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Baby Car Seats in Tacomas

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by burtonboards32, Jun 25, 2014.

  1. Jun 25, 2014 at 12:00 PM
    #1
    burtonboards32

    burtonboards32 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hello,

    This would obviously be a question for the parents of little ones that drive Tacomas - what is the seating arrangement like in either a double cab or access cab with a car seat?

    I traded out of my Tacoma last year into a new F-350 diesel and I am now considering selling it to get back a significant amount of equity, purchasing a new Tacoma - I will say I am hesitating to do this with the second gen rust issues - and then using the equity towards a new home. I got a good enough of a deal on the Super Duty that I am not conserned with losing my shirt on a trade, probably just about break even and I'd walk away with a lower payment and a significant amount of cash in hand to put towards a new home.

    Thanks
     
  2. Jun 25, 2014 at 12:18 PM
    #2
    Phils514

    Phils514 Well-Known Member

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    We have our car seat on the right side. Not like other cars, tacomas only have the hooks for the baby car seat base on either left or right. No middle like my wife's subaru. And wen you have the baby basket on it facing backwards you can't put the front passenger seat all the way back. But there is still plenty of room.
     
  3. Jun 25, 2014 at 12:19 PM
    #3
    Phils514

    Phils514 Well-Known Member

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    Oh and we have a double cad
     
  4. Jun 25, 2014 at 12:42 PM
    #4
    DEEVON911

    DEEVON911 Semi-Pro

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    Bethel Park, PA. Burb of da Burgh.
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    TRD Cat-back Exhaust. Semi-Debadged. Trimmed down stock Antenna. Weathertech vent visors. TRD FJ Cruiser Center Cap Wheel Mod. 265/75/16 Firestone Destination A/T,s . Inverter tapped into for outlet in cab. Tacomaworld sticker which adds 5 hp.
    Not gonna lie, its tight. I have one of the larger made car seats. Which I just turned forward facing when my son turned 2.
    [​IMG]

    Even though there is no hooks for the middle of the seat, I felt comfortable enough using the 2 inside hooks to place his rear facing lift out seat. You can make it tight enough, where there is just alittle play like there should be. To use one of the lift out seats on either side, the front seat would have to be moved all the way forward. Which doesn't work for a passenger at all. So its pretty much middle only for one of those.

    Using the seat I have now as rear facing, the passenger seat had to be pretty far up. My wife is short, and she complained about the leg room. Definitely go somewhere where you can they let you try the seats in your vehicle. I was fine with the room I had in mine. I was willing to give up some room, for my own comfort of having a larger well padded seat for my son.

    But was really happy to turn it forward facing recently. It really made a lot more room, and easier to see pulling out of somewhere looking through the rear windows.

    Also, as far as the rust issues, from what I understand. 09's and up have a different frame, and are not supposed to have the issues of the past. I only have a little rust at the welds on mine. That's with salty ass streets in the winter. I do power wash it off a lot in the winter, but no flakey rust for me so far, like past years.
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2014
  5. Jun 25, 2014 at 12:56 PM
    #5
    forana

    forana Well-Known Member

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    No money, all went to truck...
    1. I think there aren't any rust issues with newer 2nd gens. I think most of the rust issues were with 2005s and 2006s.

    2. I have 2 britax seats (very bulky) and I have them on each side. My wife can cram in the middle without too much discomfort. I did use the middle when I had the base/carrier. But because of the bulk of 2 forward facing seats I couldn't do it.

    3. Britax's are pretty awesome.
     
  6. Jun 25, 2014 at 1:04 PM
    #6
    DEEVON911

    DEEVON911 Semi-Pro

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    Bethel Park, PA. Burb of da Burgh.
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    TRD Cat-back Exhaust. Semi-Debadged. Trimmed down stock Antenna. Weathertech vent visors. TRD FJ Cruiser Center Cap Wheel Mod. 265/75/16 Firestone Destination A/T,s . Inverter tapped into for outlet in cab. Tacomaworld sticker which adds 5 hp.
    Truth. More pricey, and bulky like you said, but worth it. Well made seats for sure.
     
  7. Jun 25, 2014 at 1:07 PM
    #7
    Tj0hn

    Tj0hn Well-Known Member

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  8. Jun 25, 2014 at 1:12 PM
    #8
    forana

    forana Well-Known Member

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    No money, all went to truck...
    Yes Britax is much more pricey BUT well worth the cost. My parents were in a major head on collision. My 3 year old daughter was completely unharmed. Both my parents are now OK but they got pretty buss up.

    I'm sold on Britax forever
     
  9. Jun 25, 2014 at 1:30 PM
    #9
    SpacemanSpiff

    SpacemanSpiff Well-Known Member

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    I have two carseats in my '08 double cab. They fit comfortably - they are both front facing, but even when one was rear-facing and in the middle there still was enough room. Oh, and no rust issues with mine.
     
  10. Jun 25, 2014 at 1:42 PM
    #10
    TacomaMike37

    TacomaMike37 Well-Known Member

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    I have britaxs. Solid car seats.

    As for comfort. Rear facing car seats in the tacoma makes things tight for the passenger seat, but what do I care, I dont sit there, ha. Front facing is manageable, not the best when compared to my pilot, but definitely doable. Have had two car seats in, its livable.
     
  11. Jun 25, 2014 at 1:59 PM
    #11
    Drinknmolson

    Drinknmolson Well-Known Member

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    One of each front and rear facing and yah the pass side is tight due to the rear facing but she's short so it is what it is. Yah britax r nice, nice and expensive but the kids r worth the expense someday they will be lugging my old butt around and i'd expect them to keep me safe and comfy!

    If your truck is going to be the primary vehicle then just test drive with the car seats and the wife and make sure everyone is happy before you bite the bullet. In my case the wife drives a highlander
     
  12. Jun 25, 2014 at 2:06 PM
    #12
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    I had a rear facing Graco car seat in my Tacoma and it fit well. I had it behind my seat and I was fine but I'm only 5'9". I have a larger Recaro converible seat now in my new truck and I don't think it would have fit behind my seat in the Tacoma.
     
  13. Jun 25, 2014 at 2:37 PM
    #13
    RedMosquito

    RedMosquito Active Member

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    +1 for Britax

    But I wouldn't even consider the Tacoma if I had a rear facing baby/newborn seat. The front seat passenger would have their knees up to their chin. Front facing seats are doable and booster seats are no problem at all (which is the stage my kids are in) Good luck.
     
  14. Jun 25, 2014 at 2:57 PM
    #14
    amworks

    amworks Well-Known Member

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    Im considering getting a double cab too. Anyone have a forward facing behind the drivers seat? Im 6 ft, I have a 3 year old in a forward facing Britax and a 4 month old that is going to be moving in to a rear facing Britax.

    It will just be for short trips and picking them up from day care, most of the time if we all go somewhere we take the wifes civic.
     
  15. Jun 25, 2014 at 3:32 PM
    #15
    DEEVON911

    DEEVON911 Semi-Pro

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    Might be tight behind drivers seat for the child. I'm 5'10 and keep my seat a lot farther back than the passenger seat needs to be. If you look at my other post with the pic, you can kind of see what I'm talking about. My 2yo is tall for his age, so I'm also comparing it to him.
     
  16. Jun 25, 2014 at 3:48 PM
    #16
    amworks

    amworks Well-Known Member

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    Thanks
     
  17. Jun 25, 2014 at 7:09 PM
    #17
    a.s.

    a.s. Well-Known Member

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    I have a double cab ...and two young boys. If you use two baby seats on either side then the back gets tight. A third child in the middle is fine but forget about squeezing in a full grown adult between the seats. As for positioning, if the baby seat is facing rearward then the front passenger/driver seat has to be pushed forward -more than my 5'10" body would prefer. It's not terrible but if you're tall with long legs, it could be uncomfortable. This isn't much of an issue if the seat faces forward.

    Another thing to point out is, because the rear truck seat doesn't recline, I find that on the forward facing seats the kids sit too upright. When they fall asleep their heads get in all weird positions and sometimes slump forward. It just looks uncomfortable. The same thing happens with a booster seat. I fixed the problem by cutting a piece of 4x4 and wedging it behind the base of the kid's seats. It gives the headrests a bit of room to angle back a few degrees.

    Good luck.
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2014
  18. Jun 25, 2014 at 8:31 PM
    #18
    Johnsredline

    Johnsredline Well-Known Member

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    my daughter just switched to a front facing, and front facing fit fine behind either seat.

    But when she was in the rear facing seat i had to put her in the middle, the LATCH straps were just long enough to fit the inside of either side allowing me to stap it down in the middle. I had to sit on the base to gain the extra 1/2'' needed to reach.
     
  19. Jun 25, 2014 at 8:44 PM
    #19
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 Well-Known Member

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    I have a Britax b-safe installed in mine in the center, I tried it behind my passenger seat and i just lost do much room that it was uncomfortable for the wife up front. In the middle it doesnt have any negative effect on the front seat position.
     
  20. Jun 25, 2014 at 9:36 PM
    #20
    Jimmyh

    Jimmyh Well-Known Member

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    I don't think it is legal for little ones to drive. They cannot reach the pedals anyway!

    :)
     

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