Double cab pickup for family?

[Magik22]

I’m looking at getting a double cab pickup but have 2 little ones. Does anyone else manage with a double cab? Needs isofix and Would need one with large cab space, I’m a tall guy and I’ve got lanky children! Would be on a budget around £8-10k. Any help appreciated

 

[melted welly]

Had an old style ranger and currently got series 7 Hilux. If it’s for occasional child trafficking, double cab be ok, but I wouldn’t have one as a gift if it was for a main family vehicle. Big on the outside, small on the inside and rear doors are smaller than you think, thus difficult to get child seats in and then said child occupier strapped in securely.
Kids love it though as the rear bench sits quite high so they see out well.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Err, highest selling light vehicles in Australia for many years now are Toyota Hilux & Ford Ranger.

most dual cab utes here are “family” vehicles, not work vehicles

 

[fermerboy]

I have a Hilux as a work vehicle and use it to move children, now teenagers around, and I reckon they are a crap car, tight inside, with boot space in the deck which is full of farm crap. Big and clumsy round a town/supermarket car park etc, and hard on fuel.
Works for me as I needed to move kids about when Mrs is working, and saves having two cars and a farm jeep.
As Melted Welly says fine for occasional use but not for everyday useage by choice, that said there are a hell of a lot round here used as cars.

 

[Whitepeak]

We've a 68plate Navara and an 11mth old. I find it easier to get the car seat and iso fix base in and out of the Navara than my wife's Volvo V40, taller doors and higher seats. We do need the car seat on the passenger side so I can get the seat back far enough to drive comfortably because of the iso fix base, but then we need to in the Volvo as well. Narrower doors on the Navara are easier to get open in carparks than the really wide Volvo doors, so easier to get little one in and out. Nowhere to keep the pushchair dry and secure in the Navara unless you have a canopy Vs the boot of a car. Navara isn't the easiest to drive around town/carparks due to its size, Volvo is far handier for that.

 

[michael N123]

I’m never getting another pickup

it’s fine for round the farm but terrible for kids in the back once there seats are clicked in no room for anything and if you use the canopy you just about have to climb in for most stuff don’t really use it to go anywhere at a night time or weekend ass the misses has a quashqai now

Do you actually need a pickup? For 8-10k you could get a really nice Rav4

 

[Hesstondriver]

We've a 68plate Navara and an 11mth old. I find it easier to get the car seat and iso fix base in and out of the Navara than my wife's Volvo V40, taller doors and higher seats. We do need the car seat on the passenger side so I can get the seat back far enough to drive comfortably because of the iso fix base, but then we need to in the Volvo as well. Narrower doors on the Navara are easier to get open in carparks than the really wide Volvo doors, so easier to get little one in and out. Nowhere to keep the pushchair dry and secure in the Navara unless you have a canopy Vs the boot of a car. Navara isn't the easiest to drive around town/carparks due to its size, Volvo is far handier for that.

you wait unti'll they are 18 months , you'll both be wearing your knees around your ears in the navara . as we are now finding out

 

[Magik22]

I forgot say we already have a freelander 2 and a hilux double cab HL2 for farm use. The freelander isn’t much better for space than the hilux, boot space gets filled quickly with prams, bikes etc. and then no way could take a dog or anything else. It’s figured a nicer pick up would give a huge boot space with a hard top on and similar space in the back. I’m 6’5” so I’m cramped in most things, I can’t get in the freelander with an isofix behind the drivers seat.

 

[Macsky]

Why another pickup? I’d say if you don’t need one, avoid.

Large cars are not in huge demand just now with the fashion for suv/crossover type vehicles, so for your £10k you can get a lot of car, much more comfortable, much cheaper to run.

 

[Macsky]

I’d add that most pickups now get to 10 year old and start to suffer chassis problems, and then value nose dives

 

[ford 7810]

Have d-max permanently got grand kids seats in on iso fix did 300 mile round trip last Sunday with daughter and boyfriend in back and both quite tall they prefer it to the car.(Tiguan) but has aluminium lift up back on to keep all your rubbish dry

 

[Magik22]

To be fair nothing nose dives quicker than a new vehicle, by 10 year old a good chunk of the depreciation has happened. Newer vehicles seem to suffer just as many problems as older ones, if not worse in my experience.

what about the allowance against tax by purchasing a commercial? You wouldn’t get that with a car.

The rough plan was to register the current hilux as limited use, it only gets used between fields anyway. Then have another pickup for longer journeys and outings etc.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

How about a Grenadier as a family car. I can’t say 110 Land Rover any more as they are getting older. Although mine was and is a fantastic family vehicle. AND fits in an ordinary car park space without too much bother.
SS

 

[alomy75]

2016 amarok here; I’m 6’2” and have 2 kids with isofix seats permanently fixed in the back. I love it and am quite happy to do a long journey in it. In 60000 miles of my ownership has only had an abs sensor in addition to normal servicing. Will run it into the ground as nothing comes close in currently available stuff imo.

 

[zero]

We've a 2014 Isuzu d max. It's got all to child seat brackets in but they get more use for tool boxes. I think it's comfy, Mrs Zero doesn't. But my previous farm vehicle was a landrover 90. Isuzu is ok sat in the back if the person infront is less than 5'6" and can move the seat forwards for a bit more leg room as anyone over 5'6" would need. Rear seat width must be ok as I've never heard the mother in law complain!

 

[manfromhill]

Had pickup for years as second car when kids were wee every thing fits in back used it for holidays to Cornwall ect from Scotland found it a good compromise for practicality and space
Now ones driving traded for a Jimny van as we both share it and next daughter 17 in a few months

 

[JJT]

2016 amarok here; I’m 6’2” and have 2 kids with isofix seats permanently fixed in the back. I love it and am quite happy to do a long journey in it. In 60000 miles of my ownership has only had an abs sensor in addition to normal servicing. Will run it into the ground as nothing comes close in currently available stuff imo.

Snap, 2014 amarok here, little one is 7 now, find it very comfortable and plenty of room. Not that bad round town for sizer either.

 

[warksfarmer]

I’m looking at getting a double cab pickup but have 2 little ones. Does anyone else manage with a double cab? Needs isofix and Would need one with large cab space, I’m a tall guy and I’ve got lanky children! Would be on a budget around £8-10k. Any help appreciated

Been using pickups since 2011 for this and they are perfect. You get the vat back as well.
They aren't as spacious as a estate but equally fine against something like a Merc ML.
I wouldn't buy a Ford Ranger though - we've had two on lease. I wouldn't fancy owning one though due to engine issues widely reported although our last one was fine but it went at 40k miles so maybe a bit early for an issue.
I would buy an early 2.0 TDI Amarok. I ran 3 Amaroks since 2015 to earlier this year and all 3 worked well. No major issues bar a DPF issue on the 2nd one.

 

[melted welly]

Err, highest selling light vehicles in Australia for many years now are Toyota Hilux & Ford Ranger.

most dual cab utes here are “family” vehicles, not work vehicles

Dare say your towns are a bit more accommodating to larger vehicles than ours.

 

[pauld]

Back in the '80's you didn't need a double cab. 3 kids stood in a line behind front seats of Subaru pick up, wife in passenger seat and 2 collies in footwell.