Baby on the way, Access Cab

This question has been asked before.

Maybe answers can be found in these threads?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...dream-truck-now-im-pregnant-send-help.613951/


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/access-cab-and-a-car-seat.192445/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-facing-car-seat-in-access-cab.549374/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/baby-seat-in-access-cab-possible.32159/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/child-seat-in-access-cab.150293/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/infant-car-seat-in-backseat-of-access-cab.386340/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/access-cab-and-kids.201310/

 

Found em! Didn't think to look at 2nd Gens!

Like I've said previously, if I DO have to haul the kid around it will probably be just myself and the baby. If my wife needs to come along, I'll drive her car.

Looks like an infant seat will fit just fine if I slide the passenger seat forward.

 

Just wanted to stop in and say congrats on the kiddo! I'm in the same boat as my wife and I are expecting in late July. Luckily I did end up with a DC, but even still I am worried about the fit. We ended up going with this model as it had great reviews and was on the lighter end weight wise.

Graco Modes Travel System | Includes Modes Stroller and SnugRide SnugLock 35 Infant Car Seat, Dayton

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B7QBFM6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_orQ2EbJXNDDHX

havent installed it yet so it fits!

 

I'm currently in your situation - got a little ~11 month-old, so still rear-facing, and a 2010 access cab. I turn the front airbag off and have her riding shotgun. She seems to really enjoy the change from riding in the Outback's rear seat

I was never able to find a base/seat combo that would work with the rear drop-down seats, but maybe they do exist? The bases I tried always exceeded the recommended overhang (e.g. Chicco recommends the base extends no more than 6 inches from the edge of the seat). I mostly take her on shorter local trips (nanny, groceries, etc.), but once she's bigger and front-facing she'll be able to fit in the back and we can go for longer trips in the truck.

 

Yes, someone who has done this properly already are your best bet. This shows the anchor points for a car seat/child restraint system but for a baby I would NOT use the seat belt shoulder harness alternate method. The car seats restraint system and the anchors seem best.
http://www.ttguide.net/installing_child_restraints-48.html

 

I believe that some of the 2nd Gens had shorter seat bottoms for the jump seats. The 2007 AC that I test drove was really short. I think they grew once in 2009 and may another time before the end of the run?

 

Man, a longer jump seat would have been nice. BUT, I found that even with the passenger seat all the way forward and fully upright there was barely enough room to install a rear-facing seat (albeit installed improperly due to aforementioned base overhang). I read about people removing the glove box so somebody could still "comfortably" ride shotgun with the rear-facing seat behind them. That still sounds miserable to me. I've had my wife ride behind the driver's seat with the kid up front, but again for short drives around town.

Basically, the Outback sees a lot of use right now

 

The things that we do for our kids!

The passenger seat had to be pretty far forward in our convertible while the girls were rear facing. It was a bit miserable. There was a lot of joy all around when everyone was forward facing. We were graduating with the kids. Haha!

These days, it is just the mess they leave behind. Teenagers could be worse than toddlers?

 

The 2011 AC I had and my 2017 have the same size jump seats. But you're right the ones in 07 were really small.

 

How tall is your friend's wife? My wife is 5-5/5-6 and we never had issues having a travel system setup or a convertible seat rear facing in my DCSB.

If trading the Tacoma isn't an option, what about an older Corolla? Something as an emergency vehicle.? I had an ACLB prior to my wife being pregnant that I was adamant I wouldn't sell when baby arrived, and something like that was an option in my case. In my specific case my Tacoma got totaled and the payout was more than enough to finance a new DCSB with a lower payment.

 

My wife has a Fusion and I'd only need to take the kid in the Tacoma when the wife isn't available. The issue isn't wanting a lower payment... I'm about to have no car payment and need to keep it that way.

 

I’m saying making a one time purchase, a $2,000 car that will get you to and from daycare or the doctor in a pinch, something to throw car seats in and keep your truck.

 

Seems a little sketchy... buy a well used vehicle to drive my kid around in?

 

Good advice, but I would add that it is highly variable depending on the car seat and vehicle. I’ve used maybe a dozen different kid car seats in something like two dozen vehicles (nothing newer than 2015 or so) and there are some seats and some cars where the LATCH system simply doesn’t cinch down as tight as the belt, especially when it comes to the detachable base/bassinet types. Use your gray matter and just make sure the whole unit is totally cinched down. A lot of crash damage to the body is rooted in the whiplash effect.

 

I have a 2017 Access cab. My daughter didn't ride in my truck until she was big enough for a booster seat. And I always sat her in the jump seat. Never a good idea to put any child in the front seat unless you can PHYSICALLY DISABLE the passenger air bag. I believe a rear facing seat would also work with safety anchors in the rear jump seats. But you will more and likely have to slide the front seat all the way forward. Hope this helps. And congrats!!!!!!

 

LOL, we use to ride in the back of the truck, weren't no seats back there.

 

Lol, I did the same thing, got rid of all debt except the mortgage before the baby came. Within a year we had a new car loan (thanks to a hit and run on the wife's car) and $50K in credit card debt. The best laid plans and all...

 

It has been a while, but I believe that is still legal here. It would get mentioned when people would be ejected in a collision. I stopped watching the for-profit show that they call the local news, so I am not certain these days and too lazy to Google it.

 

First off, congrats! My boy is going to be 3 in July and it is a wild ride.. So much fun!

Second, I don't think a cheaper "beater" car is a sketchy idea at all.. In fact I think it's a great idea.. I would never trust my infant in a front seat if an accident happened.. Regardless of airbags being on or off.
Thirdly, someone mentioned that what if something happens to the Fusion, break down, etc.. Now what are you going to do? It'd be miserable in an AC.. Then again, I'm 6'3" so I find everything a tight fit haha.

Do whatever you are comfortable with, and what you feel is safe..

 

So since this has been brought up twice, I'll address it. If something happens to my wife's car, I can replace my wife's car. This isn't something I could afford to do with a new pickup. Besides can you imagine the conversation? "I know your car is almost toast, but I'm going to drop $40K on a bigger pickup just in case your car blinks out."

That'll go over like a turd in a punch bowl.

Not having a truck payment for myself will allow me to buy her a better car if necessary.

I already have my Tacoma and a 65 Chevy. A 3rd car for myself won't fly.