1999 4Runner Center Seat Tether

[Gilbert]

Does anyone know how to install a tether for the center seat position of a 1999 Toyota 4Runner? I have 3 kids ages 5, 6, and 8. The youngest is sitting in the center position in a car seat rated for up to 65 pounds. Please keep in mind that the center seat belt is only a lap belt (no shoulder strap), so putting the older child in the center is not an option. I have purchased the Toyota tether anchor PN 73709-20010; however, it is only designed (per the owners manual) to work on the left and right seating positions.
Thanks for your help!
:confused:

[crunchierthanthou]

There is no manufacturer approved method of adding a tether anchor for that position. It might be that the fuel tank or exhaust line locations would interfere. You may be able to find a local shop that can add something like an ez-on heavy duty TA (http://www.ezonpro.com/products/accessories.shtml), but it's rare to find one with experience in retrofitting and that is comfortable accepting the liability. Someone who modifies vehicels for handicapped access might be able, but it will probably be a significant expense. It's likely not something I'd undertake as a DIY project.

[Lilsid]

I have the same vehicle and you can only get anchors for the outboard seats. Toyota did not pre drill holes for the center seat. I wish they did so I could but my DD in the center. I put my FF DD on the side and my RF DS in the middle. There is just enough room left for me to sit in back when DH is driving.

[safeinthecar]

Hello Gilbert,

This is Kimberly the tech at the Sunol truck scales you spoke to on the phone Saturday.I hope somebody here will come up with a solution to this dilemma.

To give everybody a little background, Gilbert has a 40 lb child ffing in a Radian 65 in the center of his 4Runner. He has two older children (one in a booster, one in a seatbelt *Gilbert, here's a great site with pictures so you can double check whether your 8yo is a good fit for the adult belt, keep in mind children grow into different cars at different ages, http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.edmunds.com/media/ownership/safety/do.safety.seats.protect.all.kids/seatbelt.properfit.girl.500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.edmunds.com/advice/womenfamilies/articles/106718/article.html&h=316&w=500&sz=22&hl=en&start=9&um=1&tbnid=Zp3Jtfzr7ia85M:&tbnh=82&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchild%2Bfitting%2Bin%2Badult%2Bseat%2 Bbelt%26um%3D1%26complete%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3 Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DKgS%26sa%3DN

At the moment the Radian is untethered, and while it is OK to use it untethered, Gilbert would like to put in a tether if possible to make his little one even safer. My LATCH manual says that it is possible to put a center anchor in, but doesn't say where. Anybody had any success?

TIA

[crunchierthanthou]

My LATCH manual says that it is possible to put a center anchor in, but doesn't say where. Anybody had any success?


Really? Which version do you have? The Toyota section in my 2007 edition (the purple one) just says that you should refer to the owner's manual for exact tether points. It doesn't have any specifics for pre-2000 vehicles, other than to list the 5 or so models that can't be retrofitted. The only other thing I've seen on it is several 4runner owners here lamenting the fact that you cannot add a tether anchor for the center position.

[safeinthecar]

Really? Which version do you have? The Toyota section in my 2007 edition (the purple one) just says that you should refer to the owner's manual for exact tether points. It doesn't have any specifics for pre-2000 vehicles, other than to list the 5 or so models that can't be retrofitted. The only other thing I've seen on it is several 4runner owners here lamenting the fact that you cannot add a tether anchor for the center position.

Mine says the same thing, only the way I interpreted it was that ONLY the vehicles listed in the non-retrofit list were unable to have an anchor put in, and that if the vehicle wasn't on that list then it could be retrofitted. Not only that, but I'm pretty sure that Jen (CarSeatSafetyMom) was able to put a center tether in her 99 4Runner. Actually, I'm absolutely sure she was because she had a Futura in that spot and I bought her a tether for the Futura at the same time I bought the tether for mine. (yes, I know the Futura didn't need a tether, but I bought one for it anyway. And IIRC, I ended up giving the tether to Julie after Jen's son outgrew the Futura) I'm pretty sure she still had that vehicle when she switched to the Husky too.

We might have had Jen's husband find a suitable location to drill using the guide from the first edition tether manual, but I don't remember going to that much trouble. (not that finding a spot would have been that much trouble really, it's the talking Jen's husband into it part I would have remembered:p)

Man, I wish we still had that car so I can look and see where exactly the anchor was located.

[Unregistered]

Does anyone know how to install a tether for the center seat position of a 1999 Toyota 4Runner? I have 3 kids ages 5, 6, and 8. The youngest is sitting in the center position in a car seat rated for up to 65 pounds. Please keep in mind that the center seat belt is only a lap belt (no shoulder strap), so putting the older child in the center is not an option. I have purchased the Toyota tether anchor PN 73709-20010; however, it is only designed (per the owners manual) to work on the left and right seating positions.
Thanks for your help!
:confused:

Same problem - did you ever get an answer? Thanks