Can a 4th Gen fit 3 car seats w/o 3rd row seat?

[PhxRunner]

The subject says it all. I just found out my wife is pregnant with twins. My other son will be 2 when the twins are born...therefore 3 car seats.

I realize my 01 won't fit the three car seats and I'll have to sell it. I'm hoping the 4th gen will keep me out of MiniVan hell.

What about a Sequoia? I have never liked the styling, but I still like them better than an Odyssey.

 

[TranceKrayz]

Congrats! get the GX!

 

[boston_kevin]

yes

3 car seats should fit without much problem. It can assure you it is a little tight, but I have 2 Britax Roundabout (wide seats) and 1 Toddler seat (Turbo Booster) in the 2nd row of my Runner. Just recently moved the Toddler seat to the 3rd row. My kid loves the 3rd row!

btw: Congrats!!

 

[Pachuco]

safety of third row seats

PhxRunner, boston kevin or anyone else with children and 3rd row seats,

Here is a tread you should see, specifically the post by bryancos. Unfortunately those seats aren't useful for anyone else but children.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?threadid=4621

Congrats on the twins. Special thanks to bryancos for the link.

 

[boston_kevin]

Thanks Pachuco...

I saw this article earlier, and unfortunately there are no real standard tests for 3rd row seats. My Runner is a backup for my wife's Yukon, so it is unusual that I have kids in the vehicle anyway, but in the times that I do, I feel safe with them in the 3rd row unless I have a constuction vehicle behind me. With Lexus using the same construction and seating arrangement, that also gave me a little more confidence.

Any car/SUV will line up the bumpers pretty well and reduce the impact significantly. Minivans don't line up the bumpers with SUV's (much lower), and thus the 3rd row on a minivan is relatively unsafe if there is a fast rear-end collision because the bumper of a truck or SUV would crash through the tailgate before striking the bumper, thus reducing the distance between the rear passengers and the vehicle (and the back glass because it is being pushed into the vehicle) creating an unsafe condition.

 

[Gryphon]

My 2nd gen will barely fit three across, I have to use one infant seat with a base and one without with my toddler's booster on the far side. We looked at the new 4R's and liked them except they just are not tall enough for me to fit! I fit ok in the '90, but I guess 6'2" is too much for a new one.

If I was buying new and NOT a 4R, I'd look at the 'Cruiser, tho probaly a used one as I can't see $45k...I can buy a used H1 for that! (and let the wife and kids use the Mazda 626!)

 

[Biff]

I had a similar problem, found that a used Landcruiser really does the trick. I've had my 94 Landcruiser with a spacious 3rd row seat now for one year. Works great and it was only a fraction of the cost of a new suv.