Rear Airbag (RSCA) Off or On with a kid in the back?

Acquired an 09 Access Cab Base model a couple of months back that just pushed the 100k mile mark. It has the rear side curtain airbags (RSCA) in which I did not have in my prior sedan. I know it's supposed to go off when the car senses extreme angles and what not.

With a small child in the back (passenger rear, forward facing car seat, and yes a bit cramped), should the RSCA be turned off or kept on? I know airbags in the front should be off with a kid there but what about the back with the curtain type? The manual just tells you how to turn the RSCA on/off and I couldn't find a definitive answer on a browser search.

Thanks!
-LetGoMyTaco

 

RSCA actually stands for Roll Sensing Curtain Airbags. That system, when deactivated, will only turn off the curtain airbags in the event of a rollover. The curtain airbags will still deploy in the event of a side collision.

 

Leave em on. Only time i ever touch RSCA is when im in the dunes with the truck.

 

Thanks! I knew it was curtain something. That's interesting that even with the RSCA off, the curtain bags will still go off during a side collision.

Anyone know how far those come out? I just don't want the kiddo to get smacked with it in any scenario, roll or side collision.

 

Do you have a small kid in the back during regular drives?

 

The good news is I can’t recall ever hearing something bad about curtain airbags in the event of a collision, but that’s just my experience and I’ll leave it at that for someone else to chime in.

Other good info about curtain airbags is that they do not expand as much as a front facing airbag. The main idea behind curtain airbags is to keep your head (or that of your kids) inside of the vehicle while also providing some cushioning to lessen head impacts.

 

I do not. Thank god.

Correct. This is the reasoning for putting kids in the back seats (or turning off front passenger airbags in smaller cab configs) Front airbags expand alot and in a situation where the person is shorter it can cause issues with neck injury as well as those already in restraints (like a 4/5 pt harness or in a car seat) a front airbag can cause more harm than good. Side airbags are essentially ALL good.

 

Getting smacked by an airbag sounds better than the alternative in a side collision.

 

I had my head bounce off the passenger window in a buddy's baja bug screwing around in the dunes. -11/10; would not recommend

 

Doesn't sound fun!

 

The car seat should keep the curtain airbags from harming small occupants. I run two car seats in the back seat of my truck and only turn off the RSCA when offroad.