Access cab w/6' bed vs Double cab w/5' bed.

My dogs voted for the double cab, so I got a DCSB.

 

If you have to have seats in the back of a DC, why would you want to remove them for storage or am I misunderstanding what you wrote?

 

You're misunderstanding. Some buy the ACLB for bed storage space, but you can turn the rear passenger area of the DCSB into storage space as well, even if it will never be used for passengers. Some people like the OP and myself 95% of the time it is just us driving by ourselves. I never haul passengers other than my wife.

I have always been an ACLB type of dude, even though we are middle-aged...we have no spawn [thank gawd!], and I am done with dogs for a while. ACLB works great! Would like to buy another ACLB TRD OR, however Toyota doesn't have the manual trans available in the ACLB TRD OR anymore (those Sons of Bitches!), they do however have the manny available in the DCSB TRD OR, even though I have no need for the rear seats, I could make it work by removing the seats and make that into storage space. Works out to be about the same cubic square footage as a the bed of the ACLB, just can't have anything super long. Anything long, like sheets of plywood...I would just grab my trailer...easier to load than in a truck bed anyways.

DC rear doors are little nicer to deal with in tight situations than the clamshell of the AC too. Like tossing stuff back there like groceries, tackle boxes, MX gear bags, or what ever you're in to...

 

Someday I'll make one..

 

You sound similar to my situation, wanted AC-OR Manual but had to take a DC to get it. I pretty much use it for me or if I happen to be running any women then I would have them as a passenger.

 

Would say 98% of the time it is just me, heck my wife rarely rides with other than the occasional running around town.

Think there is just a smidge more storage space over-all with the ACLB, honestly it shouldn't even come with rear seats anyways, those things are torture devices...should have rear seat delete option like on the SR's for people are going to use it for storage anyways.

Think I might have to buy a Sport ACLB and make it into an OR, which is basically just adding a locker and 16" wheels. Was going to have to redo the suspension regardless.

Could make the DCSB work, but I like the option to sleep in the bed with a topper...I am short...but not that short... If I went the DCSB route would have to get a RTT or one of those tent extensions for the topper.

 

Henry,

I think a lot of us faced the same dilemma when picking our trucks. AC with a 6foot bed, DC with a 5 foot bed. Having a 6 foot bed for more truck stuff versus the 5 foot bed with 4 doors ultimately ended up being an easy decision for me. I ultimately decided that chances are anything that I will need to haul (dirt, bark, lumber, mdf, pvc etc) that does not fit in a 5 foot bed will most likely not fit in a 6 foot bed (like 4'x 8' MDF)

That, and a moonroof on the DC were the ultimate reasons I chose a double cab short bed.

Good luck!

 

Anyone with access cabs haul any pets around? How would a lab sized dog fare in the back?

 

Hmm, no kids yet yourself? Cause you get real good and putting and taking out car seats LOL!! I have one 4yo, but transport my buddies 5yo kiddo and daughters best friend quite often. Seriously, two car seats are VERY easy, but with a 65lb dog - not so good for long trips. When I was younger, 22, bought a 2-door civic and LOVED that car. However, along comes kiddo ten years latter and wish I had the 4-door, hence CR-V, then Taco DCSB. Smart move one looking at 4-doors if you want kiddos in the future.

 

I like that last bit about the option to have a bed long enough to sleep in. I've been looking at tops and they make some strong enough to carry gear on racks and have sliding screen windows etc. Nice option when tenting is not practical.
But I have been thinking of a trailer too. My oldest son has a Jeep and we could share it for occasional hauling of lumber etc. I've got the old Ford F150 now and everybody in the family occasionally borrows that, when that's gone they could just use the trailer ( and not borrow my truck ).

 

Not having the option to be able to sleep in the bed under topper shies me away from the DCSB. I currently have a Wildernest on my old beater, but there times when it is too windy to deploy, and I have to sleep in the bed. The new truck might get a Flip Pac or an AT Habitat, which you can get them for the DCSB, but still can't sleep in the bed when everything is closed.

Think the next topper whatever it is, is going to have windoors, easier access to stuff in the front of the bed, and get a good cross breeze if I am sleeping in there.

Trailer is super nice to have, gets some of the load out of the truck, these trucks make better towers than haulers, as the payload is rather low. Pretty much endless what you can do with a trailer, do an open, or small enclosed, or one of the those offroad specific trailers. We do dirt bikes too, thought of building a rack over my open with a RTT...that way you can setup a base camp and don't have to setup or tear down a camper or RTT on the truck when you want to go explore from camp.

 

That's pretty awesome.

 

Oh I didn't mean hard to install I meant it's a bitch cause you can barely move your seat back then. And I'm tall

 

Strange that you mention this. A friend in South Texas has a very similar Taco to mine. Same Color, blue pearl but his is AC with TRD kit and Mine is SR5 V6 with Double Cab. Mine was night and day quiet versus his. His tires weren't much different than mine (no huge off-road treads) but his was so freaking loud internally. Had I rode in that first at the dealer, I would not have purchased the truck. Luckily my test drive was in the truck I purchased, its very quiet and I love it. My condolences to anyone who purchased the Access Cab.

 

You made your decision over a little bit of road noise? I'm so sorry.

 

Awesome set up!!!!