I noticed that my '02 sport doesn't have the hooks behind/under the rear seat for securing a car seat base in. My understanding is that somewhere between '02-'04 is when the hooks became standard. Have any of you that use rear facing car seats found a safe way to secure a car seat base into the rear seat, or do you just use the seat belt to strap the seat in? Thanks in advance!

In my 2000 I just use the seatbelt. I usually put a knee into the carseat (my weight) and pull on the seatbelt to make sure its ridiculously tight.

Are you putting it in the center? If its in the center I usually back up the front passenger seat to give the infant seat some lateral support lol

The seat belt is the only way to install them in a 3rd gen. They can easily be installed in any of the three back seat positions. Do what scrap metal said with putting your weight into the seat and then pulling tight. In the outer seats you pull the seat belt all the way out and then when it retracts it ratchets tight, just pull it tight with your weight into the seat.

Thanks for clarifying. Sucks cuz I bought the base for my tacoma, which had the hooks, but immediately noticed no hooks in the 4runner. I've been using the seat belt (retracting) method and doing as mentioned with putting my knee into it for a tight fit, just wasn't sure if there was a way to add those hooks. Guess I'll just keep doing what I've been unless I can determine a safe way to install the base.

I have 2 daughters and can appreciate your concerns. If you have any doubts, your local fire department can usually do a safety check of your car seats for you. You can also check here Home | SeatCheck.org for a location in your care capable of checking you installation.

Look at what Millerad1651 did in his 4runner, he used the hooks in the cargo area.

Ya I did the seatbelt method that everyone mentioned, but I also ran one of the straps to the back cargo area.

Strap goes under the corner of the seat...


And hooks in to the cargo loop...


I did this in both mine and my wife's '98s. Base is in there solid as a rock.

Years ago, when my daughter needed a car seat, I did the same method others have mentioned: middle seat seat belt installed while putting my weight on it. That thing wouldn't budge afterward. Even had the police department check it out on one of those inspection days and it passed with flying colors. Again, this was about 9 or so years ago, so YMMV.

Two things...the seat belt is safer (if done right) then the latch system and secondly you are not supposed to double up. Meaning it either the latch system or the belt not both.

I appreciate the further feedback. After I posted, I figured I'd take another look and try something creative. I actually managed to attach the strap and secure the base, though I'm planning to have it inspected. One strap went to the cargo hook, as pictured, and the other went to the hook that is in the center/bottom of the two rear seats. I actually got it nice and tight, but will not be using it till I can verify it's a safe method. I believe the hook in the center/underneath the rear seat is approved for car seats, though I wasn't sure if the cargo hook was rated for that purpose or not. Anyone else try this method before?

Correct. I've argued over this before on here. Unfortunately people think they know better than what is recommended by the professionals and are stubborn about it.

The thing about it is that the car seats aren't crash tested using both methods at the same time so it is unknown how car seat plastic will react from the stresses of being pulled from multiple attachment points.

Interesting opinions on here. I have 4 kids. Have always doubled up when possible in cars and always got car seat checked at hospital and even fire station and no one has ever mentioned only using one attachment point.

There are some car seat manufactures and vehicles that approve both LATCH and seatbelt at the same time, but this is a very rare thing and generally speaking you either do LATCH or seatbelt but not both. One exception that comes to mind is the newer Ford Expedition. If you check the owner's manual it's quite the chart to see which seating position, direction (forward or rear facing) and weight will allow both, assuming your car seat manufacturer approves it as well. And again this is also all assuming you're using actual LATCH anchors which no 3rd gen ever came with.

The center tether point in the '01-'02 is designed for car seats, however it's not designed for weight pulling back on it towards the front of the truck, it's designed for weight pulling up, which is how the top tether strap it's designed to anchor would be routed. Now I say designed loosely because there's not much to the bracket, but I try to give some credit to the manufacturer as I don't know what type of metal they are using and how much they crash tested it. I would trust it more than a cargo loop though.

Also there are fire stations and hospitals that have NHSTA trained people to check your car seat, but I wouldn't say all or even most do. Just because they're a pediatric nurse doesn't mean they know anything about car seats or their installation. For example, before babies that have been in the NICU can go home they usually have to do a "car seat challenge" where they hook monitors up to the baby and sit him in it for a period of time to make sure baby can tolerate sitting in the seat without positionally asfixiating or something. That is a good thing for them to do however I don't think a lot of them are propping the car seat at the proper angle to match how it's going to be in the car (and make sure the car seat base in the car is at the proper angle). Hospitals here just check to make sure your baby is in a seat before you leave and that's it, no check to make sure straps are at the right height, straps are tight enough, etc.

Installing the base in your rear center seat would likely be the best because usually center is safest and the lap belt is perfect for car seats. If you must install on the outboard seats and your base doesn't have a built in lock off then it should come with a locking clip that looks like this:

Which will install on the seatbelt like this:


I'm a fan of those instead of the seatbelt retractor as it puts the pressure down low on the buckle pulling the seat down rather than pulling up at the retractor. Using the retractor is an approved method though so if it works for you then go with it.

I would double check with that website posted above and find someone through that resource to have your seat checked just as a peace of mind. No matter how good you think you did it, it's always a good idea to have it checked by someone else, especially since most car seats or kids strapped in them are done wrong and they are your most precious piece of cargo in your vehicle. Rock climbers usually have someone else check their harness before they climb up or rapell down, why not have your car seat checked?

I have a 02 Limited and have the anchors on the back of the seat which works because my daughter faces forward.

Although I ran across this a while back. which may help.

Very good info- I appreciate the knowledge and feedback. I've been using the retractable seatbelt, but I do agree that the tighter you make it, the more it tends to want to rise up (naturally, due to the seat belt angle). The seat I have was supplied with that seat belt retractor clip (metal piece), but I'm not familiar with how to use it so I'll definitely check into that.

Question- What are those blue plastic pieces in the picture of your car seat base that appear to have the belt running through them?
Thanks!