Long-bed vs Short-bed

This is my fourth Tacoma truck and the first one that is not a manual. I wanted double cab and I need a bed were I could put more than a couple potted plants in it. So I now have my first automatic in 30+ years with a long bed. I use my truck to haul and do pick up truck things with so long bed was at the top of the necessary list.

 

I picked up a $60 bed extender that more than makes up for any length discrepancies on my taco.

 

First gens had a 7 ft bed in a lot of them, was great for camping. Not sure why that lost popularity.

 

I use to have a 2018 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 long bed now I have a 2020 Tacoma TRD Off Road 4x4 short bed

 

If you are the type of guy who wears cargo pants everyday in case you need more pocket space, the short bed is a bad idea.

 

I wear Ben Davis and Have a long bed. LOL!! The Monkey on the Ben Davis is Me !! So my Wife says LOL

 

Short bed + tie down straps pretty much cover all eventualities.

 

when i was first shopping for a Tacoma, i was dead set on the Long bed. I eventually did a pro's and cons list and for me as a daily driver the SB ended up being what i bought. I'm glad i did as i now wheel with the truck much more than i originally anticipated and i've already been on trails where I would be not having a good time getting the long bed through. I can still toss the tailgate down and haul a couple dirtbikes.

If youre gonna do any serious off road i would not consider the long bed.

The only thing i havn't attempted is hauling my long track 163 snowmobile in the bed of my truck as i have a lightweight aluminum trailer, but that may change this winter.

 

Love my DCLB

 

The one big downside of the SB is that there is no room for that side exit exhaust MESO posted up last week.

I wonder if he finished those flip keys yet. /s

 

I never felt a LB was needed for the stuff I haul. The SB fits better in my garage, is easier to park, and better for the twisty trails getting to my fishing spots. My SB is also my daily driver from garage to the office. It fits my briefcase just fine. I also have a utility trailer when I need more. I don’t need a trailer to haul 4x8 plywood and figured a solution for that. I don’t camp in the bed. Both have their place and needs.

 

Correct. I've hauled (somewhat sketchy I'll say though) 2x8x18's in my short bed with the extender.

Since its a 163 you probably have a narrow ski stance and may get lucky but trail sled won't fit between the wheel wells.

 

There is nothing wrong with either. Looks are subjective. I used to think short beds look way better even after I bought my long bed. But after lifting 3 inches I think the long bed looks way better. Who cares. The way I see it though, the 5 foot bed is more of an open cargo space than an actual truck bed. The 6 foot bed is big enough for my to justify buying a pickup truck, but at 5 feet, it's almost more worth it to get a covered climate controlled closed cargo space the 4runner has with way better interior and space. Depends what you want I guess.

 

Mines actually got the 39” stance so it won’t fit. If I do it I’m gonna build a small box or some platform that extends out past the tailgate. That sucker is long. I may convert my ski over to 36” stance in the future as well.

 

Short bed. But I have a Dissent OffRoad bed and roof rack that allow hauling the big/long stuff.

 

I have the long bed (access cab) but the short bed would work just as well for me. I use the bed for gardening/home maintenance and 5 feet would be plenty big.

I needed a 4x4 and I wanted the 4 cylinder (for mpgs) so access cab was my only option.

 

When I was getting ready to purchase my truck this was the number one thing I was torn on.

 

I love my dcsb. Fits in the garage. I have an 8' Chevy c10 long bed for hauling.

 

I was making a delivery at an elementary school last year and got hemmed in pretty tightly with vehicles parked normally around me and several in a line double-parked behind me. After about 10 minutes of very careful maneuvering I got out. No bumps, no scratches, no nada. I was impressed with the DCLB turning radius.

And to answer OP's question, I have a 2wd truck for work not trails and I need a long bed to haul long materials.

 

When you go from a short bed to a long bed there is no going back. Imo