SystemError
New member
I currently have a 4th Gen Sport but have twins on the way. I have 2 year old who still needs a car seat but want to know if anyone with a 5th Gen has put 3 car seats in the 2nd row?
Car Seats
- Thread starter SystemError
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Never in a 4runner, but years ago would occasionally need to do that in my '01 Sequoia when transporting kids on outings for our daycare.
The difficulty was getting all three seats buckled, since the buckles are inboard, between the seats themselves. Even with the extra width of the Sequoia (don't know how much wider, but it sure feels like my '12 4runner is narrower than the Sequoia), the 2nd row seat was MARGINALLY wide enough for three forward facing car seats. Don't know that it will be doable in a 4runner. Much easier once all the kids graduated to boosters.
The difficulty was getting all three seats buckled, since the buckles are inboard, between the seats themselves. Even with the extra width of the Sequoia (don't know how much wider, but it sure feels like my '12 4runner is narrower than the Sequoia), the 2nd row seat was MARGINALLY wide enough for three forward facing car seats. Don't know that it will be doable in a 4runner. Much easier once all the kids graduated to boosters.
Snow-Jet-MK5
New member
congrats on the twins!
I know it isnt the response you are hoping for but there are many photos online of the Diono Radian Rxt three wide in SUVs. I have seen them in person and they are very narrow when compared to other brand seats. I will receive mine tomorrow as my BG is upgrading from her Britax B-Safe to the Radian. Good luck in your search.
Katahdin
New member
I bought one of those and it seemed like a great seat but I wasn't happy with how it fit in my 5th gen. I couldn't get the LATCH strap tight enough to hold the seat in place securely. I didn't try it rear-facing or in the middle seat so one/both of those may work better. It did seem narrow enough to fit 3 across though.
j_shoe99
New member
Whiplash Willy
New member
Congrats on the twins!
I also have a 2yr old, and had twins about a month ago! I specifically got my 2013 SR5 w/3rd row to haul my kids around in something other then a minivan. (It was also a good excuse to get back in a 4runner!)
It looks like with the right seat combination, it is possible to put 3 seats across the 2nd row, however it looks pretty tight, and not all seats will be skinny enough to fit across. I have a Brittax Marathon 70, and two Grayco Snugride 35s. There is no way I could fit those 3 across.
My advice would be to bring your car seats to a dealer, and try to fit them to a 2 row model, and a 3 row model. I spent several hours at a dealer trying to figure out how to get all my seats to fit in a 4runner.
This is my seating configuration for my kids:
-The Twins in their Grayco Snugrides in 2nd row (one on each side, middle open)
-The 2year old in the 3rd row pass side (No LATCH Back There so attached by belt)
*Carseats are saftey tested using seatbelt attachments, and LATCH actually has a weight limit where they are no longer safe, so using the seatbelt to attach is not a saftey risk.
I leave the pass side 3rd row seat down so I have some storage (not much, but good thing I am good at tetris!) With carseats in the 2nd row, you can't access the 3rd row from them. I will be getting my 2yr old in and out via the hatch, which is actually easier then accessing the 3rd row from the 2nd row.
Getting my kids in and out of the 4runner isn't super practical, but it isn't bad. Sure a minivan would be more logistically practical for kid hauling, but I can't see myself paying 30k for a minivan that I will hate, when for about the same price I can have a 4runner, which I love. When you have 3 kids in carseats, your vehicle options become extremely limited.
Also:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/62407-infant-seats-4runner.html#post521788
I also have a 2yr old, and had twins about a month ago! I specifically got my 2013 SR5 w/3rd row to haul my kids around in something other then a minivan. (It was also a good excuse to get back in a 4runner!)
It looks like with the right seat combination, it is possible to put 3 seats across the 2nd row, however it looks pretty tight, and not all seats will be skinny enough to fit across. I have a Brittax Marathon 70, and two Grayco Snugride 35s. There is no way I could fit those 3 across.
My advice would be to bring your car seats to a dealer, and try to fit them to a 2 row model, and a 3 row model. I spent several hours at a dealer trying to figure out how to get all my seats to fit in a 4runner.
This is my seating configuration for my kids:
-The Twins in their Grayco Snugrides in 2nd row (one on each side, middle open)
-The 2year old in the 3rd row pass side (No LATCH Back There so attached by belt)
*Carseats are saftey tested using seatbelt attachments, and LATCH actually has a weight limit where they are no longer safe, so using the seatbelt to attach is not a saftey risk.
I leave the pass side 3rd row seat down so I have some storage (not much, but good thing I am good at tetris!) With carseats in the 2nd row, you can't access the 3rd row from them. I will be getting my 2yr old in and out via the hatch, which is actually easier then accessing the 3rd row from the 2nd row.
Getting my kids in and out of the 4runner isn't super practical, but it isn't bad. Sure a minivan would be more logistically practical for kid hauling, but I can't see myself paying 30k for a minivan that I will hate, when for about the same price I can have a 4runner, which I love. When you have 3 kids in carseats, your vehicle options become extremely limited.
Also:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/62407-infant-seats-4runner.html#post521788
Last edited:
thebwlife
Senior Member
Good luck sucka! (Fellow twin dad here)
See my build thread there are some pics of two car seats in ours. I really don't think 3 seats would be safe. My wife of 110lbs can't fit between our two. Thoses car seats are built to be centered in the individual seat and are not really safe if not used properly.
All my opinion.
Last edited:
diverdriver
New member
Welcome to the multiples club!! Our girls have just moved up to boosters, however prior to this we had 2 britax Marithons with a britax Frontier in the middle. these are wide seats especially the Frontier, to install I'd belt the Frontier in the middle then tighten the Marathons in with the LATCH, tight fit but the doors would close.
I'd recommend you head over to Babys R Us or wherever you plan to buy the seats and test fit them, dont forget to try the little both forward and rear facing.
If you have the 3rd row it will only be accessible from the rear.
I'd recommend you head over to Babys R Us or wherever you plan to buy the seats and test fit them, dont forget to try the little both forward and rear facing.
If you have the 3rd row it will only be accessible from the rear.
SystemError
New member
Thank You All for your in input. Look like we are going to get ride of the Highlander and and are leaning towards a Suburban 4x4 . We will keep my 08 runner for whoever is not hanging with the kids.
