Two Kids in a T4R. Time for a change? Seeking advice from parents.

[t-man]

I had to do a little research to see if you were right about there being a less chance of hits on the passenger side. Looks like you were, but the difference is small.

Least Risky Place for Children to Ride

Ya, in the end just drive safe and watch for the ass hats. Only thing we can do.

 

[ATOWN4R]

Im a proponent of wearing seat belts due.to the couple of bad accidents ive been in where they saved me, but to each their own.

I still say everyone should be forced to get their motorcycle license and pass the course...you learn to be a much better driver, learn to watch 2 to 3 moves ahead and anticipate others reactions...

 

[Threev8s]

There are many good points in this thread, especially about not putting a child in the 3rd row middle vs. one on each side of the second row. I brought both of my daughters (4 years old and 20 months old) from the hospital in my 4th gen. When I’m by myself with them, they’re side-by-side in my 4th gen. When it’s all 4 of us, I drive them (also side-by-side) in my wife’s 5th gen. Along with what was said above, we have our older daughter on the driver side and our younger daughter on the passenger side. I have become slightly obsessed with safety since having kids and I still have all the confidence in the world in taking my girls in the 4Runners. If you are in something much bigger with a viable option for putting a child in the 3rd row, you might fare better in an accident with a similar sized or smaller vehicle, but you’re getting into the realm where a single vehicle accident with a fixed object can be much more dangerous. Also, do your homework when buying car seats. They all need to pass safety regs, but the best ones can safely get a child through all but the worst accidents in most modern “family” vehicles.

 

[Walkenvol]

My children are grown now, but we used a Sienna through the young children years. Hard to envision how they are any safer in a crash vs a 4runner but there's no debate concerning the the convenience factor with kid hauling. Also, having separate captains chairs vs a bench seat prevents a lot of squabbles between younger children. Minivans are a present from God for families IMO. Keep your 4Runner and buy a minivan also.

As for the crash safety, one could take the rear door cards off and fabricate some additional reinforcement inside the rear doors for side impacts if the existing structure is less than desired?

 

[Derek]

Robert,

I have 4 kids 2 in car seats. I have both the 4Runner with 3rd row and the GX with third row. The GX470 is the same vehicle you are presently driving, except it has the 3rd row option. They surprisingly cost less than a 4th gen of the same vintage and you get to keep the V8. My friends GX460 has tumble 3rd row and IMHO the drop down version in my GX are far better.

If I can be so bold as to point something out.

In the event of a side impact, your side curtain air bags and seat air bags keep the occupants from jolting to one side or the other. By sitting your child in the middle, you may save them from an event where there are crushed by a hit hard enough to for the impacting vehicle to enter the cabin (I have never seen a side impact on a 120/150 platform where another motor vehicle actually penatrated into the cabin). However, what you have done is ensured that no mater the severity of the side impact, their little body will have to take the full force af the lateral movement caused by the impact. Simply put, the airbag will be to far away to cushen them and they just bounc around.

Worst case scenario with the car seats on the side is a direct hit on that exact spot causing blunt force trauma. However, with the car seat in the middle....every accident is the worse case scenerio, and the risk of internal decapitation may be increased.

FWIW, my wife works for State Farm (contract) and I am a former Police Officer. I have seen my share of accidents up close, there is no sure bet.

One thing to keep in mind is the fact that side airbags were actually an option on 4Runners in 2007. My 2007 does not have them. When I bought it used the dealer had them listed as one of the options on the sticker but it turns out it was a mistake on their part. I'm not thrilled about not having them and it may help motivate me to upgrade to a 5th gen one day.