OK, we got our first one in the oven, due in March.

Need some advice on using an infant-sized carseat in a 1st gen 4runner. Wifey making some noises that it won't be possible to find a set-up that meets current laws. I am clueless.

What say you Dads with 1st gen 4runners? Should I just start shopping for a 3rd gen?

Congrats.

My wife wont let me put my baby in the 1st gen. Just because its big, ugly, and stinks.

It would buckle in the exact same way it does in my 3rd gen. I have the base, which just simply is buckled in using the shoulder belt. 3rd gens (at least my 97) doesnt have any of the fancy child seat tethering deals.

EDIT...wait, I forgot, my 1st gen doesnt have shoulder belts. But shoulder belts that bolted to the roll bar were a factory option. Rare, but they are out there. You will want to find these to make it work. If you cant find any, you could probably modify some other year 4Runner belts to work.


Next year when I get the 88 up and running with the V8, you better beleive I'm strapping the baby in and going for a ride!

If you already have the car seat, take it to your local fire/EMS department, and have them show you the correct way to install the seat. It's a public courtesy which is way underused. You can make your decision from there. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Adam, on the 3rd gens, IIRC, there's a TSB out there which addresses the child tether which goes over the back seat. I saw it a couple months ago.

EDIT: it's over at www.bedlib.org. Note they ask for a library card. Click on the link below it, and log in as usual. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> They reformatted the page.

This is a great question... when our son was on his way ust 3 years ago, this was one of my first concerns.
I'm not sure the extent to which the laws are federal vs state, and may be different for you in OR than me in here in NC, but here's what I do.
I put the child's seat in the front passenger. Here's why.
The rear seat really is awefully shallow for a rear-facing carseat setup, and i never felt liek it would balance very well in the middle spot. I debated addin gshould straps to the side rear positions instead... however after trying to put it in once, I quickly reazied that the logistics of leaning back in there to get him into place required some serious body contortion. and just would not be practical.

I know here at least, ths law says you cannot have a child seat in front if (A) you have airbags, and/or (B) the back would be safer.
Since the rear seat is technically covered by fiberglass, not steel, and there is no airbag, one could easier argue that at least in a rollover accident, the front would be better in this vehicle. For side-impact, that's debatable when compared to the middle rear, but probably the same as side-rear.
Honestly, with the truck riding baout 6" taller than stock, plus 3/16" tube rocker panel protection that's right at height for most other car bumpers, I feel pretty comfy with him riding up there. Plus he LOVES being able to see the world when riding.

...Plus he LOVES being able to see the world when riding...

Tell ya what, I used to have a little girl in my charge for awhile. Had a helluva time making her stay put in a belt once she got big enough. Once I got a booster seat where she could look out and watch the world go by, no more wiggle worm problems. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Keep that in mind for later.

With my first, all I had is my 86 xtracab. no seats in the back. when I got my 240sx, having to put kids in the back that cannot climb in for themselves is horrible on your back.
I do have a family vehicle now (the Outback) so it's not an issue, but put the kid in the front. Save yourself the pain and aggravation of having to but the kid and seat in the back.
BTW, for the base/carrier units, I don't think it matters if you have a shoulder strap or not. When the booster seat comes into play, then you'll have to worry about it.
Just my thoughts.

Todd

From what I've read, your kid is safer in the back seat, period. Take kewlynx's advice & seek out professional assistance from folks who know the best way to do this safely.

I have an infant that I put in the back seat in the CENTER. You don't want the car seat hitting the front seats in an accident. I have a base and seat combo. Putting it in the back is a bit of a pain but she is smack in the middle of the vehicle with lots of crunch room in front and behind.

I have both, 1st and 3rd gen 4runners and 2 kids(4 & 6yrs old). Congrats on the baby...I suggest you buy a more infant friendly vehicle for the time being. It sucks lifting/buckling an infant into the back seat of a 1st gen 4runner...it sucks even more when the 4runner is lifted with 35" tires. I survived that ordeal when my kids were smaller by climbing into the back seat every time to strap them in. It was a PITA.

When they were 1 and 3yrs old, I put these in...Rear Isuzu Trooper belts-$15 from the local p-n-p. I tried using front pickup/4runner belts but they were too long and didn't fully retract.





Nowadays, they just buckle themselves in. These shoulder belts are so much comfortable and doesn't lock like the stock lap belt does. I have sat in the back seats on a couple occasion and the belts aren't that bad. My kids aren't complaining <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />...

When my kids were small (under 20 pounds), they rode in a "bucket" type carrier that was part of a stroller set. It was held in place with a lap belt and always faced backwards.

When they got bigger, they got proper car seats that faced backwards, that were also held in place with just a lap belt.

Now that they are over 30 pounds, the car seats face forward. Our car has the third anchor points that you need for a forward facing seat but the Runner doesn't so, if both kids are in the truck I use the front cargo tie-down loops to hook up the seat straps. If I have only one of them, I put them in the middle of the back seat and run a tie-down between the two front tie-down loops and connect the seat to it. The loops will pull out of the floor before the strap tie-down breaks.

BTW, the kids (2 and 3) love riding in the truck since they can see out. The windows on the car (A4 wagon) are too high for them to see over. Especially good in the summer with the roof off.

Sean