AC and backseat

Looking at TRD PRO. Love everything about it but I have 3 kids that sometimes ride with me and wife. So all three kids sit in back seat. It is hot as heck outside.

Tacoma does not have rear AC vents. What is you all opinions on how good the AC is?? Will my kids be ok? Or will they whine about how hot it is?

I heard that AC in Tacoma is its weak point? True? Fake news?

thanks in advance.

 

AC is not weak at all, some do suffer from slight performance at extended idle, in very hot climates. There’s a TSB to fix, but many opt out of the deep dive, since it’s rare and very infrequent.

There are vents under the front seats that blow back, and some sort of return vent looking things in rear of center console (not sure what these are actually designed to do).

All around ceramic tint helps any vehicle, that didn’t include, immensely.

All that said; the double cab is extremely small, and I wouldn’t buy one to tote one kid,,,, let alone three.

 

It’s fine it’s a tiny truck

 

Cab is small enough.

My kids don't complain and it's been triple digits the last few weeks.

 

My friends and I who have taco's (2017s), both feel the AC isn't the best..but it gets the job done. Had one friend sitting in the back recently ask to crank the AC max so they could feel it and cool down.

Your passengers in the rear wont feel the instant coolness right away, but as others have said, the cab is small enough that it cools everything down relatively quick.

 

Have you tried having the back window slightly open? AC from the dash vents should flow toward the back.

 

He said hes look at not that he owns

 

Your kids will be fine just like we were growing up. There's no rear vents other than ones under the front seats. The struggle with the AC is only in very hot climates at idle because the engine fan is not moving fast enough to cool the condenser and no ambient air is moving over it. The TSB simply adds an electric fan to the system to help with this. But most people don't notice this as an issue.

 

Thank you all!!!

much appreciated

 

I missed that. If the OP does get a Tacoma I would try cracking the back window. I do that the keep my dog cool in the back area on hot days.

 

Things in general that will help in a really hot climate, regardless of vehicle.

• ceramic tint on all windows - it blocks a lot of heat and when the sun is shining through the window on you, you won’t feel nearly as warm
• Crack the windows when you park to help vent the hot air.
  
• Put up a windshield shade when parking.
  
• Remote start the car so it can cool down for a couple of minutes before loading up.

Living in Phoenix with a kid in the backseat, all of these things have helped a ton.

That said, I agree with @Chew and the tacoma isn’t a good choice at all with kids in the backseat. One, maybe, but not three. I would look at the tundra if you need a truck.

Edit: I guess age of kids plays a role here. Being a father of a toddler, I just assumed they would be in car seats but that might not be the case at all.

 

10, 14, and 15 years old. For city trips only.

 

Damn wonder what my two dogs think of me then…bigger than most kids at 98 and 107 lbs.

 

Have you looked at a Tundra? Tundra has rear vents and might accommodate your family better.

 

My dad toted me and my sister around in his 1st gen DC on plenty of 5+ hr road trips and I toted my kid around in my 2nd gen DC. Not that big a deal. Everyone thinks they need a land yacht to move a family around in. Which for 3 kids I’d agree on at least an suv.

 

Want to stay small. Already have Land Cruiser for longer trips.

 

If not that it will be something else, right?

Vents for the inverter for the in the bed power? Isn't it under the console?

 

Best bet, and you might’ve already been planning this, is just drag everyone along for the test drive and see how it works out. Sooner rather than later so you can test out the AC in this heat is ideal. I would say it’s manageable though, just not ideal, and that’s ok.

 

Great comparison !

 

I think in order for the A/C to come out of the vents under the front seats, the mode has to be on the front vents and feet option. I may be wrong.