Tacoma as a Family Hauler

Hey all, was looking at getting a DC Tacoma. I have a wife, daughter and another baby on the way. I dont want to move up to a Tundra, so for those that use their Tacoma to move the family around, how do ya'll like it? Do you fit comfortable or do you wish you had just a little more room? This is going to be a daily driver and hunting/camping truck, so I want a more compact truck rather than a half ton. Lets here from those who always drive around with a passenger loaded truck. Thanks.

 

You'll be fine! I have the DC short bed.....haul around a wife & 3 boys. The boys are 16, 13 & 11. A little cramped for 5 of us but with 4 you'll be good.

PS.....we have a Nissan min-van also but they'd rather ride in my big, cool truck.

 

Well my wife's 2005 4-Runner is our primary family vehicle and it is very spacious. But we occasionally take my DC out with the family, with no issues. Its definitely tight in the back but not noticeable to the kids (the don't really kick the seats). Only issue i have had was with the rear facing carseat behind me (I'm 6') i had to adjust my seat forward a little so that it wouldn't hang up between the seat and headrest. All and all its definitely do-able. I have done a few long distance trips with 1 kid in the back, and on a separate long distance occasion 2 dogs in the back seat.

 

My taco is my family hauler and is our primary vehicle we travel in and I have no complaints. I actually think it works better then an SUV since I have added a camper shell as I have more room and the dog enjoys the space in the bed on the longer trips. I have my rear facing car seat in the middle and it doesn't become an issue with the front seats that way.

 

Thats a sweet truck... Id be all over it too.

Our current family vehicle is a Highlander. We fit great, but its the wifes and I need a truck.

 

Go to dealer. Have you wife and daughter try out the rear seats.

 

I recently bought an 08 Taco DCSB to replace my crew cab Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins. I no longer needed the towing capacity of my diesel so I decided to downgrade to a compact truck.

I have a wife, 10 year old daughter and a 7 year old daughter. It fits my family perfectly. I have at least the kids with me most of the time. I also have an 07 4Runner I bought new, so I'm a fan of the Toyotas.

At times the short bed will be annoying, but I have 2 trailers for hauling more or longer stuff. I'm planning on getting a shell so hauling anything large will be out of the question anyway.

I'm very happy with mine. Looking forward to many years with this truck.

Jason

 

Im gonna be in San Diego on the weekend. Ill check out a few dealers out there. They might have a better deal going on. From what I am hearing from you guys seems like we will be ok and should probably pull the trigger. Keep you guys posted if I end up with a new Tacoma. Thanks gents.

 

I have a 2014 DC Shortbed and a 19month old and a 10 week old. 10 week old sits in the middle and 19month sits on the side and sometimes wife sits behind me with no issues. I think its a great family truck.

 

if you are buying car seats for the new one in the family make sure you try them out in the truck before you buy ours is good from 5 to 65 lbs and it takes up a lot of room in the back seat. if i use the anchor system tiedown points it makes the rear pass seat belts a pain in the a$$ to use. we put the seat in the middle of the truck.

 

I have 3 kids and they are all comfortable in the back of my Tacoma. My kids are 7, 10 and 14 and they love to ride in my truck. It is a great family hauler, with only 2, you are golden.

 

The Tacoma Double Cab is probably your best bet if you want a mid sized family truck. My dad had a Double Cab it was great. I borrowed it a few times to go camping or to the lake with my friends it was a good truck IMO. He took it out with our family camping trips too. It was one of the reasons I got my Tacoma.
I went with a Access Cab though the only passengers for me is my Girlfriend and the Dog, but the extra back seats if I needed them.

 

I have DCLB and wife, two year old in forward-facing seat and 9mo in a rear facer. I have car seats shifted left (driver) as far as possible so that I can still have someone ride in the rear if need be. I love it. Wouldn't trade for anything but a nicer Tacoma. Have two dogs too and they appreciate the long bed. The DCLB is a bit long for serious crawling, but mine gets worked even with the kids and dogs in there.

 

Wife and 9 year old daughter fit fine in DCSB. Have taken it many times to Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, etc... with no issues what so ever.

You should be fine.

 

My wife, daughter, MIL, and two Beagles just drove my Tacoma from NH to CA.

The plan was to keep the dogs in the bed (with a cap)...but they rode up front. Everybody said it was a comfortable ride.

I was driving a U-Haul towing a car.....not so comfortable.