I’m new to Toyota LC platform. I’m interested in either a 100 or 200. The requirement from the wife is that the car must have a third row. The 2nd row will have two child seats. If I put two child seats in the 2nd row, is the 3rd row accessible by another adult or would I be locked out of the 3rd row by the child’s seats?
Child Seat & 3rd Row question
- Thread starter soccerTOOLsu
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Here's one discussion on the topic I found useful from a 200's perspective: child seat in 3rd row
Another IH8MUD search result for other tidbits related to car seats which may also help in your research: Google
Variables such as size of car seat (or booster) will come into play here, which may theoretically let you put two child seats on the 60 portion of the 60/40 split 2nd row and allow and adult to enter from the front and access the 3rd row. But, it seems the 3rd row is not always best option for adults due to leg room, etc. and would depend on their agility to crawl back there. Alternatively, some kiddos seem to like crawling into their car seats via the rear hatch if you're wanting to place the car seats/booster in the 3rd row instead.
Hope this helps a little bit!
When traveling with a third adult (or more) I move the child booster seats to the third row since mine are old enough to buckle themselves in. They climb over the 2nd row armrest.
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- #4
My mother would be who sits there usually. She is 4'11". Does adult size matter?
Also I would only want to put the child seats in the 2nd row. It sounds like my desire for LC will be impractical for my needs.
Also I would only want to put the child seats in the 2nd row. It sounds like my desire for LC will be impractical for my needs.
Personally, I have dealt with child seats in our 100 series and it is doable, but very crowded. Since you are stating that your mother would be the adult having to access the 3rd row, I would really consider looking at a Sequoia. I t has quite a bit more room in the rear and is easier to fit the car seats in. Just my option.
I think due to the gas tank and spare tire, the floor-to-ceiling distance is compromised in the 3rd row relative to 2nd row. I'm 6'5" and would not sit in the 3rd row for any extended period, but someone who's 4'11" might be comfortable. Hope you don't give up on the LC platform just yet, we all love ours and you might find an arrangement that works for everyone.
TexAZ
NEW???? It's BETTER than new!!!
When we need to load up 4 adults and 2 child seats, we put the rear facing child seat in the middle of the second row, and the larger forward facing child seat in the left hand side third row. I put my son in the 3rd row from the rear hatch, then the wife helps buckle him up from the 2nd row. we did a 6 hr road trip comfortably that way. I also removed the right side 3rd row seat for more storage, and in case an adult had to make it past the folded 40% portion of the 2nd row to the 3rd row. depending on the age of the kiddos, they generally love climbing in through the back gate to the 3rd row. gives my son a sense of adventure (he's 3 and thinks he's a pirate). the only down side is lack of side air bags for the 3rd row.
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- #8
Took the Sequoia, Highlander, and Land Cruiser for a test drive.
Highlander works people-wise with the captain's chairs. The Sequoia just feels way too big. I felt that I was driving in my lane and in both the lane to the left and right of me. The LC felt like it was just the PERFECT size. It is the car that I want. I want it to work.
Highlander works people-wise with the captain's chairs. The Sequoia just feels way too big. I felt that I was driving in my lane and in both the lane to the left and right of me. The LC felt like it was just the PERFECT size. It is the car that I want. I want it to work.
I have 4 kids... you can make it work just fine. Plus it is a blast otherwise!
Oh, and dependent upon your budget, I would recommend the 200 over the 100 for interior room and comfort.
Canyonero
Beating up Land Cruisers since 2015
Interesting choice of vehicles to choose between. I highly suggest at least driving a Sienna too. If you don't need towing or off road capability, it is hands-down the best choice.
My Sienna SE drives like a sport sedan (not even joking-it drives amazing) has real room inside for 8 adults, gets great mileage and in my opinion, also looks awesome.
The Sienna has great a infotainment system, bluray player, more interior room than the other vehicles you're lookin at, and is much nicer to drive. 2nd and 3rd row passengers are not just comfortable, they're spoiled. Good luck!
We do something very similar to this, rear facing seat in the middle of the second row and the other child seat on the passengers side of the 3rd row when carrying 4 adults. This allows you to still fold up the 40% second row so the kid can climb in the door and be strapped in the third row. The dog has plenty of room next to the car seat with the drivers side of the third row folded up! I also like that the second row seats slide forward so if you do need to put passengers in the third row you can give them a little more room.
bjowett
Supporting Vendor
There was recently a brief discussion about the Sienna over at Expedition Portal. There is guy in Canada that lifts them several inches. The SEMA version did not do it for me.
Canyonero
Beating up Land Cruisers since 2015
I've never understood why there are no minivans built to tow. Even a legit 5,000 pound tow rating would be outstanding. Seems like a huge missed opportunity for families with boats and campers.
When you have car seats in the 2nd row, the only way to access the 3rd row is to have the passengers climb in through the rear hatch. The 2nd row doesnt slide or offer passthrough to the 3rd row in a way that an adult can get back there without surfing over the 2nd row seats.
I have 3 kids. Two are now in boosters, and one is big enough to sit in a regular seat. At one point we had two in car seats and one in a booster in our Acura MDX and that was tight (and according to manufacturer specs, the MDX was an inch or two wider inside).
With booster seats it's easy to get to the 3rd row, since you can just slide it out of the way to move the 2nd row seat and let someone climb in back. With car seats and LATCH, the only real way to get to the 3rd row if you have car seats in the outboard 2nd row is through the trunk. My kids will climb in that way when they have friends in the car but it would suck to do that long term (or as an adult).
The 2nd row is 60/40 split so you might be able to get 2 car seats in the center and driver side positions, though I don't know that you could still tilt the 2nd row passenger side forward to let someone climb back. Honestly I suggest you take the seats and try to install them at a dealer in a demo model and reposition things over and over until you find a vehicle and seat position that works for you.
And I agree with you on the Sequoia. It was my first choice (due to cost) vs the LC but once I sat in it the vehicle felt so cavernous we just couldn't do it
- Thread starter
- #17
Thank you all for the input. Sounds like it comes down to a matter of stubbornness. Wife and I are both very stubborn and neither of us wants a minivan. I was starting to get tempted but w/o the ability to tow a trailer, the minivan won't work for us in the future. If I'm really stubborn it sounds like the LC200 is do-able with some in/out action through the rear. My oldest is 2 years old and the 2nd one is on the way with a due date of this summer. I won't be able to use a booster for 2 years. The Audi Q5 we have is just about 2-4 inches in the small side (front to back) for the driver/passenger when it comes to rear facing seats.
We have both a Sienna (super practical and room for 5 adults, 2 kids, and 4 suitcases), and a 100 series. We just did a 5 hour trip each way in the 100 w/ 5 adults (on the shorter side) plus a 3 yr old in a car seat and a 1 yr old in a rear facing one. It was cramped but do-able.
If you are gonna off-road, then the LC is your choice. If you just need space and 4wd, I'd go for the AWD Sienna, even if it is a soccer mom car. To be honest, I don't see the difference between a minivan and most SUVs on the road today.
If you are gonna off-road, then the LC is your choice. If you just need space and 4wd, I'd go for the AWD Sienna, even if it is a soccer mom car. To be honest, I don't see the difference between a minivan and most SUVs on the road today.
- Thread starter
- #20
haha.
I'm also secretly trying to get a tow vehicle too so that in the future I can justify having a track-only vehicle. Only tow minivan I've ever seen is the Merc diesel one.
The other cars that could work are Suburban or Sequoia and both feel way too large. After driving both it felt like I had put wheels on a house and tried to drive down the street in it.
I'm also secretly trying to get a tow vehicle too so that in the future I can justify having a track-only vehicle. Only tow minivan I've ever seen is the Merc diesel one.
The other cars that could work are Suburban or Sequoia and both feel way too large. After driving both it felt like I had put wheels on a house and tried to drive down the street in it.
