Baby be coming...all we need is a truck.

Family men/women, anyone have experience raising your baby with the taco? Pros/Cons... specifically, looking for the everyday use ... the ins and outs that you noticed for using the truck as a family vehicle?

Some questions would be, what set up are you using for the bed to load and unload strollers and such. tonneau covers or campers? Thanks for the input y'all.

 

Con: child seats don’t fit well in a Tacoma.

 

The back seat is perfect for baby’s...that’s about where it ends

 

Double cab. Kinda cramped but we make it work. Made two road trips with a 1yr old and a 4yr old this year. Wife and I same height, just under 6’ tall.

 

When my daughter was still in a stroller we took my wife’s car more often. The car seat didn’t have as much room as I thought. Honestly a 4Runner would have been better back then. Now she’s 10 and it doesn’t matter.

 

(Didn't notice this is a 3rd gen thread.)
I have one on the way and have been wondering the same thing. After test fitting carseats it is a bit tight in the back seat and whichever seat the car seat is behind has to be moved up quite a bit.

On the plus side the utilitarian nature allows for customizing. I rigged up a sliding sink and will put a changing platform next to it. My wife hates public restrooms and won't use public changing tables.

 

Double cab here. She's in the middle, rear facing, and its tight but doable. Couldn't imagine her on either side, though. The front seat(s) would have to go forward a considerable amount, and it would not be comfortable.

 

It’s just a lil poopy diaper

 

Just battled the same decision and opted to just buy the truck this week. For as long as it's a "hassle", my child will be out of that stage before we know it. Any large family trips will be done in the wife's SUV.

My struggle now is that I want sliders, but my wife is short. It's looking more and more like I should at least take her into account there considering she agreed to our purchase. Truly wish there was a solid option for a more hybrid set up!

 

Tailgate is the best changing station.

 

You guys are great at this! Thanks for the quick replies! I know when they are infants, the seats have to face in reverse. What seats are y'all using and if you guys are willing, post a pic of your set up? We are looking to purchase the Double Cab (obvious but just incase).

BTW @
Cory07TRD, what a cool set up! I could see how that can come in hand.

 

Plus the benefit of not getting cocaine on your baby. You never know what people do in public restrooms. Not pulling your leg here

 

I bought a Gen Double Cab worked fine for first Grand chiled. The we were blessed with twin so that was 3 it worked in a pinch then # 4 came along and a Ford Expedition with the 3rd row seat. we then could haul 4 kids and 4 adults. and still have room for strollers and bags. The Child seat now adays I huge don't know how you do it.

 

Baby gets Chico keyfit 30. 4yr old Diono radian. It’s super narrow. Could fit 3 across. Heavy duty also (heavy sucker).

 

it's not great but will cover your needs well as long as you don't go nuts and have like 3 kids+ or something. when i got to 3 i had to buy another vehicle.

 

I borrowed my Pop’s access cab a few times and put my daughter in her car seat in the back seat with minimal issues. It was cramped, but doable.

Now that little girl is three times as big and fitting her in a car seat in the back of my double cab is no issue at all. We’re moving from a Mazda3 to a double cab Tacoma, so to us this is a ton more room.

 

I had a first gen when my boy was an infant. He and the rear-facing seat fit without a problem in the back. It was a double cab and I put the seat in the middle.

I have a 3rd gen now and I see no problem. It actually has more room in the back. He now sits in the front, though. He's gotten big. He's 13 now.

The only thing I had trouble with was his stroller. It was fine in the bed as long as it was nice out. If it rained, I had to put it in the cab. Barely enough room for it. The best suggestion is to get a cover or cap to fit the stuff, without it getting soaked in the rain. It still applies to our road trips and all the stuff we haul for that.

Oh... Yeah. The tailgate is a great place to change the diapers. I've done it line other dads with pickups.

 

Welcome to TW..

Check @MaxxPowell youtube videos. He always do a lot of camping with his wife and 2 little ones.

 

This right here. I now got one in the key fit, middle spot. A 5 yr and a 7 yr old on both sides in boosters. I also have a backflip revolver that keeps enough water out that I can throw a compact stroller, groceries, and few other things without trouble

 

I've read this thread and there are people who are just looking to justify their poor decision.

The truth is the Tacoma is one of the worst vehicles to tote around infants and children. The Tacoma, even a double cab, is good for two adults. That's it. Wanna know why?
1. Car seats don't fit well.
2. Back seats are cramped.
3. Very little secure room for the 1001 things you need to take with kids.
4. Requires tonneau or cap just to have covered lockable, needed storage.
5. But, it looks cool.

These are just the main things.

If you have any sense and you want to do what's best for family, get a 4Runner at least. Even better for a family is a Sienna.

When my first child was born I had a really nice truck. Single cab. I went through the same questions as you and evaluated my òptions. I chose to do what's best for my family and traded it for a AWD (I live in snow country, not for long!) GMC Safari. Great mini van and would pull a trailer just fine.
We had another child and traded for a Honda Odyssey. Even better because now you are so busy doing kid stuff you have no time to go off road. I kept some type of mini van for 12 years. By then my children were big enough to make it with an SUV. Enter a 4Runner. Nowhere near as good as a mini van but I didn't have to haul kid stuff as much anymore.
Gradually my kids grew up and I went back to a truck. I did what needed to be done. If you can afford it, get a truck and a mini van. We couldn't at the time.

This is truth.