Rear facing car seats, tall driver

[hammerfang]

Guys I’m looking at getting a new Limited but am concerned about the space for a rear facing car seat. I’m 6’3” and like to have have the driver seat back a good bit. How well will a rear facing car seat fit?

My daughter is almost 2 so we’ll be swapping the direction of her convertible seat soon, but I’m concerned if we have another kid a rear facing seat won’t fit very well. My wife is 5’9” so there would be more room behind her, but We sometimes swap who is driving, so space behind the passenger seat is important as well.

I’d also appreciate any feedback on how the 4runner works with 2 little kids.

Sincerely,

Trying to avoid a highlander

 

[ryguytheman]

Guys I’m looking at getting a new Limited but am concerned about the space for a rear facing car seat. I’m 6’3” and like to have have the driver seat back a good bit. How well will a rear facing car seat fit?

My daughter is almost 2 so we’ll be swapping the direction of her convertible seat soon, but I’m concerned if we have another kid a rear facing seat won’t fit very well. My wife is 5’9” so there would be more room behind her, but We sometimes swap who is driving, so space behind the passenger seat is important as well.

I’d also appreciate any feedback on how the 4runner works with 2 little kids.

Sincerely,

Trying to avoid a highlander

I'm 6'7" and have had to deal with the rear-facing car seat.

Yeah, you'll have to give up some space. I drive almost everywhere though, so my wife always takes the passenger seat with the kiddo behind her. If I was you, I'd just live with it. It's a short amount of time to suffer in the grand scheme of things. I'd rather do that than go the highlander route.

 

[Fanatic1]

Understand trying to avoid Highlander. In similar situation, I have rear car seat and realized I can live with it and get 4Runner instead of Highlander...while trying to keep wife from looking at Sienna LOL.

 

[jtgrinsell]

I'm 6'2" and would have to give up a little room but it wouldn't be terrible to deal with. Thankfully my wife is 5'0" so the car seat is on her side and she never wants to drive my 4Runner so it's a win for me at the moment.

 

[TRDORP2019]

You'll be fine. Just don't have another kid anytime soon so you don't have 2 rear facing car seats. Now only one of my kids is in a car seat and the other two are in boosters.

 

[yota1976]

I'm 6'1" and we have a 7 yr old and 4 yr old, both boys. I got my 4runner just last year, so I didn't have to deal with a rear facing seat in it. But as far as room for 2 kids, there's plenty of that. Another reason I picked the 4runner over the Tacoma...more room.

 

[NW.OH.T4R]

I'm 6'1" and we have a 7 yr old and 4 yr old, both boys. I got my 4runner just last year, so I didn't have to deal with a rear facing seat in it. But as far as room for 2 kids, there's plenty of that. Another reason I picked the 4runner over the Tacoma...more room.

Agreed. Though in our situation we were dealing with the rear-facing seat. We took the extra seat along while shopping, the Tacoma was OK, but after we dropped it into the 4R she quickly changed her mind on the Taco being OK. It also helps to have one of the smaller car seats. We have the Graco slimline for both cars, primarily because I bought the first one when I was still driving an A4 and my wife liked it enough to put in her car as well. We drive each other's cars with frequency and have never had a problem with leg room and the rear-facing seat.

That said, I'll be very happy when we move out of the rear-facing period.

 

[GupsT4R]

Im 6'1 and my wife is 5'11...take the advice from the 6'7 guy lol and lose a little space and save yourself from the depths of the Highlander.

Needless to say we had the rear facing car seat behind my wife who isn't much shorter than i, who constantly muttered under her breath we need a Sequoia.

We're out of that stage for now so I don't have to hear the ghostly whispers of Sequoia but they will return when we have more kids. lol

 

[llDemonll]

take the car seat and go sit in a 4runner and see how it does.

adjust the seat to your liking and then try to fit the car seat to ensure there's no bias

 

[arhom]

I'm 5'11" and wife is 5'8". We have the 2 year old sitting behind passenger and newborn behind driver. It's OK for us but honestly if either of us were a few inches taller it wouldnt be enough room.

I love my 4runner but sometimes wish I had some more room. Just remind myself in a few years it wont be an issue. Like previous poster said, bring the seat with you for test drive. And remember you can always just get one in a couple years and go another route for now.

 

[Mike07SE]

If you have one kid at the moment, best placement is in the center. The rear facing seat should have room to fit in between the two front seats without compromising position. By the time #2 comes around, you should have #1 front facing behind the driver and #2 behind the passenger seat.

The 4Runner has a decent amount of space. Like others have said, try taking a seat with you during a test drive.

 

[Mudhorn]

If you have one kid at the moment, best placement is in the center.

The center is the best in any vehicle, but the 4Runner has a narrow center seat.
Depending on the carseat it won’t work. I have a grow with me seat, no bueno in the middle. Plus on my ‘18 the latch system is only on the outboard seats.
Chose behind the driver seat so I can lay down the double seat side. Would prefer the passenger side due to curbside parking, but not an issue where we currently live. I also don’t have the height restraint that others are experiencing.

 

[DigitalVex]

I'm 6'4" and have twins. Both seats are rear-facing. I have plenty of room behind the driver and passenger seats. I took the car seats to the dealer and tried them in the back. The tilt of the rear top bench helps with their leg room. Seats are Graco 4-1 forever.

 

[Arnezie]

Rear facing in the middle and other behind passenger and you’ll be good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Blu42]

take the car seat and go sit in a 4runner and see how it does.

adjust the seat to your liking and then try to fit the car seat to ensure there's no bias

I did this when my first son was young. Just take the car seat with you and put it in. Rear facing always sucks because they have to lean back. Sometimes you can use a car seat wedge to help a bit but it depends on the car seat.

If you're looking to use multiple forward facing car seats keep in mind your middle seat may not very usable depending on what you are using. Radian is not as chunky and can sit 3 wide in some vehicles. The Graco im using for my youngest is so chunky that sitting next to that thing hurts.

 

[ryguytheman]

Check out these big smiles, you won't get these kind of adventures with a Highlander. The look on my kid's face... pure joy. Don't let your kids miss out on the fun.

 

[AZ Craig]

Check out these big smiles, you won't get these kind of adventures with a Highlander. The look on my kid's face... pure joy. Don't let your kids miss out on the fun.

Hah, makes me think of my 3 year old loving to talk about "bumpy road" when we're on a dirt road or offroad trail.

Wheeling with kids is a great experience.

 

[4runnerchibcha]

I have a bulky carseat and my runner has more than enough space. Just get a car seat that is slimmer.

 

[kjbenner]

I'm 6'7" and we put the rear facing seat in the middle. Lets me keep my seat all the way back and there's enough room for my normal-sized wife to sit in either the front seat or the passenger side back. Still pretty tight behind the driver but it was always that way with the driver's seat back fully.

 

[Thrasher_S]

I'm 6'3" and I have to move the seat about 1in closer than my preferred setting. It's just close enough that I worry a little about my knees in the even of a crash... That said, I like to sit a bit closer than it seems most people like.