Thinking of getting a Tacoma double but not sure it's right for ME

not sure I will or always need a truck or the bed. I just like the idea of having it there when/if I do want/need it.

Also like it with the topper above-- then we can sleep in back with a pad down on road trips. Does anyone do that?

 

love my DC. had a reg cab, and traded it in for the DC, couldnt be happier.

 

yea, i also bought an access cab for bed space but will really be wishing for a double with the addition of another child. it is fine with one kid, and would fit two no problem but since mine is a manual trans, i get really frustrated if i have to move my seat forward.

however, most of our baby hauling needs are accomplished with the car, the truck is only full of family when we go camping/ exploring. at which point im glad to have the full bed for all our stuff+the dog if its not too hot. if its too hot she rides in with us then i really wish for a double cab. . . . . its a crap-shoot for me and mine

 

I have a 2yr old and another baby on the way, there is plenty of room for a second car seat in my truck and there will probably be enough room for stuff between the car seats (diaper bag, 12 pack, or whatever).

it's dumping in CO today and although I have driven in snow with my truck prior I feel confident in saying that you'll love the truck in the snow (it's not the subby tho). I felt it hook up pretty good, there was a long icy downhill patch to a light that I slid on and the traction control and ABS helped me keep her straight and stopped with plenty of room.

I have a '10 double cab short bed sport which I highly recommend the sport, if you know your going to want the extra bed length get the long bed sport. I cannot recommend the access cab (only 1 set of tie downs for the baby seat).

I come from a 94 xtra cab 4x4, 04 xtra cab tacoma trd off road, and more recently a '97 4runner - which I sold to get the double cab taco so I could do exactly what your doing have 2 kids a wife a dog and camping/road trips!

you'll be glad you did, if you test drive and still have 2nd thoughts then look at the highlander got the wife an '08 and that is a true family road trip vehicle and its a beast in the snow, you don't even have to think about it with the awd!

 

I wouldn't even consider the access cab version. Neither would my wife. Hard enough to convince her I need a pick up. HA.

Help me convince her. What can I say or do? Why is the tacoma double cab better than my Subaru? Or anything else?

 

I just bought a '13 double cab. I have a 7 1/2 year old in a booster, and a 3 year old in a regular car seat. Plenty of room for both, not much else! But when we take a road trip, thats what the bed is for. The ride is nice, not Lexus nice, but not full size heavy duty pick up rough either. With the traction control, snow in 2 wheel drive is not much of an issue, if it gets deep, hit the switch. on the cap subject, they're not my thing, I put a tonneau cover on mine. Overall, I think its a great family vehicle. Decent mileage, decent interior space in the double cab, nice ride, and a nice looking vehicle.

 

I just bought a 2013 Double Cab a week ago and love it. I have a 3 year old and a 14 month old and can fit everyone in there-- no problem. As for a long trip with the family, I'd get a topper or cover for the bed for sure.

There's plenty of space under and behind the seats for the "emergency" stuff. (mini compressor, 4 way tire tool, tie downs, tool kit, etc.)

I traded in an Explorer Sport Trac, so it's similar in size.

Like others have said--test drive it--look it over. Make sure it's roomy enough on the inside.

I'd recommend it!

 

Have her test drive it!! That's how I closed my wife, no sales pitches, no gimmicks, had her drive one and she loved it and decided it was the right truck for me!!

 

if you get a bedmat and a bed divider your groceries will stay right up against the tailgate.

as for the rear end sliding around in rain or snow, just put some 50 lb bags of sand over the rear axle.

 

My truck hardly slides around even in 2wd in the rain! I have stock Bridgestone Duellers.Before this truck, I had a Chevy Colorado, the rear used to slide in the rain, but, this one don't! It's actually pretty good in the rain! And the ride is quiet and smooth!! I have the double cab long bed, and I couldn't be happier! Planning on keeping it a looong time !

 

I zip tied 3 milk crates together, and bungeed them to the rear d-rings - works great.

 

If you want to sleep in the bed you'll want a double cab long bed. I have one and the 6' bed is very handy.

Just bought a camper shell yesterday, stoked to go camping once the weather warms up and school lets out.

 

Tacomas with their weak ass 3 or even 4 leafs ride just like a car to me. Prior to mine I had an older F-150 and it felt a lot more truck like. At work I drive all sorts of 3/4 tons and they are definitely a lot harsher then both.

I don't have kids yet, but I bought my DC with family in mind. You will be fine putting two car seats in the back. Many are using it as a family vehicle, still some others prefer more room.

As for winter driving, you will be in 2wd most of the time, so it won't compare to your Subaru, however with proper driving, maybe some weight in the back (shell will do the trick) you will be fine. Winter tires obviously help, but as long as you have a decent set of tires, should not be any issues. Just to put in in perspective, I put mine in 4wd a few times this winter and that was just to put the drivetrain to work. We get lots of snow up here for months.

 

+1 Have her test drive it, ASAP! Just bought a 13' DCLB a month or so ago, although my gf wasn't a big deciding factor in my buying the truck, she drove it a few times over the past weeks and now she wants one! Also, on the ride quality, everyone who takes a ride with me comments on the ride quality compared to other trucks. You're going down the right road here!

 

I also hang the grocery bags from the tie downs on the rails. My gf at the time did not want a Tacoma, she grew up on a ranch and always had 1 ton trucks, she didn't want a "baby truck". However, after I bought it she loved it. Now that she's my wife, she still loves it. I used to have a WRX, that thing was awesome in the snow, but my Tacoma is a close second to it as far as snow goes.

 

WARNING... if you test drive one.. you will be buying it.

with that said.. i love my double cab short bed. plus the rear doors open nearly 90 degree's so it would be incredibly easy to put in or remove children. I had no need for a long bed.. i have a bed extender for my short bed so that give it more room then a long bed has anyway.

the ride is very smooth.. and handling is great.

 

Frontier has a smoother ride but ride quality is better than Wrangler, not as good as Grand Cherokee. Plenty of room and I drove with my gf 1250 miles to Colorado for a backpacking trip. Not going to find a better combination of seat, car like handling, and off-road ability.

 

Like your Legacy, the 4x4 is not on all the time with the Tacoma either, Steve. It's switched in or out as needed (never on dry pavement). Otherwise, the Tacoma is also rear wheel drive (with plenty of pep).

The stiff suspension, designed to haul or tow a bit heavier loads, is softened considerably by the Tacoma's weight. The result is a firm (good handling on the road), but surprisingly comfortable, ride. I'm an old dude (tired old achy bones & muscles), but have no problems on longer trips and similar. If anything, the firm seats took longer to get used to (no problem now).

On the double-cab, the space inside is sweet. Everything is within easy reach, without feeling cramped or claustrophobic. There are a lot of buttons & knobs, but those become second nature very quickly. Plenty of room in the back seats as well, even for adults.

The extra cargo space, inside (with the rear seat folded down) and outside, is a major step up from my previous BMW 5-series sedan. It's really nice going to a store and not worrying about how I'm going to get something home (always a concern with the BMW).

All-in-all, the Tacoma is one of the best vehicles I've owned. The Ford Explorer was terrible at towing (too squirrelly on the road), the Jeep CJ-5 was too small (and also squirrelly at towing), the Ford F-250 double-cab was too stiff (felt every darn bump), and so on. Give the Tacoma a test drive. I suspect you'll like it. Most do.

 

I own a 2013 Doublecab shortbed sports. I have two kids (3 and 5, will be 4 and 6 this year). They use booster seats with the back support and have leg room. Sometimes they tend to kick the seats in front of them so it can get dirty on the seats. Later down the road, Im going to get seat covers for the front rows.

For security purposes, I also have a hard cover on my bed and a aftermarket lock called "pop a lock" installed on my tailgate. Tacoma's do not have locks on the tailgate so just giving you the heads up.

 

I just came from a Civic hatchback to a dual cab long bed and I assure you having two children and a wife it is amazing. The car is for families, IMHO. The ride is fine, I came from having a lowered Civic so I guess it's a little different. My ride was shit with the Civic. I assure you thought, having the dual cab four door over the other type of some-what four door isn't that great. IMHO.