End of an Era.... (1 Viewer)

[LCconvert]

Not trying to change your mind at all (not my place, nor do I want to) but why do you want to go with a smaller truck when your family is getting bigger? I couldn't believe how much extra stuff we needed when we had our baby.

Is there something unique on the FJ that you cannot get with an 80 or 100? I know nothing about the new FJ cruiser! Or maybe I should venture on over to the FJ cruiser section myself and check it out...

 

[Nay]

Not trying to change your mind at all (not my place, nor do I want to) but why do you want to go with a smaller truck when your family is getting bigger? I couldn't believe how much extra stuff we needed when we had our baby.

Is there something unique on the FJ that you cannot get with an 80 or 100? I know nothing about the new FJ cruiser! Or maybe I should venture on over to the FJ cruiser section myself and check it out...

80's aren't roomy in the 2nd row. Trying to get a modern LATCH design convertible seat properly installed in the rear facing position is a nightmare. I think the FJ will be much better in this regard as LATCH is a dream for car seat installation.

Having said that, I've been out on the trail with the FJ Cruiser team, and they are interesting rigs, but you've got a pretty serious clearance problem out of the box. So does the 80...but the more electronic stuff you have managing your capability the less comfortable I'd feel about significant mods. YMMV.

My wife loved the drive...

 

[Hltoppr]

Nice Pic!

I have found that I just haven't been using the 80 for what I built it for, travelling, when the majority of my recent runs have been on the GS Motorcycle. I think the smaller FJ will fit in my garage better, and allow for more motorcycle room, as well as adding some safety features I just didn't want in the 80. Since it's a Toyota, I'm not too worried anymore about electronics issues....

I like the 80s field serviceability; although I've never needed to fix anything in the field, and the lack of any really complicated electronics fit the bill exactly at the time.

Plus, I have a tendency to build a rig for a few years, sell it, and build another...it's a brutal cycle, but one I enjoy!

-H-

 

[mot]

My wife loved the drive...

Your wife?
Check out the huge grins on BOTH of your faces, assuming you are the guy on the passenger side. If it's not you, then tell her to stop having so much fun w/o you.

 

[Tapage]

Plus, I have a tendency to build a rig for a few years, sell it, and build another...it's a brutal cycle, but one I enjoy!

Brutal cycle .. ? naaaaa is lethal for my wallet .. !

 

[Nay]

Your wife?
Check out the huge grins on BOTH of your faces, assuming you are the guy on the passenger side. If it's not you, then tell her to stop having so much fun w/o you.

Nope, that's Chris the FJ team lead apparently enjoying my wife driving as well

And here I am tending to four little kids in the back of the 80 after 6 hours of wheeling taking pictures

Best reasons to keep your 80...you can go from one to four in the blink of an....ummm....eye?

 

[BMT]

WHAT????? You don't call or write... daughter... sell the cruiser? I see how it is. Congrat's man. I need to get up to Flag.

 

[Hltoppr]

Hey!! Great to see you here B! Givin' you a ring has been on the "to do" list...you know how those things work!

Haven't sold the rig yet....no lucky buyer has stepped up!

Ya' need to come up and take her for a spin, since you helped me find her!

-H-

 

[Previa Diesel]

It will just be THE BIGGEST PAIN IN YOUR ASS TILL YOUR KID(S) IS ONE YEAR OLD! (then they can switch to forward facing child seat)

Not recommended. Do some research and you'll find out that child car seats are one of the biggest clusterfocks going. Something like 80% of them are improperly used/fitted/adjusted.

Rear facing is recommended well past 1 year. It's been too many for me to remember all the details, but I dug deep on this when we had our first. The longer they face backwards the better, up to 2 or 3.

That is unless you think you're more likely to be rear-ended.

Airbags have killed a few kids haven't they? A good quality, properly secured car seat with a 5 point harness is the best thing going. Of course they're not supposed to be on the front seat anyway, but what about the side airbags....? (Don't know much about them, because nothing I own has them!)

 

[firetruck41]

Not recommended. Do some research and you'll find out that child car seats are one of the biggest clusterfocks going. Something like 80% of them are improperly used/fitted/adjusted.

Rear facing is recommended well past 1 year. It's been too many for me to remember all the details, but I dug deep on this when we had our first. The longer they face backwards the better, up to 2 or 3.

That is unless you think you're more likely to be rear-ended.

Airbags have killed a few kids haven't they? A good quality, properly secured car seat with a 5 point harness is the best thing going. Of course they're not supposed to be on the front seat anyway, but what about the side airbags....? (Don't know much about them, because nothing I own has them!)

Not sure what's "not recommended", but I think a child safety seat should always be installed properly.

I'm sure a rear-facing seat is probably better in many situations. A kid's head is relatively large compared to an adult and there will be a lot of leverage on the head/neck in an accident, especially in a forward-facing seat, however I do not have a good way to secure the forward most part of the seat in a rear-facing configuration, so there is an "arc" of movement that will occur in an accident that I am not comfortable with. When I can switch to front-facing, the seat will be secure in all planes of movement with a 5 point harness, so that is the way I will go. In WA state the law says a child must be rear facing until 1 y/o, they may be front facing after that. Next year the law changes to say that you must follow the recommendations of the child seat manufacturer.

 

[Nay]

Not sure what's "not recommended", but I think a child safety seat should always be installed properly.

I'm sure a rear-facing seat is probably better in many situations. A kid's head is relatively large compared to an adult and there will be a lot of leverage on the head/neck in an accident, especially in a forward-facing seat, however I do not have a good way to secure the forward most part of the seat in a rear-facing configuration, so there is an "arc" of movement that will occur in an accident that I am not comfortable with. When I can switch to front-facing, the seat will be secure in all planes of movement with a 5 point harness, so that is the way I will go. In WA state the law says a child must be rear facing until 1 y/o, they may be front facing after that. Next year the law changes to say that you must follow the recommendations of the child seat manufacturer.

Current thinking is that rear facing is safer to 30 lbs if you can properly install. But I agree, it is almost impossible to get a secure fit in the rear facing position using a modern LATCH seat because tightening to the necessary level tends to pull the back of the seat upwards and if you keep it down there is too much side to side motion. LATCH seats are wide with smaller bases and they do not necessary retrofit well to lap belt installation in a rear facing position on an older vehicle.

In the 80, front facing can be done easily so it is rock solid. The Britax seats are incredible for front facing, but I could not get rear facing to stabilize no matter what I did.

Back to the original point, the FJ is going to be much better because of the LATCH design. And from that standpoint, I think it will be a far safer vehicle for an infant. The Britax seats are also great, because they will bolt in rock solid without the base being pressed up against the seat, so you can keep a good angle even in the 1 year old forward facing position. IMO, having a one year old cradled in a reclined position is as important as rear/front, and ensuring the seat cannot move is critical.

Probably the most telling thing in this entire thread is the author's belief that as a parent of a little girl he needs more garage space for his motorcycle and not her tricycle. Oh, the changes they are a comin'

Nay

 

[Hltoppr]

There's a "safety day" here in Flagstaff at the end of the month, where a special guest will be teaching how to install car seats....wait for the coolness...wait...























Friggin' Eric Estrada! Ponch is gonna teach me to install my car seat!!



...actually, I'm totally gettin' him to sign the expedition panniers on my moto!

That signature should get me through any federal roadblocks in Mexico!

(or get me gang raped....quien sabe...)

-H-

 

[Hltoppr]

Probably the most telling thing in this entire thread is the author's belief that as a parent of a little girl he needs more garage space for his motorcycle and not her tricycle. Oh, the changes they are a comin'

Nay

Hey! I am keeping a sidecar in mind!

Trust me, this little girl will not want for bicycle related items.....now I wonder if Seven makes a tricycle!

-H-

 

[Dusty]

show me a rear facing car seat for children over 30lbs please-I dont think it exists.

I to am going 5 point when my kids get too big for a car seat-they will be 10 years old by then