Why no Pro's in longbed configuration?

Someone needs to find a pic of the AC Pro.

 

All the people hating on the Goodyear Kevlar that never even drove on them. Ugghh. They are a sleeper tire that is much better than anyone here gives them credit for. 95% of TW members go wheeling in their minds and have no idea what actually works on the trails or doesn’t. The Goodyear Kevlars are a decent compromise tire, and Toyota did most people a favour by fitting them. If Goodyear glued some big blocky tread lugs to the sidewall, half the fellas here would be gushing about how great they perform.

 

I thought they were fine, and they can't put an E rated tire, or it changes fuel economy numbers.

I sold mine and bought duratracs. Never looked back.

 

For sure, a dedicated AT like a Duratrac is more capable, but the Goodyear’s are not a “minivan tire” and do reasonably well offroad, even in snow.

 

The Pros were made to drive sales up and only to drive sales up, it has nothing to do with being offroad capable. The Fox shocks are the only real performance upgrade over a standard TRD OR and don’t make a difference to 95% of Pro owners.

 

They also get the stronger skid plate and TRD exhaust, plus a slightly wider stance.

 

A skid plate that will still fold if you hit it on anything and an exhaust that adds noise but no useable performance on the trail.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2015-toyota-tacoma-trd-pro-access-cab.403130/

 

The TRD skid plate is 1/4” aluminum and has proven to be very strong for what it is. Not equivalent of steel, but much better than the drip shields that come on the TRD OR.

 

This is the reason no Long Bed Pro. Because you gotta get recovered by a friggen GM. Ughhh.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uhF9gZ-zc-U

 

I’d blame that on a crappy driver, that looks like just another day of parking at the ski hill.
The dude driving probably never saw snow before.

 

I took a stock suspension DCLB on TOTW. Granted I have full @SOS CONCEPTS skids and sliders with great spotters, but still made it

 

I wanted a Manual DCLB Pro. Got disappointed two ways...
But no way I was going to buy a truck that was 20% less truck.

Just gonna have to learn to live with it now.
https://imgur.com/a/BSLTbrc?desktop=1

 

DCLB OR owner here --
basically made mine into a Pro clone (including hood and lights) and have spent way less doing it than if I'd bought a Pro off the lot. It would have been easier as a package from the dealer, but piecing it together makes you feel like you've got more invested in your truck.

 

Aren’t the only trucks made in the Mexico plant the DCSBs? If so, are the pros made there too (vin starts with 3?). I’d imagine Toyota is only going to set up one plant with the different parts/paint for the pros, and of long beds aren’t made there...

 

The Mexico plant does make only v6 DCSB, but not the pro from what I can find and the Texas plant makes all models.

Edit: My guess it that the Mexico plant is setup to produce the most popular models only so they can pump out enough supply, while the Texas plant gets all the unique models.

 

I agree. And for that reasons the original question stands- along with the best responses about off road capability of a short vs long bed.

I tried, unsuccessfully, to convince the dealer to locate a US made truck. However, being that I was looking for DCSB, it seems very difficult. Supporting your theory about pushing out the most popular configuration. After all, the sales numbers are astonishing.

 

I know that partner... I was answering in reference to a DCLB vs. DCSB

 

It's a true statement. Nothing Toyota does is done without focus on how it will drive up sales and profit.