How well does your 3rd gen work with kids?

Hi Everyone,

Long story short, I currently drive a 1st gen ext cab and have my first kid due in September. I'm thinking of upgrading to a 3rd gen DCSB and wanted to get people's input on how well it works as a kid hauler. I recently had a 2019 TRD sport as a rental for 2 months while my truck was getting its frame replaced and loved it, however I'm a little worried about fitting a car seat or two in the back seat.

For those with kids, does the 3rd gen work well? Or do you wish you had gotten a full size?

I apologize if this is a topic that's been beaten to death in the forum already.... I did attempt to use the search tool but it's not exactly like using google

 

Kids can't reach the pedals and still be able to see over the steering wheel.

 

Its a little tight with a car seat, but it works. It gets alot better when they move up to a booster seat.

 

Serious answer - I can fit my niece's kids in their car seats just fine. I do make them take their shoes off because they "walk" on the seat backs.

 

Are they front facing or rear facing? I don’t have kiddos yet but understand that rear facing takes a ton of space.

 

I have one child - in a 2nd stage Britax, in the middle for her and seems to work well. She likes sitting up high and seeing the road. Passengers seem to fit well enough, but unless you have at least a Sequioa or Tundra sized rear seat, its always going to be tight.

NJ pediatricians recommend keeping children seats rear facing for as long as possible until its no longer practical, rather than immediately at age 2 which is what the law stipulates.

 

I'm 5'11" and have the seat maybe 1/2 way back? Rear facing seats must go in the middle. But they're in there for a couple of years. Plenty of room when they are in forward facing/boosters. Then even more room when they're out of that stage. No problems at all. And I have 3 kids.

 

Front facing. I understand that for rear-facing seats, sliding the front seats forward first makes them easier to install, then you can slide them back and still sit up front. I see rear-facing car seats in 2nd and 3rd gen tacos around here all the time, so if THEY can do it...

 

My dogs are okay in the back.
I've seen a few people manage a dbl cab with kids. It's doable maybe not ideal for the amount of extra room needed with kids (kids W/ bags and stuff). The Access cab tundra has more room than the dbl cab taco.

 

I have a 16 taco double cab with a 4 year old n a 6 month old plenty of room.

 

Kids grow. Forget about a Tacoma, even a DC, until the kids are out of the house.

 

Rear-facing seating is rough. Once they flip around to forward-facing, it gets better. I have a 2yo and 4yo, and we've made 2-3 hour trips in the Tacoma. It's not ideal, but it works.

There's a carseat thread on here. Once your kiddo can safely get out of the infant carrier, a lot of Tacoma owners are recommending the Diono brand.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/car-seat-suggestions-for-a-double-cab.507369/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-facing-diono-rainer-car-seat-in-a-dc.548327/

 

Get that outta here. I’m gonna have her convinced we need a Tundra when we cross that bridge!

 

I'm thinking a Tundra is in my future simply because I can't fit enough American-sized humans in the Tacoma.

It ain't just that we're fat...but we're freaking TALL. Tacoma back seats hate tall people.

 

0-2 years old is the worst because they're rear facing and most of the infant carrier or rear facing carseats are overbuilt and bulky.

Once they're forward facing or in a booster, everyone in the truck suddenly has more legroom.

When their growth spurt hits and they become little adult-sized children, that's when I'll go back to a Tundra.

 

It can be a bit tight, but you won't have any problems with the fit. You can also opt for a newer style carseat that is slimmer vs the older styles that can be bulky.

As a side note, I would highly suggest getting seat protectors (the one I use is black with blue on it-I think the brand name is Brica) for the junk and milk that will drop on your seats-not to mention the indents car seats make. Also, the kid hanging organizer that goes behind your seats. This will protect your seats from meeting the bottom of their shoes.

Here is the seat protector, it will protect your seats for rear facing and front facing car seats (crying babies love to kick! ):

$28 Munchkin Child Car Seat Protector, Elite Seat Guardian with Grime Guard Fabric, Dark Grey

https://www.amazon.com/Brica-Seat-G...ocphy=9026243&hvtargid=pla-365069361573&psc=1

 

I second the Diono brand! Don't get the cheap one, but at least the middle model for more cushion. Also, babies fit into the Diono seats pretty early on and you don't have to wait to upgrade. You can always use the Diono for your car if your wife/SO has the infant seat.

 

upgraded to AT tires and clear them just fine on stock suspension...added a front skid plate and recovery hook just incase there's a chubbster in the mix...

 

My kid fits and theres still room for her best friend (her dog) get seat covers trust me. we did a road trip from AZ to WY and they both had enough room

 

I put my kids in the bed.