Retrofitting child safety anchors... (1 Viewer)

[Playboater]

Hey, I'm new to this forum and just purchased a 1996 Land Cruiser for getting to some more difficult put ins for kayaking, and to carry our new little girl and all her baby stuff...and as a toy for me I used to drive an Axiom with the new LATCH car seat system and child seat anchors, but the cruiser doesn't have them. The latches mount in the rear seat, and the anchors are in the floorboard in the cargo area for SUV's. I know I can use the seat belts, but being a little overprotective, I would like to try and find a bolt in kit for a LATCH system. Is there an aftermarket brand, or is there a kit from the Toyota dealers? I was also thinking I might be able to strip them from a 100 series cruiser, and mount them if the seat hardware is the same. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[IdahoDoug]

Try the dealer for a kit to install the LATCH hardware. Otherwise, install the seat as normal but pull the seatbelt all the way out. When it retracts it is in ratchet mode and you'll feel the clicking. Now you can smuush the seat into the car upholstery and pull the setbelt nice and tight so the seat's contained well. Then take the top tethere and run it over the seat back and to the third row floor anchor point and clip there. tighten and you're good to go.

DougM

 

[Slomo]

If the retrofit doesn't work out you can adapt with the seatback brackets. I put my sons seat in by using the anchor straps on the child seat and removed the plastic cover on the cruiser seat back bracket in the middle of the preferred side and attach the straps to the metal there and the outer bracket of the same seat. I then ran the child seat top strap back and hooked it in as Doug suggested and it made for a very secure mounting and it is easier than using the seat belt IMHO. It feels as secure as the seat in her heep with the factory safety seat latches.

Good luck,
Mo

 

[Durango60]

I'm pretty sure the only real advantage to latch is convenience. I seem to remember reading in the instruction booklet for my sons britax seat that after your child reaches a certain weight you are supposed to stop using the latch system and go to using the regular seatbelt.

 

[Heffenoche]

Try the dealer for a kit to install the LATCH hardware. Otherwise, install the seat as normal but pull the seatbelt all the way out. When it retracts it is in ratchet mode and you'll feel the clicking. Now you can smuush the seat into the car upholstery and pull the setbelt nice and tight so the seat's contained well. Then take the top tethere and run it over the seat back and to the third row floor anchor point and clip there. tighten and you're good to go.

DougM

I do it the same way Doug does it. Once you get it down you can get the seat firmly in place.

 

[450 DUDE]

I use a mix of rated climbing webbing and carabiners and attach to the 3rd row bars in the floor. that set up allows for the use of the top strap as well., it looks kinda funky but is very stout..

ken

 

[Sully]

These things are really easy to use without the latch system. Don't worry about it. I've got two kids in mine. Just climb into the seat/push down on it with your knee as you tighten it and it will be rock solid. Just make sure you pull the strap all the way out and let it ratchet back in. Check this link for more info.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=72525&highlight=car+seat

 

[97 FZJ80]

Here is what I use for the center tether point.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=47989

 

[topend yobbo]

there should be three blanking plugs spaced evenly across the cargo area roof where your top saftey anchor will bolt in.
they are there for this reson alone.

 

[Mickldo]

After looking at photos of the rear roof in the cargo light threads I think only us Aussies get these, must be something to do with the ADRs.

pic of mine showing the anchorage points.

 

[DTAYLOR]

I just use the seat belts as well, but my son is 6, and about 50lbs. His car seat just sits there and acts like a booster more than an anchored seat. I have had no problems.

 

[fzj80kidpen]

I use the seat belts as well.
They work pretty good but sometime the seat will tend to lean towards the middle of the truck. I would prefer to use anchors as well but they are rarely in the 80 anymore.

 

[topend yobbo]

I use the seat belts as well.
They work pretty good but sometime the seat will tend to lean towards the middle of the truck. I would prefer to use anchors as well but they are rarely in the 80 anymore.

Do you mean they are not there?Even my milford cargo barrier had holes especially for the child seat belts.
I would bet the holes are under the roof lining , a bit like the hole and wiring for the rear cargo area light.