Scarcity of 6’ Beds

I found a few in my area back when I was shopping. Long beds were maybe 1 in 8 or 1 in 10 for the OR. I spent a while finding one with the options I wanted. Took a test drive and ended up not liking the way it drove so I bought a short bed.

 

This is the doing of the folks who control the dealer allocation process. They apparently use some sort of marketing algorithm to decide what will sell in a specific region and then "allocate" only those models to the dealers in that area. If you think it's hard to find a DCLB, it's easy compared to the search for an ACLB.

 

From my general observation from Tacoma watching around here the answer to this question is "nothing". Also, it's rare to see a DC Tacoma with anyone riding in the back seats.

 

I'm holding out for the 2025 4Runner L. That thang is going to ride so smoove.

 

Would have killed for a crew cab 6ft bed and a manual Trans!

lol, use to drive an 05 Crew cab F350 6.0 Diesel with a "6"spd and an 8ft bed, usually parked better then some compacts in spaces because i knew it was a big truck. miss that truck, but sold that and put that money into my down payment for my house so that was worth it

 

The biggest advantage of a Tacoma is the small size. The biggest disadvantage is the small size.

If you're thinking about a DCLB just buy a 1/2 ton extended cab. With a DCLB Tacoma you get all of the disadvantages of a full size truck and none of the advantages. With a 1/2 ton you get the same wheelbase, a larger rear seat, but with a 6 1/2' bed that is both wider and deeper. About the same fuel mileage too. But the Tacoma DCLB still has a smaller cab with about 1/2 the towing and payload of a 1/2 ton even though it's the same length.

I bought a Tacoma because I wanted something small and easy to maneuver. I've had the 5' bed for 17 years now and still haven't found anything I can't haul where another 12" in the bed would matter.

 

Need one of those Custom Deluxe Chevy 30s

 

I live in S.E. U.S. and yes they were not too easy to find. So much so that I got the short bed. What really sucks is there was a MT one similiar to mine and nearby, but I wanted an AT in case my family needed to use the truck. Im some what regretting that since now the truck is my daily driver and no ones had to use it yet!

But finding a decent low mileage truck with the platinum or whatever warranty and a 6' bed was difficult enough that I just ended up going with the short box.

edit: I will add that I havent really had too many experiences where I thought "Damned this short bed!" lol I wanted the 6' but Ive still used the bed a good bit without many problems.

 

This line of thinking was what pushed me over to a short bed, along with actually test driving a long bed.

Another key point is that even with a 5.5ft bed, half tons still have more bed volume than a 6ft taco bed due to the width and height.

 

When my '06 AC 5MT needed replaced this past February, I decided to move up to a double cab so that I could fit a baby seat in the back and still have someone sitting up front; I looked pretty hard at both DCSB and DCLB options. I was shopping used 3rd gens, and mostly stuff either older than 2020ish or over 100k miles based on my budget. I very nearly went the DCSB route because I really, really didn't want to give up driving a manual, but in the end the 5' bed just felt too short for me. There have just been enough times where what I needed to haul just barely fit in the bed, or could work with the tailgate down but wouldn't feel manageable if another foot of it was sticking out. Looking within like two thousand miles of where I am (southern VT), I came across maybe a dozen or two 3rd gen DCLB options over a couple of months of looking. Finally ended up with a 2017 TRD Sport DCLB with all the options. Long story short, I find the DCLB to be a pretty reasonable configuration, and with the backup camera and sensors I don't think it's any harder to park than my Access Cab was, and actually it's probably easier. I'd kill to have it in a manual, and it's annoying that there's so few of them around that you just have to jump on whichever one you can find. I'd definitely not have opted in for that fucking fake hood scoop or gotten it in white if there'd been any other better options.

 

Not much. Only reason I got a SB is the 6MT. How often I have to use my utility trailer is ridiculous.

 

That thing is a BEAUTY!

 

I noticed the early 1970s flagship GM wagons moms drove in my upbringing were almost 3 inches longer than my 2024 TRD OR long bed.

To the overall topic, it was a challenge for me to get what I wanted. Not just the long bed, but the locker axle and packaged neither too base or too fancy. Same for paint that was not to stand out or black.

 

Scarcity of people using tacos for anything but flexing

 

i'm into a different kind of flexing

can you believe people just threw out this free money?!?

 

5' beds are for those not hauling anything*.
May as well swap the bed for a 3rd row of seats and trunk.

*edit: except bed rack and rtt, duh!

 

this is why I "argued" for getting a 4runner, and a small trailer. don't need my truck near as often as I have in the past. but the Tacoma does hold it down as the "farm truck"

 

Dad trucks killed pick up trucks for the rest of us.

 

Never thought I'd miss the old 7'2" bed, used to curse it carrying plywood. Would sure love to have it back now.
Dragged around up to 2000# of tools and hardwoods for years without a problem.