2001-2002 owners, pic request (carseat anchor)

[One Sick Puppy]

Can someone post a picture of the carseat anchors near the rear seatbelts?

I have a 2000 4runner without the carseat anchors/hooks near the rear seatbelts. I'm wondering if I would be able to pull the anchors from a 2001/02 and bolt them into my 2000. It's possible the bolt positions are different, maybe the seatbelts need to be changed for some reason... just want to check this before I start fishing for the parts. Please post a pic if you can. Thanks.

 

[zacattack20]

01-02 4Runners don't have lower anchors. The only anchor they have is in the cargo area on the back of the seat to prevent forward movement. You have to use the seat belt for the main installation of the car seat.

 

[zacattack20]

Here is a picture I found real quick.

<img src="http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f400/yeahitsgotak20/cargobox006.jpg">

 

[One Sick Puppy]

Thank you for that info! Good to know. Sucks to live with. :/

 

[zacattack20]

I don't think it's too bad. I don't understand everyone's love for anchors, its not any easier or safer. Our seat belts make it easy to install car seats because they ratchet tight once you pull them all the way out. Install the car seat with the seat belt and buckle it, put your knee into the seat and put all your weight on it, pull the seat belt out all the way, let it retract and pull tight. Car seat should have very little movement at that point.

 

[Millerad1651]

There have been a lot of car seat questions here lately. As [MENTION=69310]zacattack20[/MENTION] said, no such anchors. You can buy a screw in anchor for a tether but it only works for forward facing seats. If you look at my build thread, last page, I installed a seat using both the shoulder belt and one of the anchor tethers. Doesn't move and inch.

 

[Mgyver1]

Here is the thread I started last week
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/176164-01-02-pic-request-child-tether-anchors-back.html

I don't know if there's an option for installing LATCH anchors in the seat cushion, but I have been on a quest on getting the rear tether anchors in my ride. One option is in my post which involves ordering the anchors from Toyota (use the part number in that post I referenced, not the one in your owner's manual. Already went down that road) and bolt them in the bolt holes in the middle of the cargo area.

I have ordered the upper rear seats from a '01 off ebay which will give me tether points for the rear outboard seats just like using the anchor points in the cargo area, only I won't be giving up any cargo space. I still have to swap my leather cover from my seat on to the new one, and cut out the anchor area from the carpeted and cardboard back cover.

What I haven't been able to figure out is the top tether anchor for the middle seat. I haven't been able to figure out if it's integrated in to the center pivot bracket, if it's part of the floor or something else. I've asked for pictures or clarification from someone with an '01 or '02 and I hope to get an answer soon. I have a feeling it's part of the rear center bracket, as the '01 & '02 have a different part number for that bracket compared to the '99 & '00 and it's more expensive, but the '98 has a different part number than the '99 & '00 and I don't know why. So I haven't ordered the $70 bracket yet because I haven't had confirmation that it will have the tether anchor.

I had the chance to test out a Britax Frontier 90 with Clicktight and was blown away at how easy it is to put in using the seatbelt. It's actually easier to install with the seatbelt than it is using LATCH. It's an expensive seat (~$285 off Amazon) but if you have to take seats in and out and want to make sure it's always in correct, it's worth the extra money. Now the seat is only for kids 2 & older above 25 lbs, but they have other seats with Clicktight so if your kid is still rear facing there's other options.

I plan on doing a write up once I get my seats and figure out how to get them in.

 

[Mgyver1]

Project tether install will be commencing shortly

 

[Doc2012]

There have been tests that have proven that the Seat Belt through the car seat base, like the instructions show, is just as, if not more so, safe than the teathering strap.

The Seat Belt automatically locks, where as the teathering strap doesn't, the seat belt is thicker, and rated for more, ect ect.


I have an 8yo, 3 yo, and a 13 month old.

For BOTH the 8 and 3yos, I have used the seat belt through the car seat. Never had any issues.

For the 13mo old, my gf INSISTED on strapping the base into her car. Bad idea. The base moves more with the teathering strap than it does with the seat belt.

I take the car seat, put it on my seat, run through the seat belt through the hooks on the car seat, and he DOES NOT MOVE.


Same thing with the 3yo front facing car seat. I run the straps through the back, and pull them tight, and she doesn't move. And she loves it when I gas the Passat and take sharp corners........

 

[Jowenbrown]

I just took my baby home from the hospital last week (Scarriest drive of my life). We used the seatbelt to secure the car seat. When done right, that seat isn't going anywhere.

 

[ajonesnv]

I just took my baby home from the hospital last week (Scarriest drive of my life). We used the seatbelt to secure the car seat. When done right, that seat isn't going anywhere.

I remember they drive...absolutely crazy.

 

[Mgyver1]

There have been tests that have proven that the Seat Belt through the car seat base, like the instructions show, is just as, if not more so, safe than the teathering strap.

The Seat Belt automatically locks, where as the teathering strap doesn't, the seat belt is thicker, and rated for more, ect ect.


I have an 8yo, 3 yo, and a 13 month old.

For BOTH the 8 and 3yos, I have used the seat belt through the car seat. Never had any issues.

For the 13mo old, my gf INSISTED on strapping the base into her car. Bad idea. The base moves more with the teathering strap than it does with the seat belt.

I take the car seat, put it on my seat, run through the seat belt through the hooks on the car seat, and he DOES NOT MOVE.


Same thing with the 3yo front facing car seat. I run the straps through the back, and pull them tight, and she doesn't move. And she loves it when I gas the Passat and take sharp corners........

Yep I agree. Although the automatically locking retractors aren't really anything helpful for car seats since the belt must be locked anyway. The best belts are really the lap belts with the locking latch plate that you can cinch and pulled tight, where the pressure is coming from the bottom instead of the at the top part where the retractor is when switched to the locking position. The only reason for LATCH is there's a higher chance for a successful install. Because after all, no matter how strong the seatbelt is, if the seat is installed improperly then it's useless. My install is merely for the rear tether, not the LATCH anchors.

The rear tether is used no matter whether you use LATCH or seatbelt. It is highly recommended to be used and on certain seats is mandatory for a correct instalkation. My Britax Frontier 90, for example, suggests using the rear tether all the time, but it is required when the child weighs >65 lbs and you are still using the harness. You can also use it in booster mode, and even have the seat secured using LATCH in booster mode just to help keep the it in place, however the seatbelt is doing all the restraining work.

 

[Mgyver1]

I remember they drive...absolutely crazy.

Yep, everybody was driving like maniacs!! Passing me left & right!! So what if I was going 20 under the speed limit!