access cab/double cab leg room

For an early 2000s tacoma, what is the difference in legroom for the back row between the access cab versus the double cab? I am deciding to see if it is doable to stuff my toddler that is changing into a booster seat soon. I googled couple threads, and saw folks even able to stuff a rear facing childseat in it, but doesn't know how practical it would be for a booster seat in an access cab.

 

Get the double cab, your child will continue to grow and their legs won't (shouldn't) get any shorter.

 

First, it's not an access cab for 1st gens. The access cab is the 2nd gen version with the suicide doors.

Xtracab leg room = none
Doublecab legroom = some

you can technically fit adults in the back of an xtracab, but it doesn't have what you'd call "leg room". I've had people sit in the back of my '97 5 lug extracab, and you basically have to sit sideways and cross your legs with the other person.

My doublecab cab fit 4 adults just fine. I'm 5'10" (okay, 5' 9.5", lol), and while I've only sat in the back of my truck like 2x in 15 years, I fit. Not tons of legroom, but it depends on how short/tall the person in front of you is. My wife is 5'1" and has the seat pretty far forward so there's actually auite a lot back there, lol.

A booster seat for a kid would probably be fine in the back of an xtracab, except I don't believe they have the latch system back there. But even then, there's not a lot of room back there in an xtracab. With how big the child seats are these days, I doubt they'd really fit.

 

doublecabs are comfortable enough for a 6ft+ person to sit in the back for long trips.

 

If you aren't from the shire you WILL mind sitting in the back of a DC. Any adult I have put back there for more than a few minutes has politely let me know its not for them. The seat back is so vertical and your knees are literally in your chest.

For a booster seat, no issue. Full size car seat for an infant in the rear facing position is fine as is a seat in the forward facing position. An adult sitting in the back while the seat is installed in the middle will be cramped but it is do-able.

 

sounds like your friends are little babies, rofl. i'm 6 ft tall, and my brother in law is 6ft and we've both been back there for 3 hour trips no problem. i wouldn't want to drive across the country, and sure there are more comfortable trucks, but it's plenty of room for normal size adults and a massive upgrade over the xtracab.

 

This is all refer to the double cab, not the extended cab? correct? Thank you.

 

The Xtra Cab 1st gens have tiny back seats, it is no place for a human being. Just storage space. Any time I have my wife sitting back there when someone else rides shotgun, she has to sit facing sideways and she's tiny. There is zero leg room back there unless the person in the passenger seat has their knees up against the dash.

 

Yep, double cab. I've posted pics before on the seat installed. A quick search will turn them up. If you are looking for something which has the extra room, then definitely the DC is what you want. Its not much room but will certainly handle the needs of a growing child. The access cab on the other hand... ouch.

 

here's what the back of a doublecab looks like:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/question-about-rear-seat-room-in-1st-gen-dc.88924/

 

I can fit 3 people "comfortably" in my Xtracab. 2 in the front and one in the back if they sit sideways. There is really no room at all back there. I would highly recommend the double cab if you are set on a 1st gen Tacoma. As others have said, your children will grow. Even growing up with my dad's much larger 2000 Silverado my brother and I quickly ran out of leg room. 1st gen Tacoma's aren't really designed to be family vehicles. Toyota tried with the double cab, but it is still pretty tight.

 

Here you go - Britax car seat in the forward facing position, middle of the bench. Not much room. Imagine that seat is a person. No thx.

Here's another pic -

 

Anyone has any hands on experience in comparing the backseat between a Tacoma doublecab and a Ridgeline? We won't do any offroading, and mostly looking for some occasional towing capability ie popup camp trailer, and haul some yard waste around.

 

Here’s a car seat and booster seat in my 2003 double cab. Plenty of room for the kids. My wife and I are both 5' 10" and the seats are where they need to be for us to be comfortable as well.

Ridgeline? Get out of here with that nonsense.

 

Another vote for the double cab if you want anyone(anything) back there. My brother had the access cab and its great for short distances but that's about it.

 

I had two friends that sat in the back of my xtracab on a 2 hour drive to Tahoe, and they didn't complain. That doesn't mean they were comfortable, they just aren't babies, lol.

 

100% double cab. Kids will kick your seat regardless at least make it less easy for them.

Do you have the in seat anchors? I have a 2003 also but I have to use these dang seatbelts and trying to use the top tether while quickly locking the seat back into place is a huge pain in the ass.

 

i fit my nephew back there for a nice ride, back when he was in gradeschool, he sat stretched out sideways and operated the rear slider for me, which I cannot while I am driving, short arms!

 

dc ftw, more room than the ext cab

 

This one does have the anchors on both sides