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

[Fafafooey]

Hello,

I have a question that I was hoping to get some input and advice from the parents here, regarding seating arrangements. I have a 2007 4Runner WITHOUT the 3rd row, which I've had for about 14 months now. I love it to death and plan to keep it for many years.

My wife and I have 1 child, an almost 3-year old daughter. I keep her in the middle of the backseat; I feel that's the safest place in case of a side impact.

We'd like to have a 2nd child in the next 15-18 months. When he/she comes along, I don't want to a car seat on one of the outside seats. I'd like for it to be in the middle of the 3rd row.

I LOVE the Toyota V8 platform and would never consider leaving it. So that has me considering a change to the following, in no particular order:

2006-07 Toyota Sequoia
2007-09 Lexus GX470
2010-11 Lexus GX460

Budget-wise, the GX460 is a bit of a stretch, but the others should be just fine. I can wrench pretty well and do most of the basic maintenance myself.

FYI, I have seen the thread where the guy added a 3rd row to a 4th gen T4R, and I'm not real interested in going through all that.

So I guess I'm seeking some o. What did you guys do when baby #2 came along?

thanks,
Robert Abuey

 

[MSRP.]

Not a parent, but in all cases, get some beefy sliders to assist in protecting from side impacts.

There are a few threads here of the "after" a side impact of a 4R (4th gens mostly) and a smaller car.

 

[CookieRoe]

2 daughter

I bought my 4Runner a year and a half before we had our first child. I purchased it with the intent to have it has a family hauler (which is why I haven't put spacers/liftKit/etc..... that and my wife is 5'0"). Anyway, we had her in the middle rear, and eventually moved to the passenger side. After our second daughter was born, a child seat was put behind the driver side). So now we have our two daughter on either end with an open space between them.

I honestly think you maybe are overthinking the "possibility factor" of a side collision that could affect your children's safety. Having children in the 3rd seat of an LX or GX is probably WORSE. Have you seen the space behind the 3rd row and rear bumper? It's a joke (crash space-wise). No airbag back there to save you either in case of a rear end collision. Anyway, you see what I'm getting at? You can't "encase" your family in a car in an event of a horrible accident. Otherwise everyone would get a minivan for every 2nd child (makes no sense). If you had 3+ children, I can see the justification for a minivan. To be honest, traditional BoF SUVs make terrible family haulers, but that is my opinion (exception being largerer SUVs such as the Sequoia). I'm partial to the 4Runner, I would've loved to have gotten a GX, but it wasn't in my budget.

If I were you, I'd keep the 4Runner. It's a crazy strong vehicle. As far as sliders are concerned: I dunno, they are worthless if another SUV plows into you as the sliders are only inches off the ground. If you lift it, that's another story, but it doesn't sound as though you will be lifting you rig any time soon. Robert, if I were you, keep it, but if you want some more luxury, get a GX, but leave baby out of the 3rd row. Where are you going to put the stroller and stuff? LOL.

Good luck!

 

[BOSMECH]

Wait a year after your child is born then ask the question because as you know ( at least I hope you remember ) you won't be going any where but to get food and diapers and then some sleep.
But still don't over think this and be to cautious because they are very solid and safe vehicles.

 

[dchild]

I've only got one kid, and I also keep her in the middle, but I have got to echo some of the other comments. I think the safety of 3rd row seats is demonstrably less than the 2nd row sides (perhaps not for side impact, but most collisions are not side impact). These trucks do very well in safety ratings except for rollovers, and they definitely have side impact protection (unlike many earlier SUVs).

Of course, if you lift it high enough, then the force of any side impacts will just go under the passengers... just sayin' :thumb3:

 

[Jailguard]

I have a 3rd row in my 06 and you cannot put a car seat in the center since it is two side folding seats ( like the Land Cruiser )if you want a tank to haul your kids around in spend the money on an Excursion it is a true land yacht. I have 3 kids and they have ridden in the out board seats the whole time my only other suggestion if you want to stay Toyota is get the Senna mini van for the wife and keep the 4Runner for your self. Just know this a Mini van is a soul sucking thing.

 

[LOBO79]

We have 3 car seats going across our 2nd row. I personally don't see the need for any change in your vehicles, but that's just me.

 

[RonJR]

My parenting years are a few years back (2 kids in the 80's), but seriously, you have to look at the bigger picture. We've made child safety seats a religion in this country, and meanwhile mom and dad are riding around with no seat belts on and yakking on their cell phones. Where's the logic in that?

What you can do that will help a lot more than a bomb-proof seating arrangement for your children is to truly learn to drive defensively. Almost all 2-vehicle accidents are the result of two mistakes - the first a bona-fide driving error, and the 2nd the other driver not allowing adequate margins to avoid the consequences of that first error. The police will fault the first driver, but both suffer the consequences. Don't be that 2nd driver.

I see lack of margin all the time as I drive around Front Range Colorado. It's not technically illegal, but it exposes you to any mistakes the other person makes.

As far as the seats go, 90% of the improvement in automotive child safety occurred with the first child-specific restraint systems. Sure they've improved over the years, but they're pretty much working on the last 1% now. We hit diminishing returns a long time ago. And, if everyone would wear seat belts and shoulder harnesses, we could ditch the air bags and kids would be safe in the front seat as well.

 

[mpyle]

Simple for us given the runner was paid off. Keep runner, buy mini-van. Best of both worlds. We really like our Sienna.

 

[TOY2G]

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.

 

[Fafafooey]

Thank you everyone for your well thought out and considerate replies. I appreciate your input and taking the time. I think I'm gonna keep the 4Runner if/when #2 comes around!

Best,
Robert Abuey

 

[t-man]

Put baby on passenger side, older child on drivers. Less chance of hits on passenger. These things have great crash ratings and can really take a hit. Proper baby/child seats go a long way towards protecting everyone. Don't over think it, I just had baby #4, you'll get over it. lol

 

[momo.75]

I have had my '03 since the fall of '02. We bought it knowing we were going to be starting a family. Little did we know we would have twins but it hasn't been an issue. We just have their seats on each side of the rear seat. I don't regret it at all since it has been paid for since '05. Now that they are a little older i kind of wish we had a third row since we are having to pick up their friends and such but it still isn't a deal breaker.

 

[StL-T4R]

You've gotten a lot of good feedback already, but for another data point, we had a '99 when my daughter was born and put her in the middle of the backseat. Since then (2010), we had another kid in 2012, bought and totaled a 2007 4Runner (nobody hurt), bought another 2007 and a 2011 - car seat on each side of the backseat...

 

[Code2]

WAY overthinking here considering the manufacturers do all this thinking when building the cars.

Your chances of a side impact are far less then a rear end collision or head on collision. BABIES usually are the ones that come out of BAD CRASHES unharmed due to them being like rubber at that age.

From experience if you do roll the vehicle the places near the doors are the strongest

BUT.. as the others have said your WAY overthinking this. IMO its good thing to think about maybe once but this isn't a perfect world and you will never be able to keep all dangers away from a child. The more you think about it the more chance of it happening willingly or unwillingly.

Honestly in a side impact you and momma bear are more then likely to die then a child and even a dog just because they don't have the sense to tense up and stay relaxed giving them that rubbery way about them.

Think of the concept involving drunk drivers they never get hurt yet the sober one does.

Plop the kids in the car and go on in life rather then living in a paranoid state

 

[Code2]

As far as the seats go, 90% of the improvement in automotive child safety occurred with the first child-specific restraint systems. Sure they've improved over the years, but they're pretty much working on the last 1% now. We hit diminishing returns a long time ago. And, if everyone would wear seat belts and shoulder harnesses, we could ditch the air bags and kids would be safe in the front seat as well.

I agree with his statement EXCEPT

seat belts really only do one thing and thats from keeping the body in the car so its easily found (ems pun). Seat belts ACTUALLY do more damage then if you weren't wearing one sadly. ill take the airbags any day over the seat belts. air bags don't trap you in a car they provide a less damaging surface to hit then say the rest of the car and well the pavement. seat belts really dont stop you from still flying about in a car nor does it really help restrict your movement per say except when you need that movement to react and duck.

Interesting enough I'm shocked seat belts still exist with todays technologies.

 

[theliman]

I agree with his statement EXCEPT

seat belts really only do one thing and thats from keeping the body in the car so its easily found (ems pun). Seat belts ACTUALLY do more damage then if you weren't wearing one sadly. ill take the airbags any day over the seat belts. air bags don't trap you in a car they provide a less damaging surface to hit then say the rest of the car and well the pavement. seat belts really dont stop you from still flying about in a car nor does it really help restrict your movement per say except when you need that movement to react and duck.

Interesting enough I'm shocked seat belts still exist with todays technologies.

source for any of this? or is it TIC?

 

[Code2]

source for any of this? or is it TIC?

22 years in a fire department would be my source with adnominal, internal bleeding and breathing issues that can happen not to mention the issue it can cause during impacts on the hips and leg area. will it keep you from dying they say, will it prevent serious injury they say but colliding a car into a wall head on or t-boning it in a controlled environment is not the same as real world testing done by every day people.

They don't factor in other vehicles involves. building, obstructions, ditches, cliff drops etc etc.

Don't misconstrue my comment as don't wear one I simply stated it causes more problems then in crashes where one may have walked away with injury. Nor am i saying don't wear one. Its main function tho it to keep you inside the car. no different the a roller coster that won't be colliding with things

I choose not to wear mine and I have walked away from every crash I've been in including a head on with a wall at highway speeds caused by a driver who cut me off and hit the front end, and a roll over that rolled 3 times down a embankment. I had no belt on my friend did and i walked away he on the other hand did not and was taken by ambulance to the E.R.

 

[MrRoo]

22 years in a fire department would be my source with adnominal, internal bleeding and breathing issues that can happen not to mention the issue it can cause during impacts on the hips and leg area. will it keep you from dying they say, will it prevent serious injury they say but colliding a car into a wall head on or t-boning it in a controlled environment is not the same as real world testing done by every day people.

They don't factor in other vehicles involves. building, obstructions, ditches, cliff drops etc etc.

Don't misconstrue my comment as don't wear one I simply stated it causes more problems then in crashes where one may have walked away with injury. Nor am i saying don't wear one. Its main function tho it to keep you inside the car. no different the a roller coster that won't be colliding with things

I choose not to wear mine and I have walked away from every crash I've been in including a head on with a wall at highway speeds caused by a driver who cut me off and hit the front end, and a roll over that rolled 3 times down a embankment. I had no belt on my friend did and i walked away he on the other hand did not and was taken by ambulance to the E.R.

You sir have some special angels riding with you. I've been in 2 major cars wrecks. Both not my fault. One severe rear end collision and a very hard T-bone accident. The rear end collision was so bad that it tore my drivers seat from the floor. The left rear tire was pushed into the back seat. If I didn't have my seat belt on in that wreck id be dead. Plain and simple. The T bone accident I was in was also very severe. A old couple pulled in front of me. I was doing 55+ and never had time to hit the brakes. I wrapped a dodge Dakota around the front of my Accord like pretzel. the passenger in that truck came through the window due to not wearing a belt. Severe brain trauma and lots of other injuries. If I wasn't wearing a belt in that wreck id be through the windshield right along with her. And also when I was 16 I was in a life changing snowmobile accident. I hit a chain strung between a tree and a pole going across a road. Lots of internal injuries and broken bones. I split my helmet in half I hit the ground so hard. Had pretty bad brain swelling. Helmets are made for a reason. Just like seat belts are made for a reason. WEAR THEM. I would be 6 feet under if it wasn't for my seatbelts and helmet. But is your personal choice to wear one or not.

 

[eviele]

Put baby on passenger side, older child on drivers. Less chance of hits on passenger. These things have great crash ratings and can really take a hit. Proper baby/child seats go a long way towards protecting everyone. Don't over think it, I just had baby #4, you'll get over it. lol

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