Car Seats and leg room
- Thread starter rrflyer
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I have a 3 and 6 year old, I'm 6'1" and both kid have enough room to stand up and leg room in front of them.
You shouldn't have a problem, but for other folks that need a rear facing car seat it can eat into the drivers leg room. Some car seats take up more space than others when they're rear facing and I've had issues with leg room at 6'2". However, with front facing car seats I haven't had any problem.
My dog goes in the back and he seems pretty ok with that. Since I have the third row seats I put up one of the seats and even it out with a dog bed and blankets so that he's comfy. He can get in and out by either coming out the back hatch or I can drop the center portion of the 2nd row seats.
My dog goes in the back and he seems pretty ok with that. Since I have the third row seats I put up one of the seats and even it out with a dog bed and blankets so that he's comfy. He can get in and out by either coming out the back hatch or I can drop the center portion of the 2nd row seats.
mteolus
New member
I am 6'0" and I do sacrifice some legroom (not much), but fortunately I have only 1 kid so she goes in the passenger side. I don't like sitting straight up so some of that is because I lean my seat back probably more than most.
Definitely buy a seat cover for any car seat protector that sits on top of leather or fake leather, otherwise the seat will gouge it. Some car seats are worse than others. Something like this. This is just what first came up on Amazon, there are plenty of options.
https://www.amazon.com/Car-Seat-Pro...59567&sr=8-3&keywords=Car+seat+protector&th=1
Definitely buy a seat cover for any car seat protector that sits on top of leather or fake leather, otherwise the seat will gouge it. Some car seats are worse than others. Something like this. This is just what first came up on Amazon, there are plenty of options.
https://www.amazon.com/Car-Seat-Pro...59567&sr=8-3&keywords=Car+seat+protector&th=1
RPS99SHO
New member
I'm 6'2" and my kid's infant seat had to be in the middle seat for rear-facing. Putting it behind the driver seat didn't give me enough leg room. The seat protruded slightly but comfortably in between the front seats. He's front-facing now, so he's directly behind the driver seat comfortably.
I pretty much did the same thing. I am same height and have a one year old. Her seat is in the middle spot.
OatBunch
New member
Just take the bigger of the two car seats with you to a dealership and ask to try and install it before you take a test drive. I was able to do this with a number of different cars before settling on the 4runner. Never had a salesperson tell me no, but I also didn't put the kid in it at the time so there was minimal chance for damaging the car.
I did realize that there is slightly less room in the SR5s with a 3rd row. The rear-facing infant seat I was using fit perfect behind the driver in the 2-row at a normal driving position, but in the 3-row version I felt like I had my knees in the dash. It wasn't undriveable, but it also wasn't comfortable.
I did realize that there is slightly less room in the SR5s with a 3rd row. The rear-facing infant seat I was using fit perfect behind the driver in the 2-row at a normal driving position, but in the 3-row version I felt like I had my knees in the dash. It wasn't undriveable, but it also wasn't comfortable.
86 Runner
New member
I'm 6'2 with three kids: 3, 5, & 7. Haven't had any issues with room even with car and booster seats.
Although I did get kick mats to help protect against the kids putting their dirty shoes on the back of the front seats and they've held up great so far. Here's the link:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XSTXLTN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also debated the 3rd row when I was shopping for a T4R, but those back seats are so dang small - even for my 6 year old - and I figured I'd need the cargo space more often than not so they'd always be down anyway.
Although I did get kick mats to help protect against the kids putting their dirty shoes on the back of the front seats and they've held up great so far. Here's the link:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XSTXLTN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also debated the 3rd row when I was shopping for a T4R, but those back seats are so dang small - even for my 6 year old - and I figured I'd need the cargo space more often than not so they'd always be down anyway.
Cymon
New member
With the 3rd row version did you have the 2nd row slid all of the way back? The third row version has the same legroom as the other models, but the 2nd Row is adjustable. When we test drove all of the vehicles we were deciding between we took both of our kids with us and installed the car seats (they were 3 and 6 months old at the time). Currently they are 6 and 3 and have had no issues traveling all over the country with two car seats and a 50lb mutt...with both rear facing, one rear and one front and now both front. For reference we have two doing radian RXT car seats. I do suggest with taller car seats some offer a base adjustment pad that raises the height of the seat when rear facing so they are taller than front seat allowing for more room moving the front seat back.
I also suggest a seat cover for where the dog is sitting, we have the dog behind the passenger seat in a hammock style dog cover that we fold in half so it covers only that seat (she has the comfiest ride if anyone in the vehicle) and the kids in the middle and behind the driver. For the kids kick covers that strap to the back of the driver and passenger seat are also a good idea if you travel like us to places where the kids tend to get dirty and muddy shoes/feet.
RPS99SHO
New member
You must be all torso. My knees are literally touching the dash to clear my infant rear-facing seat behind me (6'2"). Maybe my carseat is bigger than average? :noidea:
Shuttle Infant Car Seat
All car seats are different. Forward facing you’ll be fine. Rear you need to check before u buy or you may have to buy a different seat. I have a clek foonf. Leg room is not an issue (5’11”) but it barely fits rear facing because it is so tall it almost touches ceiling. How upright you like your seat affects as much or more than fore/aft for legroom as well. I like mine all the way upright so it gives me more room to move back for leg room
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Mark1Mod0Squid
New member
Well, as the short guy in this line up at 5'9" I can't add much other than we just traded our 18 Tacoma for a 19 4Runner for for this exact reason. 2 grandkids and two dogs. One dog is 33" at the withers and 115lbs dry weight. The 2019 TRD Pro fit the bill perfectly for everything. Kids love more room. We love more room, and the dogs appreciate not being left at home and the back window.
blanchard7684
New member
4 year old, wife, and grunt sized lab. My wife likes to pack like we are bugging out. It can get a little sketchy, but it all fits.
My 4 yr old can easily maneuver into the car seat with my driver's seat in a comfortable position.
My 4 yr old can easily maneuver into the car seat with my driver's seat in a comfortable position.
JayceeP
New member
I don’t know how that is possible. Maybe you just have short legs because I’m 6’4 and I need the driver seat all the way back... and with the seat back, no rear facing seat I ever put back there would ft. So, it would have to go on the passenger side and the front passenger seat would have to move forward which was annoying because it obstructed some of my view as a driver.
The forward facing seats are fine of course.
Ditto. I had the same experience in a 2018 Yukon as well... so not just a problem with 4Runners.
