Front facing car seat in double cab.

For all the parents out there. I'm trying to put a front facing car seat into my double cab. I understand all the latch points, BUT if I were to tighten the top anchor strap, I don't think I could get it out. It latches about a foot down from the top of the seat back and that is where the adjustment point is. Am i missing something? Thanks!

 

Since my little guy's seat is in my wife's car most of the time, I use the seat belt method (haven't even tried to locate the top anchor point for the latch system). With the seat belt, I can get it just as tight/secure as it is in my wife's car, using the latch points.

 

I don't use the top latch point. The lower 2 points seem to hold it in pretty tight.

 

What if you were to undo the lower latch points first, would the seat tilt forward enough to undo the upper latch? I haven't tried, my kid is still rear facing.

 

In the Tacoma you have to use the seatbelt when putting the carseat in the center. Many people use the side latch anchor points inner most anchor incorrectly in this setup. See the manual. Also, the top tether is recommended for additional safety and so the seat does not have nay whiplash effect in a crash. No matter how tight you have it, you can never compensate for the top anchor with really tight lower ones.

 

I use the latch in the back. It's a pain, but if you just don't sinch it super tight, you can pull the seat forward enough to put your arm in there. I also put the seatbelt through as an add measure of support. You can PM me if you have questions. I've installed 2 different ones in the last 2 years.

 

You have to loosen the top tether so you can pull the seat forward and then undo it. Then when you put it back just snug up the tether strap again. Pain in the ass, but necessary if you wanna do it right.

 

You could do this too. But if its the center seat then you need to use the seatbelt, not the latch anchors and its a bit more of a pain. Not too bad though.

 

That's what I do, so the little guys is farther from the doors in case of a t-bone collision.

 

not sure how different the 1st and 2nd gens are behind the second row in the middle spot, but I have a front-facing carseat in the middle of my backseat and there is a hole to latch into. Guess it depends on your carseat too, the back tether on ours only really just pulls super tight, but that is the last part I tighten because of aforementioned issues with getting in there

 

I am a certified child safety seat technician and I did all kinds of different seat in my 2006 double cab and those top teathers dont have to be super tight. They just need to be snug. Now the lower teathers that go into the latch system def need to be tight to hold that seat in place correctly.

 

Thanks for all the quick replies. I ended up just installing the seat (3 point) with the notion that it wasn't coming out for another 5 years. Ended up, you can tilt the seat back just far enough to loosen the 3rd latch to get it out when you undo the bottom latches. My Advise... Stretch before you do it. You need to be a yoga master to get to the clip. HA! Thanks again!

 

This is what I do also.

 

x2 I've done both of these ways. I have rear and front facing car seats both installed, one on each side. They only come out like once or twice a year at most.

 

You CANNOT use the the lower latch anchor points when placing the carseat in the center. Those are actually the latch anchors for the left and right seats and are too far apart for the center. In the center you have to use the seatbelt. This is what the manual says. It reduces the lateral shifting of the seat.

 

Very true. About $500 fine in the state of California and will earn a point on DMV record for failing to install a car seat correctly. Do it right the first time. Save yourself time and money and best of all keep your family secure.

 

Good point. I've found many parents think the center seat has anchor points but they are actually for the left and right rear seats only. Best way to know is to look in your vehicles manual. It will tell you where all the anchor points are. Depending on where you live you can usually find services that will install a car seat properly whether its the fire department or somewhere else free of charge. When parents come in to have their seats checked with me......literally 90% of them are installed improperly and that scares the hell out of me!!

 

I never put my boy on the sides always in the middle. It is really not that hard, you just have to put the top one on first than the two sides, then reverse it for removal. It is also a slight pain but once you slightly drop the back seat forward it makes it so much easier putting in and taking out.....let the puns begin!

 

Yea as new parents, we made sure to go down to the fire station to get our seat installation inspected.

 

Good job! I'm sure you guys learned some stuff that you wouldnt have even thought of huh?