Child seats in a 40

4thwheel · 05-12-09, 07:29 PM

OK I know I might catch some crap for this but...

Does anyone know the law for using child seats in a cruiser? I suspect that since they face sideways its a no go. My three year old is wanting to go for a spin and I am entertaining the idea of mounting up the child seat and taking him out. Obviously not wanting to endanger my kid Im thinking thier may be laws about forward facing seats only...May have to wait a year. Im in Colorado if anyone knows

35inchoverdrive · 05-12-09, 07:59 PM

What's preventing you from puting the child seat up front? I personally don't think that there is anything wrong with taking your 3 year old for a spin in your 40 with a child seat mounted up front. Have there been safer built since the 40? Yes. Does this mean that the 40 is an instant death trap for children? I think not. If you had a V8 and a 5spd and you were going to take him on a 3D fear coaster in heavy traffic, that would be one thing, but a spin in a classic doens't sound irresponsible. I'm sure that others will disagree, but this country is full of kids who survived innumerable rides around town in 40's growing up.

jsaltlick · 05-12-09, 08:03 PM

They don't have airbags so not a big deal for front seats. read here once a guy welded a metal piece in the rear tub of this 40 and mounted the baby seat to that. Drove his kid around in it for years.

I wouldn't daily drive it in traffic with the kid strapped in but going for errands, ice cream etc is no big deal. Half the reason we own cruisers is to share them with loved ones!

JohnnyC · 05-12-09, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsaltlick

They don't have airbags so not a big deal for front seats. I wouldn't daily drive it in traffic with the kid strapped in but going for errands, ice cream etc is no big deal. Half the reason we own cruisers is to share them with loved ones!

X2

I have two in the back with a foward facing conferr bench seat and 6 month old in the front seat...I say once a week I take them someplace...today was icecream and playground. Take note...no mention of the wife...she was at home scrapbooking

weez440 · 05-12-09, 08:22 PM

i was contemplating this very thing. i see no wrong with a lil toot every now and then.

4thwheel · 05-12-09, 09:35 PM

SO if I wanted to take the

.... and put the kid in the back... Are ethere any mods to strap the kid seat in the rear? Show me some pics.

On the other hand 40s give a quieter ride with

in the back....

Greenweenie40 · 05-12-09, 09:58 PM

I had both my daughters in the side facing back seats last summer, I welded some tabs to the roll bar and hooked the new style car seat clips to them, it worked good. This year I installed a fold and tumble J**P seat and they will ride in there.

Chuck

zrheard · 05-12-09, 10:00 PM

i dont have kids... (yet) but i dream of the day i get to take my kids riding... that said i was planning on doing what was mentioned above, bolt the kids seat in the back... fold the seats down put the childs seat in the middle of them mark my holes make the appropriate mounting tabs and bolt her in like any other 5pt harness seat... after all tahts what a kids seat looks like ... (2 me @least)

and like it was said above, they arent death traps... lots of people here can probably tell you they rode in cars as little ones before they even invented child seats.... hell im only 21 and i can tell you grandma let me ride in that spot above the back seat by the window....

FF LC FREAK · 05-12-09, 10:22 PM

This has been covered before, but in Washington state, it is against the law to put kids in a car seat in a side facing jumpseat. Beyond that, it is simply just not a good idea. The problem is, there is zero head support for a front or rear impact (the 2 most likely impacts). If you're just running around on logging roads, that is one thing. In any sort of traffic, I would advise against it if they aren't in a forward facing seat.

It really isn't all that tough to mount an old Jeep seat (or any other brand) in the back of a 40. That's what I did. I welded on a couple tabs on the roll bar and put in 3 pt seat belts. My kids ride in my 40 all the time.

Just think about how you would feel if something bad happened to your kids because you cut corners on something as basic as seat belts. Do it right the first time.

Good luck!

cruisin69 · 05-12-09, 10:33 PM

Last year i took my 2yr daughter with me lots of times in the front with car seat she loves it. I told the wife she will have to sit in the back cause the front is safer for the kid, she told me i had to sit in the back. A happy wife is a happy life

Ziffdaddy · 05-12-09, 11:21 PM

I have a 7 month old and he's taken a bunch of rides with me in the front seat and loves it! He first rode in it when he was maybe a few months old...hates riding in normal cars, but loves the 40! :-)

JohnnyC · 05-13-09, 06:07 AM

This thread needs pics

samwise · 05-13-09, 08:56 AM

Its about time somebody added pics!

JohnnyC can you post a few more pics of how you mounted those car seats in the back? I am wondering about doing that.
I have a 3 month old who rides in the front all the time but, I would like to take my

on our little outings.

I bought a Suzuki sidekick rear bench seat, but I have a 100lb black lab and if I install that bench seat he has almost no room, so looking for something else like a single bucket seat.
4thwheel if you search there is tons of posts on this:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series...ench-seat.html

http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series...-new-idea.html

http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series...-sidekick.html

JohnnyC · 05-13-09, 09:06 AM

the seats are mounted to a conferr bench seat...using oem retractable lap belts to secure them

looks like this con-ferr bench seat...just without the under storage box

samwise · 05-13-09, 09:09 AM

Cool, couldnt see your bench seat in the pics and thought you had fabbed some sort of bracket. Thanks!

like your avatar also

jon

4thwheel · 05-13-09, 10:28 AM

I will look at the links provided for a rear seat mod....thanks to all who awnsered.

In the mean time show some detailed pics of your rear child seat mod....

I like the idea of building insted of buying....then I can justify a new mig welder for the 40 project.

1981 fj40
2F balanced and blueprinted
Man A Fre RV Cam
Rebuilt everything mechanical except difs
Body work next
Need a bikini top and 1/2 doors

ARC1 · 06-09-09, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenweenie40

I had both my daughters in the side facing back seats last summer, I welded some tabs to the roll bar and hooked the new style car seat clips to them, it worked good. This year I installed a fold and tumble J**P seat and they will ride in there.

Chuck

Hello All.. my first post here..

I don't have an FJ yet, but I've been looking at them for years.
Now, I'm in the process of negotiating/convincing my wife on the safety and practicality of an FJ40. I also was wondering about the rear seats. A guy who has one for sale said he can weld in the LATCH rings so that a child/baby seat, or toddler booster seat can LATCH in, but obviously not forward facing. I didn't see any "official" answer to the original post.. is this legal? I'm in Orange County, CA. I've seen welded or bolted in frames that allow for forward-facing child seats. I'd prefer something that I can pop the seats in and out, and most of the time, keep my FJ as a truck. But, allow short commutes to drop kids off at places, and the occasional camping or mild off-road with the family.

Ideally, I'd like to strap in 3 kids in the back (with a sound-proof plexiglass barrier?). I have a son (6), and two daughters (4 & 2), so I was thinking 2 toddler booster seats on one side, and the baby seat on the other.. or some combo. What are "fold and tumble J**P" seats? Pics would be great!

Ok.. thanks! I can tell I'm going to be spending a lot of time here. Will post my rig when I get it...

-Jay

ARC1 · 06-09-09, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FF LC FREAK

snip 8< .. it is against the law to put kids in a car seat in a side facing jumpseat. Beyond that, it is simply just not a good idea. The problem is, there is zero head support for a front or rear impact (the 2 most likely impacts). >8 snip

wow, good point..
JohnnyC, I like your photos, and emailed them to my wife.. hoping to convince her that the kids can be safely transported in an FJ40..

Is there an easy, lightweight frame that can be welded that can have 2 seats bolted or strapped to it? And then pull the whole assembly in and out of the back of the truck easily? I don't own an FJ40 (yet), so I have no idea how easy or hard it is to put in and remove those rear fold-up jump seats?

Again, thanks..
-Jay

JohnnyC · 06-09-09, 10:36 AM

there are alot of states that say side faceing is illegal to have a baby seat...but gray area for toddler in many states.

its not too hard to put in some samie seats or an old conferr..and there are many guys around you that can do it (check the tlca for local buisnesses in ca) or meet up with your local club and they can give you a hand.

BTW welcome to MUD

piecemeal · 06-09-09, 07:37 PM

thanks for starting this thread. my 4 year old keeps asking when he can go for a ride and I've been leary to let him. Does anybody have picks of a latch system welded to the tub??

eleblanc · 06-09-09, 07:51 PM

I do this all the time, here is my seat setup. I have 3 daughters, 4,8,9 and i often go for a spin with the wife and my 3 daughters.

From a Mazda MPV third seat, very wide, since it sits on the wheel fenders. Color sucks tho

Thread here;
http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series...t-install.html

eleblanc · 06-09-09, 08:04 PM

Here more pictures i just took.

eleblanc · 06-09-09, 08:05 PM

Last one

merbesfield · 06-09-09, 08:17 PM

Just make sure the tool box is not in there when the kids are. If you have a wreck with that thing the tools will become dangerous projectiles.

copasspupil · 06-09-09, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FF LC FREAK

This has been covered before, but in Washington state, it is against the law to put kids in a car seat in a side facing jumpseat. Beyond that, it is simply just not a good idea. The problem is, there is zero head support for a front or rear impact (the 2 most likely impacts). If you're just running around on logging roads, that is one thing. In any sort of traffic, I would advise against it if they aren't in a forward facing seat.

It really isn't all that tough to mount an old Jeep seat (or any other brand) in the back of a 40. That's what I did. I welded on a couple tabs on the roll bar and put in 3 pt seat belts. My kids ride in my 40 all the time.

Just think about how you would feel if something bad happened to your kids because you cut corners on something as basic as seat belts. Do it right the first time.

Good luck!

I'm not doubting your response but I specifically asked a officer friend of mine last week about this is his response was that there is no WA state law about it. Also, if the rig did not have it when it was made, there is no legal grounds to deny/write you a ticket on the grounds of click it or ticket it. If they were clearly installed from the factory well that is a different story.

eleblanc · 06-09-09, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merbesfield

Just make sure the tool box is not in there when the kids are. If you have a wreck with that thing the tools will become dangerous projectiles.

The tool box is jammed between the door and the seat frame. Since the seat is not verticale and inclined backward, there is no way the tool can box moves. Worse thing would be that it opens a little. But i agree, without it, there is less risk of injury.

FF LC FREAK · 06-09-09, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copasspupil

I'm not doubting your response but I specifically asked a officer friend of mine last week about this is his response was that there is no WA state law about it. Also, if the rig did not have it when it was made, there is no legal grounds to deny/write you a ticket on the grounds of click it or ticket it. If they were clearly installed from the factory well that is a different story.

RCW 46.61.687 (revised code of WA) states: "The child restraint system must comply with standards of the United States department of transportation and must be secured in the vehicle in accordance with instructions of the vehicle manufacturer and the child restraint system manufacturer. "

You will not find a car seat manufacturer that says it is okay to put a car seat in a side facing jumpseat. In fact, the two seats that I have specifically say in the manual that you CANNOT put a car seat in a side facing jumpseat. This therefore makes it illegal according to the above RCW.

Just clarifying my above post.

Mark W · 06-10-09, 04:06 AM

Whether it is legal or not, the sideways facing rear seats are not really safe for anyone to ride on at anything but lower trail speeds.

Years ago I used to let my kids and their friends ride in them... but it was not smart.

We recently built a rig as a homecoming surprise for one of our guys who was in Iraq. Complete frame off and full body rehab/replacement and some mech work too. We installed a single bucket seat out of a Toyota truck in the rear for his 5 year old daughter.

Floor mounted with lap/shoulder belt tied into floor and (family style) rollbar. She has her own armrest/storage console on the fender well w/cupholder too. It is behind the drivers seat so that the passenger can turn and reach her if she needs attention while the rig is in motion. It allows access in and out via the rear ambulance door as well as leaving a lot of stowage space on the passenger side or room for the dog to sit there too.

Lots of room for an adult to ride there as well. IMHO this is the best approach I have seen. A comfortable, practical and very very usable three seater rig.

Mark...

ARC1 · 06-10-09, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark W

snip 8< We recently built a rig as a homecoming surprise for one of our guys who was in Iraq. Complete frame off and full body rehab/replacement and some mech work too. >8 snip

Lots of room for an adult to ride there as well. IMHO this is the best approach I have seen. A comfortable, practical and very very usable three seater rig.

Mark...

that's a nice homecoming surprise! I want to be your friend!

This sounds like a good set-up. But, I have 3 kids.. I was thinking this looks like a good solution from IronPig..
http://www.ironpigoffroad.com/interi...imgs/fnt-1.JPG

Folds up, and still pretty useable. Anyone think I could squeeze in 2-3 toddler boosters onto that bench? Also, was thinking how would rear-facing bench work?

I agree (and checked my Britax, Evenflo, Cosco pamphlets) that the seats all say they need to be EITHER rear-facing or front-facing. Also, makes sense from a safety standpoint as mentioned before. -Jay

eleblanc · 06-10-09, 09:54 AM

Not sure you can seat 3 side by side with a bench that fits in between the fenders. That is the reason i went with a large bench on top of the fenders.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARC1

that's a nice homecoming surprise! I want to be your friend!

This sounds like a good set-up. But, I have 3 kids.. I was thinking this looks like a good solution from IronPig..
http://www.ironpigoffroad.com/interi...imgs/fnt-1.JPG

Folds up, and still pretty useable. Anyone think I could squeeze in 2-3 toddler boosters onto that bench? Also, was thinking how would rear-facing bench work?

I agree (and checked my Britax, Evenflo, Cosco pamphlets) that the seats all say they need to be EITHER rear-facing or front-facing. Also, makes sense from a safety standpoint as mentioned before. -Jay