALUMINUM WHEELS
-FM/AM STERO/IPOD INPUT
-FRONT SKID PLATE
-RUNNING BOARDS
=$26,846



these are the prices that USAA gave me as a member. i am a single officer. i have no wife, no kids, no baggage, nothing. its just me and my girlfriends. that being said, i was originally thinking of the double cab and nothing else.. but the more i think about it, i like the access as well and think it looks great! i wouldnt mind having the back set and the room to keep stuff there when it rains. i could also think of other things i could use the backseat for as well . i have a few questions about the models above..

1. is the off road package not available for me if i get the LB double cab?
2. is the sport package as tough and durable as the off road package?
3. will i have enough room in the bed of the double cab, with the tailgate down, to haul my Honda CBR1000RR? or will i HAVE to have the LB in order to haul it. (this is a must for me - hauling my bike)
4. if i buy just a stock tacoma are they pretty tough or do i need the off road package/sport package?


i cant wait to read your thoughts gents. keep the posts and pictures coming. i wanna see yalls trucks.

LT

 

1. No off road package in long bed double cab. Also if you're looking into manual transmissions, no manual trannys in the long bed double cab sport versions.
2. off road has the rear locker and A-TRAC, sport has the auto LSD
3. No clue on this one. Get the length of the bike and compare to bed size would be my best guess. Remember they sell bed extenders as well that may help in your decision.
4. Stock taco 4wd is pretty rugged in itself. The TRD packages add a lot of goodies though.

I'd go with the double cab off road 4x4. But then again, I'm a little biased

 

i think i am leaning this way as well... only thing is, USAA gives a projected 36 month payoff plan and on this model you speak of it is like 700+ a month. kinda steep. maybe i can get it for 5 years and lessen the payments. but regardless, i will have a 4x4 tacoma.

 

With just my wife and myself I went with the Access Cab TRD OFF Road. WE take it everywhere and always seem to have plenty of space behind the seats for storage. Toyota's web site won't let pick the long bed with the access cab but the standard and the long bed are the same size (look in the spec. section). If you plan on doing serious off roading get the off road package instead of the sport. If you want the look go for the Sport.

By the way, Thanks for your service

 

What he said, but this should help with your question on the CBR1000. Mine is a Katana 750, it weighs just about 450 +/- and might even be a little longer than your CBR. I added D-rings to the front of the bed for a heavy tie down point (you'll have to do that with the long bed also). So far I've hauled the bike several times like this with no issues at all.

Thanks for your service and welcome back!

 

For number 3, I think the SB is long enough with the tailgate down, but the tailgate is supposedly a weak point. I think this was in issue more with the earlier 2nd gens; I've never had a problem in my '09, but I don't put bikes in it either!

Use the search feature - I know there's threads on various bikes and quads being in the back.

If you have any thoughts of sleeping in the back, you might lean towards the long bed. That's about my only regret - not a big one, but occasionally the extra length would help. I don't off road much, so my Sport 4x4 does great for what I've put it through. If you're like me, using it 95% DD (daily driver), you might consider the more rugged features of an offroad vs the extra length of the bed.

 

great pics!! that alone answers that part of the inquiry. thank you sir.

might not even need the LB then! and i dont think my CBR1000RR is as long as the katana... you are right.

 

seems to me the long bed would be the way to go
based on looking at these pics


SPEEDWAY BLUE of course

and

thanks for your service to the USA

 

thanks for all the kind words gents. i have the best job in the world IMO. leading america's sons in combat is the greatest feeling and high anyone could ever have.

the only thing that worries me about having my back end on the tailgate when it is down is that the tailgate is the weakest point and im afraid of it breaking and well, the worst happening... how big of a chance is it if you are hauling your bike frequently? so many decisions... why must they all be so tough!

 

I looked up the specs. CBR1000rr is 79.6 in. Tacoma LB - 73.5 in, SB - 60.2 in.

 

You can add a piece of plywood that goes from the front of the bed to the end of the tailgate to help with weight distrubution on the tailgate. It helps so the rear tire isn't a point load anymore but spreads it across the tailgate. I just make sure the back is tied in tight so it can't bounce on the tailgate doing down the road. The long bed would be easier but I wanted a more maneuverable truck and the short bed does just fine for me. I only haul the bike 3 - 4 times a year but have been doing it since the truck was new in 2007. So far no bends, bows, breaks or other causes for concern regarding the tailgate's integrity.

 

damn i didnt know it was THAT big of a difference. so does that pretty much rule out the Standard bed if i wanna haul my bike?

my platoon sergeant just made a good point here in the office; virtually all the weight is up front anyways....

 

For comparison, the Katana pictured above is 84.3 in. overall length and I screwed up the weight, it's 465 curb weight according to the specs.

 

settled. thanks men. im not going to get the Long Bed. there is no sense in paying extra for 19.6 extra inches and losing the off road package, IMO. that way i can get the 4WD Double cab with the TRD off road package and still carry my CBR back and forth from Fort Knox to East Tennessee, where i am from.

oh, id still like to see pictures of your tacomas fellas.

 

since you are a State grad
here is a joke for you

How do you stop a BUCking horse ?????




















Grab him by the Buccaneers

 

HAHA!!! Classic. Where in Tennessee are you from sir? Wonder if there are anymore Volunteers on TW. I cant wait to get back and buy my truck and drive the highways and byways of east Tennessee.

 

BEER BEER for Ole Greeneville High
you bring the whiskey I'll bring the rye

........
.......
.......

hint

 

oh wow so you are right down the road in GOD's COUNTRY - EAST Tennessee. maybe we should link up, build a fire, sit on the back of our tacomas and drink a few.

 

First of all THANK YOU. I love my double cab but you can only make the final decision on what you get. They are great trucks.