Fitting Children in the Xtra-Cab

So... We've got one on the way.

I'm now weighing all my options for transporting a car seat. I don't really like the idea of a car seat in this 2003 Xtracab, and I'm not sure if it's even viable to fit a kid in the back for road trips when they're old enough.

For those who have fit kids in the Xtracab, how did it work out? Any advice?

I really don't want to get rid of it, but I'm thinking it might be time to get a 3rd gen DC or a 4Runner for the time when the kid starts joining us on our trips. A double cab 1st or 2nd gen would be great, but in SoCal it's very difficult to find them with 4WD and the prices are so ridiculous it's almost a better deal to buy brand new.

I daily it right now, but I've also thought about maybe getting a 3rd gen 4runner to replace it, since it has the back row and is substantially cheaper than 1st gen Tacos in this area.

 

I can’t really speak for the first gens I guess, but I have an access cab 2nd gen, and two kids, one is almost 5 and the other is 1.5 years old. I am 5’8-9” and we made it work so far. the rear facing seat definitely has to go behind the passenger seat or I’d be butted up to the steering wheel but once our first switched to forward facing she fit behind the driver seat just fine, I’ve got the legroom I need and so far so does she. The only issue is you have to find the right seat to fit there, and your kid will definitely be a little more vertical/ less reclined so potentially more uncomfortable. If we did extended road trips as a family all the time I may be more concerned but way I see it, it builds character, can’t baby these kids too much now. Of course I feel that way my wife does not. But as long as you’re ok with some erratic lumbar support it should work for an interim number of years at least until you’re more comfortable switching to something else. Is it ideal? no, can it work? yes. Worth trading for a new truck? Not yet. If I were buying again anyway? Double cab.

considering the 2nd gens are probably bigger this may all be useless information to you.

Edit: my wife feels like the setup is a bit too claustrophobic, but I kinda like the closeness cause it makes it really easy to dole out snacks, I have to do the Michael Jordan arm thing from space jam to feed them snacks when I’m driving my wife’s car.

 

Im in the same predicament. We have a baby coming next month. Wife's car is a good family car so we'll use that most of the time. I'm looking at getting another commuter and keeping my truck as the weekend one

That being said...you CAN legally put a baby car seat in the front seat of your xtra cab as long as you can turn off the front air bag. You should have a switch for that to the right of the steering wheel. Law states that you can if you don't have another choice, and we all know a car seat aint going to fit in the backseat of the xtra cab.

I'm the end tough, legal or not the front isn't the safest place and we're looking at a 3rd vehicle. But if I have to use the truck, just turn off the airbag

 

If trading for something with more room is a viable option for you, by all means, you won’t regret it I bet. If moneys a little tight and trading up doesn’t sound like a comfortable move, you can probably make it work for a bit.

 

Makes sense, and congrats to you!

If the finances were not a constraint, would you consider getting a 2nd or 3rd gen double cab, or is there no way you would want to get rid of the 1st gen?

I think we could financially swing it, but I just love the design and simplicity and size of this old truck and I'm afraid I would regret moving to a bigger and more modern truck.

 

Buy a sub $2500 sedan as a backup. When the car seat isn't needed then neither is the sedan.

 

Congrats to you too btw!

I've toyed with the idea of letting go of my 1st gen for a 4x4 double cab 2nd gen....but I've got so much into my 1st gen both money and emotional investment-wise that I'm just not ready to let go of it yet. Plus, the idea was always to eventually get a commuter car for myself and just use my truck as my weekend warrior toy. So that's the plan for me as of now..

But, when our kid gets older and I want to start taking both her and my wife on camping/wheeling trips with me, that's when I'm really going to have to consider letting the truck go for one with more room. Unless somehow by then I'm a millionaire and can afford more than one money pit to play around with lol.

 

Back when I bought my Tacoma (2005), the one thing I didn't really care about was if it was an Xtracab or doublecab.

I happened upon a 2004 doublecab. And I'm so glad I did.

Flash forward several years, when the Mrs. and I started making our little crumb snatchers, the DC was perfect. They fit rear facing seats just fine, especially with just one. It went in the middle.

When our 2nd came along, we put my daughter (younger) on the passenger side, where my wife (who is short) sits 99% of the time. TONS of leg room, lol.

Also by that time my son had transitioned to a front facing seat behind the driver seat.

With an Xtracab, you're not really even going to fit a front facing seat back there.

So, if you plan to keep your kid (I assume you do, lol) or having more than one, and bring them on truck-based adventures, you're going to need a doublecab or a 4Runner. I guarantee the wife won't last very long sitting in the back of the xtracab...

 

When I make people sit in the back of the extended cab, I feel like I’m violating the Geneva Convention. It is not comfortable back there at all.

Here’s another perspective for you. I grew up in my truck as a child, I sat in the back with a car seat about 15 years ago. When I got older, I sat in the front with a booster seat and the airbag shutoff on.

Definitely not the vehicle to start a family in. A modern sedan is light years better in terms of safety, fuel economy, and comfort.

 

I think it comes down to just How you use your Truck and if you need a 4x4 to get to the Quicky Mart !

In my case a Car would be very interesting getting out the driveway with more then a few inches of Snow

If I needed to Tote kids and also needed to haul interesting things I would have a 4Runner and A trailer in a minute.

I built a 4 Runner just to haul the Girl Friends two younger children ( Since traded up to one with No Kids) I was lucky I could keep my Truck as well

 

I’ve gotten away with a booster seat behind passenger seat...I’ve also had kid in front seat with ab off. I’m not a fan of either option.