Questions to 3rd Gen Owners from a Window Shopper

Hello all, I have some questions for those rocking the 3rd Gens!
I am currently in the market for my first fullsize truck... and a Tundra is at the top of my list as I am a Toyota enthusiast and have been driving various Toyota models for the past 10 years. I previously owned two 3rd gen Taco's, and was an active member in TacomaWorld! Currently I am driving a 22 GR86 but just had a baby! So I need something bigger that can fit a car seat comfortably and is safe!
As I was a frequent member in TW, and I remember how helpful all the members there were, i figured I would chime in here for some advice and help!

I am shopping for a 2024 Limited 4x4 Crewmax. As I have been shopping online, I have started to notice that there is essentially three options, either the nightshade package, TRD OR or TRD Sport. The nightshade package seems to be loaded with all the tech minus the wireless charger that I normally see on the TRD listings. Otherwise it seems like the TRD trims do not have all the bells and whistles that all of the cheaper nightshade packages come with, standard. Call me crazy but Id rather have a panoramic sun roof over some bilstien shocks that will likely get replaced anyways!

So my questions are:
1. Why pay more for the TRD trims when it seems like the nightshade comes with so much more for less? Has anything in the TRD trims been a make it or break it?
2. Not a fan of either grille, is there any easy grille swaps? I remember on the Tacos there were tons of different options for either the Pro Grilles, aftermarket, etc. If so, are they hard to swap? Let me see what you have got if so!
3. How does the backseat do with carseats? Plenty of room or nah? I heard the cabs were bigger in the previous generations?
4. What problems have you heard of with this new generation? What problems have you actually experienced?

I appreciate the help and look forward to potentially being an actual member here soon!

 

Hi,

1. Nightshade is just a black color body kit I believe. I guess it's possible they also bundle in some more stuff with it?

2. Trd off road gives you rear locker, bilstein shocks which are better than the regular ones, and all terrain tires. I'd go for the Trd off road just to get better shocks and keep my warranty.

3. I believe there are bunch of grill options now or mustage can be wrapped..

4. Plenty of room for car seats in the crew cab. Non hybrid also has storage under the back seat, hybrid has no storage under back seats.

5. As far as problems, just read through the threads here.. And sticky posts. 24 year has less issues.. Make sure to test drive on highway to make sure you don't hear excessive wind noise, or any other Abnormal weird sounds

 

for the most part it is just a black body kit. however most of the stuff is interior that is making the difference. nightshade trims are all showing heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, JBL premium audio. Where as none of the TRD ORs I am seeing have any of those options. I like the idea of having crawl control and rear locker, but the shocks ill most likely end up upgrading regardless.

 

Regarding car seats, I have two and there is a ton of room compared to what I was seeing in my 4Runner. The middle seat is also big enough to have an adult sit between the car seats as well and I could imagine a booster seat or third car seat would also fit decently well.

 

appreciate the information. Is that with the front seats in comfortable positions and not pushed far forward at all?

 

I’m 6’ and my wife is 5’ 5” and we’ve never had any issues with the car seats getting in our way. The truck will even shift the seat back when you turn the vehicle off to allow you more room to exit and I’ve never noticed the car seat getting squished when that happens either.

 

Allright... So I got the big rotating car seat for my 8 month old, facing towards the rear, and I'm not able to move the passenger front seat all the way back when child seat is there. I'm 6-1 and was not able to stretch out my legs all the way when sitting in the passenger seat, so it was not as super comfortable... But it was ok. I'm usually the driver anyway, and theres no child seat behind the driver.

I assume when the child seat will be facing front, then I'll be able to move the seat all the way back, so this inconvenience is only temporary... For the next 6-12 months I think.

 

Interesting. You’re going to make me go test out my passenger seat now.

 

Maybe it's because your car seat is not facing towards the rear? Or maybe the rotating seat I got is just larger?

 

Probably a little A and B. I went and adjusted my wife’s seat and with my legs at a comfortable position I’d say I have an inch or two between the back of the seat and car seat.

The car seat behind the drivers side is smaller as my daughter isn’t even a month old yet.

 

It's 12mo in the baby basket, 2yrs before they're front-facing

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.g...-recommendations-for-children-by-age-size.pdf

There's plenty of space in the Tundras, new and old. They're cavernous.

 

Same here. My rotating car seat it 31 inches. It’s like a mini boat when facing backwards. Back seat has no problems.

 

yeah, the carrier ones aren’t quite as big.

 

No car seat protector??
And no tonneau cover so you can stuff things into the bed?

 

No, never did the protector. For whatever reason, never thought to.

I have the retrax. I think that picture is from before I installed it.

 

Is there a way to look up truck specs with a vin? A local dealer is terrible at posting details on their website, but they post the VIN number.

 

My wife has a new Kia sorento. We both got new cars with the assumption we may but will probably not have a child. Hence my car choice. Even In her car, we put the baby seat behind the passenger, and in the truck I’d always be driving so this is great news haha

 

Not to my knowledge. A lot of the dealer Websites are starting to look the same, but they are still showing a lot of differences and lack of uniformity

 

Thanks for the picture to reference. We are rocking the nuna baby seat right now, so I’m
Sure we will go to the nuna toddler seat haha