If you can find the time, would you please double check the manual in the child restraint section and see if it addresses installing a seat there? I know my 05 8 passenger manual addresses installing seats with seatbelt in all positions, and makes the exceptions for using the middle of the third row, and how the spit seat in the rear needs to be lined up (at the same recline) to use the middle position with a child restraint.
If anyone wants to send me a private message I can send a 32 page PDF file of the 2011 Sienna manual regarding child restraint installs.
For those who have not seen the 2011 8 psg first hand, the middle jump seat is "attached to the captain's chair which is on the driver side of the vehicle. If you look closely at the posted pictures, the top of the mini-jump seat has a "post" which engages to the top of the captain chair. Also the driver's captain chair and the middle jump seat are integrated to slide together on one set of tracks, so you CANNOT move the middle seat independently.
Also, I called Toyota Customer Experience to ask about using the mini seat and was told this. "You can install 3 child seats in the THIRD row using seat belts if desired, but only 2 child seats in the outboard postions of the SECOND row." So I said, you are specifically saying the mini-jump seat is not safe for a car seat install and he said "YES, you are not allowed to put a car seat in the middle position."
So it is possible to fit 5 child restraints according to the mfg as long as you only need to use 3 upper tether positions.
I requested that he file a "customer comment/complaint" about the redesign, so if anyone here feels strongly about the missing upper tether or the reduced functionality of the middle row jump seat, I would call Toyota to let them know and maybe they can make a change for 2012!:twocents:
There is also no mention of anything in regards to doing the clicks for the rear facing belt install in the 2011 manual - I must say the manual is pretty vague, it just shows a few illustrations along with the basic installation info such as pulling the belth through the child restraint, make sure the belt isn't twisted, fully extend the shoulder belt and allow it to retract....etc etc.
Not sure if this is the same portion of the manual you are looking at, but I would say the manual talks about LATCH install with the second seat (pg 185) and third seat (pg 187) although they show a FF seat they don't say if the intall method is specific to FF or RF. It just talks about doing moving the seat back to access the LATCH.
I totally agree, that you need a PhD to decipher the manual - certainly not very clear for the average consumer.:thumbsdown: