Access vs double cab

My current Tacoma is an access cab, and I’ve had a 2nd gen 2wd AC. My first requirement was a long bed, for hauling kayaks. When I was looking 2 years ago there were Zero long bed double cabs within 200 miles and ONE 4x4 access cab, which I bought.

There is some great info here on maximizing the in cab storage on an access cab. I used two Stanley plastic boxes that make the floor behind the seats almost completely flat. One box has recovery gear, the other has tie down straps gloves and a few tools. also behind the seat, I carry a soft side tool bag, first aid kit, and an emergency bag.

My wife and I are in our sixties, kids have been grown for a long time. Wife was lobbying for a double cab so our then 4 year old grandson could go with us. That’s happened exactly once, this year, and he was fine in the jump seat (very short trip).

The best thing I’ve done is to add a BakFlip bed cover. I had one on my last access cab and they are great. We were able to go to a weekend shooting event with the bed completely full, with the Bakflip I was able to lock it all up without worry. Of course I wasn’t parked overnight in someplace like Memphis or Detroit either. With a couple of Rubbermaid tubs it makes it a good grocery getter.

I intend to have this truck for a long time.

 

when my 1984 nissan king cab (like AC) gave it up, i went to toyota dealership and said only interested in AC.
fortunately, at that time, they had several. in a pinch you get get an adult in the rear seats with one seat folded down. not comfortable
but that is not the purpose. unless you expect to carry more than one passenger, there is really no argument for a DC, for me,
and lots of arguments for AC, the best being a bigger standard bed.

edit: carrying groceries i do in the bed with a divider for the bed with a cover.
when i have to haul something and remove the cover and divider and i have to get groceries or whatever, i have to admit i do not like having to stuff them into the AC.

 

I've got a friend with a 2017 Access Cab and I've got the 2021 Crew Cab......to me the answer lies in what you plan to do with the truck and how much back seat space you really need. For me, we don't have many passengers now that the kids are grown but it sure is nice to have that extra room from the full 4 door truck. I've also seen some pretty neat seat delete kits that may help you accomplish your goal of getting your bike in the cab regardless of the model you purchase. Extra room is never a bad thing in my opinion....unless it won't fit in your garage.

 

The wife has always had her own car so no need for me to haul people thus Access Cab with the jump-seats removed (manual transmission and 6' bed).

 

I went to the dealer for an access cab but I ended up with a DC even though I don't need the rear seats. I like the extra room of the DC and being able to open the rear doors independently. I got the DCLB since I knew it would fit easily in my attached garage since a F250 crew cab long bed fit in the same spot before with room to spare. Great having the 6' bed.

 

Short bed works just fine for work. It’s only 1 foot smaller. I’ve used my 5ft bed a lot for hauling furniture, gravel, materials etc.

 

Wanted longer bed with a cap. Rack on the cap for occasional hauling of long stuff.
Works best for my needs.[/QUOTE]

^^^ Sums up my situation....

 

That is fantastic packing my friend!

 

Nice large garage, and a tall door! That's my next house as my AC fits in my current garage by 6" on each side.

 

Haha! Thanks! The lady couldn’t believe that I would fit all this in my truck.

When I was in high school, I worked at a shipping place. I used to drive the forklift and handbomb stuff into the trailers, I really learned how to stack/pack things.

 

Sweet rig, can you tell us your suspension, tire and wheel setup?

 

I got the Access Cab simply to get the long bed, within the standard wheelbase. It's a truck. I have a car if I want to carry passengers.

 

I think the access cab is better proportioned, has better visibility when I look over my left shoulder (a big deal for me), and people are less inclined to ask me for rides if it means getting in the jump seats. Once I figure out how to remove the seats and head rests, I'm going to put a deck in there for the dog/storage space.

It really comes down to what you want and what you plan on doing with it. Have you driven both?

 

Once I started, I wondered why it took me so long to make the change. This is a much better use of the space for me.

 

I want one of the rear Molle panels like in the picture above but they are on hold now per the seller. I removed the back seats in my AC last week and haven't decided yet what I want to do to the back wall. Wife and I are nearing retirement and have no use for the back seats. I have two of the Dewalt tool boxes and the cover that was recommended for an inexpensive leveling option. I have overlanding/recovery gear in the two boxes.

 

Method 312 17x8 0 offset with 265/70/17 Cooper Evolution MTs. Full Dobinsons suspension lift with rear spring packs.

 

I'm 53 so kinda in the same boat, wife keeps saying grandkids this and that (which we actually don't have yet), I like the way the AC looks, was just worried that right about the time I switch to ac I would need a dc

 

Not a third gen owner but being single I have an access cab and removed the passenger seat for loads of cargo space.

On the rare occasion I pick up a lady she can sit in the middle bench seat spot and shift for me.

 

I've always gone with Regular Cabs. I like being able to turn around corners. But, every time i mention a RC people start hyperventilating and ask me how I'll fit my eighteen kids in it. If you need a station wagon it's ok to admit it and leave the pickup truck world.

 

My first Tacoma was a 2nd Gen A.C. manual. Loved that truck. Now I'm old and I love my 3rd Gen D.C. automatic. I.prefer to have more cab space now. Also, my short bed works fine for hauling 10' kayaks....just barely. Haha