Access Cab owners, ever regret not getting a DC?

I am happy with my AC, never cross my mind for DC. If a third passenger wanted to ride with me then better no complaint about my jumper seat or else. My bed is why I bought a truck.

 

The AC is inadequate for some and the DC is not the right option for others.


My last truck was a quad cab and in 5.5 years the rear seat had a passenger exactly twice. It collected crap, junk and garbage. My daughter is 2 1/2 so I don't need adult space in the rear for a few years and the AC cab works just fine for me. My seats are always folded up and the headrests down.

I know some always use their vehicles like a taxi so they would need a DC based on their usage. That just isn't me. We have my wife's car for people carrying and my Tacoma for whatever I need to carry.

 

I have less than zero desire or need for a passenger truck. Want all the truck bed I can get, though need a midsize truck; can't accommodate a full size truck. Besides, since the dog gets full use of the bed of the truck, I can reach her back there from the drivers seat; no can do with pax seats back there. Funny too; roughly 80% of Tacos are passenger configurations, that means AC owners are elite.
I had an 02 SR5 Extracab for 13 years. About the only thing that I didnt like was the fixed rear access. The 16s have that openning now. SWEET. Sold me on the upgrade from the 02.

 

I've had a regular cab, an extended cab and currently a double cab. Imho the extended cab was superior in every way

 

The DC isn't actually any bigger than the AC, its just organized to be slightly less uncomfortable.
The actual CAB is 1 foot longer, but the base of the seat BACK sits a foot away from the back of the cab on the DC as it does on the AC, which means that the passenger's posterior will be the exact same distance from the back of the front seat. The difference is that the seat BACK in the DC is somewhat reclined, whereas the AC is absolutely VERTICAL.

For an owner with small kids, the AC offers an advantage over the DC, which is that you don't have to keep checking the child lock to make sure that the little monkeys have flipped it to OPENABLE. It is, after all, impossible to open the back doors without the front doors being open.

I have 2 kids, one straight on the seat, the other in a front facing child seat. Not long ago, the big one was in the front facing child seat, and the little one was in a BACKWARDS facing child seat mounted on a custom bracket in the center position. I drive them about 40 minutes to school every morning, and everyone is perfectly comfortable. Kids are a lot more pliable than adults when it comes to putting them on seats like that, and by the time that they are big enough that it becomes uncomfortable, they can get the hell out and walk if they don't like it.

 

I love my access cab. I think they look better and I need the 6ft bed for hauling the dirtbike and gear. The only time I wish I had a dbl cab is right now...as I'm trying to sell my truck and I'm sure if I had 4 doors it'd be gone by now

 

For me the access cab was a huge step up from the xtra cab I had before. The swinging door is awesome for getting camping gear in and out of the back and he longer bed is perfect for hauling my dirt bike too.

 

Agreed, but I miss my XtraCab's tip out windows. Really wish Toyota left those in the 2nd Gens.

 

The tip out windows were nice as long as you replaced that plastic piece they put in there with aluminum! haha

 

I have had three extra cab/extended cab Toyota trucks since 1992. Loved them all, but my daughter was upset when my 2nd generation side windows didn't pop open. 99% of the time its just me in the truck so extended cab is all the room I need.

 

Anything more than a base access cab was out of our budget when I bought my truck. I have zero regrets and can only think of one occasion that I've even had a passenger in the back (or a need to) in the past two years. I'm sure we'll need something bigger in a couple years when we start knocking out kids, at which point I'll start preparing my case for a TRD OR.

My wife on the other hand, really wishes that we'd gotten the DC for when we go out with other couples instead of making her sister drive every time.

 

went from a 2010 access cab 4 cylinder, 5 speed stick, to a 2017 dclb v6 automatic. When i bought the access cab, it was the perfect truck for me, I immediately tore out the rear seats, headrests, and console because no self respecting adult would ever be sitting back there, and built a bench for my dog. Drove it that way for 7 years until about 2 weeks ago. About to have a kid and needed the extra space, along with an automatic so my wife could drive it if necessary, I wasn't going to compromise on the bed length, because at that point i don't get why people wouldn't just get a 4-runner. The extra length on the dclb takes some getting used to, but it really isn't to bad at all. Biggest complaint is i cant reach the rear sliding window to open and close it anymore, which isn't really much of a complaint.

Moral of the story is, both trucks are great, but my needs changed, and so did the truck.

 

Well, I can officially say that I've got my first big regret regarding the access cab.....My grandmother asked if I'd be willing to take some time off work and drive them 1300 miles to see her sister in Saskatoon. I suggested they fly and I'd pay for the airfare, but Gramps has some health issues and she doesn't want him in the air.

She's one of the most mentally and physically capable octogenarians that I've ever encountered, but isn't up to making that kind of drive.

Sure, their Explorer is sweet, but I'd feel much, much more comfortable driving my own vehicle.

 

only when 4 of us took a 3500 mile road trip in it.

 

Love my AC, only thing I wish was that the back windows roll down for my dogs to get some air. We don't have kids and it is a extra vehicle that rarely gets used so the bed size was more important than the cabin size.

 

No regrets!

After my '07 Access Cab TRD Sport PreRunner 4.0/auto was totaled in June with 142K on the clock, I was squeezed out of the market by the puny pay out from Geico. I kept my eyes open and in September found another '07 Access Cab Prerunner, this time a SR5 4.0/auto, with only 28K miles and always garaged.

I think it was in '09 the rear seats were changed which all but eliminated the most useful shelf and underseat storage I have in my '07. Though now 11 years old, it is still the most useful configuration for me.

I do miss the overhead outside temp gauge and compass as well as steering wheel radio controls of the TRD. I'm not whining, very happy to again have a Taco.

 

No way I would want my bed any shorter than this.

 

I've had my '01 EC for going on 15 years. I can probably count the times on 1 hand I would have liked to have a DC in that time. The AC doors would be much handier. I'll probably upgrade this truck later next year and will likely get the AC. AC/DC is not a huge deal, but I have absolutely no use for a truck with a 5ft (or shorter bed). As above, I haul my bikes around in it.

 

I almost regret not getting a tundra ha. All things aside, I'm glad I have the DC so a carseat fits, dogs have more room, toolboxes, etc. Never needed the missing bed length.

The one thing I don't like is the seats don't fold down as nice and flat as some other trucks so you can slap toolboxes on top easy. Lots of storage space though.

 

I actually have ONE reason for preferring a DC. And that is for a sun/moon roof. (Had one in my '88 Prelude, and used it constantly.) But the justification is really negated by having my FJ40 which I NEVER have the top on anymore..