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Taco Truck Advice

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
I've been thinking about replacing my Audi S4 wagon for ages, but have been dragging my feet because a) 400lb-ft from 2700rpm is fun and b) I haven't found anything that I'm 100% thrilled about replacing it with. The Audi just got hit in my work parking lot, likely badly enough to total it. It drives fine but both drivers side doors and the (expensive, auto-dimming) mirror on that side are trashed.

So, I think I'm going to get a new Tacoma. Here's my conundrum.
  1. I want the V6, 4WD, and a manual transmission. This combination is only available with a TRD package (Sport, Off-Road, or Pro)
  2. I prefer the Off-Road out of those options. The Pro is too expensive and I don't need the fancy suspension, so it's out. The Off-Road and Sport cost pretty much the same, but I think that the Off-Road looks better, rides better, and even though I don't plan on doing much serious off roading and don't really need it, I'd rather get the rear locker than a stupid non-functional hood scoop for my money. At least the locker might potentially be useful at some point.
  3. I think I'd rather have an access cab/long bed combo. I don't drive around with more than 2 people that much, I'm not planning on having kids any time soon or anything like that, and the potential for putting a cap on it and sleeping in the bed is appealing.
  4. The only way to get a V6, 4WD, manual, access cab/long bed is to get the TRD Sport. The only V6, 4WD, manual option for the Off-Road is the double cab/short bed.
So my options are to forget about the access cab and get an Off-Road, or get a Sport and deal with the fact that it's ugly and the suspension is too stiff. Any advice? Will sleeping in a 73.7" bed suck (I'm 6' flat), making that idea pointless anyway? Will I end up hating not having a real back seat?
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
@Nick , I've got the stock 17" snowflakes with Conti DWS all-seasons and some 17" 5 spokes off a newer A4 with Blizzak snows
 

4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,882
447
I have an 07 TRD sport, long bed, four door. I was in the conundrum you are having and wound up with a great deal that pushed me to the sport.
Day to day, I am glad to have the 6' bed. However, I am 6' tall, and with two of us in the back (on the platform I built), and the canopy, it's a bit tight and uncomfortable. Alone is ok because you can go diagonally and actually stretch out.
I do like that I can stash my bike in the tinted canopy, which I'm guessing might barely work in the short bed. I wish the truck had a 6.5' bed and just a tad wider to fit sheet goods between the wheel wells. Other than that, I love the truck.
I have not been in a situation where I needed a locker, however, 4wd has saved me many times. ...And I have a hoodscoop, so there's THAT.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
Yeah, checking if I can fit a bike in a short bed with a cap is definitely a check I want to do as well.

@4130biker: Does your platform go between the wheel wells, or up above it to get the full bed width? Have any pictures?
 

boostindoubles

Nacho Libre
Mar 16, 2004
7,838
6,145
Yakistan
Utility over aesthetics. And I just scored an A.R.E. commercial topper for $400 on Craigslist. Way better than the Leer I had before. Taller ceiling and side doors/storage. 10/10 would recommend.
 
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4130biker

PM me about Tantrum Cycles!
May 24, 2007
3,882
447
Yeah, checking if I can fit a bike in a short bed with a cap is definitely a check I want to do as well.

@4130biker: Does your platform go between the wheel wells, or up above it to get the full bed width? Have any pictures?
On top of wells, just enough room to sleep. I use those 3" thick foam pads from Fred Meyers that are $20 each, and they are very comfortable.
IMG_4749.PNG
IMG_4750.PNG

Lots of storage underneath. I had a complex system in a previous truck that I built, but I like this because it just leans flat against a wall when I'm not using it.
 

stevew

resident influencer
Sep 21, 2001
40,494
9,525
Will sleeping in a 73.7" bed suck (I'm 6' flat), making that idea pointless anyway? Will I end up hating not having a real back seat?
it couldn't be any less comfortable than sleeping in the back of a 4runner with the seats folded down....could have used a thicker sleeping pad though.....have yet to stretch out in the back of the jetta wagon yet as there is a motorcycle frame in the back at the moment.
 

blackohio

Generous jaywalker
Mar 12, 2009
2,773
122
Hellafornia. Formerly stumptown.
I'm taint deep in my tacoma right now. It's geting longer travel and pelfrey bilt bumpers, slider, and skids.

Its a little anemic on the thrilling to drive side, but its a TRD OR so it has all the fun offroad stuff. I don't have any regrets as it does everything pretty well.

Cleghorn - tent04.jpg
Cleghorn - tent01.jpg
Cleghorn - tent03_1.jpg
 

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SuboptimusPrime

Turbo Monkey
Aug 18, 2005
1,658
1,633
NorCack
I'm your height and I could sleep in a 6 foot bed OK, maybe curl up a little bit. No way could I sleep in a 5 foot bed with the rear lift gate closed. There are "tent" options that enclose the truck bed and lift gate and go down to the ground so you could hypothetically sleep in 5 foot bed with gate down and be covered. Like this:

taco tent.jpg


Of course this requires said tent. Or you could skip the cap and just get a roof top tent like blackohio and be winning.

I think if it were me, I'd like to have the option to haul a couple other dudes in relative comfort and would find a way to deal with the shorter bed and camping.
 

eric strt6

Resident Curmudgeon
Sep 8, 2001
23,184
13,438
directly above the center of the earth
Having slept in the bed of both my 6' bed taco and my 8' bed F350 with a shell on the back of each I can say longer is better. In the 6' bed I have to sleep diagonally, the 8 foot I have room to stretch and have my bike and gear inside with me. no way I would want anything less that a 6 foot bed.
 

Adventurous

Starshine Bro
Mar 19, 2014
10,259
8,765
Crawlorado
I have owned a 2007 DCSB and a 2015 DCLB. I much, much prefer the long bed. The short bed always felt a little bit too short to haul anything of consequence, bikes don't really fit in the bed under a topper well, sheet goods hung out a ton, etc. After that truck got totaled I got the long bed and have 0 regrets.

The wife and I sleep in the back of my truck on a platform much like the one shown above. I'm 5'7" and it can be a bit snug with two people under a cab height topper. At 6' you'll probably have to go diagonal and tell your friends to bring a tent.

Get the Sport, I think you'll appreciate the long bed. I always felt they came too softly sprung from the factory, so I wouldn't be too concerned about that. Throw a topper on it and the suspension should soften up a little bit. Besides, you could always grab suspension off an Off-Road on Craigslist for a couple hundred bucks, people are always selling the stock stuff.
 

blackohio

Generous jaywalker
Mar 12, 2009
2,773
122
Hellafornia. Formerly stumptown.
,

Get the Sport, I think you'll appreciate the long bed. I always felt they came too softly sprung from the factory, so I wouldn't be too concerned about that. Throw a topper on it and the suspension should soften up a little bit. Besides, you could always grab suspension off an Off-Road on Craigslist for a couple hundred bucks, people are always selling the stock stuff.
I'll sell mine. It's just sitting in the garage
 

junkyard

You might feel a little prick.
Sep 1, 2015
2,601
2,303
San Diego
I've got a 07 Tacoma with the 6speed and it's awesome. Though I've never slept in it, except in the seat on a trip. I needed the longer bed to haul stuff, then I had a kid. So I got a 13 f150 it's a four door with 4x4 and locker. It is great for hauling the family and the 4 wheel drive is awesome. The locker is nice when it's real Muddy or trying to pull something out. Also wicked donuts. It's a lot quicker to engage then the 4 wheel so sometimes I use it like on some grass or off kilter stuff. But guess what I've never been able to sell the Toyota. I just love it too much, great truck. But to small to pull my camper and haul my family with. You should get two trucks.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
The wife and I sleep in the back of my truck on a platform much like the one shown above. I'm 5'7" and it can be a bit snug with two people under a cab height topper. At 6' you'll probably have to go diagonal and tell your friends to bring a tent.
That's what I'm worried about with the access cab long bed. If that still isn't great for more than 1 person, then I sort of feel like I'd be better off forgetting about trying to sleep in it and just getting a double cab so I can haul more people more comfortably.
 

blackohio

Generous jaywalker
Mar 12, 2009
2,773
122
Hellafornia. Formerly stumptown.
That's what I'm worried about with the access cab long bed. If that still isn't great for more than 1 person, then I sort of feel like I'd be better off forgetting about trying to sleep in it and just getting a double cab so I can haul more people more comfortably.
because of how narrow the bed is between fender wells i think thats going to be the case without building some type of platform.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
because of how narrow the bed is between fender wells i think thats going to be the case without building some type of platform.
I don't mind building a platform. Do you think I'd fit okay with my 5'3" GF if we got up over the wheel wells?