Decked System for Tacoma Worth it?

a decked does not have wheel wells.

a diagonal section across a rectangle is longer than straight.

my old wooden bed platform accomplished the same thing but had flaws. First, being wood upholstered with carpet, it doesn’t really handle weather.

I really don’t know what’s better. Plywood bed is certainly cheaper. Can be secured with a tailgate PopNLock.
And large clear plastic totes underneath can carry belongings inside and outside of the truck with your hands easily. As they’re not locked to the bed.

thicker plywood is better at load bearing but heavier. Though there would be reluctance to load dirty big heavy cargo on top of carpeted wood as that would dirty and tear it up.

another option is BamBeds

I hope Decked would clear my ATHFab bed stiffeners…

Shortbed there’s also ways to use or make extensions
And can depend on topper type if present.
Saw one guy make a curtain extension out of tubing.

but then your feet are exposed and Jeepers Creepers can grab you, and it’s no longer stealth.

The best option might be a Ute tray with box. Higher, longer, more room.

 

I moved from Action Packers to a Decked system (old two-drawer) on my truck. Everything from the AP's fit in the small drawer. Chainsaw, spares chains, oil, etc., saws, axe, pruners...stuff I need to cut my way into or out of the cabin trail. I also carry my old Makita and Milwaukee tools and batteries and some misc. stuff. Still plenty of room to toss the .22's or 870's into the drawer which is an improvement of the rear seat
I added a tailgate lock as well. I moved the rear outlet into the Decked system and I do not have the left-side storage in a 2019 so I only "lost" that little box on the right. The two ammo cans in the Decked more than make up for that.
This setup is a gazillion times more secure and convenient than the totes I was using. I was tired of unloading the AP's every time I needed to go somewhere where they might walk away.
I may move to the new system, someday, but I am not sure how it is organized. One giant drawer could get messy (for me).

 

My point was it sits above the wheel wells so you gain some room on the sides for sleeping diagonal no? I do have an ARE topper so have the height there. Just don't know if i'll like having it in at all times or just use it during fishing season.

 

Yes. Same as a plywood platform.

 

Not worth it. For the same cost you could make/build a drawer system to your own customization while saving several pounds in the process. The only thing. Nice about the docked when I had it was how smoothly the drawers slid (easily replicable with the right skills) and the fact that it was plastic (raptor lining plywood would likely produce similar results).

Now if you don’t have the skills or time to build your own, then you probably have the money to make it “worth it”. YMMV

 

here’s what’s way cheaper
No idea how it compares to decked

plywood platform and totes
Walmart sells sterilite clear storage totes that fit perfectly underneath.
They’re very long. Two straight, one sideways.

they’re clear so you can see what’s inside.
And mobile. So if you’re going through moving things, or want to, or take them out for access
You can easily do that. Pull it out, lay it on the tailgate.

say you wanna carry a bunch of stuff inside. Up stairs. Into a room.
You grab the tote and carry by hand. It’s a carryable size. Potentially waterproof.
Say you make one tote hold all cooking stuff. Come back from a trip. Can be taken out of the truck and be stored.
can’t really do that with a fixed in place large single drawer Decked.

just like how the new decked looks, they still leave a little bit of room for other stuff nearby
They just may not be the tallest.
My old platform I had two sideways 2x6 slats the totes slid under, and those slats obviously were positioned below the platform, “intruding” into the space below.
So it’s not exactly a full standalone CAD designed system

Which like you said actual drawers (though not removable) would maximize space better than that, because it would fit tight and be built together
Rather than just plywood slapped atop some slats

with the price of materials gone up,
2x6 support beams x2, plywood 5/8, carpeting
Probably cost $200 maybe more
but unlike Decked can’t really be ran open top (unless it’s taken off and stored) - pretty much requires having a top over it

I wonder if the ambulance doors on an ARE DCU even fit a Decked…

watched some of the Chloe Kuo video on new v2 Decked saw she put a Badlands jack inside
Sterilite def wouldn’t handle that

 

....also with the Decked system, I can still use my Action Packers on top for temporary gear like the camp kitchen.
For the stuff that lives in the truck, the Decked unit works great....for me.
I do like the open space on the sides, good for stuff like tarps and boots, of the new and improved Decked and the better ammo cans and tie-downs.

 

I don’t have decked drawers, they sure do look nice tho. I have some diy drawers I made out of wood. I like them, but I think I may get some Milwaukee pack out boxes instead. With the drawers in, I can’t fit my chainsaw on top of the drawers with the stock tonneau cover on. Having an empty truck bed can be very nice.