3rd row usage (1 Viewer)

[barkbuster]

We just found out that we're unexpectedly expecting baby #4! :whoops: Just wondering how many of you actually use the 3rd row for seating on a regular basis. When #4 is here, our youngest will still be in a carseat but will be forward facing.

My wife is suggesting his carseat go on the 3rd row, the new baby's carseat on the side in the 2nd row, and the two bigger kids in the middle and other side in the 2nd row.... OR.... the two carseats on each of the sides in the 2nd row, the #2 kid in the middle, and the oldest goes through the back to one seat down on the 3rd row (as long as there is no luggage, groceries, etc back there).

 

[IdahoDoug]

I'd keep the youngest two in the 2nd row where you can get them in and out of carseats easily and attend to their needs underway. It means one of the carseats will be getting moved each ingress/egress though for 3rd row access. OR, if the older two can handle getting into the 3rd row by climbing over the 3rd row seatbacks then you're golden.

DougM

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

Congrads, I have 4 of my own and put my older two in the back. The youngest two go in the middle because they both need help buckling up. The 2nd youngest is in a booster so it is easy to move it when folding down the 2nd row seat. I did install the middle seatbelt on the third row to give myself some options down the road. This is where a 60/40 split middle row seat would give us even more options - like putting the newborn seat in the middle. The problem with the 80 or any other vehicle is when the kids are too young to fasten their own seat belts but it sounds like all your kids are old enough to handle that on their own. I'd put your child with the booster back in the third row passenger side. You only need one side of the 3rd row and I would leave the other side out for storage space. Your older kids could help fold the 2nd row seat up/down to let that child back there. Put the newborn behind the drivers seat so you don't have to walk around the vehicle after locking them in and the other side of the second row can fold up and down without having to move the newborn seat if it was in the middle. Obviously the other two kids would fill out the 2nd row.

 

[nocrawl]

Time for a mini van

 

[mazder]

If you can afford it Buy a mini van but keep the Cruiser, thats what we did. Got an 06 Scion XB, 2010 Honda Odessey with Navi, and of course my 95 fully stock & Factory locked FZJ-80.

 

[tirewater]

I'll second (or third?) putting the eldest in the back. When my in-laws are in town my eldest goes in his booster seat in the 3rd row & my youngest is in her car seat in the middle.

The good news is my son likes it back there. The bad news is reaching back to do/undo his seat belt. The worst news, as you know, you lose so much cargo capacity with the 3rd row down.

Perhaps your children can sit on just one of the 3rd row seats. But personally, I'm a stickler for seat belts for the kids.

 

[KliersLC]

I have 5.

#4 should go in the middle of the second row. If you and your wife are taller than 5"5", that is the only place a carseat with base will fit.

#3 should go in the second row on the passenger side.

#2 should go in the rear (assuming capability to buckle self) Only one rear seat is required in your case. Leave the other up or out.

#1 should go in the second row on the driver's side. That way they can help feed the baby while underway, retrieve binky's etc.

For a long trip, I would go 2 in the second row and two in the back so everybody stays comfortable.

Whatever your seating arrangement, maximize the use of shoulder belts....

 

[gotmud]

I have four kids, two of them are still in car seats. I usually put one car seat in each row, which allows one of the middle row seats to be folded forward to allow the third row kids to get out without having to climb over.

 

[TomH]

When our 4th came along, we bought a minivan but kept the Land Cruiser. The minivan is much easier for loading and unloading.

The current Land Cruiser configuration is 3 carseats in the middle row, a booster in the one third row seat for the oldest and the other 3rd seat removed so the ARB fridge fits. The kids have no problem climbing over whatever is in their way to get to their seats.

 

[Crawdad]

My 3 kids are all teenagers.. We recently went for a little dirt stirring drive with 6 total teens in the 97 lc (I got a 3rd belt from a parted out 92) so all 8 belts were in use. Only complaint was the 13yo who is 5'9" wacking her head on the hand hold back there over every bump....

I am glad I don't have to reach back there to do car seats... we had a Denali for all that before, we are die hard ANTI MINI VAN in this family, so a Yukon set up with the captain's chairs in the middle row took care of our needs to get kids in and out of seats and access them conveniently.

Good luck with #4 and all those diapers!!!!

 

[YOTAFAN]

I have 4 kids. A car seat and a booster seat in the 2nd row and two more booster seats in the third row. It works out great.

 

[Bluetribal]

Holly Crap do any of you keep it in your pants!

It's just me wasting all this gas in my Cruiser oh and once in a while I let the ride shot gun.

 

[DWSCVR]

I agree with the #4 in the middle of 2nd row just always thought it safer,did the minivan thing when my three were younger, didn't like it at all.... have have just one rear seat in since a family trip to northern Maine I like that config. alot, room for fido and able to separate the chitlins (no more MOM HE'S TOUCHIN ME).the way I see it is the cruiser is the best of both worlds room for the whole family AND go anyware ability...

 

[Nucaro]

Get a 100 series and leave the middle access seat up or take it out. Keep the 80 though...

 

[barkbuster]

Thanks for all the posts and responses! Sounds like we have several options and may have to try out a few before we figure out what will work for us. Thanks again!

 

[busmup808]

I have 7 kids. The oldest is 20 and he has a 240 with the SR20 in it. I use mines on a daily basis. Congratz!

 

[gotmud]

Holly Crap do any of you keep it in your pants...

We got cable. Problem solved.

 

[mikgrail3]

I have 4 as well. The youngest sits behind me in the 2nd row and the 2nd youngest sits behind her. He only went back there when he could climb back there himself. (I only had 3 kids when he couldn't) I would buckle him in using the rear sliding window as access to reach in. He's now in a booster and buckles himself. The other two duke it out for the 2nd row.

 

[Cattledog]

If you can afford it Buy a mini van but keep the Cruiser, thats what we did. Got an 06 Scion XB, 2010 Honda Odessey with Navi, and of course my 95 fully stock & Factory locked FZJ-80.

2x

Buy a used minivan if possible, very little point in buying new. No other car interior is trashed like a minivan's interior. Between the kids and runs to the lumber yard the minivan's interior ages very quick. Resale on minivans in general becomes horrible very quickly so normally you can pick up a newer model for low cash. We bought our van new and in looking back there was no point in going new.

BTW, we kept the cruiser and it is still the favorite car of the entire family unless the trip is over 150 miles. Anything over and the minivan is the choice.

To the original question, I use the third row just about everyday with my three kids. But the cruiser is tight when I go food shopping and have all the kids with me compared to the minivan.

 

[mot]

x 3 or 4 on the mini van thing if you can justify it!

I guess I'm the minority here though as personally I think some of them are starting to look decent/sporty.

Of course I had to modify it just a tad to make it fit my taste a little better. YMMV!

Good luck and congrats!!