Child in access cab?

I'm a mom shopping for a 1st gen tacoma now.

If I didn't have a child, my first choice would be a single cab. But since I do, I've been looking at double cabs. I didn't even consider an access cab til now.

There's a few posts on here about baby car seats in an access cab, but what about a 6 year old child on a booster seat? If the booster seat fits on the seat and there's a shoulder strap - is it safe enough?

 

For you and your child’s sake.
Get the Double Cab.

I had a 1st Gen Access Cab. They are technically an Extended cab.
There are no doors to open up on the rear. You have to lean the front seat forward to get into the back.
Which makes it hard to buckle a child in, let alone the little amount of room in the back.

I now have 2nd Gen Access Cab. It has door that open in the rear.
But to honest, I wouldn’t want to have to make my kid sit back there every day.
The Access/Extended cab trucks are better suit for storage.

Once your kid hits about 9 years old. He/She will complain anytime they have to sit back there.
I don’t have kids, but I’ve taken care of my niece and nephew enough to know “they didn’t like it”.

 

My kids love riding in grandpa’s Access Cab, but their booster seats don’t really fit the jump seats like they should and it’s more a novelty than something I’d be comfortable with full-time.
Honestly a 6 yr old is a great size for the back seat of a double cab. Much more comfortable than full-size humans back there.

 

Get a double cab.

I got a buddy who has an access cab and his little one is quickly outgrowing it

@eon_blue

 

She fits in it great when its just the two of us, the issue is if we want to do a family outing (me, wife and daughter) then it's a real tight squeeze lol.

The 1st gen Xtra cab has an airbag off switch and child safety latches in the front passenger seat for this reason, the back jumper seats are really only viable for a booster seat when they get older

 

I would not recommend having your xtra cab 1st gen be the primary baby hauler, but if you have another primary vehicle to use then it's not the end of the world. My daughter rides in my truck maybe a few times a month, otherwise we take the Rav4

 

Ok I just now read the initial post, if you're actively looking then look I would look for a double cab just to have that extra cab space. The xtra cab is a tight squeeze in the back for any size human being.

 

I have 3 boys.. 9, 5, 2….Trust me when I say get the double cab. It’s already a small truck, plus having to move the front seat every single time to get in and out would get old quick.

 

Doable if one didn’t have any other option. Of course.

But if you can find a Double Cab it will be more than worth it. The Access Cab doesn’t have “small” seats, it basically has jump seats, and very little space for a jumper seat for sure.

I would get a DC. If you feel you need a long box the 05-15 2nd Gens come with a Double Cab and a Long Bed. If not, a 1st Gen DCSB is the way to go if you need back seats!

 

Just because there are seatbelts back there, doesn't really mean you SHOULD put people, especially kids, back there. I felt bad putting my dog in the back of my 1st gen extracab.

2nd gen access cabs are slightly larger than extracabs, but seriously, they'll still have essentially no leg room. The suicide door just makes it easier to shove them back there.

It might be 'fun' to sit back there for the occasional short trip, but for regular trips or especially longer road trips, that's a hard pass for me.

Stick to a doublecab.

 

She said her first choice is single cab if she didn't have kids... she is looking for access cab for kid.. that is why she's looking for answers about kid seats in back.

 

i have an access cab. you can put a car seat back there by lifting out the drink tray.
i never used a booster seat. my daughter fit fine in the padded seats back there. it was similar to a booster seat.
my daughter is 9 now and she sits in the front seat with airbag off.

 

No one said she had to buy a 3rd gen? They made the 1st gen double cab from 01-04, way more space than any extended or access cab trucks.

I agree with most everyone else, my kids barely fit in the jump seats for the last few years. Really only doable for short drives.

 

A little tight for a car seat or booster seat. Get a Quad Cab, before you know it kids grow up! I hauled soccer players, waterpolo players and dogs in my Quad Cab. Sometimes kids smell as bad as the dogs!

 

OCD triggered

1st gen 2 door w/ rear "seats" = Extra Cab (no other access hence no access cab)
2nd+ gen 2 door front hinged and 2 rear hinged doors w/ slightly better "seats" = Access Cab (suicide doors providing access to the rear "seats").

Thank you

 

Technically it's Xtra cab

 

Lots of differing opinions on this. FWIW I have a 7 y/o and he enjoys the jump seats in my 2nd gen access cab... I made it nice and comfy with one of those Purple seat cushions and a subwoofer armrest

I do agree with the others, if it has to be the 1st gen then double cab gets the vote.

 

The X X's out doors

 

First gen tundra RC.

Just to poke the bear.

 

Even the double cab can be tight depending on how big the passenger is.