CarSeat in Center with LATCH?

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benk777

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What is the real reason that Toyota does not recommend using the latch system in the center seat? Is it because you cannot use the 60/40 split seats if using the center? I have been using the center with the latch system for our rear facing infant carseat, and want to do the same with our new Britax Marathon, but not if it is unsafe. I really want to stay with the center position, since it is the safest and guarantees no direct impact from a side collision, but I do want to continue using the latch system as well. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks.

Ben
 
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I don't know if there is a reason not to. I don't care.

I have installed all my Britax seats (on my 3rd and largest one) in the center positions in my 4Runner and Passat wagon.

I use the belt for the seat in the 4runner (no latch in '99) and LATCH for the one in the '02 Passat.

I don't see any reason not to stay in the center. My son, now 4 just climbs in. There is also more room for his feet in the center position.

When child #2 comes in April, will move him to passenger side and have baby in center.
 
I don't have an answer for you, but I wanted to put some car seat related information in your thread for someone that might be searching in the future.

3rd generation 4runner will fit three car seats (plus kids) across the back seat (it's tight, but it fits). The 2- and 4-year old have regular type car seats. The 6-year old has a booster seat with a back. When we go wheeling/camping the 80lb lab comes with us and snuggles in on the floor beneath their feet. He lays his head on the center console to get some scratches from me.

the 3rd gen is a small and nimble off-roader that will fit a family of five, a dog, and camping gear...and still crawl right up the Rocky Mountains!!! Be not fooled by it's small stature...

I have a 2000, no latch, carseats installed with seatbelts.

Sorry to pirate your thread...
 
I also wondered this. In the manual it states not to place a seat in the center as well as not using the left and right latch anchors to fasten a seat in the middle. Then why the hell is their a latch anchor BEHIND the CENTER seat position?!? I am referring to the anchors that are found behind the 2nd row seats themselves.
 
I think the spacing of the latches has something to do with it. Something like 14" is what they call for. The distance in the center position is too wide to use the latches properly. Wife uses a britax boulavard,i use sunshine kids radian 80. both great seats both ancherd on the right side.
 
My guess is this is based on where the flip up seats anchor and that the seat and vehicle manufacturers find it necessary that a child seat should be anchored to a single seat - not spaced between two. Again, just my guess.

In our 60/40 split, the center of the 40 side seat is close to the window and the center of the 60 side is slightly away from the rear driver's side window. (4th Gens).

Using the latch system, I put my older kid behind the passenger and my little guy behind the driver (which is not far from the middle).
 
Rivers said:
I think the spacing of the latches has something to do with it. Something like 14" is what they call for. The distance in the center position is too wide to use the latches properly. Wife uses a britax boulavard,i use sunshine kids radian 80. both great seats both ancherd on the right side.
Click to expand...

This is correct (in some vehicles anyway). In my 4th Gen 4Runner I could install the base of our Graco in the center and still be able to tighten down so that it wouldn't move around. I tried doing the same recently into the 3rd row of a Sienna and couldn't get the seat to tighten correctly. There was too much play from side to side with the carseat in between the latches. Once I moved it into the correct position, I was able to tighten the base.
 
dingo said:
I also wondered this. In the manual it states not to place a seat in the center as well as not using the left and right latch anchors to fasten a seat in the middle. Then why the hell is their a latch anchor BEHIND the CENTER seat position?!? I am referring to the anchors that are found behind the 2nd row seats themselves.
Click to expand...

Because you can use the center position in the rear seat with the seat belt just not the LATCH system. I used the center position with the seatbelt for 2+ years for my daughter before #2 came along.
 
Child seat in center

After reading through this thread and the one linked to I've come to the conclusion that no one seems to know the "real" answer if there even is one.

I've been placing my child seat in the center ever since my daughter was born (20 months now) and using the two inner LATCH anchors without any hesitation or "fear" of having done it wrong. And, there is absolutely no side-to-side play in the seat when it's installed (believe me, if there was my wife would be the first to tell me). I even climb in the back seat and sit down on the car seat when pulling the LATCH strap tight to make sure that it is weighted down and I have taken every last bit of slack out. The only "problem" this has created is that it's a PITA to remove the seat when I need to clean the T4R or swap cars.
 
Kimo -

I use the same technique. No slack.

Do yourself a favor, get a second seat. I know they are really expensive but it makes life just a bit easier and with kids, that's not easy to find. ;):
 
LATCH is not safer than seat belts for car seats.

Basically, the LATCH system was created for uniform EASE of installation, since seat belt installation can be a real pain. Case in point, I basically have to put all of my 200 lbs hard into the seat to ensure the car seat is glued the 4runner seat.

We have the forward facing seat for our 3 year old in the center position, with use of the seat belt, not latch.

If you read any consumer reports, or anything like that, the crash tests from seat belt installed fair much much better than LATCH.
 
CSL, i too have a 2000 4runner SR5. We only have one child and use the center position. The vehicle only has 104k miles and my wife wants at least 3 kids maybe 4. Can you post a picture of all of the car seats installed in the back seat for me?
 
Kimo and Marine...i use both of what you guys have said...sit on car seat to tighten it and buy a 2nd one for ease of moving from car to car.
 
We have a Britax car seat for our son who is now 2 1/2 years old. We use to place him right by the door, but after seeing a report on the news on how you can reduce child injury by 47% I believe by putting the car seat in the center. That is where he has now been for over a year.
 
2000runnr, I don't have the seats in it right now, since it's not camping season. I will see if I can find a picture from last year, but I'm not sure... We fit one "normal" car seat, an infant seat and a full size booster seat. Later the infant seat became a normal car seat. It's tight, but it fits just fine.
 
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