4 door Chevy pickup - LATCH?

[morlando27]

What model year did LATCH become standard on Chevy full 4-door crew cab pickup trucks? What about a lap-shoulder belt for the center rear seating position?

We are in the market for a used 4 door Chevy/GMC pickup truck to replace our 1997 Chevy extended cab with 350K miles because it's getting tired, I can't find a HHW seat for DS1 that installs well in the extended cab and we are expecting DS2 in early November. We looked at a really clean, low mileage 2002 model last night but it didn't have LATCH and only had a lap belt in the center. Although it would meet our current needs, I think it would limit our options down the road (center useless once a harnessed seat is outgrown and/or if car seats are both installed outboard, couldn't latch booster seats, etc.). I'm used to seat belt installations and center lap belts because we don't own anything new enough to have LATCH but I've done LATCH installs in other people's vehicles. I think I'd like to have the option available plus I want to be able to latch the booster seat when DS1 can no longer use the harness to prevent it from becoming a projectile. How important do you think LATCH and/or center lap/shoulder belt availability is when considering the purchase of a used vehicle?

DS1 is 4 .25 yo, just over 40 lb, about 41" tall...not sure of torso length but he's approaching the top slot of the FPSVD. I plan to use either a Nautilus or Frontier for DS1 and an Uptown for DS2 in this vehicle.

[mommyto2angelgirls]

i'm not sure on chevy/gmc latch but my husband has an 1999 extended cab dodge ram. i can install the nautilus great on the passenger side outboard. it took some work and i had to twist the buckle stalk twice but it is a rock solid install. the key is not using the recline on the seat. then my younger daughters marathon fits rf in the center. leaving the drivers side seat with the lap/shoulder belt available for someone else.
a shoulder/lap belt is pretty important as the lap belt is not to be used with a booster or for anyone without a harnessed car seat. if you have the choice between lap/shoulder belts or latch i would definitely pick the lap/shoulder belt. as nice as latch is for installs it is usually good for only 40 lbs. when ds1 outgrows his hwh seat just have him buckle the booster when he gets out of it as a routine and it will always be buckled in even if he isn't there. you'll get more use out of a vehicle with 3 lap/shoulder belts in the back then with latch.

[Jeanum]

The LATCH manual indicates Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra crew cab pickups have top tether anchors for all 3 rear seating positions in '01 and newer models. The LATCH manual doesn't give details for pre-2001 model year GM vehicles so I don't know if tether anchors were factory-equipped earlier than the 2001 model year. The crew cab Silverados and Sierras were first factory-equipped with full LATCH (lower anchors w/top tether anchors) in two rear seating positions late in the 2002 model year.

I can't fully address the question about lap-shoulder belt in the center rear because that info. isn't included in my LATCH manual. :o Some should have a center rear lap-shoulder belt, because there was a Sierra pickup with that type of seatbelt for all rear seating positions at my CPST course. I just don't remember that truck's exact model year, unfortunately, other than it must have been a 2002 or newer model since it did have lower LATCH anchors. Other full sized GM pickup owners might be able to narrow it down more for you, or a GM website or dealership, or automotive shopping/research sites like safercar.gov or cars.com. Happy shopping. :)