MAC4Runner
New member
liquidvw said:
Your statement is false. :bash:
The LATCH system and seatbelts are EQUALLY safe. The LATCH system is just easier to install properly and more efficient if you take the seat in and out of the car often.
2nd safest location for child seat?
- Thread starter jacal
- Start date
Your statement is false. :bash:
The LATCH system and seatbelts are EQUALLY safe. The LATCH system is just easier to install properly and more efficient if you take the seat in and out of the car often.
gonzo
New member
back in 2004, when i went to get my first childseat installed, i was told that rear facing child seats should not be placed in the middle seat when the middle seat has a hidden arm rest - the reason being that in a front end collision the stow-away armrest can slam down and break a baby's legs.
i was also told that statistically more crashes take place on the driver's side of the car, so the passenger side tends to be safer. if you have two kids, then put the one you love more on the passenger side
actually, this is a source of guilt for me. i routinely change the kids seats from one side to another ensure that i am not favoring one over the other!!!
i was also told that statistically more crashes take place on the driver's side of the car, so the passenger side tends to be safer. if you have two kids, then put the one you love more on the passenger side
actually, this is a source of guilt for me. i routinely change the kids seats from one side to another ensure that i am not favoring one over the other!!!
I just had my 2006 t4r and proper child seat inspected by a local hospital and I was told that the read center seat do NOT have the LATCH system and I have to use the seatbelt instead. When using the inner anchors from the passenger and driver side seats, the car seat moves left to right and vise versa more than the allowed movement to be considered safe. I was also told to not use the LATCH and seatbelt on the same child/infant seat -- I do not understand this part as I would think it will be safer to use both at the same time.
vbhosehumper
New member
gonzo said:back in 2004, when i went to get my first childseat installed, i was told that rear facing child seats should not be placed in the middle seat when the middle seat has a hidden arm rest - the reason being that in a front end collision the stow-away armrest can slam down and break a baby's legs.
i was also told that statistically more crashes take place on the driver's side of the car, so the passenger side tends to be safer. if you have two kids, then put the one you love more on the passenger side
actually, this is a source of guilt for me. i routinely change the kids seats from one side to another ensure that i am not favoring one over the other!!!
We have a winner! Gonzo is correct. The center position should not be used for either rear or forward-facing seats, PERIOD. The reason why there are no anchors for the center seat is because the child seat is not intended to be secured any movable, unsecured part of the the vehicle. I actually completed a 4-day course on child safety seat installation for the fire department, believe it or not. Also, the use of both the seatbelt and LATCH system is not recommended.
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Thai
Elite Member
vbhosehumper said:
Hmmm, my G500 has 50/50 split seating. There is no center armrest. Which part of this is "movable" or "unsecured"?? I don't really understand this part...my Corolla also does not have any movable part??
Why is the combo (seatbelt + LATCH) not recommended?? Reason??
I am really interested because we have another kid on the way (2 total).
vbhosehumper
New member
Thai said:
If your G500 has 50/50 split seating, then I'm assuming the seats fold in the middle. Do you have center anchors? I would be surprised if it did. If you Corolla doesn't have center anchors and no armrest, I assume it's because there wasn't room to put anchors between the outside ones. I don't recall the exact reason why you couldn't use the seatbelt AND LATCH system but we were told they work against each other(opposing forces); the LATCH belt pulls the seat downward while the shoulder/lap belt pulls upward toward the seatbelt retractor. Clear as mud?
MAC4Runner
New member
vbhosehumper said:
How is placing a car seat in the middle of the second row of a 4Runner via the seatbelt any less safe than an adult riding in the same position?
The armrest could not possibly have enough weight to decrease the safety of a carseat it that position. As a father of two girls (4 & 1.5) I'm interested in your thoughts. In addition, our second car, an MDX, has latch in the center position and a fold down armrest.
FWIW: My daughters ride outboard in both cars now, but our oldest always rode in the middle until #2 came along.
Thai
Elite Member
vbhosehumper said:
Mud it is with all these rules!
Actually, with a forward facing seat (e.g. booster), you have 3 connections. There are the 2 LATCH at the bottom...and one to connect OVER THE TOP OF THE SEAT to either the rear deck or the bottom of the rear seatback. So, right there, you have "opposing forces" but, in this case, it is the correct way.
Thus, the theory that a seatbelt and LATCH working against each other is probably wrong.
In my G500, the split is in the middle (50/50). However, both sections are secured down...just like any other car bench. I guess that if one side of the bench were to come loose, then it could be a problem for a center positioned car seat. However, even in this case, it would be better to latch it to both sides instead of latching it to the side that is coming loose! At least, by latching it in the center, you have one side as a backup. I am not sure if you understand because i am not sure if i am describing the situation accurately in words.
NCSCOTT
New member
After looking at my 08 Manual. The pictures NEVER show a child seat of any kind in the center location. It does NOT specificly say you can not do it.
There is a difference between 4Runners with or without 3rd row seats. A vehicle without the 3rd row has the anchor points directly inline with the outer edges of the outer 2 seats. The gap between the anchors if used in the middle seat is approx. 19 inches from center to center of the inner 2 anchors. The gap between the anchors if used on the outer 2 seats is approx. 11 inches from center to center. The 60% seat is the Passenger side rear and the 40% seat is the driver side rear in a vehicle without the 3rd row seat. I can definitly see that the 8 inch wider gap could allow the seat to move more side to side if installed in the center with only the lower anchors. If you were to use the seatbelt in the center and the Anchor points as say a backup or for extra piece of mind I can not see that as a problem. My opinion thou.
With the 3rd row the 60/40 is opposite, 40% seat on the passenger side & 60% seat on the Drivers side. From the pictures in the manual (since I do not own one with the 3rd row) the drivers side anchor points are more offset towards the center of the vehicle, from the pics the child seat appears centered in the 60% seat behind the driver. This would reduce the gap center to center of the inner 2 anchors but I can not give a measurement. If you used the inner 2 anchors on a 3rd row equiped 4Runner the child seat would not be centered in the vehicle it would be a few inches offcenter to the passenger side of the vehicle and it appears from the pics the seat would overlap the 60/40 seat division. The manual also warns not to use the center seatbelt when using the left(drivers side) set of anchors in vehicles with the 3rd row seats.. Pg 118 "The performance of the center seat belt cannot be brought out sufficiently because the belt may be high positioned or the seat belt my be loose-fitting, posing the risk of serious injury in the case of collision"
It also never shows any child seats located in the third row.
It also does not say you can not use the seatbelt and lower anchors. It states pg 114 (without 3rd row) & pg 116 (with 3rd row) " Child restraint systems complying with the FMVSS213 or CMVSS213 specification can be fixed to these anchorages. In this case it is not necessary to fix the child seat restraint system with a seatbelt on the vehicle."
Really it is what you are comfortable with. I have a new baby on the way and currently have a 8 and 11 year old so I have been through all the types of seats with my older ones. There have been significant changes even since they were in rear and forward facing seats. We made our 11 year old use a booster seat until just this year because he did not weigh 80 lbs and the belt did not hit him right due to his height.
If I were to use only the anchor points I would put the child seat in one of the 2 outer seating locations in the back seat or second seat. I may put the seat in the center if I used the seatbelt and inner anchor points. I am not saying that is correct though.
If you put your knee into the child seat and pull the belt as tight as you can and pull the seatbelt all the way out and let it rachet back in and that seat moves very little or not at all side to side it is properly installed into the vehicle.
Stay safe!!!:driving:
There is a difference between 4Runners with or without 3rd row seats. A vehicle without the 3rd row has the anchor points directly inline with the outer edges of the outer 2 seats. The gap between the anchors if used in the middle seat is approx. 19 inches from center to center of the inner 2 anchors. The gap between the anchors if used on the outer 2 seats is approx. 11 inches from center to center. The 60% seat is the Passenger side rear and the 40% seat is the driver side rear in a vehicle without the 3rd row seat. I can definitly see that the 8 inch wider gap could allow the seat to move more side to side if installed in the center with only the lower anchors. If you were to use the seatbelt in the center and the Anchor points as say a backup or for extra piece of mind I can not see that as a problem. My opinion thou.
With the 3rd row the 60/40 is opposite, 40% seat on the passenger side & 60% seat on the Drivers side. From the pictures in the manual (since I do not own one with the 3rd row) the drivers side anchor points are more offset towards the center of the vehicle, from the pics the child seat appears centered in the 60% seat behind the driver. This would reduce the gap center to center of the inner 2 anchors but I can not give a measurement. If you used the inner 2 anchors on a 3rd row equiped 4Runner the child seat would not be centered in the vehicle it would be a few inches offcenter to the passenger side of the vehicle and it appears from the pics the seat would overlap the 60/40 seat division. The manual also warns not to use the center seatbelt when using the left(drivers side) set of anchors in vehicles with the 3rd row seats.. Pg 118 "The performance of the center seat belt cannot be brought out sufficiently because the belt may be high positioned or the seat belt my be loose-fitting, posing the risk of serious injury in the case of collision"
It also never shows any child seats located in the third row.
It also does not say you can not use the seatbelt and lower anchors. It states pg 114 (without 3rd row) & pg 116 (with 3rd row) " Child restraint systems complying with the FMVSS213 or CMVSS213 specification can be fixed to these anchorages. In this case it is not necessary to fix the child seat restraint system with a seatbelt on the vehicle."
Really it is what you are comfortable with. I have a new baby on the way and currently have a 8 and 11 year old so I have been through all the types of seats with my older ones. There have been significant changes even since they were in rear and forward facing seats. We made our 11 year old use a booster seat until just this year because he did not weigh 80 lbs and the belt did not hit him right due to his height.
If I were to use only the anchor points I would put the child seat in one of the 2 outer seating locations in the back seat or second seat. I may put the seat in the center if I used the seatbelt and inner anchor points. I am not saying that is correct though.
If you put your knee into the child seat and pull the belt as tight as you can and pull the seatbelt all the way out and let it rachet back in and that seat moves very little or not at all side to side it is properly installed into the vehicle.
Stay safe!!!:driving:
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I emailed Toyota and just got a response.
[qoute]My original email 10/23/2008 08:03 AM
I have a 2006 Toyota 4runner Sports Edition and I noticed recently (as I need to properly install an infant car seat in the back seat) that the vehicle has the LATCH system. However, i noticed that the system is only in the left and right back seat. Why is the center back seat, which is the safest part for a child seat, doesnt have it?[qoute]
[qoute]Response 10/24/2008 03:25 PM
Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. only handles inquiries for vehicles in the continental U.S. and Alaska. Because Toyota has a different distributor in Hawaii, Servco Pacific, Inc., please contact them regarding your inquiry.
Please be aware that vehicles in Hawaii may be slightly different from vehicles offered in the continental U.S. and Alaska.
For contintental United States specification vehicles, the LATCH system is installed on the the left and right of the back seats as these positions are easier to access for installation.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Toyota Customer Experience
[/qoute]
[qoute]My original email 10/23/2008 08:03 AM
I have a 2006 Toyota 4runner Sports Edition and I noticed recently (as I need to properly install an infant car seat in the back seat) that the vehicle has the LATCH system. However, i noticed that the system is only in the left and right back seat. Why is the center back seat, which is the safest part for a child seat, doesnt have it?[qoute]
[qoute]Response 10/24/2008 03:25 PM
Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. only handles inquiries for vehicles in the continental U.S. and Alaska. Because Toyota has a different distributor in Hawaii, Servco Pacific, Inc., please contact them regarding your inquiry.
Please be aware that vehicles in Hawaii may be slightly different from vehicles offered in the continental U.S. and Alaska.
For contintental United States specification vehicles, the LATCH system is installed on the the left and right of the back seats as these positions are easier to access for installation.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Toyota Customer Experience
[/qoute]
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qballjr13
New member
vbhosehumper said:
If you are not supposed to use the two center brackets then why is there a third anchor on the back of the seats in the center? Also that center anchor has a picture of a car seat on it, like the other two. Obviously this would only apply to the forward facing seats that have a third anchor strap.
This is a great thread, lots of good information.
MAC4Runner
New member
qballjr13 said:
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