Child seat installation questions....

I have a double cab. My son just turned 2 so he can sit facing forward. My challenge is properly installing his seat forward facing. In order to do so correctly, you must use the anchor point behind the bucket seat, which requires you to unlock and swivel the entire seat. (this anchor point is used in addition to the two side latch points located at the bottom of the seat) I find it difficult to the get a good tight latch because you can not access the anchor point freely.

To be very clear, I am talking about the third belt that goes over the seat and into the anchor point behind the seat.

Any one have a good technique? please share.

 

I put my niece's kid's car seats in with no issues - they both attach to the anchor point. I simply loosened all the straps, clipped in to the anchors, put all my weight in the seat, and pulled the strap. TIGHT. No movement at all.

 

Do you use the third anchor point behind the seat?

 

Nope. Didn't need to. Top and bottom was it, and perfectly immobile.

 

Don't use third anchor point, just put ALL your weight into the bottom of the seat to get a tight fit. You can also visit a local highway patrol post where they are trained at car seat installation. They'll do it for no charge.

 

I have two car seats in and only use the two anchor points at the bottom. I did find the forward facing was a bitch to get them latched. I had to really push to get the graco to latch on the interior side.

 

I can get it tight with just the two side latches, but part of me wants to do it "the right way"... per child seat manual, it says use the third anchor point.

 

Latch the third belt over the seat first. Just leave a little slack, then latch the trucks seat back like normal. Then do the two lower ones.

 

Once the lowers are tight, go back and tighten the top one.

 

thanks... that's exactly what I did... but still can't get a tight latch. the "little slack" you leave becomes impossible to tighten once the seat back is closed and fully engaged.

 

Pulling straight up on that rear strap gave me best results. It's not as tight as the lowers, but it's tight enough to squish the top of the seat cushion a little and it isn't going anywhere.

 

Tighten third until seat hangs a bit after locking seat back. Pull seat down and latch the two bottom ones. Still not tight? Start over and take up more slack at the third.

 

@xJuice and @KellyJoe

ok, i'll give that technique another try... thanks.

 

I used the top latch - it was nearly impossible to get off. Very tough to reach the release button on the seat we have. But I'll still use it since now I know it's possible to get off again. Mine has enough slack in the end of the strap I was able to connect the strap, put seat back up, and then pull to tighten.

 

Believe he is referring to the rear tether and not just the anchors. The tether is a bitch to get tight

 

@jamier2

you raise another good point... getting the top latch off, assuming you got a good tight latch to begin with, is also very difficult to do. accessing the anchor point with a tight latch is hard.

why would did Toyota point the anchor point behind the bench? why not just at the top of the seat, somewhere that doesn't require unlocking the seat?!?!?!?

 

I use the rear latch, and the 2 lower anchors.
Once you have it in tight, it's a super pain in the ass to get out, because you need to try to unhook the seat and move it forward while reaching behind the seat to loosen the slack to get it off the anchor.
I got tired or swapping seats between cars so I just bought extras and leave them in there.

Of note, only the 2 liters have the lower latch system so if you're using the middle seat, you heed to route the belt thru the car seat and pull it tight. But it does have the anchor for the back

 

Either use the anchor points or the seat belt. Don't use both and most already mention use your weight or place your hand on the center of the seat while tightening the belt. Best to go by any fire station or police station and they can help you through it. It's recommended to keep your child in a rear facing seat as long as possible.

 

To get it off, undo the lower anchors. The seat is basically flopping around by the top anchor now. That gives you the ability to unhook the seat back and access the rear latch. This really isn't that hard guys. I do it all the time.

 

I didn't bother with the third anchor. got it ridiculously snug without it.