School me on 3rd row!

S

snobinge

New member
My wife currently has a 14' Limited. She would like to get a new suv with a third row for all the kiddo carpooling. I would like to get a yukon, but don't want to fork over the cash. I have heard that the third row in the 4runner is not that great, but have never seen a 5th gen in person with a third row. We tow a 21' boat and a snowmobile trailer occaisonally so I really don't want to go the Pilot or other unibody frame route.

For those who have a third row I would love to hear your input and pics if you have them. Thank you!
 
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I have the third row on my SR5. They are good for occasional use, mostly for kids. When we go on long trips I sometime sit one of my kid back there so they don't fight, and they end up fighting for who will take that place.

But as useful as they are sometimes, if I were to buy a new 4runner I wouldn't equip it with the third row because they take way to much space and for me they cause more problems than it solves. I end up cursing at them when I need to fit big objects in the back.
 
3rd row

As others have said, it's good for kids, the smaller the better (not good for car seats but boosters are okay). My 3 kids can sit in the 2nd row together around town but for trips we put one in the 3rd row. Then you lose a lot of storage space and we have to use the roof box for any significant trips. Don't even think about putting anything behind the 3rd row other than jackets or small stuff.
 
We have a 2015 LE with 3rd row. The seats are small and leg room is minimal but they do get some use with carpool. I wouldn't want to sit back there but the kids don't complain too much. If you just have one person in the 3rd row it's okay.
 
I have an SR5 with the 3rd row. Like everyone else says, good for kids maybe 10yrs an under. My oldest is 8 and he fits back there no problem. Wouldn't recommend car seats but booster seats ok. Wouldn't want to sit back there at all even for a short drive.
 
snobinge said:
My wife currently has a 14' Limited. She would like to get a new suv with a third row for all the kiddo carpooling. I would like to get a yukon, but don't want to fork over the cash. I have heard that the third row in the 4runner is not that great, but have never seen a 5th gen in person with a third row. We tow a 21' boat and a snowmobile trailer occaisonally so I really don't want to go the Pilot or other unibody frame route.

For those who have a third row I would love to hear your input and pics if you have them. Thank you!
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We just bough a new TE, but scoped out the 3rd row on one of the SR5s while we were there. I personally thought that 3rd row seating looked cramped enough to be borderline claustrophobic. But, probably roomy enough for kids
 
Range said:
any of you guys afraid of rear end collisions with children back there or is there enough room?
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I'm pretty much afraid of any collision, but I don't think it would be any worse than getting hit from the side. Neither would be good, but I don't think it's less safe.
 
We traded in our 2010 Limited for a SR5 Premium with 3rd row. We love it and I have nothing but good things to say about it. Granted we went in knowing this isn't a vehicle that compares to having an XL SUV that has captains chairs plus a bench row (that will eventually come for us much later). It's just my wife, 2 year old daughter, and myself. We have a lot of family come to visit us and it gets old having to take 2 cars just to go anywhere, adding to the fact we plan on spawning another offspring soon it made perfect sense to get a vehicle with a 3rd row.

Enter our 2015 SR5 Premium. I've seen a lot of people on here say they never use it, which makes me wonder why they even purchased it in the first place. We have used it multiple times at this point, to an extent I feel justified in the purchase/trade.

Is it slightly cramped? Yes.

Minimal storage with the seats up? Yes, but most vehicles with a similar set up are as well.

Ease of access? For the most part, it's very apparent side steps are needed. I opted for no side steps because I want to get a set of Bud Built Bump out sliders ASAP. Regardless, something is needed.

Everyone shoves there kid back there apparently in this post. First time we ever used it, I had my wife drive and I sat back there. I'm 5'11 and 225 pounds, pretty wide shoulders from weight lifting and humping around a bunch of gear on my back over the years. I was nervous I would hit my head on any bump my wife hit when sitting back there. To my pleasant surprise that never happened, even with my the wife's not so subtle driving skills. Leg room was fine, this was a 3 hour round trip drive. I was comfortable the entire time.

I look forward to next summer taking friends camping in it. By then should have a roof rack and possibly a trailer, which will offset my storage. I'd rather bring more people in my cabin then a bunch of stuff, just a personal philosophy I have.

Really my only complaint is finding a weather matt for the rear that I like has been a PITA as well as the stance from springs. When I have people sitting in the 3rd row I notice the stance levels out, unloaded I feel like I'm "falling forward" if the makes sense.

Over all I love it.
 
RedMagik said:
We traded in our 2010 Limited for a SR5 Premium with 3rd row. We love it and I have nothing but good things to say about it. Granted we went in knowing this isn't a vehicle that compares to having an XL SUV that has captains chairs plus a bench row (that will eventually come for us much later). It's just my wife, 2 year old daughter, and myself. We have a lot of family come to visit us and it gets old having to take 2 cars just to go anywhere, adding to the fact we plan on spawning another offspring soon it made perfect sense to get a vehicle with a 3rd row.

Enter our 2015 SR5 Premium. I've seen a lot of people on here say they never use it, which makes me wonder why they even purchased it in the first place. We have used it multiple times at this point, to an extent I feel justified in the purchase/trade.

Is it slightly cramped? Yes.

Minimal storage with the seats up? Yes, but most vehicles with a similar set up are as well.

Ease of access? For the most part, it's very apparent side steps are needed. I opted for no side steps because I want to get a set of Bud Built Bump out sliders ASAP. Regardless, something is needed.

Everyone shoves there kid back there apparently in this post. First time we ever used it, I had my wife drive and I sat back there. I'm 5'11 and 225 pounds, pretty wide shoulders from weight lifting and humping around a bunch of gear on my back over the years. I was nervous I would hit my head on any bump my wife hit when sitting back there. To my pleasant surprise that never happened, even with my the wife's not so subtle driving skills. Leg room was fine, this was a 3 hour round trip drive. I was comfortable the entire time.

I look forward to next summer taking friends camping in it. By then should have a roof rack and possibly a trailer, which will offset my storage. I'd rather bring more people in my cabin then a bunch of stuff, just a personal philosophy I have.

Really my only complaint is finding a weather matt for the rear that I like has been a PITA as well as the stance from springs. When I have people sitting in the 3rd row I notice the stance levels out, unloaded I feel like I'm "falling forward" if the makes sense.

Over all I love it.
Click to expand...


I guess if you have the middle seats moved forward it wouldn't be that bad.

As a side note, the only 3rd row mat I found was available on ebay. Nothing like my weather techs but does the job for the minimal action it sees.
 
+1 with RedMajik...

we bought our runner with 3rd row because we always seem to have that 3rd or 4th kid/person with us. the first weekend of owning it, i put my 5-8 190lb behind back there for running around with the family. Move the middle row forward, and the leg room is ok, for sure. my only complaint is that the seatback doesnt recline at all like the forward rows. with that, you are sitting pretty much straight up for your ride. but...ive had my 8yr old and my 12yr old in the back for extended road trips this year, and with each of them having their own row, they loved the individualism.

on the other side, i have had 3 kids across the 3rd row (7 8 8yrs) along with 3 adults across the middle, and all were just fine for a short 40 min ride.


understand that the 3rd row is for extra/emergency/when you need it usage. but if you have kids under 5ft tall, they will fit back there as well as anyone can.

and what has been said many times, even tho it pulls about 4 inches out of your cargo floor...its better to have them and not use them, then to not have them and NEED them (here and there, once or twice a month)

and of course, there are much larger SUVs to buy if you truely need that 3rd row.
 
Wow these are the most positive and realistic responses I've ever seen when this topic has come up. I agree with above whole heartedly. :usa2:

The 3rd row haters should be along shortly...
 
I own a 2014 Unlimited with a 3rd row. I have no complants and the room is sufficient if you can slide the 2nd row up a little. I definitely would not ever buy a 4Runner w/o a 3rd row as it is a nice option for carpools and Boy Scouts
 
It's for communists.

J/k, it's great if you're bff's with Tyrion and want to him, the Mountain, the Red Viper, Cersei, and Jaimie for a road trip.
 
I SHOULD have bought one with a third row and not used it unless I needed it. Now being that my wife wants more children I wish I had gotten it. I refuse to drive a mini van unless it has 6 speed and turbo ;) looks like I will be trading my 4Runner in for a 3rd row sooner than later. So I say get a third row and make sure you get the model you really will enjoy.
 
I have it, works great for the kids around town. Long drives not so much. Once they are grown I will gut it and use the shell for a storage system
 
My wifes 2014 SR5 came with 3rd row. Not something we needed, but the 4R was the color she wanted(only color on the lot) and the way the deal was put together, she pretty much go it w/o cost.

One of these days I might break out the owners manual and figure out how to activate it. 'Til then, it will stay buried away as it has since it left the factory.
 
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