Underseat storage with child seats... Suggestions/alternatives?

[AEsco48]

Hello,
My Rubicon Diesel has the lockable underseat storage but I have not been able to use them since I pretty much always have two child seats (the whole family comes along offroading).

Anyone find an alternative so the storage boxes can be used w/o needing to lift the seats? Or is just removing the storage container and sliding items under the seat the only option?

Would be cool if there was an option where the storage box door flipped forward, or some straps could be put in place to prevent items from coming out from under the seat.


(Picture of us trying to get to Yankee Boy Basin (Close to Ouray, CO) May 10th, had to turn around as the bulldozer was still clearing the path)

Thx!

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[Alans17]

I’m in the same situation with two car seats, but I don’t have an alternative to offer. I do think a front facing door would complicate things, though.

 

[AEsco48]

I’m in the same situation with two car seats, but I don’t have an alternative to offer. I do think a front facing door would complicate things, though.

Why complicate? With a good latch it wont come open... Maybe a little pain in the butt getting thing in there and staying back to be able to close the door... Is that what you are thinking?

Mine has had the car seats in all the time so i really have not even had a chance to look closely under the seats.

 

[Alans17]

Why complicate? With a good latch it wont come open... Maybe a little pain in the butt getting thing in there and staying back to be able to close the door... Is that what you are thinking?

Mine has had the car seats in all the time so i really have not even had a chance to look closely under the seats.

Poor lighting, especially at night
Things will fall out when it’s opened
Can’t easily reach the jack
No good way to organize
Any solution will be homemade

 

[AEsco48]

Poor lighting, especially at night
Things will fall out when it’s opened
Can’t easily reach the jack
No good way to organize
Any solution will be homemade

Got it... Yea agreed.

If you need the jack its going to be some time before getting back on the road... so child seats out is not too bad.

I was thinking some type of nylon curtain across the front that had some battens for structure.. Im thinking like a sailing sail. But yea, not convenient at all

 

[Rockabillyroy]

my solution is not using them for anything I need to get to. hahaha. But yeah, dealing with two car seats in the back such a hassle in that small space. Luckily, one of ours in moving towards a booster.

 

[eaglerugby04]

Luckily I only have two latch system booster, but I have to even unclip them everytime. Never thought of it but with full size car seats I would pretty much have to write off that storage or get really good at using the latch system quickly.

 

[AEsco48]

Luckily I only have two latch system booster, but I have to even unclip them everytime. Never thought of it but with full size car seats I would pretty much have to write off that storage or get really good at using the latch system quickly.

Yup... and the rear/top anchor is a PITA

 

[Terminus33]

Yup... and the rear/top anchor is a PITA

I took one look at that and when putting my kids car seat in I figured it was just for looks and there just to be compliant. Trying to fold the seat forward to attach it, my car-seat ends up in the front seat ceiling area lol. I just used the two seat sides and clamped them down hard. Only in it that way for 3 months and now my boy is in a booster.

 

[Higher_Ground]

I've written that off for anything other than emergencies now. The car seats come out quickly enough - it's getting them back in that sucks. And yes, that rear latch point is a PITA. I cannot tighten it with the seat all the way back, but it won't be totally tight unless you put the seat all the way back... so you have to just do both at the same time.

So that being said, I pretty much only have stuff I hope to not use - jumper cables, tow strap, first aid kit, spare jacket/blanket, jack.

I had a bag of ratchet straps that I end up using more frequently so they got shoved under the passenger seat. Tire gauge and flashlight tucked into map pockets.

 

[eaglerugby04]

Yup... and the rear/top anchor is a PITA

Damn Its been a few, forgot about those top anchors, those things are a pain. Not sure how old your kids are, but high backed boosters are good for 3 and up and are way easier to manage.

 

[JTzntz]

I have 3 in car seats and am not going to be flipping up the seats to access anytime soon.

I just removed the divider (non-locking under seat storage in my case), and use flat zip bags/backpacks for gear and pull them out from under the seat when needed. That way I don’t need to flip the seats up (because getting 3 child seats across tight is NOT fun) and the items stay stowed and organized.

Have even removed and replaced the jack and tools a few times without needing to flip the seats up.

 

[Free2roam]

Kids in child seats strapped in the bed? Don't they make a cargo hitch child carrier? Sorry couldn't resist. Mine are all grown and out of the house.

 

[Eventyr_JT]

I only have 1 car seat in the center. I can just squeeze the 40% seat up/down to access under and behind the seats. I push unused items - jumper cables, extra clothes, etc - in first, then throw in stuff I want to keep out of sight - fly rods, tools, iPad. I also keep a Milwaukee Packout box in the bed with rescue equipment and tools.

 

[AEsco48]

I have 3 in car seats and am not going to be flipping up the seats to access anytime soon.

I just removed the divider (non-locking under seat storage in my case), and use flat zip bags/backpacks for gear and pull them out from under the seat when needed. That way I don’t need to flip the seats up (because getting 3 child seats across tight is NOT fun) and the items stay stowed and organized.

Have even removed and replaced the jack and tools a few times without needing to flip the seats up.

This is what i ended up doing. Working well!

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