Help! JT car seat solutions needed- save me from trading!

[-miko-]

Here is an update and I think the best that can be done with a JT or JL and 3 car seats in multiple age ranges. For infant carrier use the Graco Snugride 35 in center position fastened with seat belt, Diono Radian 3rxt at passenger side as harnessed booster fastened with seat belt, and high back belt positioning booster at the driver side (for this I really like the peg perego viagio flex 120 since it is very slim, no armrests to complicate buckling and uses latch system to hold in place when not occupied). Ends up looking like this:

As you can see there is ample room to buckle the seat belt for the booster:

For a rear facing convertible replace the Graco with another Diono Radian 3rxt and it ends up looking like this:

Again there is enough room to buckler the booster:

Now the obvious: this is certainly not ideal. Certainly not something to take on a roadtrip etc…. but might get me through making the daily school and daycare drops considering we have the large Expedition for longer trips etc…. The rear facing diono does not fit easily, it took alot of tinkering to get it to sit at the proper angle, and then it does contact and limit the range of both front seats. Also, in working to get it secured I managed to put a hole in the bottom of my seat from the rear facing diono base ?.

Still deciding but a Powerwagon isnt off the table just yet.

Speaking as a dad of 6 - glad you got it worked out for now (even with the hole in the seat). Either way, remember it's just a season and they'll be another season later in life when things will be different - and that applies to living with huge cars seats or having to compromise on driving the car you really want.

Before you know it you'll be trying to figure out how to fit 3 additional cars in the driveway along side your dream ride.

Sponsored

 

[Jeepin' John]

Here is an update and I think the best that can be done with a JT or JL and 3 car seats in multiple age ranges. For infant carrier use the Graco Snugride 35 in center position fastened with seat belt, Diono Radian 3rxt at passenger side as harnessed booster fastened with seat belt, and high back belt positioning booster at the driver side (for this I really like the peg perego viagio flex 120 since it is very slim, no armrests to complicate buckling and uses latch system to hold in place when not occupied). Ends up looking like this:

As you can see there is ample room to buckle the seat belt for the booster:

For a rear facing convertible replace the Graco with another Diono Radian 3rxt and it ends up looking like this:

Again there is enough room to buckler the booster:

Now the obvious: this is certainly not ideal. Certainly not something to take on a roadtrip etc…. but might get me through making the daily school and daycare drops considering we have the large Expedition for longer trips etc…. The rear facing diono does not fit easily, it took alot of tinkering to get it to sit at the proper angle, and then it does contact and limit the range of both front seats. Also, in working to get it secured I managed to put a hole in the bottom of my seat from the rear facing diono base ?.

Still deciding but a Powerwagon isnt off the table just yet.

Angle adjuster (foam board) for diono - protects the leather and gives more room between front seats for the diono to extend

 

[capercrew02]

Glad you found a solution! Sorry about the hole in seat I highly reccomend the PRP seat covers. They use very thick marine vinyl, and are diy install friendly. That would give you more protection with the kids seats, and cover up the hole.

 

[dcmdon]

I had to sell my 400 HP Subaru STi and my wife's Miata when we had kids.

Its part of life.

Kiddies come first as others have said. Because of the limitations of the Subaru and the Miata we had to replace both cars.

But if we had a Gladiator that didn't cut it, we could have still made it work. The other car would be the primary kid hauler. The Jeep would have been the haul the kids in a pinch vehicle. Buy a bed topper, store the seats in the bed and break out the one that I needed when I had to pick up a kid.

 

[dcmdon]

It is kind of counterintuitive that as the kids get bigger they actually take up less space because their seats get less and less huge.

 

[Bonfiggy]

I'm a little late to the party on this one, but have you looked into the mifold booster seats? I had a similar problem with a quad cab truck a few years back, and ended up getting that booster for my older kid. Might be something to consider for your 7 year old. It repositions the seatbelt down, rather than boosting the kid up - and it's ultra compact.

 

[Guntar]

I may have missed it things or misunderstood thing as I read. It happens. However, if you are swapping car seats between vehicles and that is the issue, being difficulty ( been there done that) or; Is it just doesn't fit right for the JT...? Once sold a new purchase cause once my youngest turned forward three seats no longer fit. I understand your pain.
However, if it is "just" the level of difficulty and not needing to ensuring safety ( I agree) then why not keep 3 that fit properly in both vehicles? Buy more car seats is cheaper than buying another new truck imho. Safety is always first imo. So as parents we do what we need to do. GL.

 

[Thomas Nace]

Have you tried a no back booster for the 7 year old? I don't know how big he/she is. Another possible solution for the 5 and 7 year old is the BubbleBum Booster Seat (I didn't make it up) it is more compact than most boosters.. they are around $30. There are other manufacturers of similar products.

 

[aj8544]

Well the unfortunate reality is here. The Gladiator just doesnt cut it for my family needs. Trading it in tomorrow morning on an F150 Tremor. Over the past week Ive tried making the three across setup I previously described work. Ive also had all three of my kids in the truck more often due to covid quarantines at our son’s daycare. The kids fit sort of, not much else does. Backpacks are in the passenger seat, groceries on the floor etc…

The JT has been my favorite vehicle ever. I’ve never been sad to trade off a car before- theyre just hunks of metal and plastic right? Tonight is different. I just spent 4 hours removing all the accessories I was so happy with and proud of. Some will be repurposed on the Tremor, the remainder will be gifted to my father who just bought a JL or sold to fund the Ford specific versions

My wife and I dont plan to be out of the Jeep family long. Our mostly unused polaris RZR will be sold next spring and replaced with a weekend/summertime fun Jeep.

I will miss my JT dearly, but sometimes desires and practicality just dont line up.

 

[Jeepin' John]

Shoot, my groceries go in the bed. That's what bed covers are for! Trunk mode!

 

[db305]

Shoot, my groceries go in the bed. That's what bed covers are for! Trunk mode!

a 2x8 in the slots and a tonneau cover make for a very functional trunk with a full-size opening for loading stuff.

Sponsored