Family Planning - Upgrade to 3rd Gen?

Hello,

I'm an active member in the 2nd Gen section as i own a 2014 AC V6 4x4. I've owned the truck since 1/1/15, when I was single and not planning for a future. Now, I'm married and starting a family is in the upcoming future... no bun in the oven yet. My question is, are there any restrictions as far as infant car seats go in a double cab Tacoma? My ideal "trade-up" would be to go with a newer (but used) 3rd Gen DCSB 4x4 of some kind. My selling point to my wife to stick with a truck as opposed to a SUV is that I think the double cab Tacomas have no issue fitting car seats.

I absolutely love my current truck and wish I could keep it, but that won't happen. I don't tow anything or haul anything substantial and i like the physical size of Tacoma's which is why id like to stick with one. The truck is my DD and i want to stay with 4x4 for occasional snow trips and maybe some slight off-roading for camping trips.

For those with kids and a double cab, any pros/cons?

Thanks!

 

I recommend looking at a 4runner. They beat the Tacoma in just about every category aside from the bed and fit car seats MUCH better.

 

I had a 93 ex cab 4x4 for the first 9 yrs of my childs life. ITs not an issue if your wife has a larger vehicle you can drive when you all 3 go somewhere. I didn't see a need to upgrade to a DC for that sole purpose. But if you dont need a truck anymore I would go with a 4runner for sure.

 

I have a 2006 double cab and it's slightly less room than 3rd. Both my kids were back there with no issues as family vehicle. It's short term pain until around age 2 you can move them to a forward facing seat which takes up almost no space. You'll need a shell on it and a clean bed for the stroller and groceries to keep the wife happy. You also can't go wrong with a 4runner.

I love the bed space for family camping gear and beach trips. Depends on your lifestyle

 

You'll have to play around with car seats for yourself. My two boys were far enough apart that I never needed two rear-facing seats at the same time. I could put a rear-facer behind the passenger seat and not care about the level of discomfort for that unlucky fool. Unless you're pretty small, I don't think you could have a (rear-facing) one behind the driver seat.

Like someone above said, 4Runner is going to beat the Taco in all the categories for family comfort. BUT I still got my truck.

(edit: and as someone else mentioned, my wife already drives the family car, so we're not relying on the truck as the sole source of transportation)

-Craig

 

This. I had a 2nd gen regular cab while my son was in a car seat. Wife had a Forester.

 

A double cab will certainly work just fine for 1 kiddo... we had a Connect30 key fit when our daughter was born, and it worked fine in the rear-facing position and we kept it in the middle rear seat so that it wouldn't interfere with our seating positions. Now she's in a forward-facing Diono Radian which is narrow in profile (and can fit 3-across in the taco if you really needed to). It's not spacious, but we have had 2 adults plus the car seat in the rear and made it work fine for a short trip.

I like driving my truck and the wife feels safe in it, so we take it most places vs. her CRV when we go out of town since I can haul more stuff in the bed along with all our outdoor gear on all my racks.

If I had more than 1 kiddo, it could make longer trips harder but since you're unlikely to have more than ONE in the near future I'd say go 3rd gen all the way and reassess later if you need more room.

...but if you really do NOT need a bed or tow anything heavy, 4Runners are a really good option to keep you in something tough with some offload prowess...

 

One more tip... Save some money and buy a used 2nd Gen. Some say they like the engine and tranny better.

 

The 2nd and 3rd Gens have the same cab, but the 3rd uses higher strength Steel and has better safety, with children you would wanna go 3rd.

 

I didn't have a Taco when my kid was still in a rear-facing seat, but I can't see it being a problem in a DC - particularly if you get the right infant seat. Recommend taking a look at the Maxi-Cosi Mico... It's what we ended up with and used it in the back of a 2011 MINI Clubman rear facing without issue. If it fit there, it'll definitely fit in the back of a DC Taco.

 

Back seat in a 3rd gen DC is really small. I'm 6' and that my driving position leaves about 9" of space between the back of the driver's seat and the front of the rear seat. My kids were out of car seats by the time I got this truck so I've never had to stick one back there but I think it would be tight at best. Find someone with a car seat you can borrow and see how it fits.

Also keep in mind that as soon as you turn that car seat around, it's feet all over the back of your seat. Seat covers can protect from the dirt, but that won't stop your kid from kicking the seat and driving you nuts.

If staying with Toyota in a mid size, non-mini van or crossover is your desire I agree that your best bet is the 4 Runner. If you wanna jump ship though and stick with a truck, I think there's more room in the back seat of a Frontier crew cab than there is in a Tacoma.

 

I have a 2017 DCSB Sport and they rear seats are fine for kiddos. I have one kiddo, so I have only had one rear facing at one time. However, since she has been older and now friends, we have done two front facers at once without any issues. We have also had my ~65lbs dog b/w them and was doable. It would be tight on a long trip w/ dog, but have driven multiple hours with two front facers (two pint sized dictators/ 5yo's) in the back without dog. Not sure why you compare a 4R w/ a pick-up . If you need a bed get the taco, if not get the 4R...

 

I remember one night of drinking with the guys, I was wasted and we all got in the back of a Taco

Im avg ht (5'9), probably a bit smaller than the rest and I thought it was fine

 

I have a 2019 DCSB and an 11 month old. my sons graco snugride click connect 35 infant carseat fits fine in the back but we have his seat in the middle . It wouldn't fit behind my seat since im 5'10 although it fits fine behind my wife's seat we'd figure if 2 other people rode with us we'd give them room to sit on the side. Going to upgrade to the Graco forever extend2fit before his 1st birthday jan 31 since hes already outgrowing his carseat haha

 

The Britax B-Safe 35 and the Britax Boulevard both fit fine rear facing, though the passenger seat had to be a little farther forward with the B-Safe. My wife (5'6") says it's comfortable enough for everyday stuff, but wouldn't be great on a longer trip (more than a couple of hours). Check out this 3rd gen car seat thread for more:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/child-car-seats-thread.585030/

 

I'm 5'7" and skinny and have a rear facing seat behind the driver seat. Doesn't bother me too much other than getting in/out. You have to squeeze between the seat and steering wheel. Accidentally nicked my wheel with my pocket knife clip once. Since I've got the manual, and have short legs, I need the seat farther forward anyway.

I think the main reason I put it on the drivers seat is because 2/3 of the passenger seat flips up/down, vs 1/3 of the rear driver side. So I have more quick storage access without pulling the car seat out.

 

I would go SUV, if I were you. It isn't so much the car seat, it is all the other crap you have to drag along (playpen, stroller, diaper bag, etc.). I only had one kid and it was a long time ago, but I don't imagine things have changed much. We filled the back of an SUV, even just to go have dinner at grandma's. Then, once you get past that phase, you get to do the carpool thing, so you may even want to look at a third row, eventually.

 

We had a 2nd gen DCLB though our kiddos;
-one rear facing in the center.
-one forward facing behind Passenger one rear facing behind driver.
-two forward facing.

Now they are both in boosters in the 3rd Gen.
Never had a problem fitting everyone in.
Used Graco baby seats, Safety 1st car seats, and Graco boosters.

 

Family of 5
2 teenagers, and a 6 year old in a booster.
No issues in the Taco, but, the Charger is probably more comfortable in the back, but, the kids dont complain either way. Its better than the Jeep....

 

I did the same but with a first gen ex cab Tacoma. Some how made it work. Then upgraded to a second gen 4 cylinder ac cab and was loving the extra room. still have the 2nd gen but my 3rd gen double cab v6 pulls my toys around a lot nicer.