Scarcity of 6’ Beds

What is it so hard to find a double cab Tacoma with a 6’ bed? Is there something bad about them? I know one gets a Tacoma for the compactness of this size truck but it seems the extra foot would come in handy on many occasions.

 

2nd and 3rd gens nearly 80% of all canadian models were 6 foot beds, maybe more.

Only manual sports had them, and eventually in 3rd gen the offroad/pro model got it.

It's rare to see a 5 foot bed here. Almost all of our sports are double cab long box.

So travel north lol.

 

Not sure why Canada gets majority DCLB and the US gets majority DCSB but it's been that way for awhile.

DCLB doesn't even get a manual option in the US, they are auto only.

 

It makes for a really long truck to park

 

Nah, its only 13 in longer.
You want a real challenge try parking a crew cab long bed 1 ton

 

No problem finding 1st Gens with 6'+ bed.

 

Because Canadian buyers are poorer / have less purchasing power, so they buy a DCLB midsize and use them in lieu of a full-size truck.

DCLB Tacomas never got a manual offered in any country as far as I know.

 

I miss my 6 foot bed I had a 5 foot double cab short bed now and in all honesty it feels useless after having a 6 foot bed. I now understand how girls feel when they say size matters

 

Apparently most Americans buy DCSB mid-size trucks. That's why competing models like the Chevy Colorado, Jeep Gladiator, and Ford Ranger are offered in DCSB only.

 

With stuff like that I always wonder how much of it is really demand (or lack thereof) and how much of it is the manufacturers just not making other options readily available.

Kind of like manual transmissions they claim there is no demand but good luck finding one on the lot in any flavor, when one comes available it sells instantly.

 

^Still talking auto vs manual transmissions when the basic presence of a combustion engine is on the chopping block?

 

Not sure what that has to do with the topic at hand but I'm gona hold my comments on that as that's one of those topics with strong opinions on both sides and it never ends well trying to discuss it here.

 

only by the people that don't matter, mostly shareholders.

the gasoline/diesel engine is going to be around for at least another 20 years minimum. it beats all current known alternatives on shortest time to re-fuel, and energy density per pound.

 

^It begins with luxury brands like Porsche and Jaguar. Won't take 20 years to trickle to mass-market brands:
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a61534170/porsche-718-internal-combustion-dead-for-2025/
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/bu...g-xe-xf-and-f-type-i-pace-and-e-pace-stop-dec

I wouldn't be surprised if 4th gen Tacoma is the last gen with a combustion engine. Not saying I like it, just the way winds are blowing.

 

really depends on location.

the midwest, where i'm at, everyone i know hauls stuff, and goes long distances. EV works in the city, but literally falls flat at towing or extremely long distances.

there's also the charging network issues. california is very well covered, but most of the midwest is still corn fields and antique gas stations that literally can't be converted without billions in major electrical work, which, with the utility providers we have, just the 'last mile' power stuff can take a minimum of 5 years to complete. i know of a local station that bought 480v cooler equipment, signed a contract with the power provider to get 480v to the building, and is still waiting after 8 years.

far more stations aren't in area's with large power needs, and have a standard 100-200A 120/240v residential electrical service, with zero availability for larger power, and with the coolers and pumps they already have, are at capacity.

i've also been privy to some of the new gas station builders that reached out for electrical quotes to build newer gas stations with ev charging capabilities. depending on how many chargers they wanted, it was looking to add nearly $2-8 million to $20-30 million dollar projects. every one of them declined the upgrades due to the significant cost vs. the ROI.

and then there's the grid... we're barely meeting power needs as it is, and most power providers don't have enough overhead in their systems to upgrade further. it's going to take a minimum 20 years just to get the power grid upgraded through the local bureaucracies red tape to even have the potential to supply the power that the stations can't currently provide. and then there's still all the last-mile connections that will need to be upgraded.

all the houses in my area are 100A service. they'll all require a 200A panel upgrade to even support running the a/c, and lights, with a 60A car charger circuit...

corporately, ford has also significantly reduced it's ev production expectations after expanding beyond the california market, and toyota is rumored to be shifting to a fully hybrid lineup that doesn't require wall-outlet charging. this is all indicative of california and their local climate pushing for something that most of the rest of the country doesn't want, and aren't purchasing, which is a massive discrepancy in the whole 'shareholders know what's best' model that most corporations follow these days, which was what helped create and push for all the ev's in the first place.

tesla has a major advantage to the market, specifically because they started building their own charging network, but now with their massive layoff's of the network support staff, and a lack of investment by other mfg's, due to their expectations of the free market to meet a need that's not there, charging network support in the midwest is spotty at best.

and that's not even getting into the massive amount of inflation, rising interest rates, and stagnated wage issues going on that also stand to prevent related large and small projects from being suitable for financing options for individual adoption.


ev's in the next 5 years is like building a jega tower backwards. need to start at the base before building the top, and far too many people are looking at the top without considering the base is what allows the tower to stand.

 

Others have compiled and posted rhis dealer inventory data.

https://flatgithub.com/kissmygritts...&sha=3e01036ae27e7a3889388650c26af78c42adeb39

 

Wtf you guys got 6ft beds on your pros??!!

 

My typing is terrible, I was implying only a few models got 5 ft beds.

 

I had to locate one in Aurora Colorado at Stevensen Toyota. I drove from Montana to get it. 4x4 Offroad package. Leather seats, LED package, Moon roof, The works. $45,000

 

When I got my DCLB I was told there were 6 west of the Mississippi. So happy I got it though...Not sure what people even put in the short beds.