Question Installing 2 Radians in 05 Highlander

[Unregistered]

Hello! I am hoping to install 2 FF Radian R100s in the 2nd row of an 05 Highlander behind the driver and in the middle. I wanted to be able to pull the seat behind the passenger forward to access the third row for booster seats. Unfortunately, the vehicle seats are contoured and I can't seem to fit the two Radians next to each other and get a tight install without overlapping the seat behind the passenger, therefore making it impossible to access the third row. Has anyone ever successfully done this configuration? I thought I'd post here in order to give it one last shot before I return the seats (as I have other seats that work but don't allow access to the third row). Thank you in advance for any input!

 

[ketchupqueen]

Hi! I've put (and checked) Radians in a friend's Highlander no problem. However I don't know about third row access. Since she's a member here, I'll pm her to come tell you about it.

 

[Unregistered]

Thank you for your reply and I look forward to hearing from your friend. I nanny/babysit for several different families and provide car seats because I often have higher standards when it comes to fit than some parentsand I like knowing that the car seat fits my 2005 Toyota Highlander well. I bought the Radians thinking I could get two side by side and leave more room for boosters/ other adults, while also being able to use the seat for a variety of ages. I currently watch kids between the ages of 2 and 10 and have different combinations of ages and seat requirements at different times. If the Radians won't fit side by side, do you think two Evenflo Symphony seats would allow space for a booster between them? I read on another thread that the Symphony is a good multi-use seat and might be more user friendly than the Radian.

 

[ketchupqueen]

The Symphony is waaaay wide. It also doesn't really last long in any of its three modes (unlike the Radian which does well in two.) I'd personally skip it in a three-across situation for sure (and even if not doing three across.)

 

[scoutingbear]

Hi!

I have an '05 Highlander and have a daily 3 across and often access the third row for carpool. I don't know if you can tumble the passenger seat with a seat installed center. My "big kids" climb in through the hatch to access the third row. It makes for quite a sight in the school parking lot as all the kids tumble out of my car in the mornings! To get in the back, I open the hatch, put the head rests down, they climb in, we pull head rests up and they buckle. It isn't pretty but it works.

I'm pretty sure you can get 2 radians side by side. I'll bring home my daughter's second radian tomorrow from her sitter (if I remember) and play with both the radians to see about a side by side.

Oh, and even when I have had 3 harnessed seats across the middle, I can still somehow get booster riders in the back...even with high back boosters! They then climb through the middle row or just adjust the headrests on their boosters when they climb through the hatch. And trust me...these aren't the most coordinated kids in the world that are doing so.

 

[Unregistered]

Thank you so much for your reply! I am astounded at all of the work you are all willing to do for complete strangers...much admired and appreciated! Because the side of the outboard seat is contoured, I haven't been able to get a tight install without having the Radian in the middle overlap the other outboard seat, making it impossible to tumble the seat forward for third row access.

 

[ketchupqueen]

I recall the Radian being simple despite the contours in that car. Are you doing rear- or forward-facing? Maybe we'll have some tricks to get it in tightly without sliding center so much...

 

[scoutingbear]

I see what you are saying and I will be bringing home out second radian today to play with. I honestly don't know if you will be able to slide it over just far enough to fully tumble the seat. My daughters radian is rf and even if I didn't have a harnessed seat installed there I can't flip the seat because the radian overlaps by about a half inch. Your best solution might be making kids climb.

 

[scoutingbear]

Okay. Took all the seat out of my car and put in 2 forward facing radians. I learned 2 things in the process. 1. My kids are slobs and my car is going to be vacuumed out! 2. No, you can't put 2 forward facing radians without overlapping the passenger seat just a bit. No matter how far I slide the outboard radian out. There is plenty of room for an adult to sit but just not quite enough space to tumble the seat. You can put a forward facing radian and a rear facing radian and tumble the seats.