3rd Row Width

[Jace]

Hey can anyone get me a measurement from wall to wall (narrowest measurement) of the back row please? I'm trying to see how well 3 car seats will fit across and am needing at least 58" for the car seats I currently own as they are each a tad over 19" wide. It's one of the last major deciding factors for us and there are no dealers within 1.5hrs or else I'd drive to measure.

Thanks!

 

[TxBrian]

It's 51.25" due to the molded sides that stick in a bit for the cup holders and built in sub.

 

[edizzle]

You need a 15 passenger van!

 

[shane_th_ee]

You need the Diono car seats. We could fit 3 across in our old XJ Jeep Cherokee. And they’re FAA approved and fit in a standard economy seat.

 

[Jace]

It's 51.25" due to the molded sides that stick in a bit for the cup holders and built in sub.

Dang that's the same as my Sienna and my Equinox... I was hoping it would be a little wider. Thanks for the measurement!

 

[Jace]

You need a 15 passenger van!

Ha, I actually test drove a Nissan NV right before a Platinum Expedition... Definitely a difference. It needed blind spot monitors like there was no tomorrow.

You need the Diono car seats. We could fit 3 across in our old XJ Jeep Cherokee. And they’re FAA approved and fit in a standard economy seat.

I've actually looked into these, they look nice . We have an assortment of Britax seats now... Sure was hoping that I could sell the expy to the wifey a little more by using our existing car seats, but that doesn't sound too promising now. Thanks guys

 

[Black]

Granted I have a 16. But have 3 car seats across the middle row. 2 of which are Recaros and are huge (22” if memory serves correct)
The 16s don’t have the latch system in the 3rd row, looks like they added 2 latch systems to the 3rd row for the 18s which is nice.

Not sure how old your kiddos are but we had a Seienna before the Expedition and hated having kids in the 3rd row. Especially with only one latch system. I ended up using ratchet straps and seat belts.
It is a gigantic pain to buckle them in or when you are on a trip and they drop their book, drink, or their snack, to get back to them.
Much happier having them in the second row.
We have 3 under 5. When they are older and in a regular booster maybe we’ll have them back there. But at this point they have no clue there are even seats back there.

 

[twernst]

You need the Diono car seats. We could fit 3 across in our old XJ Jeep Cherokee. And they’re FAA approved and fit in a standard economy seat.

Second we were able to use these in my old X5 and also the wife's GL

 

[aporthole]

I’m a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (aka Car Seat Tech) and also a mom to 3 kiddos (ages 9, 6, and 3). I’d be happy to help make suggestions on seating arrangement options and seat selection if needed.

I don’t currently have an Expedition but we’re hoping to upgrade from my 2011 Honda Pilot to a 4th Gen Expedition MAX in the next 2 years.

 

[Jace]

Granted I have a 16. But have 3 car seats across the middle row. 2 of which are Recaros and are huge (22” if memory serves correct)
The 16s don’t have the latch system in the 3rd row, looks like they added 2 latch systems to the 3rd row for the 18s which is nice.

Not sure how old your kiddos are but we had a Seienna before the Expedition and hated having kids in the 3rd row. Especially with only one latch system. I ended up using ratchet straps and seat belts.
It is a gigantic pain to buckle them in or when you are on a trip and they drop their book, drink, or their snack, to get back to them.
Much happier having them in the second row.
We have 3 under 5. When they are older and in a regular booster maybe we’ll have them back there. But at this point they have no clue there are even seats back there.

My boys are 6, 4, 2, and 10/mo. Still on the fence if we are going for 5 or not, but we want to choose wisely if we decide to go that route. If we just had 3 I would definitely put them all in the 2nd row and fold down the back. Our '14 Sienna SE only has latch in the back middle, which we don't use. The Britax seats we have have clicktight, which is pretty slick using the seatbelts. I actually got my wife one of those grabby things to help with the "mom I dropped "Insert Everything Here"!" My oldest boy can get his brother and himself secure lately, so that's been handy.

I’m a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (aka Car Seat Tech) and also a mom to 3 kiddos (ages 9, 6, and 3). I’d be happy to help make suggestions on seating arrangement options and seat selection if needed.

I don’t currently have an Expedition but we’re hoping to upgrade from my 2011 Honda Pilot to a 4th Gen Expedition MAX in the next 2 years.

That's awesome, and very nice of you! As you can see above, my kids' ages and my current vehicle. 5 makes it pretty tricky, especially given the carseats I have: All Britax... 2 Frontier Clicktights, 1 Be-Safe 35 Elite, Boulevard 70-G3, and a Parkway SGL. I believe those are correct anyways! So we have 5 (currently not using the B-Safe) already, and would love to be able to use them. We were hoping to get a 2nd row bucket Expy, and have 3 in the back (my wife isn't a huge fan of 3 in the second row as it pretty much blocks out the 3rd row kids haha), but that's not looking so doable without Radians, and if we do that, then we could probably just keep the Sienna. Decisions Decisions.

 

[shane_th_ee]

Ours are 1, 3, 5, and 7. I wouldn’t be so worried about 3 in the second row, as the tip and slide seats are awesome! If you put the biggest two in the back, the oldest can get the other one strapped in while your wife is strapping in the little ones in the second row. If you’re not towing anything an ‘18 Odyssey might be worth a look as it, too has the tip and slide 2nd row seats...

 

[aporthole]

With young kids, the 2nd row bench is so much more flexible for seating. The car seat safe tilt feature on the Expedition at least makes getting to the 3rd row pretty easy with a forward-facing seat installed with LATCH in the 2nd row.

In a pinch if you really needed to squeeze 3 in the 3rd row, something like a Bubblebum booster or a Ride Safer vest for the oldest in the middle and a slim seat for the 4yo on the driver side should work. It wouldn’t be the most convenient/comfortable for daily use, but possible when needed.

 

[aggiegrad05]

With young kids, the 2nd row bench is so much more flexible for seating. The car seat safe tilt feature on the Expedition at least makes getting to the 3rd row pretty easy with a forward-facing seat installed with LATCH in the 2nd row.

In a pinch if you really needed to squeeze 3 in the 3rd row, something like a Bubblebum booster or a Ride Safer vest for the oldest in the middle and a slim seat for the 4yo on the driver side should work. It wouldn’t be the most convenient/comfortable for daily use, but possible when needed.

Ok so how are you guys making the tilt and slide work with car seats? I get that the feature works with a lap belt only, or if you’re only using latch, but a lot (most?) car seats require the use of the shoulder belt over a certain weight and it simply does not work when the shoulder belt is used. What am I missing?

 

[twernst]

Ok so how are you guys making the tilt and slide work with car seats? I get that the feature works with a lap belt only, or if you’re only using latch, but a lot (most?) car seats require the use of the shoulder belt over a certain weight and it simply does not work when the shoulder belt is used. What am I missing?

With my 6 yr old in the shoulder belt booster it does not work unless I pull the belt out of the positioner on the booster.

Another FYI for those think of using third-row for child seats, while there is great Latch coverage, my seats the Dino and Britax booster cannot ft properly back there because of the head rests and the fact they cannot be removed, or at least I have not been able to figure out how.

 

[shane_th_ee]

Ok so how are you guys making the tilt and slide work with car seats? I get that the feature works...if you’re only using latch

We use the latch anchors. The Diono seats use the latch system up to well over 40lbs, aka when they're big enough to move up to a backless booster. So we go straight from the latches to a backless booster.

 

[shane_th_ee]

With my 6 yr old in the shoulder belt booster it does not work unless I pull the belt out of the positioner on the booster.

Another FYI for those think of using third-row for child seats, while there is great Latch coverage, my seats the Dino and Britax booster cannot ft properly back there because of the head rests and the fact they cannot be removed, or at least I have not been able to figure out how.

I looked this up when I first attempted to install a Diono in the 3rd row. The owners manual says they're not removable. I just let the top of the seat rest against the head rest. Why do you think this would be problematic? Sure, it's probably not awesome for the leather, but the seats only go in the Expedition when we're doing something (like towing the trailer) where we can't use the minivan...

 

[aggiegrad05]

We use the latch anchors. The Diono seats use the latch system up to well over 40lbs, aka when they're big enough to move up to a backless booster. So we go straight from the latches to a backless booster.

Yeah, mine only lets us use the LATCH until they are 40 pounds. And you CAN switch to the booster when they are over 40 pounds, but the set recommends staying in "harness mode" (aka not the booster) until they are more than 90 pounds or more than 58" tall. So my wife requires I use the harness mode because that's whats recommended.

Ok sounds like my tip-n-slide will continue to go unused for a while. But that's why I bought the captains chairs.

 

[aporthole]

The new industry standard for car seats since Feb 27, 2014 is a lower anchor weight limit of 65 lb of car seat plus child weight. All car seats made since that date will have the math done for you with a max child weight for lower anchor install listed on the stickers of the seat.

The lighter the car seat, the higher the allowed child weight for lower anchor install. The Evenflo SureRide only weighs 10 lb and allows lower anchor usage up to 55 lb child weight.

Some super heavy seats like the Clek Foonf only allow lower anchor usage to 35 lb and the Diono Radians up to 40 lb child weight when used forward-facing.

For the tip & slide feature, using a forward facing seat with a high lower anchor limit as well as putting your lightest weight harnessed child there should give you maximum flexibility.

 

[Jace]

With my 6 yr old in the shoulder belt booster it does not work unless I pull the belt out of the positioner on the booster.

Another FYI for those think of using third-row for child seats, while there is great Latch coverage, my seats the Dino and Britax booster cannot ft properly back there because of the head rests and the fact they cannot be removed, or at least I have not been able to figure out how.

Good question about the head rests...are they not removable?

 

[twernst]

I looked this up when I first attempted to install a Diono in the 3rd row.
The owners manual says they're not removable. I just let the top of the seat rest against the head rest. Why do you think this would be problematic? Sure, it's probably not awesome for the leather, but the seats only go in the Expedition when we're doing something (like towing the trailer) where we can't use the minivan...

Well I have three, 1 in full car seat 1 in backed booster and one sans anything. They all want to sit together until they start punching each other. B/C wife on't let youngest out of full car seat middle sometimes gets a backless booster option in third row so he can sit next to his older sister. She love the middle seat cause she can see everything, I hate cause she uses the drop down seat belt which blocks view when she leaves, then i ave to fuss with it to put it away and I am not sure it sits perfectly/ideally across her shoulders.

Two your question if only using temporarily then I see no real issues, I want them in the permanent as it would free up the captains chairs for adults and make it easier for all to get in and out.

Lastly had some fun with youngest strapped in to her full seat and using the tip and slide. She DOES NOT like me very much when I do that, but hey what are father's for?