DCSB vs.DCLB (Ride/products/personal)

Long bed for the win

 

Used to park the 2nd gen in the garage, it was stressful. Now this one lives outside.

 

I say the same thing when going through tight areas! At my last job we were driving DC 6.5ft bed F150s down many city side streets in the summer. A couple of them are two way with only one driving lane. Last winter I did snow plowing with an AC 8ft bed F350 SRW or RC 10ft utility box GMC 3500 SRW on city side streets. Current job we have DC 8ft bed GMC 3500 SRWs and have to turn around on two lane roads with no shoulders sometimes. Were on both urban and country roads but all turn arounds are 4 or 5 point turns

I get back in my Taco at the end of a work day and love the maneuverability

 

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

If you absolutely have to have a DC Tacoma and think you need more than a 5' bed it makes more sense to buy an extended cab 1/2 ton. The overall length is only 2" longer than a DCLB. You have more room in the back seat and get a 6 1/2" bed that is both longer, wider, and deeper. You also get close to double the payload and tow rating with no difference in fuel mileage if you choose carefully. All at about the same price. If you buy a Tacoma DCLB you get all of the disadvantages of a small truck and none of the advantages. I'll take the shorter, more maneuverable DCSB every time because I wanted a smaller truck.

I was concerned about the small bed 15 years ago but have yet to find anything I couldn't haul where another 1' would have mattered. Even the 6' bed is so narrow and shallow coupled with the tiny payload of a Tacoma you ain't gonna put much in the bed of any of them. The 1st thing I did was buy a 6'X10' utility trailer. I can haul more weight and volume in that trailer than I could put in the bed of a 8' bed on a 3/4 ton truck and the Tacoma pulls it easily. I burn a LOT of firewood every winter. The payload on a 6' bed is actually less than the 5' bed so I can't haul any more wood in the LB.

 

That's beyond a tight fit

 

I opted for the long bed because my family often hauls tree cuttings/green waste and bicycles for rides so having the extra space is really handy

 

I've owned 5 Tacoma's. One was a short bed. And I regretted it the whole time.
Long Bed is the only way to go. Better towing. More shit fits in the bed. Like mountain
bikes and motorcycles that you don't need to turn side ways to close your tail gate.
Plus chicks did the long bed.

 

Had both. When using the bed the long bed wins. Daily driving the short bed wins. I use the bed mostly for MTB and kayaks. Was easier with the long but I manage fine with the short. Whatever you choose will be fine

 

If it fits in the garage, long box all the way. I LOVE sleeping in my truck!

 

I have a dirtbike (250F) in mine a minimum of two times a week. No brainer to go with the long bed. Easy fit corner to corner with the tailgate up. Never worry about losing stuff.

I can also put my full size four wheeler (Grizzly) in the back and still chain up the tailgate halfway to prevent stuff from falling out.

 

Can

Can you elaborate on this? What are the spec's/#'s on the payloads?

 

LB are so much more useful and make the truck look right. Short Bus just don’t look right.

 

get the LB. you won't regret it!

 

I think he means this. The added weight of the truck itself, due to the longer bed, takes away from the total load carrying capacity. So, in his example with the firewood, he's able to max out the weight in a short bed. However, if your cargo isn't as dense as firewood, you can take advantage of the additional space of a long bed and still not get to max weight.

 

Perfect, that's exactly what I was wondering, TY.

 

I came from a tundra dc, and into a trdor 4x4 LB and couldn’t be happier. It’s smaller so parking and maneuvering in tight spots is easier, on trails its only a problem when you dont have room to turn around, so you either are good at backing up or blazing forward till you find a spot to flip a u. You can find bolt on sliders, there are plenty of companies that offer them. Most parts fit between the SB and LB, its usually bed length stuff that arent, exhaust, bed mats, camper shells, racks etc.

 

A truck is like a tool, you need to get the right one for the job you're doing. I came from a 1500 Ram crew can 5'7" bed. I wanted a smaller truck and was definitely not looking for a shorter bed or an access cab. This DCLB Tacoma is more comfortable and easier to drive in NYC traffic when I decide to take it to work than the full size was, and capable of doing the things I need it to do. Plus, IMO a DCLB with couple of inches of lift and some wider wheels with bigger tires looks way better and less "stubby" than a DCSB.

 

This was pretty much exactly my thought process when I was going through the bed size scenarios. Ultimately I ended up with a DCSB, mostly because I wanted a 6MT TRDOR, and that was the only configuration available in the US. To me, it makes no sense to buy a mid-size truck that is nearly the same length as a full size. When it's that close in size, why not go for the increased payload and depth/width of a full size bed? I have also never ran into a situation where a 6' bed would have fit what the 5' couldn't, especially with the tailgate down, and if I do, I'll rent a small trailer. DCLB's mid-size trucks make no sense to me, but I get that it works for people. It's like buying one of the SUV Mini's, it defeats the purpose. Definitely agree that you're getting the disadvantages of a smaller truck with none of the advantages. To me, Tacoma's feel like full size trucks from 20+ years ago, size-wise, which feels right. Full sizes feel absurdly large. Those things are already approaching the limit of existing infrastructure/parking lots.

 

I have to politely disagree. Fishing rods fit great in the 6’ bed of my DCLB (at an angle). They have to ride in the cab when we drive my son’s DCSB (both trucks have BakFlip MX4 or our fishing gear would be quickly stolen). My garage accepts the length of both my DCLB Tacoma and former Tundra. If the driver opens the door all the way on my Tundra you slam into the garage wall. If the front passenger opens the door all the way on the Tundra my wife’s Sequoia got dented. All doors on the narrower Tacoma can be opened without fear.

 

Put a toolbox on rails of your short bed and see how much room you have