4 kids in car seats in crew cab truck

drchicken

New member
Hi! We are looking at what crew cab trucks can hold 4 car seats, safely. I currently have 3 across the back seat of my current truck, but as we are planning for the 4th, I want to be prepared for when all 6 of us need to travel in my truck, or when I take all 4 kids to school/daycare, etc. With that, I know that I can order a truck with a front bench seat and I know that my state law allows for my oldest to sit up front so long as all three seats in the back are occupied. My question is where on the front bench should the booster seat go - center or passenger seat (we still use a high back booster with the 5-point harness) and do any manufacturers have a tether or LATCH for the front bench?
 
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ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
What is allowed varies by manufacturer. What you should look for is a full center seat with an adjustable head restraint and a shoulder belt. That way you can safely put an adult or backless booster rider or adult there. Since recent trucks are not allowed to have an off switch for airbags, ideal would be a backless booster, not high back, with the seat as far back as possible.

A few trucks with a full back row have a tether anchor for the front seat but not many. That's usually more for trucks without a workable back seat.

In the back you'll also want to look for a full (not extendable) bench with well-upholstered (not stiff) seats, 3 shoulder belts and 3 adjustable head restraints.

As far as I know a lot of trucks still don't meet these criteria, so that ought to narrow it quite a bit.
 

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