Extended Cab vs. Double Cab

I bought an AC because I have a people hauler already. All I wanted was some secure space for gear. And a long bed for bikes/kayaks.

My younger grandkids do ok back there for short runs (under an hour). Someday I'll probably dump the seats altogether if I can find the utility package trim to swap in.

 

Problem solved



I prefer the xtracab because I’m rarely carrying more than one passenger, but still have the ability to do so in a pinch. This way I can carry up to 4 when needed, but still have the larger bed space to haul bigger stuff and sleep out of. And I wanted a manual

 

Thanks for all the feedback!

 

I went from an '11 RC to a '03 DC... When you actually sit in a 1st Gen DC, it really isn't that big of a space, but it does make a big difference for everyday kind of stuff like shopping or having more than one passenger, or the combination of the two. I would have preferred to have an Xcab based on looks, but for the few short months I've had my DC, the back seat space has served many more useful purposes than I thought it would...

 

Since you're from WA, too, can I ask how you found yours and how the price was? I've found a couple so far, but none in Eastern WA. So I'll either have to go east or west of me to get one.

 

Agreed. My AC is our second vehicle; we have an SUV as our family hauler.

 

Before my Tacoma ExtraCab, we had an '89 Toyota regular cab pickup (22re). We also had a '95 Toyota Tercel 4-door. We traded in the Tercel for a minivan. We wanted the space for our family of 4 and when we had others with us. It was great for space,but realized that we were hauling people around all of the time. We were the drivers to all of the events. It got annoying, so we sold it. We went back to a 4 door compact. Sold the pickup as well, and got the Tacoma.

 

I found it on CL, and for a low-ish mile 4x4 DC the price was good, but it still needs some things fixed/replaced. That's funny, all the decent ones I looked at were all out your way... I'll have to do a little research for you.

 

Haha, must just be the timing. I've only found a couple over here, but they've had kind of high miles. My 4runner was at 220k when I got it, and I didn't mind. But after putting 8500 miles on it in 5 months (when I had my Tacoma for the first 6 weeks of that), I realized it might be better for me to get one with a little less than the 200k mark. I've found a lot more prerunners than anything though too

 

I'm on the bad side of the state, Puyallup.

Just curious how you liked your 3rd Gen?

I'm thinking of going back to a 2nd Gen myself.

 

Sounds like you haul more people than cargo, would go with a DC. Could always get a little trailer if you need to haul anything that won't fit in the truck. I have a 5X8 open trailer for hauling dirt bikes, it is like having a full size truck bed without having to own a full size truck. Super easy to load too.


If you really want a manual trans in a DC, The Yota Shop can do swap for ya, they are in WA.

https://www.yotashop.com/automatic-to-manual-transmission-swap/

 

I went with a ac because it's my daily driver and I have a seqoua for the family wagon. Perfect when I just want to take the wife and not the whole crew. Just point to the jump seats and tell em if you fit go for it..lol

 

In my mind a 4runner is more practical than a DCSB Tacoma, plus you can get it in a manual.

 

this is our weekend warrior/ family hauler. But now that the kids are older and moving on, I'm thinking of downsizing to a 4runner.

 

I haven’t been able to find another one with a decent price. I think it ruined it for me that I’d put so much time into to it too

 

3rd Gen Tacoma?? I loved it honestly but I’ve never had any other model. I only got rid of it because I decided I wanted to back to grad school. Sometimes I wish I had kept it

 

I think this comes down to your personal preference both have all the pros and cons listed in the thread.

For me if I'm driving my truck it's me and my gf and if there are any more people we take her car. So it works well and I get the larger bed size.

 

Personally if I found I needed a Double Cab often I'd just get a 4Runner and a trailer. You get the best of both worlds, 4 comfortable seats and some interior storage and a 5x8 cargo area (or whatever trailer you get) when you need it. Plus with the seats folded down in back of a 4Runner you have a pretty generous enclosed space that you can sleep in as well.

Seems like a Double Cab isn't quite a people hauler and not quite a truck. Since I'm a truck person and use the bed, but at most I have one passenger and sometimes a dog. The XtraCab is suitable for that. Even with a 6' bed I still sometimes need a trailer but at least I can sleep in the back of my truck and use it for light duty hauling.

I take the back seats out and build a cargo platform/dog bed back there in my truck anyway. I will say the suicide doors on the 2nd & 3rd gen Access Cab are brilliant and have eliminated the only negative about extended cabs for me, which is getting at stuff in back.

 

Could try and find an Isuzu Trooper. My wife drives an '02, I didn't like it at first, but it feels like it has a little more room than a 4Runner of the same year. Rides nice, plenty of power, some had manual trans. Still has that solidly built Japanese feel to it. Getting hard to fine clean ones since they quit making them in '02...but can found pretty cheap.

We bought it when she went to grad school...was going to get rid of if when she got a job at a college...but that was 3.5 years ago and still can't seem to get rid of it. She has been wanting a Tacoma for herself, think we will still keep the Trooper as a 3rd backup vehicle.

 

Same for me. I’ve got a kid so a DC was a must, but my dog rides back there or friends, I put groceries back there. Great under seat storage as well. I’ve got all my emergency equipment stored out of sight.