Need to know how many top tethers & where in large SUV's

[marciemp]

We are looking at buying a large SUV to pull a trailer. We need a high tow capacity, and are looking at 2005-2007 Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia, Dodge Durango, Chev Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Infiniti QX56. I thought I had made my mind up, but then realized that there are only 3 tethers in my top contender. This is very important as I don't want to have to look for a new vehicle when we have a 4th child and they go forward facing, and is now my main concern.

My main need is (along with the towing capacity) for a vehicle with at least 4 top tethers, 5 would be better. Preferably I would like 3 across the 2nd row, and 2 in the back row. We have 3 kids now but are planning a 4th. I would like all 3 across the middle now, then 2 in the middle and 2 in the back in the future, to allow for tilting a seat forward to access the back row. I have been researching like crazy but this info is hard to find.

Does anyone have easy access to this info. I don't need to know specifically for each vehicle, just which ones have at least four, and if any have even more, that would be great.

Also is it possible to safely add more tethers to a vehicle that already has them? I am in Canada so tethers are required, and obviously safer. I can't figure out why car manufacturers wouldn't just put them in every back seat especially since they are required here by law, and are not a big thing cost wise, or at least make spots so they can be installed at every back seat. Yeah most people don't have more than 2 or 3 kids, but lots carpool, and it is really getting on my nerves how hard it is to find this info, and some people have more kids!

Thanks

[DaniCPST]

Here is what I have from the LATCH manual. I only used the examples for the models with the bench seats since that is what you stated you wanted.

Nissan Armada/Infiniti QX56 tethers on both outboard seats in the middle row. One tether in the center seating position of the third row.

Toyota Sequioa 2005-2006 tethers in all 3 positions in middle row. 2 tethers in both outboard positions in the third row.

Dodge Durango 2004-2007 tethers in all 3 positions in middle row, no tethers in third row.

Chevrolet Tahoe 2002-2007/Suburban 2004-2007/Cadillac Escalade 2004-2007/ GMC Yukon (and XL) 2004-2007 tethers in center and passenger outboard positions in the middle row. One tether in third row that can be used for center or passenger side.

Lincoln Navigator 2003-2007 top tethers in all 3 positions in the middle row. One top tether in center position in third row.

[Heather98012]

Wow, it looks like the Sequoia is the only one you would be able to put 2 seats in the 3rd row. My dh has a '01 Sequoia (we bought it 3 months after it hit the market) & we love it!! Aside from filling the gas tank nowadays, but that's another story. :D

[marciemp]

Thank you so much for your help. You have no idea how many hours I have spent trying to find this info, and it is NOT easy! I just keep thinking it should be easier to find this kind of stuff, since it is so important to the safety of our kids, and hence a very important part of deciding which vehicle suits our family. Still wondering if it is safe and possible to install more tethers? Anyways, again thank you so much, I knew I could count on someone here, you guys have all the best info!
Marcie

[DaniCPST]

Typically you can only add tethers to older cars that didn't come with them from the factory. There are a couple I know of that have the option to have more added but I don't think any on your list have that option.

[rileyismydog]

I presume you've done the homework on the tow capacity of these vehicle and that hey will meet your needs - none of the vehicles listed will tow more than about 7500 lbs MAX (a few even less than that)

Our Expedition (upgrade in your list would be the Navigator) has 4 tethers - 3 2nd row and 1 3rd row. I also love that the center seating position of the 2nd row slides forward for easy access to child in that position.

[jen_nah]

I agree with the above poster about towing capacity. What are you wanting to tow? The longer the wheel base the better. You might want to add the Chevy Suburban to your list. Same seating configuration as the Tahoe but longer wheel base & 8100lbs towing capacity. Plus it will give you more cargo room. There is also a 2500 Suburban which has an 8600lb towing capacity. The Tahoe is 7500lbs.

Also the Ford Expedition EL again the longer wheel base then the standard Expedition (which is the same as the Navigation). So it too will have a higher towing capacity.

[marciemp]

Actually the Nissan Armada (from 2004 to now) and the 2008 Toyota Sequoia 5.7 litre, the Ford Expedition, the Lincoln and the Infiniti have have about 9000-9100 lbs towing capacity, with the tow package. All of the above SUV's mentioned have over 7100lbs towing, and if you exclude the Chev's and the GMC's they all have over 8650lbs. The chev's and GMc's are the lowest towing, even lower than a Dodge Durango, which is a mid size.

The Nissan and Toyota 5.7 have the highest towing capacity in their class. I do know that wheel base makes a difference on HOW it tows, but a special hitch helps that.

We are looking at light weight trailers that have bunks for the kids, and a bed that slides out the end for us, so they will be pretty heavy, about 6000 or a bit more fully loaded. Probably about 26-29 feet long But I know from my dad's experience not to go to the max tow capacity of the vehicle, as it is too much, which is why we are looking at 6000 lbs trailers with a 9000lbs towing vehicle, and adding the special hitch. Would love to be able to go to a truck, but with 4 kids, and a big dog it wouldn't work.

As for car seats we went and looked at a Sequoia and it only has 4 tethers, 3 in the middle row, and one in the center back. The manual was gone, so it is possible that it could be used outboard too (as our van now can be used either center or outboard drivers side) but not 2 seats at the same time.

Does anyone know what the law (in Canada) is for tethering boosters? I am sort of thinking that if we kept our youngest rear facing for as long as possible (2.5-2.75 years if they grow like our other 3), then the oldest might be booster age (she would be about 6 when the youngest was born, so about 8.5 or so when they moved to forward facing), and maybe she could go in a booster, but I don't know what the law says in Canada about tethering a booster. I will ask on the Canada forum.

Thanks again,

[snowbird25ca]

Does anyone know what the law (in Canada) is for tethering boosters? I am sort of thinking that if we kept our youngest rear facing for as long as possible (2.5-2.75 years if they grow like our other 3), then the oldest might be booster age (she would be about 6 when the youngest was born, so about 8.5 or so when they moved to forward facing), and maybe she could go in a booster, but I don't know what the law says in Canada about tethering a booster. I will ask on the Canada forum.

Thanks again,

There is no law for tethering boosters, and most can't be tethered anyways. None of the available stand alone boosters in Canada have a top tether. Some combination seats allow you to continue using the top tether in booster mode - Graco combination seats allow this, but it is optional. Only ff'ing harnessed seats must be top tethered. :thumbsup:

[Brendan's Mom]

I wonder if sequoia changed their tether configurations when they redesigned! We have a 2005 and it has tethers both outboard positions in the third row! We have two captains chairs in the second row and both have tether connections. I will be very disappointed if they changed their configuration!


As a note we are very happy with our sequoia. I hope you have luck finding what you are looking for!! Tasha

[jen_nah]

Actually the Nissan Armada (from 2004 to now) and the 2008 Toyota Sequoia 5.7 litre, the Ford Expedition, the Lincoln and the Infiniti have have about 9000-9100 lbs towing capacity, with the tow package. All of the above SUV's mentioned have over 7100lbs towing, and if you exclude the Chev's and the GMC's they all have over 8650lbs. The chev's and GMc's are the lowest towing, even lower than a Dodge Durango, which is a mid size.

The Nissan and Toyota 5.7 have the highest towing capacity in their class. I do know that wheel base makes a difference on HOW it tows, but a special hitch helps that.

We are looking at light weight trailers that have bunks for the kids, and a bed that slides out the end for us, so they will be pretty heavy, about 6000 or a bit more fully loaded. Probably about 26-29 feet long But I know from my dad's experience not to go to the max tow capacity of the vehicle, as it is too much, which is why we are looking at 6000 lbs trailers with a 9000lbs towing vehicle, and adding the special hitch. Would love to be able to go to a truck, but with 4 kids, and a big dog it wouldn't work.

As for car seats we went and looked at a Sequoia and it only has 4 tethers, 3 in the middle row, and one in the center back. The manual was gone, so it is possible that it could be used outboard too (as our van now can be used either center or outboard drivers side) but not 2 seats at the same time.

Does anyone know what the law (in Canada) is for tethering boosters? I am sort of thinking that if we kept our youngest rear facing for as long as possible (2.5-2.75 years if they grow like our other 3), then the oldest might be booster age (she would be about 6 when the youngest was born, so about 8.5 or so when they moved to forward facing), and maybe she could go in a booster, but I don't know what the law says in Canada about tethering a booster. I will ask on the Canada forum.

Thanks again,

While a special hitch might help some a longer wheel base will improve the handling a lot better then a smaller wheel base vehicle. Also look at cargo room which is lacking in the Sequoia & Armada. The Sequoia only has a 6200 maxing towing per KBB. The 1500 Suburban has 8400 max towing. This is on the SR5 Sequoia compared to the base 1500 Suburban. Then there is the 2500 Suburban that has a 12,000 max towing.

I know on the 2005 model Suburban you have 3 top tethers in the 2nd row & 1 top tether in the 3rd row that can be used center or passenger outboard.

We tow our 34' 5th wheel that is roughly 9,500 lbs with our 2500 long bed Silverado. I couldn't imagine doing so with a short wheel base vehicle. We used to tow our open car trailer with full race car with a standard bed extended cab 1500 Silverado. It was a bumper pull style trailer total weight (trailer & car) was around 5,000lbs. It was roughly 24' long had his hands full at times. Switching to a longer wheel base plus a heavy duty vehicle improved the towing handling greatly.

I am not sure what you are going to be towing but if it's a travel trailer the longer wheel base vehicles will be a great benefit plus won't cause as much stress on the motor which also helps with fuel efficiency.