[1biker]

Looks like a car seat will find a place in the 4Runner in about 7 months. A mod I had been planning to do when the time came was to update my rear seat frames and hinge to 2001 parts for the additional tie down locations that mine doesn't have. My question is to the car seat users out there, if you have a 2001 did you use the tie downs frequently or just the belt? If you have a pre-2001 would you like to have had those tie downs? Before I dive in and spend the time and money I wanted to get y'all opinion on the matter.



Thanks!

[jgue467]

I have an 01 and sometimes carry the GFs grandkids but none of their carseats (made in the last 2-4 yrs) are designed to use the antiquated 01 latch above the rear seats. Maybe I'm not thinking of what your're talking about but I am only able to use the belts. I put a thick pad underneath and apply a fair amount of weight to the seat before I latch the belt.

Oh and congrats!!!

Luck.

[JZiggy]

You don’t need that latch until you have a forward facing toddler seat that uses a center strap. Once you upgrade to that style seat the 01-02 latches are handy. I did the upgrade and am happy with it. Wasn’t too hard either.

[1biker]

Originally Posted by jgue467

I have an 01 and sometimes carry the GFs grandkids but none of their carseats (made in the last 2-4 yrs) are designed to use the antiquated 01 latch above the rear seats. Maybe I'm not thinking of what your're talking about but I am only able to use the belts. I put a thick pad underneath and apply a fair amount of weight to the seat before I latch the belt.

Oh and congrats!!!

Luck.

The hinge that pivots your rear seatbacks has a loop/latch point/tie down, earlier years don't have that. Same with on the back of your seats, mine are just smmmmoooootttthhh carpet.

It was my understanding, albeit limited, that new car seats preferred using straps and lashing points over using the seat belt.

Thanks, and, I'll take some luck any day!

Originally Posted by JZiggy

You don’t need that latch until you have a forward facing toddler seat that uses a center strap. Once you upgrade to that style seat the 01-02 latches are handy. I did the upgrade and am happy with it. Wasn’t too hard either.

Would only changing out the hinge be "good enough?" Totally want to do it right but don't want to over do this one. They aren't tiny forever, right? Hell, I hope he/she gets to drive this 4Runner one day! No need to hack up the seats too?!?!

Thanks guys.

[Lindenwood]

I have a 7 month old kid and both of our 4runners use rear-facing "convertable" carseats that are meant for 7 to 80 lb kids (you basically just remove layers of padding as they get older). In my 2002, I simply use the seatbelt, and I don't even know if it has any provisions for the vertical strap?

[NegroTundra]

Using just the seatbelt is plenty adequate and is easier to take seats in and out. I've quit using the tether points on all our vehicles now, seatbelt method just as safe and easier. Good luck and congrats. You'll be glad to eventually be done with car seats!!

[spartacus]

I use both the tethers, and the seat belt for my little ones. I have two in the back seat. it's a little bit of work but installing the seats accurately is important .If you are not sure take it to your local fire station and those guys are great and helpful. it takes a bit of strength to make the seats so they don't move during an impact.

[papabeach]

I simply added a top tether bracket...super easy and secured the car seats when from facing. https://www.top4runners.com/ja/toptether.html

Hope this helps!

[hounddogman]

My wife's 01 Grand Cherokee has the top tether or anchor points and in the last 12 years we have yet to find a car seat that will work with them , so I never thought that adding them to my 96 4Runner was worth the time . But using the seat belts on the 4runner does take a little muscle . I can do it from outside the vehicle but my wife has to get in and plant a knee into the car seat .

[Lindenwood]

Good point about the above. Indeed, it takes pretty much all of my hand strength to buckle the belt in with the seat! But, I can also do it from outside of the vehicle so it isnt a huge deal to remove the seat when I need to.

[Mgyver1]

@1biker I did the '01/'02 retrofit in to my '00 so I could add top tethers. You will not get LATCH connectors, only top tether anchors. This means you will need to install your car seat with a seatbelt no matter what type you are installing as they did not add LATCH until '03. The tether anchors for the outboard seats are located on the back of the seat and the center seat anchor is located on the hinge in the center that acts as the middle pivot for both seat backs.



'01 hinge left, '00 hinge right




So first off, what kind of car seat are you installing? A rear-facing only infant seat, convertible seat, booster? And how many (Twins, more than 1 kid, etc)? Will there be more than the child in the back?

The top tether anchors only help for forward facing seats since the majority of rear facing seats do not utilize the top tether (Britax had seats that used top tether for rear facing, but phased them out for anti-rebound bars).

To retrofit, you just need the upper part of the seats and the hinge. To make it easier you would get the carpet and backing panel too, but it can be modded. I got seats with cloth seat covers, so I took my leather covers off and put them on the new seats.

To get the back cover off, pop off the panel which uses plastic clips that are attached to the slightly-stronger-than-cardboard backing



If you have to swap seat covers, undo all the hog rings:





then pull back enough to squeeze the tabs to get the guides out for the head restraints



Pull off the covers and switch. You can switch the foam too if the new seat is in better condition.

To mod the back panel you need to measure and cut where the opening will need to be. Just cut deep enough to cut the board but not the carpet. Once the hole is correct then cut an X in the carpet and staple back:



and then when attached it should look something like this, driver complete and passenger not:



Easy peasy. Was it worth it? I think so. It didn't cost much, didn't take much time and using a top tether on a car seat helps a lot during a crash. In addition some car seats require, not just recommend, it for proper install. An example would be a Britax Clicktight Frontier requires it for kids over 65 lbs when using harness.

[Roamed YT]

I have a '99. I have two kids both in seats. One is currently 4 and she's 53lbs. She's front-facing in a Harmony 360 in both vehicles. The smaller one is 18 months, 32lbs and he is in a Graco Contender. The other truck has him in a Diono Radian.

When rear facing, the requirement is LATCH or a belt through a lockout. We use the belt path for both. I did, however buy a pair of tether anchors (as the truck has the thread points but just no actual tether connector) when I bought the truck a couple of years ago.

So long as you can secure with a minimum of play (1" lateral movement at the top of the seat) you can be sure your little one's seat is secure.

I wouldn't waste your time swapping much over. I would recommend buying a set of the top tether anchors for when it's time to flip your little one's seat (1 year is the minimum but I would rear-face as long as you can, usually limited to your seat maximum weight (around 30-35lbs)).

If you're curious for some more professional opinion on LATCH vs seat belts, I'd head over to Car Seats for the Littles. They're pretty militant over there, but you'll get sound advice.

Welcome to the car seat club!

[phattyduck]

To reiterate what others have said:

The lower anchors (the LA in LATCH) aren't worth much. They are limited to 65 lbs. total weight (child+seat!!). Seatbelts have no weight limit. You should be able to get a good and correct fit with the seatbelt. That will be stronger and safer if done correctly (big IF, but learn how to do it right - from a professional if you can afford it, local fire station if you can't).

The upper tethers (whether seatback or down to the hatch floor area with the correct Toyota parts) are both good options. Once front-facing, the upper tether is VERY important to child safety. This is an actual improvement in safety and should be used whenever possible.

So, lower anchor = not needed and not retrofit-able. Upper tether = nice safety improvement and easily retrofit-able.

If this is for a new baby on the way, you have 2.5 years before those top tethers are needed though (7 more months with mom, then ~2 years of rear facing). Lots can change in that time.

-Charlie

[1biker]

Thank you all for the responses!

To answer some of the questions and what I think you guys are recommending:

Just found out we are expecting, fingers crossed it's just one, so between one and X # of children. I would like to be able to be able to put the car seat(again, hopefully only one right now!) on either side of the truck, don't really see why it would ever be in the middle location and I would like to retain as much cargo room and freedom as possible. Based upon all the input (again thank you!) we either go seat belt only or I swap only the Frames. No need to get the Hinge (no need to run center) and to maintain cargo room I have to go with Frame swap over buying the Toyota Tether Bracket. I will keep my eye out for some 200 Frames but apparently I have some time.

Mgyver1- Just a heads up, I actually bookmarked your post on OverlandNV a while ago but the link no longer works, thats why I posted here. Thanks for the detail and the pics!

[phattyduck]

Originally Posted by 1biker

don't really see why it would ever be in the middle location and I would like to retain as much cargo room and freedom as possible.

It'll fit better in the middle, especially if you get a larger rear-facing seat (convertible, a little later). Either side position might compromise front seating adjustments. That is also the safest position (center 2nd row). Mom will probably want to be able to right right next to the little one for a while too...

Also, car seat in the center allows for 4 adults to ride in the car with the seat still installed.

-Charlie