Car seat installation

I have a 2001 Double cab.. trying to fit a carseat. I find one latch behind the seat then ran the seat belt through, does anyone if there are other latches for it to attach to. Daughter is leary of us taking grandson with just a 3 point system rather than 5 point. I have found some info online but not really helpful to my 2001.

 

Forward or rear facing car seat? There's nothing wrong with the factory seatbelt through the car seat. It's designed to hold an adult in place, so it will be more than enough for the child. I'm a child passenger safety technician, so I can answer any question you may have.

 

Trying to for both.. grandson in front facing and granddaughter in rear facing. Right now we have front facing installed using seat belt and anchor behind seat, but was wondering if they were any other anchors for front facing.

 

Depending upon the weight of the child and the availability of lower anchors in those trucks, you may be limited to the seatbelt and tether for the forward facing child. If there aren't two buttons located at the bottom of the backrests indicating lower anchors, you will have to use the seatbelt. 2002 was when they began requiring lower anchors. According to the NHTSA, your vehicle doesn't have them, so your only option is to go with the seatbelts.

 

Going to bump this thread. I just got a 2003 DC that clearly was manufactured in late 2012 as it doesn't have the LATCH system. I don't really care about as every car seat can use a seatbelt to install, but they 100% need a tether anchor.

There's a metal piece behind the seat I can pry the hook onto, but I can only get it so tight since there's no room between the back of the truck and the back seat! Any thoughts on what to do??

 

It supports the tether system. I had my son's infant seat and now have his forward facing toddler seat in the middle of the backseat (safest place). The tether attaches to the back of the seat. There is a white metal bracket. You can't miss it. Has a hole in it to attach the tether to. Clip the tether to the bracket and the tether should adjust by pulling on it. Reference your car seat docs on how to adjust the tether.

The vehicle owner's manual has full docs on it (the tether bracket). I have it somewhere - if you don't have it, say so and I'll see if I can get you some screenshots of it tomorrow. Might be able to find it online.

 

Right, I mention that piece, except I can’t get the tether tight because pushing the seat back prevents me from tightening it any more.

 

So what worked for me (I use Britax) , the tether has an adjustable 'buckle' looks and functions very similar to a "lap belt". Once you snap the tether onto the bracket (with the taco seat still open - don't fold it back down to the locked position) slide the adjuster to shorten up the tether. Once you have the tether as tight as possible with the seat open, lock the taco seat down. Get that seat as tight as possible with the lapbelt and once that is done, pull big time on the tether tightening portion and cinch that thing down. Again, its possible - just takes some work.

Here's a shot of the tether - night shot so kind of blurry.

 

Since you're in CA, if you can't get it set correctly and honestly even if you think you do - make an appointment with your local CA Highway Patrol office or even LAPD to have them install the seat. Its a free service and they are certified installers Safety first!

https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/programs/child-safety-seats
https://www.chp.ca.gov/find-an-office

http://www.lapdonline.org/valley_traffic/content_basic_view/8958

 

Dang ya. The cosco tether has this plastic piece when flat it locks the tether, which’ll happen automatically when pushing the car seat back. Should have thought about this ahead of buying a car seat lol

 

If your rear window opens you can always reach through there to tighten it from the bed. I found it was alot easier to just get in the bed and yank through the window.