Double Cabs, Sub Boxes, and Child Seat Anchors

Got a question for those of you who happen to have little ones and a subwoofer box in their Double Cab Tacomas.

I bought my DCab Tacoma with the expectation that I will have little ones down the road and have to hassle with child seats. Problem is, I really want to put a sub and amp rack back behind the rear seat and that tends to block the seat anchors. The only exceptions I've seen are a couple of Mr. Marv's low profile designs.

Now, I know the law says "Thou must have the seat anchors" but I'm really wondering if I need to have access to them for down the road or if I can strap a child seat down (properly) with the seat belt.

 

I have the Rockford P3 sub/box combo and still have access to the child seat anchors. I put the amp under the seat though.

 

Thanks for the input 808leo.

I am thinking the amp will probably go under the driver seat too. Just to clarify - which Rockford P3 combo are you talking about?

 

Between a seatbealt and the latch anchors, I would pick the anchors every time..

I think what you are referring to is not the "latch" points (between the seat and the backrest) but the top anchor point (which is behind the backrest).

You technically will not use those points until the child is front facing (average 2 years old). As the child goes into front facing, you don't "need" to use the top point (the latch points) are good, BUT the top anchor point is a big safety thing so the top of the seat itself can't go forward in impact.

 

Raycie, you had the answer I was looking for. Thanks man.

And looks like I'm going to have to build/have built a low profile sub box if I'm going to have happy life with happy (future) wife.

 

Maybe I am a bad dad, but I have never used the TOP anchor points that are located on the back wall on any vehicle that I have ever owned.

Come to think of it, no one that I know does...

I used the latch points between the seat back and seat bottom and that seat is solid in there.

 

the top latch(behind the seat) is for the forward position as Raycie has stated.
I was looking at the britax and other big seats for foward facing. I would not want one of those falling forward on my son.

OP: toy85 has built a box that still retains the Latch this plans is the one that I am going to use

 

Rockford has premade boxes with 10" and 12" P3 subs already loaded. I have the 12" P3 and sounds good. Just had to take out the plastic lining and fits in the back easily.

 

I wouldn't put my kids, boys 3 and 5, in a vehicle if I couldn't use the safety latches on top. Just because some people don't use them doesn't mean you shouldn't. A lot of people don't go through the trouble to learn how to properly install car seats in their vehicle. For example, I see TONS of people with the infant carrier handle still in the carry/up position while in the car. That's ridiculously stupid.

Just like not using the top latch.

We can talk all day long about turning off safety equipment in our trucks, ABS, but I'm not fucking directly with my kids safety.

 

Put the subs under the back seat and the amp under the passenger seat.

 

Mine had not had them since I bought the truck..... solution I added them in. I will get pics this weekend but my daughter has all three attachment points for her ff seat and works wonders I just had to remove my center headrest to use it

 

Amen brother. +Rep

I've got a ways to go before I have to worry about hauling chitlins around (like getting the wedding planned!). Didn't want to have to gut equipment later down the road just so I can properly place little ones in my back seat either - my grandfather taught me to pay for it once and buy it right the first time.

Calling Mr. Marv right now - JL has the 10TW3 on sale for 15% off right now and he's got a super-compact box/amp rack for it.

 

^^^ This, this, and this!! What "feels" secure, is not necessarily secure in a 70-0 front end or side impact collision. "Feels" will never replicate the same force. Use the latch anchors.

BTW, you can put most sub boxes in with the anchors in place, you will just have the box about 3/4" closer to the seat. Now, this does not make the anchors convenient to get to, but they can still be accessed with a bit of box jiggling.

 

Talking about subs and carseats.. The reason why I haven't put a sub in yet is really because of the kids and the carseats.. In my former life (rice burner), I had a 12 in the trunk.. even with my '99 xtracab, I had a 8 or 10 in a custom side facing box that basically extended the middle arm rest/counsel. Having 1 now 2 kids, there are very few times that I am turning up the music because they are in the truck with me.. If I spent the money to upgrade the sounds, it would be used very little to appreciate the reference quality.. blah, blah, blah... little kids and great sounds don't mix too well.. (at least for me)...

 

I was in the same boat as the OP and ended up building my own custom box/amp rack to retain at least some of the child seat anchors.

 

Very nice and clean build!

After talking to Marv last night, I got one of these bad boys (last one he had ready to ship):


After I put RAAMmat and Ensolite over the back wall, going to carpet. Debating on keeping the Driver side bin. My 10TW3 will have the grill on so I will probably remove the plastic seat backs. My Wet Okoles should keep everything shielded well enough though.

 

Nice... Best of all worlds. ..

 

For the DIY, here are dimensions for the passenger side for a 2007 double cab:

 

You can also trim up the passenger side bin and just put it back in place over the box/board. If you want to keep the original bin in case you sell it, you can usually find someone selling their's and trim that. I did that with mine, that way it looks much better. I have a full hieght box though.

 

Sending you a PM.