Child seat installation questions....

The third anchor on the top is absolutely necessary. Use it! Why even buy a car seat if you don't want to install it correctly?

As far as getting tight....well....

 

^^this^^

seems like a design flaw to put the anchor hidden behind the seat.

 

i have 3 car seats in mine. the 3ed anchor point behind the seat is latched and i got it as tight as I could. maybe a 1/2'' of slack. The seats are plenty secure with the bench seat anchor points.

 

It's good that you have the third anchor point connected. Don't just assume that the 2 bench seat connections are good enough because they feel secure. Imagine the force needed for your 20lb child plus a 15lb car seat to remain attachment during a 50mph front impact

 

agreed. I was able to get it snug after pushing the seat back, then pushed the tether back behind the seat. And yep, if you need to get behind the seat (or clean crumbs underneath the seat in my case), disconnect the side latches and it will slide like a pendulum.

You can do it!

 

pics?

 

I installed my sons car seat forward facing when he turned 2. I pulled the tether strap tight / snug first. I pulled it tight enough that it left an 1/8" gap underneath the seat, and then tightened the latch connections. I have now moved his seat to the middle, and use the seat belt instead of the latch. I feel the middle is the safest location.

 

It's been a while since my kiddos were in car seats so I'm not sure if this is possible or if someone even sells it due to liability reasons. Could you connect a short loop to the upper anchor (accessible when the rear seat is pushed back all the way) and then connect the child seat's top anchor to that short loop?

 

For what it's worth most of the latch components are limited due to weight. If I remember correctly my chicco car seat says not to use latch after 30 or 35 pounds and to start using the seat belt. We are a few months away from forward facing but already flirting with the weight limits. I'll try to remember to weigh in once we turn him around.

 

If your car seat is forward facing, you MUST use the rear tether, in addition to the lower anchors. The lower portion of the seat can be secured either with the belt, or the LATCH system. This of you who are saying "you don't need the rear tether", "it's tight enough without it", etc., are not only wrong, but you are spreading misinformation.

In the Tacoma, the rear tether is a bitch to get adjusted properly. I ended up with the trial and error method....BEFORE securing the lower portion, set the rear tether to a length, fish it behind the partially tilted seat, clip, and check to see how it fits. do this a few times and eventually you'll get it. You simply cannot adjust the strap on the fly.

 

Digging up and old one here....how the hell do you undo the top tether that connect behind the rear seats once you've got it cinched down. My child's car seat top tether is difficult to adjust. I'm prepared to trial and error it into place but I think it's going to be next to possible to get it undone once it's properly cinched down without cutting the strap. The buckle cinches really well. No guess I better make sure I empty out the behind the seat storage.