Kids...

Doublecabs are great. I've owned mine for like elevendy billion years. I've gone from no kids and a dog, to 2 kids and a dog, and back to just the kids (old pup). Currently son is 10, daughter is 7.

The main detractor that I see with them is "pets and stuff". Back when we had a dog, he was relegated to a crate in the bed (along with everything else) once we had kids.

I bought a '17 4Runner a couple years ago, and that's the daily driver/road trip machine, did we *need* to? No, but we could, and did, lol. My doublecab is a dedicated trail truck now. The bigger size of the 4Runner is nice, but not the primary reason I got it. Bigger motor (tows better), quieter/smoother, etc... Honestly, it just allowed us to stuff more crap inside for the kids on road trips.

As for your sliders, you can always cut them off and re-weld to the new truck. Just leave the plates on the frame and get new ones for the new truck. Or, get new ones, they're relatively cheap considering the whole project cost (my weld-on 4xinnovations ones were like $250).

That wasn't really a problem for my family.

We had my son in the middle-rear when he was rear facing, then when we had my daughter, we put her rear facing seat on the side with my wife (she's short, lol). It's no different than a normal mid sized sedan, like a civic or corolla.

Granted, it seems like the current seats about doubled in size from the ones we had.

 

I would either keep the truck and get something else or get a double cab as long as you have less than 3 kids you'll be fine

 

I'd vote 4runner. My gf had a 98 before she sold it and inherited my double cab prerunner after I bought my 4wd double cab. She loved the 4runner and coming from a double cab I couldn't get over how much space and visibility the 4runner had. When I was shopping for my 4wd double cab I was close to pulling the trigger on several 3rd gen 4runnner, mostly since I could get one at half the price of a 1st gen double cab, and I'm a sucker for sunroofs and that power rear window lol.

Be prepared to pay good money for a stock 4wd double cab, I bought mine from my bro in law and even with the homie hook up it was still more than several pristine 3rd gen 4runners. A lot of the decent ones were in the 8-11k range down here in AZ/SoCal. Hell, I threw feelers out on my prerunner double cab and had several offers near my asking of $7k. The good deals are getting harder and harder to find on the 1st gens, especially double cabs, so if you see one don't hesitate.

Some times starting from scratch isn't a bad thing, I've learned so much from when I started building my prerunner out that when I got my 4wd, it's been easy peazy knowing exactly what I like, what works, and what little things I'd do different the second go around.




If you do leave the Taco club, I'll buy that front and rear bumper and send you my stockers to replace it with as well, just throwin it out there...

 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a...he-worlds-most-bad-ass-minivan-from-a-sienna/

 

I've got 4 kids,my wife and dogs... I'm not sure a Land Cruiser would fit us comfortably... Or at all for that matter.

I've had "Big Red" for 9 years now... Full size GMC Savana... Seats 8 with enough room to fit all of our gear in the back. It's AWD, home made roof rack, and I threw a modest 2" lift on it and currently runs 265/75 KO2s.... Its been damn reliable as well... I've come to terms with the Taco being my "toy". Full size Vans are always my recommend vehicle for families!

 

Sweet setup

 

Option 4: Best of both worlds

Do the smart thing and sell the jeep

Fiancé gets a 4runner

I get a double cab

And build both

 

Had a rear facing car seat in the middle of the bench of the double cab and he had no issues. Kept it rear facing until he started bunching up a bit. He's now forward facing, just turned 4 and is sitting in his safety first Britax (Britax has one of the highest safety ratings). Comfortable with enough leg room for those swinging, constantly moving feet. Enough room for front seat as well.



My advice and even though you said no (lol), consider a 2nd Gen DC. More power, cabin air filter for the kid's benefit while out on those dusty ass trails and more room than the first gen.

No matter what you decide to do, when installing that car seat for the first time - hit up your Highway Patrol office or local Police Department. They have free car seat installations/safety checks. You'd be surprised how many think they have it installed correctly but don't.

 

Congrats to @eon_blue !!

 

So I showed the fiancé, this thread

And option 4 is a go but... it depends on the year of the 4runner.

 

He gets to keep his truck and his wife will get the 4runner so they can have a family friendly offroader

 

The 3rd gen 4runners had a manual trans option for a couple years right? I know they're hard to find but that would be awesome to get ahold of one of those

 

She’s always wanted the 3rd gen 4runner but likes the creature comforts of the newer gens.

And I’ll look for a 1st gen double cab in the future.

I don’t think the 3.4L is enough for her, cuz she drives fast and I’m the grandma.

 

I have a double cab first gen and can fit two carseats...barely but they fit. Not sure how it would be with an access cab.

 

Impossible, that's how lol

 

What's wrong with a double cab 2nd gen? I've had my long bed since my daughter was born. She's now three and my son is 7. Works for all our driving needs and perfect for camping trips

 

There’s nothing wrong with the 2nd gen, it’s just not what I’m looking for.

 

Just food for thought: you have plenty of time to get what you want/need. My boy is a bit over two and no matter where I drive, it's just another trip in the car seat. Taking your kids offroading or camping at a young age is totally for you and not your kids. My boy needed to get out of the car seat often when I took him offroading once. It's bumpy, slow and not enjoyable for him.

If I were in your position, I wouldn't make any decisions about a family adventure rig for another couple years since you're not expecting a kiddo right away. Take your time and maybe the right 3rd vehicle or a trade for the wife's Cherokee might present itself.

 

I have an 03 DC and fit 3 kids (snugly) in the backseat. My wife has a vehicle with 3rd row, so we use that the majority of the time when our entire family travels around town. HOWEVER, we have a camper and take 3-4 long trips a year. It makes the trips A LOT more intimate when you've got a 4yr old in a car seat, a 7yr old in a booster and a 10 year old in the back seat.

I don't think I could ever bring myself to get rid of my truck. I'm going to upgrade in the next year or so when our 4yr old hits kindergarten. The DC will go to the 10yr old when she turns 16.