Any tricks to Regents in Toyota 4Runner?

[SingleMomTo2Girls]

I'm going to scream. :mad:

First of all, I've lost a lot of strength in my arms with my MS, although I'm working out and hoping to regain some. So carseat installations are now more of a source of frustration than anything else now. :(

We have 2 Regents (pre new instructions) that are usually in a 2005 Dodge Ram.

In the 4runner I have always used the long belt path, no recline bar because with the recline bar the belt is too short. The short belt path would be a nightmare in that truck... I already knew this.

Today, my Dad had to go tow someone off the freeway quickly so I had to switch the seats to the 4runner in a parking lot. I couldn't get the recline bars out... No tools to try and shake the recline bar loose. I figured I should be practicing short belt path anyways I just needed the seats in for the drive home. Did I mention it was pouring rain?

So with recline bars in, headrests on, I tried to install with short belt path. Now first of all... my biggest problem with this truck is the seats are awful. The back bench is just reclined enough to be great for installing RF seats on... great leg room... and if only you could straighten it back up but you can't! It doesn't move.

I tried twisting the belt stalks, it didn't help. When you tighten it, the male end of the buckle still comes into the belt slot. I didn't have much choice but to deal with it, so I tightened anyways. Then, the belt on the driver's side wasn't retracting!

Finally, I got the seats in to a point that I was comfortable with for the drive home. (5 minutes)

They are in short belt path, with recline bar and headrests. They don't move an inch and both belts finally locked. I had to tether to the cargo hooks.

So here are my questions, in case I'm in this situation again.

A) If the belt doesn't retract (the shoulder belt comes in and out freely) do I need a locking clip, or will it locking in an accident be enough? It was still tight, I wonder if the lap belt tightened anyways...

B) Can the buckle be in the belt path or not?

C) I know Ford allowed tethering to Cargo hooks, does Toyota? If they don't, I need tether anchor part number for a 1996-1997 Toyota 4runner. I called on this once and they said it was ok but I'm checking again to be sure.

D) Is there any tricks to this that I am missing? This truck has never been pleasant to put carseats in. If I trusted it more I'd bring it on our next Idaho trip and have Gypsy try. I'm sure she could come up with something I can't. But last time I took this truck to Idaho it was a disaster.

Thanks in advance.

[crunchierthanthou]

A) If the belt doesn't retract (the shoulder belt comes in and out freely) do I need a locking clip, or will it locking in an accident be enough? It was still tight, I wonder if the lap belt tightened anyways...

B) Can the buckle be in the belt path or not?

C) I know Ford allowed tethering to Cargo hooks, does Toyota? If they don't, I need tether anchor part number for a 1996-1997 Toyota 4runner. I called on this once and they said it was ok but I'm checking again to be sure.

D) Is there any tricks to this that I am missing? This truck has never been pleasant to put carseats in. If I trusted it more I'd bring it on our next Idaho trip and have Gypsy try. I'm sure she could come up with something I can't. But last time I took this truck to Idaho it was a disaster.


A- You do need a locking clip if the ALR for the locking shoulder belt doesn't work. That can be tricky in a Regent because you have to make sure that the shell isn't pushing against the locking clip. It needs to be either completely in or out of the belt path (and completely in the SBP is where the child's back goes...).

B- Same as for the locking clip- completely in or out, you don't want the rigid edge of the shell pushing against it.

C- I don't know for sure. In doing a quick search it looks like you'll have to add the TAs. Do your parents still have the vehicle owner's manual? Personally, I wouldn't tether to the cargo hook unless I knew for sure it was an approved tether location. Although tethering the Regent is always recommended, it isn't required until your girls reach 50 lbs, so you still have time to get top tether anchors retrofitted.

D- I don't have tons of experience with the Regent, but could help you play with it. I'm in SL County.

[SingleMomTo2Girls]

I don't know how we will possibly make it through the winter without being able to use two trucks. My Dad needs the Dodge a lot but I have to go to Salt Lake a lot... I can't drive a front wheel drive car to Salt Lake in the snow. I did it without kids... but with kids, I'd have a nervous breakdown. lol

Okay... so basically... it's long belt path or nothing in this truck. 99% of the time I'm installing seats by myself so I have to be able to do it by myself. I'm not seeing a way to either have the buckle all the way in or all the way out... but I will play with it more maybe tomorrow.

I did call Toyota a couple years ago when I had to put both my RF kids and a FF friend's kid in this truck. They did tell me it was okay to do because they are tested at high weights or something. My memory is bad that's why I'm asking.

The only reason I tethered the Regents without being more sure, is because with the funky way these seats are, the top of the Regent was sticking way out from the headrest because of the recline bar if that makes sense. I decide I would prefer to take the risk of the tether breaking after it worked than have them 6 inches closer to the seat in front of them.

But, like I said this was just for the trip home, they aren't riding in the 4runner again anytime soon. :) This, is for future reference. Once we get a new set of Regents for the Dodge these will be going in the 4runner, it'd be nice to be able to install them short belt path though if I ever needed to. I planned on getting TA's put in, just didn't want to if the cargo hooks were just as safe.

I would take any help I can get if I can't figure it out from tips on the board. lol Just trying to decide how I would do that... where I'd put the kids while we played with seats. lol

I'm also considering another trip up to USA Baby to try and talk myself into the Como.... not likely though. lol

A- You do need a locking clip if the ALR for the locking shoulder belt doesn't work. That can be tricky in a Regent because you have to make sure that the shell isn't pushing against the locking clip. It needs to be either completely in or out of the belt path (and completely in the SBP is where the child's back goes...).

B- Same as for the locking clip- completely in or out, you don't want the rigid edge of the shell pushing against it.

C- I don't know for sure. In doing a quick search it looks like you'll have to add the TAs. Do your parents still have the vehicle owner's manual? Personally, I wouldn't tether to the cargo hook unless I knew for sure it was an approved tether location. Although tethering the Regent is always recommended, it isn't required until your girls reach 50 lbs, so you still have time to get top tether anchors retrofitted.

D- I don't have tons of experience with the Regent, but could help you play with it. I'm in SL County.

[Jeanum]

Per the '07 LATCH manual, the Toyota top tether anchor part is: "73709-12010, called "Bracket Sub-Assembly, Tether Anchor. Kit is pre-assembled and includes an 8 mm bolt, anchor bracket, and spacer. It sells for approx. $12.00."

The 4Runner owner's manual likely has a section detailing the locations where the top tether anchors may be installed.

The LATCH manual says nothing about Toyota allowing use of the cargo anchors as top tether anchors in the 4Runner, so it's most likely not allowed by Toyota. I would opt to retrofit the tether anchors if your Regent installation method requires use of the top tether now, and definitely before your DDs reach 50 lbs.

[SingleMomTo2Girls]

Oh it'll be done now, don't worry. This was just a one time quick transport that had to be done. I will be having these seats in this truck all the time so I planned to have them done before that. Thank you! :)

[oregonmamashannon]

Are you saying that your 4Runner doesn't have retracting seat belts or that that particular side isn't working? I have a 94 4Runner and it has retracting seat belts. I was told by a Tech that I could twist the belt stalk up to three times if that helped-if that's even possible for you. I also had to retro fit the tether anchor. If you pull up the carpet and pad in the cargo area you should see a circle about the size of a nickel that looks like a black sticker. Under that would be your anchor spot. Mine is on the floorboard about 15 inches behind headrest. I politely asked the parts guy at the dealership to install it for me since I didn't have the right tools. It took him about 2 minutes. Good luck wrestling that Regent!

[SingleMomTo2Girls]

Nope, the driver's side retractor just isn't working. It does have retracting seatbelts. The one on the driver's works about 25% of the time if you yank on it, it'll lock. But it doesn't retract when you feed the seatbelt in, if that makes sense.

Not comfortable with it till it's fixed.

I did try twisting absolutely, I'm going to try again when I have more help, it's hard for me to twist it.

How many anchor spots did you have? I'm hoping to have TA's in all 3 seating postions... hope that's possible. Or at least both outboard positions. I'm going to take a look at the manual next time the truck is here.

[oregonmamashannon]

There are only 2 tether spots on the '94-behind the outboard seats. Do you know if it's the seatbelt itself or some mechanical part that is dysfunctional? You should check at the bottom of the belt, where it comes out of the seat, and make sure it doesn't say to "replace" belt. Sometimes if the seat belt has been forced in an accident the belts will need to be replaced. There is a sewn on tag that would say so. Also I recently replaced my seat belts, I called one of those pick-a-part junk yards and asked them to pull 2 good condition seat belts for me (the dog chewed them in half). The cost was about $15 and I traded my friends DH homemade enchiladas to install them. I can't imagine trying to install a regent with a locking clip if you're already having trouble. You could also call your local dealer and just ask them what they think my be wrong-try talking to someone in the parts dept. if you don't get anywhere.

[SingleMomTo2Girls]

Yeah I plan to have the seatbelts replaced because it's almost ten years old. Plan to have the tether anchors put in when we replace the seatbelts. Has a recall on the suspension that I just found out my Dad never got fixed before so it's going in for that as well.

No accidents at all in this truck or they would have been replaced then. But we replace at least every ten years in the vehicles I drive. I have no idea why it's not working, I didn't worry about it because the Regents are back in the Dodge until we get a second set of seats. I also put a rubber mallet with the emergency kit, so if I'm ever in that situation again I can knock the recline bar loose and put it in long belt path.

I did ultimately get a good install with the short belt path, which amazed me. But there is no way I could do it regularly.

My Dad's 1981 Porsche still has the original seatbelts. It is frightening I tell you!