I am looking at a 2004 LX 470 and had a question regarding the LATCH set-up in the middle row seats...I read there is only LATCH in the left and center positions in the middle row- is this true? no LATCH in the right position?
LATCH question
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No, sorry I mean the hooks used for installing a child's car seat (usually under a velcro flap). I am about 300 miles form the vehicle and need to make a decision...trying to decide between it and a 98 LC, both with 80k miles, but $10k price difference. Thanks in advance.
I can confirm that LATCH is present in both center and left side second row seats. Not on the right. At least in the U.S. I prefer a seat belt anyway, LATCH is more for convenience (easier for most people to use, therefore more likely to be used in the first place). And remember, after the child reaches a certain weight (can't recall what it is, have to look it up) you are not supposed to use LATCH anymore, but use the regular seat belts to secure the child seat.
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thanks for the info folks. dc, thats what my wife said- we have one thats right on the edge of that weight limit and a 4 mo old...which is why my poor 97 LC feels so naked without all the mods she needs!
Let me guess: the `04 becomes the family hauler and the `97 gets freed up as your own personal wheeling toy? Sounds like a plan to me!
Yup. My 03 has latch behind the middle and drivers side 2nd row. It's under the rear floor mat though, which is a bummer.
No latch on the passenger side b/c I guess they figured you couldn't flip the seat to get into the 3rd row is my best guesstimate.
I think it was 37-39" you can ditch the car seat and get your kid into the booster which is real nice.
But three in car seats...even I would have given into the minivan in that case!
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Derek is correct! the wife was not wanting to give up the 97, so I sped the process up by going out one Sat and ripping off the fender flares...she was pissed, but I got the keys...
Pskhaat
Tourer
There is however a REAR floor LATCH for all 3 2nd row seats, alas no seat LATCHes for the 2nd row starboard seat.
Pskhaat
Tourer
LATCH greatly reduces the roll and slide of the seats, especially for the first year's rear-facing needs. Understand the weight limitations of LATCH but I firmly believe it is designed for more than mere convenience.
Didn't say it was ONLY for convenience, but I think that is a major part of the mandate. Regular seat belts are much trickier to implement correctly, IMHO.
In my experience (and opinion) seat belts provide a slightly more secure connection. I have noticed very little difference in side-to-side roll. If anything, the LATCH seat slides more. But that could be because it is currently a rear-facing removable infant seat with no top tether anchor.
My $0.02,
The 98 you are looking at does not have LATCH though, so where is the real comparison? Also, the height, weight and age standards vary from state to state, and if you install a seat properly with LATCH, it will hold just fine. But since LATCH belts are locked in adjustment, once you hook it in properly (full adult body weight), you generally leave it in and don't move the seat until the kid out grows it. That being said, I also noticed more side to side roll with the LATCH system.
Something to consider - my boy is 5 and in preschool, so when I drop him off, he has to be in the passenger position for the teachers to get him in and out of the truck without holding up traffic. It is also the safe side of the truck for access when parked at a curb.
Regular seatbelts are more flexible for the use of the truck, but you have to be conscious of how you install the seat and be sure it is tight. If you use the seatbelt, be sure to use the add-on metal clip to keep the seatbelt off the kid's neck. There was a report on TV last week about a kid who's neck was broken in an accident and is now a paraplegic - very sad.
Something to consider - my boy is 5 and in preschool, so when I drop him off, he has to be in the passenger position for the teachers to get him in and out of the truck without holding up traffic. It is also the safe side of the truck for access when parked at a curb.
Regular seatbelts are more flexible for the use of the truck, but you have to be conscious of how you install the seat and be sure it is tight. If you use the seatbelt, be sure to use the add-on metal clip to keep the seatbelt off the kid's neck. There was a report on TV last week about a kid who's neck was broken in an accident and is now a paraplegic - very sad.
Pskhaat
Tourer
Yep 2001+ for LATCH. I dunno guys, are you doing the LATCH part right?
With 3 kids in car seats simultaneously I'm no car seat virgin, but no matter what I do LATCH is always a tighter and more secure fit even without that top tether. With the top tether in I'm sure the seat foam will biodegrade before the seat has any movement.I'm keeping my wee ones in 5-point Britaxen for as long as I reasonably can and they still fit. I just can't bring myself to like the the booster seats quite yet.
Sounds like you are talking about a booster seat for the bigger kids?
Yep 2001+ for LATCH. I dunno guys, are you doing the LATCH part right?
I'm keeping my wee ones in 5-point Britaxen for as long as I reasonably can and they still fit. I just can't bring myself to like the the booster seats quite yet.
Yup, full weight on the seat, bouncing up and down, I've probably permanently damaged the seat filling on the bench underneath. Even took it to the fire station to get it inspected for proper installation. Maybe it's the manufacturer? The removable infant seat for the 3-month-old is a Peg Perego Primo Viaggio using LATCH on the base station. The regular infant seat for the 4-year-old is a Britax Decathlon using the seat belt on the passenger side.
I share your opinion on boosters...
I believe the weight limit for the LATCH system is 30 lbs. Just compare the size of most LATCH anchors to the size of the structural bits of a seatbelt and you can see why it's limited to 30 lbs.
I too am a fan of the Britax. After both of my kids outgrew their toddler seats at ~30 lbs, I bought them both a Britax Regent because they secure a child up to 80 lbs or 53" in a 5-point harness. I do have boosters for occasional use in other people's cars but the primary kid hauler has the Britax seats installed. And I switch them to the Cruiser when we are going on a trip. They are the beefiest, sturdiest most well-built car seats I've ever seen. My wife was recently in a minor car accident and the responding officers praised us for using these seats. They said they are the best child seats on the market. Once you swallow the price of ~$250, you get over it when you see how sturdy the seat is and realize the extra protection it gives your children.
FWIW, I have a 6 and 7-year old. The hassle of using the large seats and the extra work of buckling them is small in comparison to the extra protection I feel it gives them.
I too am a fan of the Britax. After both of my kids outgrew their toddler seats at ~30 lbs, I bought them both a Britax Regent because they secure a child up to 80 lbs or 53" in a 5-point harness. I do have boosters for occasional use in other people's cars but the primary kid hauler has the Britax seats installed. And I switch them to the Cruiser when we are going on a trip. They are the beefiest, sturdiest most well-built car seats I've ever seen. My wife was recently in a minor car accident and the responding officers praised us for using these seats. They said they are the best child seats on the market. Once you swallow the price of ~$250, you get over it when you see how sturdy the seat is and realize the extra protection it gives your children.
FWIW, I have a 6 and 7-year old. The hassle of using the large seats and the extra work of buckling them is small in comparison to the extra protection I feel it gives them.
Yeah, that's one reason we got the Decathlon. It will support up to 65 pounds, so my thought was to skip the booster. I don't think the Regent was available at the time.
We have two seats, one in each daily driver, but now that we have the second kid, the "spare" will soon be mounted in the Cruiser and we'll have to start moving the seats if we want to use the other vehicle. A bit more inconvenient, but I'm not shelling out $600 for another pair of seats that will be used very rarely!
We have two seats, one in each daily driver, but now that we have the second kid, the "spare" will soon be mounted in the Cruiser and we'll have to start moving the seats if we want to use the other vehicle. A bit more inconvenient, but I'm not shelling out $600 for another pair of seats that will be used very rarely!
Pskhaat
Tourer
We have 4 of these suckers (three in the 80) that set us back a few mortgage payments:
But, what are your opinions on this which is supposed to go 80 lbs? It feels much like a booster-hybrid, but I am holding off on getting it:
But, what are your opinions on this which is supposed to go 80 lbs? It feels much like a booster-hybrid, but I am holding off on getting it:
