Difference between side and curtain air bags?

[woodsailor]

What is the difference between side and curtain air bags in the Tacoma (please correct me if I have the terms wrong)? Does the Toyota manual note any concerns with these systems and children in the back seat?

I'm looking at probably a doublecab in the near future and will be sometimes hauling my young kids around. I'm trying to figure out if the air bag options are worth getting, or holding out to 2009 for these as standard equipment. thanks

[2000Tundra4x4]

As far as I know they are one in the same....."side-curtain" airbags? I would say that they are definitely worth getting if you are going to have rear passengers quite often. I wish that I had them in my D-Cab....

[WilsonTheDog]

Side airbags typically are the airbags that would come out from the side, such as the side of the seat, and would protect your body in a side impact. Head curtain airbags would be deployed typically from the roof and their sole purpose would be to protect your head.

I would wait for an '09. I'm really pissed that this stuff wasn't standard until now, along with disc brakes and VSC/TRAC.

[rodrigogudino]

I think the difference starts at the location, side airbagas are mostly located on the driver's and passenger's seat side (shoulder area) and they inflate same shape as the front ones. The side curtain air bags run all the way from the back sides to the front windows, and protect you from broken windows. I think most of the time side curtain air bags come with side air bags also, so you're protected all over.

[woodsailor]

Okay, and regarding my question on side air bags in relation to child safety I only found some general (non toyota specific) info recommending kids be restrained in appropriate booster seats etc and not be leaning against the door and do have toys between them and the door. Then the chance of an injury due to a deployed air bag is reduced. Makes sense.

I don't want any of that ABS, VSC, TRAC, etc. stuff that might be packaged with airbags; not needed for a prudent experienced winter driver IMO. Sort of like relying on spell checker on a computer. If others want that's okay. But I'm so frustrated that in this age of mass consumer choice on so many things we still struggle so hard to get a vehicle built exactly how we want. End of rant.

[WilsonTheDog]

^If it were defeatable, I'd be fine with that. Experienced winter driver or not, you can't pump your brakes or react as quick as a computer. On dry land, I'd agree but being from NJ, I know quite well how quick things can go downhill on ice.

[Splicer]

I agree with Wilson. I've had lots of winter driving experience and have a great driving record (knock wood). But my last two vehicles have had ABS and I have discovered what a benefit they can be on slick surfaces.

Having said that, it would still be nice to defeat the system for deep snow, so you can lock the brakes and build up a dam of snow in front of the tires -- it is possible to stop more quickly that way. But for most people, and for almost every conceivable condition, ABS is the way to go.

woodsailor, I'm also in agreement as to all the other vehicle control systems -- in part because my gut tells me the electronics will one day fail and be incredibly costly to repair. Of course, I had similar feelings about a lot of other automotive electronics that I now take for granted...

[WilsonTheDog]

^Yup, I was pretty anti-electronic aid, too. Still am to a degree because, other than ABS in the rain, I have no need to the other stuff down here and I don't want it if it isn't defeatable. But you learn to trust these things over time and realize that, such as in my case, you aren't always the only one who drives your vehicle. Sometimes my wife does and I like to see my truck come back in one piece occasionally, lol.