access to back seta in a 74?

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access to the back seat for kids? I am torn between the 74 series and a 60 series. We have one baby right now with no plans for a second child. Will I hate having to heave a small child into the back seat with only 2 doors? We typically take my wifes car now for most around town stuff and the little one only rides in my vehicle if we are going camping or something.
 
We had both and sold the 74 b/c of the kid access. Now all our vehicles are 4 dr. Pretty tiresome clicking kids in child seats in a 74 - you either have to have a basketball player reach or stand crouched in the door jam/running board. As well, you are standing on the traffic side if parallel parked. You will want a 4 dr.....If the kid wont spend much time in it I guess then its a judgement call.

Good luck,

Johnny
 
The back seat of a truck style 73 or 74 series is not easy access like a 60 series SUV type, but one can turn the seat around to face aft and use the rear door for kids
 
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go with a 60 or 80 but NOT a 74 for children - the small rear seats are hard to access.

or

get a corrola and a 74.
 
as owner of a 74...

I use it 2-3 times a week for hauling kids ages 11, 9, and 4 to and from school and more often on weekend trips.

I added seat belts via a CDN spec seat base and moved the seat 2" back for legroom.

9 out of 10 times I unload from right side on curb.

I have even take clients on ranch tours in the 74 as it is far more agile than the isuzu trooper I had. I drove 4 of us 200 miles (one way) into Mexico (7 hours) to tour a ranch within the last 6 weeks. All were 160#+'s and 5'9" or greater.

I'd like the ease of a 4 door, but what I have does very well.
 
I own a 73 series that will shortly be sold because it is hard getting my 3 kids in the back. very good vehicle off road but have bit the bullet and got a diesel 80 series.

anyway, all 73/74 series in aus have rear seat belts, lap and sash for sides and lap belt only for middle. the rear seat (in mine anyaway) is awesome flat bench seat with more room and easier to fit car seats to than any other car ive come across including the 80. this is because of the flat bench style. prob not so good later on or for adults for comfort.

to get kids in meant elder of the 3 climbing between front seats herself and then we buckle her in, and 2 younger ones slide passenger seat back and half climbing in with them, or putting kids in thru side windows. not easy when car is 2" spring, 2" bl and 35" claws. but you do what you have to do


my advice is get an 80 series, the coils are heaps better for the ride esp when carting kids around alot. and better off road. i wouldn't buy a 60 series even if it was free, but that's just me
 
I put a 3.5 year old and 1.5 year old in the BJ74 and HZj73, I dont mind it at all. It's only remotely more a pain in the ass than my wifes xterra. I am 6'1" though. My 3.5 year old just climbs in and then I strap him in.

I am going to be buying some seat relocator kits out of japan soon so i can offer them to my customers. Relocating the seat back about 3 inches would make a big difference.

All in all the best vehicle I have ever put kids into is the suzuki carry van - dual sliding doors - the seat is right beside the door - no bending it is fun actually.

Have fun!
 
One thing my HDJ81 does nice is the back seat belts.
The buckle is on the outsude (closest to the door) of the truck, and not the middle (like most vehicles).

What a great idea.
Your seatbeat will not get shut in the door, and
very easy access to buckle little ones in.
Great idea Toyota. I really like that you thought about something as simple as buckle side, and went against the norm because it is better.

As for back seat acces in the 74.
I just got it, but it does not seem that bad.
I guess I will find out in a few years when I have kids.

Cheers,
Nick
 
I put a 3.5 year old and 1.5 year old in the BJ74 and HZj73, I dont mind it at all. It's only remotely more a pain in the ass than my wifes xterra. I am 6'1" though. My 3.5 year old just climbs in and then I strap him in.

I am going to be buying some seat relocator kits out of japan soon so i can offer them to my customers. Relocating the seat back about 3 inches would make a big difference.

All in all the best vehicle I have ever put kids into is the suzuki carry van - dual sliding doors - the seat is right beside the door - no bending it is fun actually.

Have fun!

yep that subaru van i had here was a blast to drive. peppy and TONS of room inside...
i am curious as to how those seat relocators work. no matter what you do, sticking kids into a 2 door unit is a PITA... but at least adults will have more leg room...
 
If you really like the 7x series but want the 4 door for the kids, think about going with a 77 series in a HZJ or PZJ. Just some other options for you.

Cheers,

Michael
 
I own a 73 series that will shortly be sold because it is hard getting my 3 kids in the back. very good vehicle off road but have bit the bullet and got a diesel 80 series.

anyway, all 73/74 series in aus have rear seat belts, lap and sash for sides and lap belt only for middle. the rear seat (in mine anyaway) is awesome flat bench seat with more room and easier to fit car seats to than any other car ive come across including the 80. this is because of the flat bench style. prob not so good later on or for adults for comfort.

to get kids in meant elder of the 3 climbing between front seats herself and then we buckle her in, and 2 younger ones slide passenger seat back and half climbing in with them, or putting kids in thru side windows. not easy when car is 2" spring, 2" bl and 35" claws. but you do what you have to do


my advice is get an 80 series, the coils are heaps better for the ride esp when carting kids around alot. and better off road. i wouldn't buy a 60 series even if it was free, but that's just me

Good to see your back.23 months between posts is a long time;)
Please tell me the 80 is a diesel and not one of those FZJ80 everyone is unloading because of the fuel prices.:D
 
wow, Rosco has it really been that long!? how's that middy of yours going?

i actually lurk on here regularily, better tech most of the time. learnt how to easily flush power steering fluid, ideas on bars including fron and sliders etc etc

the diesel 80 is awesome, heaps of power (1HZ with safari turbo, 33 silverstones) and pretty good economy. better than the wife's commodore that's for sure. think it is around 14l/100km. have plans to make it nice and capable, already have added dual lockers and big assed compressor. prob should do some sort of write up of it i guess

mate in my club got a dual fuel 80, but couldn't face driving a petrol again unless it was a v8


Cheers
Bluey
 
wow, Rosco has it really been that long!? how's that middy of yours going?

i actually lurk on here regularily, better tech most of the time. learnt how to easily flush power steering fluid, ideas on bars including fron and sliders etc etc

the diesel 80 is awesome, heaps of power (1HZ with safari turbo, 33 silverstones) and pretty good economy. better than the wife's commodore that's for sure. think it is around 14l/100km. have plans to make it nice and capable, already have added dual lockers and big assed compressor. prob should do some sort of write up of it i guess

mate in my club got a dual fuel 80, but couldn't face driving a petrol again unless it was a v8


Cheers
Bluey
Sent you a PM
 
Chet...

FYI

There are no seatbelts in the back of a 74 unless added from PO...

Todd

My JDM 73 has rear lapbelts--and had them from the factory. If you mean no shoulder belts, then you'd be correct.
 
Dieseldog,

My 74 does not have any type of belts in the back....

I am looking into finding some lap belts from the wrecker....

Anyone know why the 74 has no belts and the 73 has lap belts?

Todd
 
My JDM 73 has rear lapbelts--and had them from the factory. If you mean no shoulder belts, then you'd be correct.

It changed sometime in the 80s,Ive seen quite a few JDM with no rear belts.
I have a no seat belt seat as furniture in my garage;)

Dieseldog,

My 74 does not have any type of belts in the back....

I am looking into finding some lap belts from the wrecker....

Anyone know why the 74 has no belts and the 73 has lap belts?

Todd

Its not because its a 73 or 74 its because of the year and the intended market
 
oh, the other big thing for me is the smaller boot space. not a problem until put wife, 3 kids and all the stuff needed for a day 4wd'ing into basically a swb
 
none of the JDM73/74's brought into canada that I have seen had the rear seat belt option (friends, and business photos).

I found a CDN rear seat base and used a local seat cover shop to swap the JDM material to the "new" base. Using 3" x 3" x 1/4" angle, I built a front tilt/relocation bracket. I made 5/16" CrMo rod floor latches (essentially a large door striker) for the rear hold down.

The CDN spec seat base has 4 mount provisions, one for center seat belt and 1/2 of each side. The outboard mount was made from 2" x 3" x 3/16" flat bar with a nut welded to it and mounted from underside of wheel well.

The factory rear seat shoulder belts require the roll bar which is 20+ piece assembly which would be very hard to locate from a wrecker intact.
 

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