Extended Cab vs. Double Cab

Hey! I'm looking for opinions on extended cabs versus double cabs in terms of space.

I started the year with a 3rd Gen., decided I want to go to grad school, so I sold it and bought a 1996 4Runner (always wanted one). However, I totaled it after hitting black ice and want to get a Tacoma again.

I like that I can get a manual quite easily if I get an extended cab, but I'm not sure of the practicality. It's usually just me driving, but sometimes 1-3 passengers or my dog. I'm short, so I'm not worried about that, but I just don't want to regret not having a full size back seat.

Anyone have an opinions/experiences/info they'd like to share? I'd appreciate it!

 

my 96 extended cab does not have doors for rear access, have to tilt the seats forward to get anything out of it, kind of a pain in the rear.

 

Yeah, that's also on my con list

 

no manual on DC con for me, as well as less usable bed

pros for DC, seem to be easier to find, look awesome with a camper top, can use a roof rack easier

 

I love my double cab. I drive people around occasionally but for running errands, going shopping, moving things that I can't put in the bed, etc. the rear two doors are great. The truck is as usable and practical as a larger truck or sedan but retains the same size and flexibility of a small truck. Highly recommended.

 

Love my D-cab but the small bed is a PITA. In the new year I’m going to be on the look out for a extended cab Tacoma.

 

Agreed. Only looking at DCs that already have tops (which happens to be most of the ones I can find). They do seem a little bit more rare, at least over here, most of the ones I'm finding are prerunners.

See this is where I'm at. My 3rd Gen was a DC and I loved the space. I'm worried that downgrading in size would be hard for me after it and the 4runner. Especially with the dog.

Wooooo that looks like a tight fit! and definitely a con.

 

I've got a 6'3 friend who says he fits fine in the back and if you had the security to put everything in the trunk, you could easily fit 2 adults in the back. But obviously if you plan to frequently carpool, go for the dc. Either one looks good w a camper imo

 

I had to have a manual, so the Extended Cab was my choice. That said, if the Tacoma gods woulda done us right, they would have created a DC with manual transmission and a lockable t case... Gotta take whatever they gave us though!

 

I dropped about $5,000 into my xcab within the first year and a half of owning it and now I’m realizing I need a DC and I’ll never get that money back.

I rarely use my bed and drive around a 110 lbs girlfriend and a 50 lbs dog. The xcab is just not big enough for anything other than a dedicated toy IMO.

 

sounds like you would be better off with a DC. I love my extended cab, I use my bed everyday, and I need the 6 ft bed. That's the one reason I don't have a DC, is the short bed. I carry more cargo than people. If you carry 1-3 people regularly, get the DC.

 

How often do you need a truck bed? You gotta consider your own situation and needs. I don't carry motorcycles or quads, just engines/transmissions/furniture/smaller stuff so a longer bed is not something that I need. My dad on the other hand is a contractor and a five foot bed would never work for him.

 

Yeah this is a pretty good thought. When I had my 3rd gen. I didn’t feel like I used it enough, but when I got the 4runner I really missed having it. The short bed would probably be fine for most things I do

 

Thanks for all the feedback so far! I’ll keep looking for a double cab and leave the extended cab as my backup choice. I’m sure I’d be satisfied with either, but I would like the extra space up front

 

get the double cab

 

I always carry my friends in the back of my extended cab (huge guys, both 5'11") and they both complain how cramped it is. I like the extended cab because of the bed space AND I can still carry two people - if I wanted to carry people and cargo around like a sedan I'd just drive my E320. Having a truck with a large bed is always helpful. It comes down to what you're using the truck for.

 

For me, the 2 main reasons for not getting the double cab were the short bed and auto transmission. I had to have a manual, and having the short bed wasn't going to cut it. Having owned it for 17 years, and thinking of all the crap I've thrown back there, I am happy I had the longer bed. The shorter bed, even though just by one foot, would have drove me crazy.

As for passenger space, my 2 girls grew up in the extracab. As they got older, they would complain once in a while due to being cramped, but they got over it. They did not die. I've had many friends and family sit back there for long trips. Hell...my wife (5'9"), bro-in-law (6'2"), and I (5'8") traveled from CA to FL in it. We all took turns sitting in the back. We were fine. Also, when our dogs were younger and traveled more, we had a Can-Back soft top and carpet. They loved being back there. More than being in the cab.

If you have passengers more than you need the bed space, get the double cab. If you haul stuff more than have passengers, get the extracab. Just buy the truck for your own needs and wants.

 

The DCLB - the best of both worlds

 

My kids complained about being in the back of my extended, I can't imagine any adult who wasnt a masochist not hating every second of it. A short bed is a pain every now and then, a short cab is a pain all the time.

My personal solution for having multiple needs was having multiple purpose owned vehicles. I had a long bed f250 beater for hauling crap. Spent 2k on it, saved 20x than that on wear and tear on my other vehicles.

 

No way. I love my extra cab, and probably will never sell it. But to say that two adults fit inside the cab, is incorrect, unless said adults are little people.

My mom, my older sister and her daughter, came to visit me last winter. My mom and my sister are '5"0 and my niece is '5"2. With my driving, they were not cmfortable, or anything close to it.