1st Taco: double cab or Xtra cab?

Hello all, new member here. Am shopping around for my first Tacoma and need some help deciding which one I should get. Very torn between a low mile Xtra cab '00, and a couple of clean looking DC '02s. I am going to provide details to give you guys a better idea of what I'm looking for in a truck.

Here is a rough list on what I plan to use it for:

• taking a surfboard to the beach
• hauling around a small motorcycle
• transporting belongings for moves
• groceries/general light loads
• running some trails
• camping
• overlanding?(depends if I decide to keep the same truck for awhile and if it's feasible to build a serious rig out of a 1st gen)

I also plan on throwing on a supercharger, snorkel, sliders, uprgraded suspension, all the bells and whistles.

The '00 xtracab I am looking at has about 170k miles, v6 4x4 auto trans. Has aftermarket wheels(not sure of brand). They are asking 8500

First '02 DC I'm looking at has 220k miles, v6 4x4 auto, sand colored paint job, snorkel, aftermarket wheels(again not sure of brand, but they look basic, possibly painted), allpro front bumper with mounted lightbar. Asking 9900

Second '02 DC I'm looking at has 200k miles, v6 4x4 auto, bone stock. Seller claims it was their grandfather's, he was the only owner and kept extensive service records. Asking 9000

I don't have kids and don't plan on it anytime soon. The DC is appealing to me due to the fact that I have more inside storage space for gear, and I can fit one of those inflatable travel mattresses in the back should I decide to sleep there, not sure if it would fit in the back of an xtracab(maybe scooting the seats all the way forward?). The downsides for me are more weight and it's harder to streetpark it due to the size.

Any insight and help on my decision would be greatly appreciated. TIA

 

I have four or even five people (nut to butt) in my double cab to go out for lunch at work sometimes. It is convenient, but that may not be a priority for you. I came from a 91 Toyota PU with an Xtra cab and I really appreciate the full-ish 2nd row.
When I was shopping, I put a priority on finding trucks that were more on the stock side. That way you can do the modifications you want and not worry that someone did a half ass / hack job on them.

 

Welcome aboard new member

 

Welcome! I would pick the Xtra Cab considering your situation.

1. Longer bed for surfboards and toys. It’s annoying having my longboard hang 4 feet out of my short bed.

2. You can fit 4 people fine in the xtracab, out of necessity. They won’t be comfortable, but then if they want comfort, they can drive. Beggars cant be choosers.

3. I’m 6 feet exactly and used to sleep in my 01 xtracab when it rained while camping. Wasn’t enough room to be completely comfortable, but more than enough to sleep. Sleeping in my short bed would suck (for me). Maybe I’m just a wiener.

4. Transporting goods. With a camper, you will fit a shitload of stuff in the longer bed. I moved twice across the country with my xtracab. You may have more stuff than I did back then.

5. Street parking. This is a moot point. Everyone out there driving around 150s and Expeditions, you’ll be one of the smallest trucks on the road, DC or not.

6. The kicker is the kids thing. If you’re not gonna have kids anytime soon, I would roll with the xtracab. A longer bed is a godsend when you need it. When you have kids, you might even decide you want to “upgrade” to a 2nd gen or 1st gen Tundra, for more space.

I’m incredibly biased because I loved my 01 xtracab and was perfect for my life before a family. I sold it for a DC 2013, and I still miss the longer bed. So I got another pickup, single cab. I used the single cab for 95% of driving when I have to carry something (surfboards, Wood, sheetmetal, building materials, bikes).

Either way, you can’t go wrong with a 1st gen!

 

It all depends on what you want to do with the truck but if you want to carry stuff around, go for the longer bed of the extra cab.

There is 4 seats in the extra cab but the two on the rear are not very comfortable, as mentioned above, but they do the job

Then if you have the 60/40 front seats, there is a tiny extra seat in the middle.... which bring the total to 5 seats, depending on the front seats configuration you have

So, you can still carry people in an extra cab if you need to. Not very comfortable, but you can

 

Thanks for the feedback! Am leaning more towards the xtracab now from what you said, and the fact that it has relatively low miles. Thinking if I end up getting it I'll consider getting a 2nd or 3rd gen DC later on down the line as an overland rig project.

 

ya depends which thing you see yourself using more often: a longer bed or a roomy cab.

 

Myself extra cab

If I need to haul people around I will get a 4Runner and buy 8'x12' trailer for hauling.

I know people like these Double cabs myself not so much.

Although one of the new baby Trail blazers might fit in that space quite nice.

 

As an owner of both a '90 and an '04 X-cabs for over 27 years the biggest drawback for me has been the rear seat access. I recently had a '20 X-cab dealer loaner for a month and the rear door made loading groceries 100% easier.

 

Most of the time the space behind the seats is filled with stuff level with the seat back

Buying groceries for just me is not all that much just gets tossed in the back

 

I've got an 03 Xtracab and my only real complaint is the access to the backseat. Definite upside compared to the DC is the longer bed however. If it's just you and you aren't hauling people around then the backseat doesnt really matter. Plus you can build a platform for the back the levels it out and helps with inside storage. I did that so my pup has a a comfortable spot to ride. Cant really go wrong either way, but for me the longer bed was more important then a second row of seats.

 

I bought an xtra cab for the extra bed space. It was nice when I slept in the bed but now with a RTT I really wish I had the double cab. As others have noted the access to the back seat sucks in the xtra cab since there are no rear doors. You aren’t fitting 4 adults in an extra cab unless your friends are tiny.

As far as sleeping in the cab, it’s going to suck either way. The trucks are too narrow to lay across the back seat in a double cab and there is nowhere to lay in an xtra cab. Just recline the seat and call it good or if you’re only traveling with a dog just leave the drivers seat in and ditch the rest.

You won’t be able to close the tailgate of an xtra cab with a bike in the back so the foot less room or whatever it is probably doesn’t matter that much in those regards.

Personally I would take a good look at the unmolested truck and if she’s clean go that route. You can turn it into whatever you want and don’t have to deal with whatever shortcuts the previous owner took.

 

Update: ended up going with the XtraCab! Will post pics in introductions and 98-00 only thread