Parking double cab long bed in standard parking spots

I recently got an offroad taco, double cab long bed. Had a few drives around town so far, a short road trip and one trip to the woods (just a little taste of mud, mostly paved or well-graded dirt roads). Great truck, and my first! Planning to put it to good use hauling some long and some heavy things, especially on farms & in woods.

One thing that isn't so comfortable is how it pokes out in standard pavement parking lots. Those standard 18' parking spot grids weren't made for DC LBs. The truck is 225.5", or 18.8', whereas the standard parking spot is 18' (I read parking garage spots are 20', haven't brought this thing into a parking garage yet). That leaves almost a foot of truck without parking spot.

So far when I find myself in one of these lots like at a shopping center I just park further where there are more spots in a lot and walk, or try to be fast if some of the truck is poking out in a busy area. Only time I really had to worry was taking the truck to a downtown area which is an event I hope to minimize. Parking was pretty packed & busy all over, so when I found a spot, I was pretty sure plenty of people would be driving by and parking around the truck. I try to always back in, but if the back doesn't have a spot behind it to hang over and take half a foot from (losing half a foot doesn't ever seem to be a problem for other vehicles in these spots, as long trucks seem few and far in between), the front of the truck ends up sticking out quite a bit. So far no problems thankfully.

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Any other DC LB (or other 220"-250" truck) drivers had to deal with this, and any tips or personal preferences you'd share?

 

Pic only comically related

 

#trucklifeproblems

Unfortunately there is no 'magic solution' unless it involves a sawzall. As you said, backing into spots can help mitigate the issue slightly, but in some places backing in not allowed/not an option. Not being dickish, but if parking is a major concern, an easier to park vehicle should have been purchased. Or expect to spend more time walking in from the distant reaches of the far end of parking lots, or be a dick like the Bro's and park that shit up close and tight at the mall.

 

I knew parking wouldn't be a breeze and don't plan on taking it to places with difficult parking often. Just wanted to see how other folks dealt with occasions they do find themselves in a city lot.

 

I live in a city and although I have a short bed I have parked in some small spots, and know lots of people with bigger trucks. You are way over thinking this. Just park it, nobody cares if it overhangs the back a bit, as long as it isn't halfway into the aisle, people can navigate around it. I have always driven a truck and have never had an issue when my bed is hanging out the back of the space. I would say my truck is rarely fully enclosed in the lines of the parking space.

You can try to park far away, do this, do that, but you own a truck that you are going to use for truck things. It is going to get nicked, scratched, and beat up a bit. It's ok to try to prolong the inevitable a little, but don't lose sleep over it.

 

Full size truck owners deal with the same thing.....you over thinking this! Just drive it and enjoy it!

 

... trolling or not? DCLB is a small truck, think about how f250 and up have to deal with it. I live in the city (Toronto) and have no problems parking truck at any place, be that a parking garage or parallel parking on the street. This thing is super maneuverable and small.

Always back in and you will park fine.

 

If you live/work in metro areas where you are in and out of crowded parking lots and garages all of the time, it is a big pain in the ass.

 

Mitigated by buying a shorter vehicle or learning how to park a longer one.

Can't feel bad for someone who has to park in garages or crowded lots and buys a vehicle that makes that more difficult and complains about it.

The parking situation existed before the truck was purchased.

 

Trucks stick out of spaces all the time, the Tacoma is a midsize truck, not a crew cab, long bed GM/Ram/Ford. Spaces are the same length for all the trucks.. they still park. People don't crash into them normally, either.

 

I think you're way over thinking this. It's still shorter than any full size truck with an extended cab.

 

Yeah like 3 whole inches shorter than the tundra.
Basically the same size

 

A long bed is typically 8 feet on a truck, isn't it (Ford, dodge, chevy, etc)?

The 6 foot bed on the Tacoma is considered a long bed by Toyota but it is a standard size bed for many other truck companies.

Yes it is only 1 foot longer than the 5 foot short bed, but Toyota calls it a long bed for a reason.

Had you purchased any other normal size truck you be in a similar situation. Had you purchased a real long bed from any other manufacturer you would be far worse off.

If parking was really important then why a long bed, or a truck at all?

 

Maybe think about getting a front facing camera? That way you can pull in as far as possible

 

Just park it and don't worry about how much it sticks out. Try parking one of these beasts, then you have reason enough to worry.

 

I always back into a spot. If I can't find one to back into with sufficient space between vehicles I will just go to the corner of the lot and double park hahaha

 

I am used to driving F150 and it always stick out. Swapping to the short bed Tacoma, it parked exactly within the box but I am always off center due to wider F150.

 

Uber.

(Practicing backing into spots. Still suck at it.)

 

Uber can park it.

Brilliant.

 

The OP sounds like that other guy that was complaining about tight spaces, under ground garages and drive ups on a different thread the other day because he lifted his truck and it was hard for him to fit into them. I'm starting to think it's kind of funny. Their world is getting smaller and smaller!