Your wife's got good taste:tu: She likes the CrewMax:tu:

The CrewMax bed is 5 1/2 feet long. With the tailgate down, your looking at another 2 feet? I hardly used the bed on my '04 DC which was 6', so when the time came to buy the new Tundra, the CrewMax was a no brainer. I prefer to have the extra space on the inside that in the bed IMO. I'm not sure what the size of a quad is, but I'm sure someone would be able to chime in.

Good luck on your decision, but remember whatever you choose, it's got to be a CrewMax

 

I have a Honda Rubicon 500 - its is 6'7" in overall length. As best as I can tell, the center of the rear wheels would most likely be right about the beginning of your tailgate.

 

The bed size was actually the only reason why we ended up with the Double vs the Crew. While the extra 1' doesn't seem to be a lot, it was just too short for my liking. My last truck had an 8ft bed and it was so nice to just shut the tailgate and not worry about anything. So we went for the middle ground. We bike ride and camp. With the 5.5 bed, we would have had enough room for the two bicycles, but then there wouldn't have been much room for the camping gear. I wish I could give you some more real life idea's as to what a 6.5 can do that a 5.5 can't do, but I just can't think of any.

A crew cab with the 6.5 bed would have been the perfect truck for us. Gut feeling says they will eventually offer this.

 

I've got 3 atvs a honda forman 450, a suzuki vinson 500 (both utility) and a raptor 700. My previous truck was a 2001 dodge with the 6 1/2' bed (the previous model dodge). Main reason I bought the new Tundra was the length of the bed. I don't like my 4wheeler in the back of the truck with the tailgate down, doesn't feel secure to me. None of my atvs would fit in a new dodge(2002 and up) with the tailgate up. They will in the new Tundra. I know people will argue with me on this one, but the weight of the atv on the tailgate seems like over time it would wear out the tailgate, plus what if you need to hall things like gas cans, ramps, riding gear etc. in the back of your truck along with the atv?

I guess I'm arguing in favor of the bigger bed. Then again if the wife is all set on the crewmax, maybe you're better to go along with her.

 

I work part-time for a Honda/Suzuki dealer and sometimes have to deliver a new ATV for the customer. My current truck is a 2001 F150 Supercrew with the 5 1/2 bed. So far no problems fitting the whole Honda/Suzuki line-up in the back. The only suggestion for you is that you may want to place a piece of of plywood on the bed floor from the cab to the end of the tailgate. On the ford, the tailgate sheet metal is not as strong as the bed and the heavy ATVs could cause the tailgate to dent it.

I can't imagine the CrewMax bed being different, so you should be able to carry most ATV's.

The 5 1/2 bed on my supercrew is a non issue, and will be replacing the ford with the Toyota soon.

 

When we go to the lake I enjoy being able to put all the crap in the bed. The kids always have there stuff and tubes etc take up alot of room. To me I would like to have the bed space. But, that is why they make chocolate and vanilla.

 

I'm 6' tall... I can't sleep comfortably in the back of this truck with the gate up.... nor can my twin matress fit in it...
But... I have a cabin cruiser boat to tow with it... So ... whatver...

I had a Dodge Diesel crew cab with the 8' bed... I don't think I used more than 5.5 feet of it the entire time... All the extra got me was sore knees crawling in to get the things I couldn't reach because they slid too far forward.

 

I think that the CrewMax is an awesome idea for someone who uses their 4x4 for the family car and then needs a truck on the weekends. It is the largest backseat I have ever sat in and I must say that along with hauling a whole lot of crap in the cab, you can fit a whole lot in a 5 foot 5 inch bed. I don’t know about the Quad’s but it might depend on how often you are going to haul it. If it’s something you’re looking at every weekend and it will hang over onto the tailgate, she might not want her stuff rolling out the back of the truck.

 

Dude... The Double Cab is the only way to go. Here is an senerio that you might want to consider. Say you have a wife and she likes big xmas trees, and you have house with a really big front room. If you purchase... lets say a 12' tree you will need to have the 8 1/2 foot length so that your tree is less than 4' over the edge. I believe 4' with a flag is the legal limit where I live and it might be the same where you live. Just that alone will save you the head ache of getting pulled over and a ticket. Also the added length will help you out when your wife wants you to do all those back yard projects, and if you attend any functions where Tailgating is involved she will thank you for talking her into the longer bed.

Truckdood :devil:

 

Over the weekend I hauled a 7-foot bench in my CrewMax bed with no problem. Went with tailgate down and secured it with rope. No problem.

I don't expect any regrets over the bed size. Also, you can get the bed extender that will extend your "contained" cargo area out to your tailgate.

I ordered a bedmat for mine and it's custom-made to fit the 5.5 bed. Looks great in there.

 

A person could haul a 7 foot bench in a Tacoma, or a mini Truck.. Thats baby stuff.. When you buy a full size truck you are looking at hauling full size loads. Stick to your guns Aspen12777 and get the biggest bed you can find. A woman likes a man that handles the big purchases.

 

I can appreciate the large backseat in a CrewMax but I don't understand why so many people think its NECESSARY. I am 6'1" and sit comfortably in the back of the DC and I had my brother jump in the back as well (6'4") and he fit fine also. There isn't as much EXTRA room for him, true, but how many are 6'4" + and taller? If you have KIDS the DC should be huge!

And as others have stated...you can carry a lot of things in the bed with the tailgate down, but what if you need to throw extras back there? Bags, fishing polls, tools, camping gear, coolers

 

A woman likes a man that handles the big purchases.

And I wouldn't blow off her input, but if this is going to be your vehicle or if you are doing most of the driving you should get what you want/need.

 

@ckeck,

Your right, there is not real need for a seat that big in a truck. If you want big cushy seats buy a old woman car like a Lincoln Continental. Trucks are for men and sexy down to earth country girls. With a bed length like the DC has you can load up a picnic table, your coolers, a jet ski the tent, sleeping bags, and your food stuffs and still have plenty of room in the cab for the Wife, two children, two dogs, and the neighbor girl.


DC kicks *** for Men,and Crew Max for the ladies.

 

There are things other than plywood that a longer bed is useful for. Sections of PVC pipe for irrigation projects/repair, 2x4s, and like you said, ATVs.

However if you have older kids, the extra leg room would be a worthy trade-off. But if you don't have a real use for the extra leg room, no use in having it.

 

@ckeck,

Your right, there is not real need for a seat that big in a truck. If you want big cushy seats buy a old woman car like a Lincoln Continental. Trucks are for men and sexy down to earth country girls. With a bed length like the DC has you can load up a picnic table, your coolers, a jet ski the tent, sleeping bags, and your food stuffs and still have plenty of room in the cab for the Wife, two children, two dogs, and the neighbor girl.


DC kicks *** for Men,and Crew Max for the ladies.

Dude...who carries a Jet ski in there truck bed? You back your truck all the way down to the launch with the rear in the water? They have trailers for those things nowaday man...Back to the topic at hand, Its all really about personal preference. I play paintball on a semi-pro team so we are always riding around state to state with all our gear and about 4 or 5 guys in each truck. When the shortest guy is 6'1" its nice to have extra room in the back so you don't have to move your seat forward. That is one of the reasons we bought the Dodge Ram Mega Cab. It has an awesome big back seat like the Crewmax and a bed just big enough to carry some gear. I can't wait to get my new tundra and i am still in the process of debating between the crewmax and the DC myself but for different reasons. If you want more leg room in the truck but need to carry something big...use a trailer! These trucks tow 10,000lbs+ for a reason you know..not everything has to go in the bed

 

I put my dirtbike (crf450r) in the back of my CrewMax no problem. I have a bed extender for mine fwiw.

 

I Too Have Atvs And Haul Them In The Back Of My Truck. Yes You Can Haul Atvs In Either Bed Length With No Problem. But The Main Reason Why I Got The Dc With The 6.5 Ft Bed Is You Can Close The Tailgate And Lock It And Feel Safe When You Go To The Store Or Camp Overnight Somewhere. Using The Bed Extender Does Not Give You Piece Of Mine. I Not Only Lock My Tailgate But Also Lock The Bike To One Of The Tiedowns Which Have The Bolts Red Lock Tight In. I Had A Friend Go Out To Dinner After Riding And Someone Rolled There Bike Out Of The Bed And Took It. Thats Why I Will Never Get A Truck That I Cant Close And Lock The Tailgate With My Quad In The Back. Just My 2 Cents.

 

My YZ fits in the back of my CM with room to spare using the bed extender. Went to local rock yard got a yard of fill dirt dumped in the bed with out a problem. I plan on having three dirt bikes in the back of it this weekend because my buddy doesn't want to take his chevy 6.0, can't afford the gas. And there will be plenty of room upfront three riders and their gear. I would have problably bought a DC if the rear cab was as big as my 05's.

 

Well, to each his own; there are going to be advantages/disadvantages to either choice you make, no question. For me personally, I want the extra room in the back seat because of the big dogs I have (though the DC’s rear seat flips up which would have been nice on the CM). However, carrying big items in the back is doable for either if you’re prepared to deal with a shorter bed. Ideally, a CM with a 7’ bed would be nice (maybe it will be offered in 08). Also, having a CM means that you can do long drives with the whole family without a lot of discomfort. The DC offers that capability as well, but a lot of the smaller items that you would normally keep in there with you would just make the room there a little tighter. I don’t think you’ll regret either decision. It just depends on what you will use it for more often. Getting lumber and such isn’t a problem with either as both tailgates will have to be folded flat anyway. It is more important to see what the extra foot of bed would really get you in terms of how you use the truck. If you plan on putting in a big tool-box, than that would be a good purchase because much of the capacity will be gone. If you plan on loading lots of dirt, sand, gravel, mulch, etc. than maybe the longer bed will be better. Bottom line is you need to get something that you’re going to be happy with.

 

Take a close look at your trade-offs. You are trading bed space for cab space. Which do you need the most, it's as simple as that.

In my case, I would only occasionally have a passenger in the back, so the DC is plenty good for that. I like having some space behind the seats, and the ability to carry 3 or 4 folks in a pinch, so a regular cab is too little space.

I find myself frequently carrying "junk" (garbage, wood, stuff going to the dump) in my current pickup, and I don't really want to do that with the tailgate down. So, the extra bed space would be nice for me.

But realistically, I am moving from an old (little) Toyota pickup, so even the CM bed would probably have more volume.

And, of course, the DC is cheaper and weighs less, which doesn't hurt either...

 

I could use some help here also. I am leaning to the DC but the Crew looks really good. From my personal experience it really depends on lifestyle. I had a F150 supercab w/6.5 in the country and a Explorer Sport Track 4.5 ft bed w/ extender in the city.

In the city I was able to carry almost anything I needed. I would strap in beds and funiture no problem. Tailgating the extender was fine with people in the back. 4 doors were great. Modest loads, took care of my needs.

In the country I picked up supplies by the pallat load with the F150. some of them near the weight limit. If you are picking up alot of bulky or heavy items the 6.5 is important because of the balance. I tried to load really heavy loads to the front of the bed to keep from leveraging the tail. You don't have that flexibility in a 5.5, plus you could get 2 pallets into a 6.5 without hanging on the tailgate ( haven't tried it on the Tundra).

On a personal note, the Crewmax has a fold down rear seat while the DC has a fold up rear seat. I prefer the fold up seat to put things on the floor. Maybe it doesn't make that much difference with the extra legroom but my Sport Track has a fold down seat and that seem alot less stable and space efficient, especially for spillables.

I am on right on the fence as far as needs, thanks for this tread...

 

not sure if this will help at all but i'll tell you anyways
In my 2000 Tundra AC I was able to fit my Honda Rancher ES 4X4 in the back of the bed and I had just enough room to shut the gate(I mean the perfect fit I almost didn't need to tie it down)
I now have a 06 Tundra DC and I'm not sure my quad will fit in this bed with the gate closed(I think it will) and it's only an inch shorter than my 2000 AC was..it's that close....

there is no way you will fit one in the Crewmax bed with the gate closed since my 2000 Tundra's bed measured over 6 feet long...

 

AA woman likes a man that handles the big purchases.

Well said, 'Dood. You let a woman pick your truck for you and pretty soon she's got you drinking fruit-flavored beer.

 

Well said, 'Dood. You let a woman pick your truck for you and pretty soon she's got you drinking fruit-flavored beer.

Hey, my woman picked my truck (actually I picked the truck but she picked the color). And isn't a fruit-flavored beer better than no beer at all?