Child in access cab?

One way to make the access cab work is to sit her on the passenger side and move the seat forward to give her extra leg room. By the time she outgrows the back seat, she could just sit in the passenger seat

 

I concur 04 double cab myself

Only cost me 3500 dollars

 

Nice, got my 06 for 5500

 

If it’s only you and the kiddo 95% of the time, you can probably get away with the AC until he outgrows the back, then he/she can move up to the front.

If it’s you two plus another regularly, I vote double cab.

FWIW, I totally understand the desire for the AC.

 

Hahah that kid ain't right.

 

I agree with this comment about the 05-06 DC Tundra, and to add... I have a DC 1st gen with a 4yr old and a 6yr old. One car seat and one booster. The back bench seat is perfect for them.

I have the V6 Auto and when the engine was stock I would average 16ish MPG.

I believe the 4cyl will only get you to 18ish MPG in the double cab configuration.

I think you'd be happy either way but the 4cyl doesn't net much better gas mileage to where I would suggest prioritizing it into your search. Just snag the first clean double cab you can find in your price range.

 

I was in the same boat. I looked at g1 AC's, but too small, and leaning over to do up a car seat if you could fit one is hard on the back. I removed the headrest in my g2 AC, and fit the smallest forward facing carseat I could in there (see my avatar). My son is now in a booster seat from 5 1/2 YO on, and is fine. This is our only vehicle. I'm 5'10". Any taller and it would be too tight. He's done multiple 8 hour days back there. I wanted the 4cyl, and a 6' bed. Children are not recommended in the front seat until 10-12 YO.

 

@littlemom you also did not specify if you need 2wd or 4wd or the region you live/are looking

the DC is only available in the V6 with 4wd, Pre-Runner/2wd you could get either I4 or V6. Xtra Cab you can get either

I'm in agreement with the Xtra Cab if you need more bed space versus interior space. DC if you need a little more interior versus bed space.

as someone stated, you can move the front seat forward to make room or use the LATCH system built into the front seat and turn off the airbag (not an option with the DC)

the only downside to your search now is region, condition, and you wallet/bank account. be prepared to spend $15k for a good used 150k mile Tacoma, probably @2-3k more for a DC :/

 

Also:

NOT A QUAD CAB!!!

 

You make it sound like you can fit a pallet of concrete in a Tacoma. That's too much weight even for a Tundra, by almost 2x, lol

 

Ah yes, turbos: Something every mom looking for a car to haul their kids around is looking for.

 

Depends on how much driving you do with kids.. such as kids games, kids parties, etc.. If you drive kids to places a lot, you get 4cyl which save you gas... unless you live in the area that has hills, get V6.

The last question you have about Tacoma problems, you can come up on the forum to ask us, we will tell you the answer and point the right direction. But I recommend that you ask mechanic at the local shop in your area..

 

I'd drive a Tundra if I had to only drive one vehicle.

 

Is an access cab safe enough? My 2 cents:

Which would you rather have in a side impact crash?

DC with the car seat in the middle of the bench or,
an access cab with the seat sandwiched on the side?

Middle of the bench every time. DC or not, look at the side impact damage @ the door. No thx.

https://youtu.be/E-nyR4bIKmc

 

I sat in the back of my dads 99 xcab for many years.

Very little room.

 

EZ, done it plenty of times
3000lbs to bumps, taken 3500+ to the dump before in form of a demo'd sidewalk. A full pallet is around 3400 IIRC and it'll do it if you take it slow and air up.



Can't do a pallet straight in because of the rack, unfortunately for the loading guys, but these trucks can definitely do it with the basic suspension upgrades.

 

Can and should are two entirely different things.

You do you, but I'd never put anything close to that much weight in my truck.

Get a trailer.

 

Cheap trailers are all 1500lbs or less lol. Don't have room for a 16ft dually

Aren't payload limits rated based mostly on braking ability?
Tires can handle it, leafs can handle it, frame can handle it, bed...barely handles it, so what's left?

 

2004 V-6 was a 4.0ltr.?

 

2004 Tacoma was still 3.4, the 05+ was 4.0 (03+ T4R was 4.0)