Third child on the way. Tacoma or 4Runner?

I've owned a 2016 4Runner with the third row seating.
The 2nd row has better leg room; but for some reason the 4Runner's interior is narrower than the Taco. Both can do well with 3 "pre-teen" kids. (Not full size kids!)
Cargo room?? Tacoma for sure! Never seen a 4Runner carry a Dirt bike!

A truck that can get you through the wonder years with 3 kids? TUNDRA!! (Could even do 4 kids!)

 

Wait for the times you need to taxi the kids? (Without the wifey) That would only be 3 kids. The Taco is more than capable to transport you and 3 kids.

If you don't absolutely need to spend money? DON'T!!!

This is not the time to increase your debt!

 

I like it lol

 

Hell I've got one kid and Im already thinking about a tundra instead. End up driving my wife's crv anytime I need to take him somewhere.

 

We have both now - 2019 Tacoma TRD OR Tacoma DBL Cab and a 2022 4 Runner TRD Pro. I bought the Tacoma, new jan '19 as my daily driver and just took delivery of the 4 Runner a couple of weeks ago. The 4 Runner is my wife's new car as we are now empty nesters (all 3 kids are in college now). She got the 4 Runner as she wanted something smaller and one with she can do some off roading.

We own a horse farm, and my wife was/is a stay at home mom/wife, so our needs were slightly different from some (as we usually had at least one full size SUV or truck in addition to her/my daily drivers). Our kids were 17 and 18 months apart in age, so we have plenty of experience in fitting 3 kids in vehicles. I will she always traveled with a German Shepherd as well so we ordered our vehicles with the middle row captains chairs so the dog could be positioned there.

The cars we enjoyed the most with kids were:

GMC Yukon Denali XL (with 3 rows - my favorite), Chevy Suburban (with 3 rows), and oddly enough, BY FAR my wife's favorites (not mine) were GMC High Top Conversion Vans - with the Explorer Conversion Packages (you can really load those up...I use to call them pimp mobiles).

If we were going to have only 2 vehicles and did not have a horse farm, and my wife worked, the Conversion Vans would probably be too big, though my wife would drive that in large cities, rural areas - she LOVED them. Since your wife already has a vehicle she likes (assuming) and if you have decided between the 4 Runner and Tacoma, I'd say the 4 Runner. The back seat is more comfortable than the Tacoma (hers recline). If your'e undecided, I'd consider full size crew cab trucks as well.

Good luck and I certainly envy you...having young kids and being involved with them, was the highlight of my life!

 

We have both. if it were just for occasional kid transport, and them being small id say they Tacoma is fine.
I had 3 young ones, we had a mini van and a Jetta then. we did just fine. the Tacoma is smaller than the 4R as far as leg room goes in the back, but its not that much and would be ok for little ones, and i would also say probably up until they start driving as long as you you have something bigger for trips and such.

Oh, and there's not a damn thing wrong with having a cool car with young kids, so ignore these jackasses. My Jetta was modded, and quite the cool ride.

 

My wife and I also work full time 5 kids total 3 still at home. Sometimes we have to…switch vehicles. I know mind blowing right? And I had a gen 1 4Runner before my pick up. And the interior was. Wait for it. Bigger then my taco. What have we learned? If you need or want more available interior space than you currently have you’re going to need a different vehicle. Why do you need other people to tell you how much space is right for you and your family?

 

Does anyone know if the ditch light brackets typically work for the 4 runner as well, or would I need to buy different ones? They're the cali raised version (yeah i know...)

 

We have both, 4Runner hails the family way better

 

Who cares

 

I just traded a 5th gen 4Runner in for my current 3rd gen. And I had 2 double cab second gens. The back seat on the 4Runner is quite a bit roomier than the back of a double cab. Car seats the 4Runner is going to be better for sure. I had 3 teenagers in the back of my 4Runner quite a few times with no issues. They didn't even kill each other. And some 4Runners you can get a 3rd row too. If they were better for hauling building materials, demo, and car parts I would still have mine. It was really a much nicer vehicle overall. But no bed.

 

Whichever is more socially acceptable at the mormon tabernacle.

phew 3 kids. That seems like a lot these days.

 

Sienna hybrid, 35 mpg and a boatload of room. Then buy an old tacoma or jeep as an offroad toy.

 

I have a late 2nd gen Taco and a 5th Gen 4Runner. Get the 4R! Love both but 2 4 Runners served my family well and never let us down.

 

3rd child!? Sienna for sure! Why make your life any more miserable than it has to be…