Tacoma for family.

We got a Sienna when our boys were about 8 and 10. Great decision, because that's when the real taxi service needs kick in, plus you'll be driving around more of their friends. We had the AWD, and it was great. Now the boys are 17 and 15, and since the 17-year-old bought his own truck there was no need for the minivan and I traded it on on the Tacoma. They complain about the backseat now on the few occasions when we do need to put everyone in the Tacoma, but that's mainly because they were spoiled by the recliners in the old Sienna. I say get the minivan and a small utility trailer to get you through the next 7 years or so.

 

Pretty sure that never happened.

I've always thought pickup trucks were cool, even down to the stepchild El Camino.

 

We had a Sienna AWD when we had 2 kids in baby seats. Definitely the right tool for the job. Only way to carry all the baby equipment! My wife rode in the back (3rd row) most of the time, while the boys enjoyed the panoramic view from the lounge chairs (in their car seats.)

It was a great vehicle for the purpose. Excellent on long trips. We managed to hide the video player capability from the boys until maybe 3 months before we sold it 6 years after (sold it due to a move abroad). Never used the video before then!

Best approach to the AWD / no spare issue (in MY case) was to get rid of the run flats after the 1st set. I put on some proper All season Michelins on it and bought a tire plug kit and a 12 V compressor. Having proper tires on the Sienna is a huge plus!

The tire selection for the run flats in the Sienna size is expensive and VERY poor!)

When flat, the run flats do not 'run' flat all that much... They get destroyed (the Sienna is a heavy vehicle). So even with run flats you are still stuck... Due to the AWD you will buy at least 2 tires (If not 4) every time you 'run' flat... (circumference compatibility) - Oh and that is on the off-chance that the nearest town's tire shops actually HAVE anything resembling the tires you now desperately need in stock! (They DO NOT). So you are further stuck! (if they do - the'll want to only sell you 4 of them!

The Plug kit will get you further safer than the run flats...

 

For family trips we use a Subaru Outback. I like my tacoma but it’s just a pain loading it up with my wife, newborn and two dogs...

 

The backseat in the taco cab is tight, and you may find getting dry storage in the bed to be a challenge. Many of the tonneau covers out there leak a bit, and the bed itself leaks at the front corners.

My double cab pulls family duty fine when needed, but we are a short family. Its still a small pickup and the knees in the backseat are going to be aware of that. Only you can decide if that's a deal breaker.

 

Many years ago I had a car with a big stereo in the trunk that covered access to the spare and was a massive undertaking to remove so I bought a plug kit and compressor.
About 3am in the middle of nowhere I crossed some railroad tracks and had an instant flat tire, a spike had been sticking up slicing the sidewall completely open making the plug kit unfortunately useless. Spent several hours in the dark removing the stereo and was thankful the spare was still good to go.

 

I would suggest a 4 runner. The Tacoma back seats are small. Your kids may be ok now but they will grow and need more space in the back

 

Have 3 kids, 4, 6 and 8. The older two are in boosters, youngest in a car seat. Tacoma works fine for short trips. We use my wifes Kia Sedona for longer trips. The back seat will be a bit better when my youngest moves to a booster and my oldest outgrows the booster. Now if I was hauling 3 adults it would be tight. I figure by the next time I need a vehicle, I might have to switch to a Tundra CrewMax.

 

I have two boys. When they were in high school I had a CrewCab Tundra and it was great. Tons of room. Perfect for road trips and vacations.

Now that they are in college and I live in a more urban environment, the Tacoma is a better choice for me. The Tacoma is fine for bigger kids in the back for in town trips < 30 minutes, but is too cramped in back seat for much more than that.

 

My wife, 2 kids, 3yo and 1yo both in carseats. 1 rear facing still. Tacoma is perfect for our family and long trips. They'll have much more room back their once the carseats are gone. I'm rocking a DCSB and also tow a travel trailer around. We camp a lot in the summer months and the Truck works fantastic.

after lots of mods of course. mainly 5.29's and OvTune.

 

We have two kids, 7 and 9. We travel everywhere in the Tacoma, they love it.

If mileage or height is an issue on a trip we'll take our Forester but my son barfs 100% more in the Subaru.

 

OP never came back to check thread

 

When my three kids were younger we had a minivan. I would take the middle captain seats out and throw the dogs bed on the floor and we had a small TV with a VCR (yeah I know, I’m dating myself) that plugged into the cigarette lighter. I strapped that on a milk crate in between the two front seats and my wife and I, the dog and the three kids went everywhere in that van. The backseat where the kids sat would fold almost flat down like a bed, which came in handy.

When the kids got older and begin sort of doing their own thing, my wife is the one that wanted to trade in the van for a Camry, as it was basically her car. I had one of my previous Toyota pick ups. I miss that minivan far more than she does as it was an extremely versatile tool especially with taking a 100 pound Labrador retriever with us on trips.

 

This is ours as well. I traded a Sequoia with over 200k on the clock for the Taco. I would not have bought the Taco if it was our only ride. My boys are 10 and 8 also and I have a 6 month old so had to put the car seat in the middle. It's only there when we HAVE to all ride in my truck normally we take the sienna and it even hauls the kids bikes and such on the inside but that is pushing it. That being said the tacoma is what we (my older boys and I) take camping. I bought a Diamond Back cover which I love and it hauls most of our gear safely inside and I plan to add the front runner rack on top of that for extra cargo when needed.

If we all are together it's ok but I wouldn't seriously road trip with all 5. Just the boys in the back and it's fine we have a 4 hour drive to go camping this weekend. Plus I'm not driving a huge sequoia everywhere I go by myself.

 

Taco works for us as a family hauler because nobody is over 5-8. We've had 5 inside all day w/o issues. But unless you tow, haul or off-road there are better choices. As everybody pointed out, minivans, despite all their stigma are living rooms that go places. So practical and comfortable. IMHO, there's no reason to have a crossover (highlander) over a AWD minivan.

 

I waited until our kids were old enough to have their own cars before getting my truck knowing the back seat was kinda small. The back seat in the truck belongs to our fur baby, no kids.

 

Owned/drove a Sienna for 10 years. Fantastic option for moving kids. We have an Odyssey now but enjoyed the Sienna more. It just felt more grounded than the Odyssey does. If the thought of a van scares you, I'd go along the lines of a 4 runner or similar.

 

Don’t do it. I love my Tacoma but when my two boys (5 and 7 now) both get to double digits the cab will be too small. You will regret it. Get a full size or an SUV.