Need Tips for Driving a LongBed

What is so "out in left field" is that BAT owners have a thought process they can park anywhere.

The driver's area estimate guess is a bit off.

But, maybe that's the only vehicle they own?

My wife has a compact 2017 Elantra and I love the nimble/compact feel.

My truck takes a backseat on trips where our Elantra gets better gas mileage...like we did yesterday to Baltimore.

It's nice to have multi-vehicle options...each has its own application.

If I had a Big-Ass-Truck (BAT), I'd be parking furthest away from other vehicles--wherever my chores took me.

It's October so the "outfield" reference was fresh on my mind. lol

 

FYI there's threads on here on installing the glass from RAV4 as well as aftermarket ones with built in spotter mirrors.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/spotter-mirror-vs-convex-rav4-mirrors.632295/

 

Always park facing the barn doors.

 

The DCLB Tacoma is a misnomer anyway, they only offer a short and regular size bed, no long. I lived in SoCal (twice) and had both a giant lifted Tahoe off road camping truck and a tiny Honda Fit and while the Fit was more convenient for zipping in and out the truck just takes some practice. Our DCLB Tundras and Chevy’s get driven to the big cities from time to time and when you see giant construction and sanitation vehicles navigating just fine you realize all is well. If a 5500 or crew cab long bed 1 ton can park in SanFran or LA so can a baby Taco.

All about lining up them rear tires for success (and practice).

 

Has there been anything resembling a true long bed in a midsize truck?

 

There were a few back in the day, nothing recent as far as common or state side, no.

 

If youve ever driven one, you'd never complain about the Tacoma's acceleration again.

 

My uncle owns a Chinese market in Bangkok and he has a box truck like this. Loaded up with frozen fish it’s glacially slow.

 

That's a great fix and probably the best 3G mod can't recall if those mirrors fit 2G. Toyota should be putting these mirrors on 4G Tacomas. Every vehicle you drive you should be able to see the rear wheels when you make a turn. Especially a truck that comes equipped with a hitch reciever.

 

I can't recall the length on the longest NPR chasis but those were pretty long. They definitely took up two parking spaces.

OP every modern truck already comes equiped with what will make it easier to maneuver, it's power steering.

 

Imagine how low the payload would be on a Taco with an 8 foot bed... (Assuming it wouldn't be a regular cab).

I'm picturing a 20+ ft long truck (DCXLB)with a 750 lb payload, haha.

Edit: Fixed because of math

 

My DCLB Tundra (real long bed) isn’t even 21’ long. Not sure why a Tacoma would be 23-24.

8’ is only 2’ longer than 6’ believe it or not


EDIT: looks like a 2015 Tacoma DCLB is 17.75’ long. Thats a pretty short truck. Not sure what the newer ones are.

 

You know, I'm starting with the 250" + 2 ft for some reason, which is the full size DCLB length, right?

Yeah, so I should have ended with 250".

 

If I have to I can squeeze my double cab long bed into some tight spots, but I usually just park further away if the option is available. Part of the reason is I don't trust other drivers who might have to maneuver around my truck that extends out to the end of the parking space in todays tight parking lots.

 

The difference between DCSB vs DCLB is 212.3" and 225.4" respectively.

Roughly 13.1" longer is the DCLB.

To me, that is a considerable difference when it comes to parking in spots that target vehicles between 180-195".

I can squeeze my DCSB in spots for those smaller target lengths.

The shorter wheel base makes it a little easier to maneuver in those tight spots.

But if I feel uncomfortable/uncertain about the area...my spider senses tingle...I'll move away. lol

The need to have and extended bed is there...but not for this truck owner.

 

This is kind of why I usually don't back into a parking spot, because if someone's going to smack into my truck, I think I'd rather have the rear end hit than the front end. Probably doesn't make any difference, but that's how I look at it.

 

There’s more overhang behind the truck than in front of it so if there’s every a curb or the ability to, backing into a spot will make your truck stick out a lot less than driving in nose first.

Also makes you a superior human bean

 

I have said, this in the past on here, why a vehicle (any pickup) made for towing and hauling, not have extendable mirrors with blind spot ?

 

Got to love those who pull into a space with a sidewalk curb overhanging 2-3' of the walkway, those that do the same in a grassy area that gets cut and the workers have to go back and weed eat under the vehicle and my favorite watching a low rider pull up to a curb all the while scraping the under carriage until the tires hit the curb...

 

When I rented a 25ft class 3 camper recently the person renting it had me sit in the drivers seat, adjust the mirrors and then they stood on the passenger side aligned with the rear axle and told me not to start a right turn until the axle was past the end of the curb.

Another reason for backing into a parking space is it is much safer pulling out when you leave the space because you can see better. Companies with large fleets of vehicles incorporate this idea into their training.