Infant car seats in TJ

[TheJanitor]

Hello all,

New to owning a jeep but picked up my first 2000 TJ! I would like to put my two year old as well as an infant car seat from time to time. The rear seats belts do not ratchet and lock like newer models. Is that by design and is it safe for rear facing car seats? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[nk24]

Hello all,

New to owning a jeep but picked up my first 2000 TJ! I would like to put my two year old as well as an infant car seat from time to time. The rear seats belts do not ratchet and lock like newer models. Is that by design and is it safe for rear facing car seats? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Welcome to the forum.

The non-ratcheting belts are a problem. I was able to use the LATCH attachments in the center of the rear seat, but I only have one child seat. I don't remember if the 97-02 seat has the LATCH points.

The child seat I have protrudes between and touches both of the front seats. It would not fit directly behind either of the front seats without sliding them forward significantly. I'm tall so I need the front seat all the way back.

I have a hard top on most of the time so the fun part about getting the kid in and out of the seat is that I have to go through the tailgate.

 

[CreepinDeth]

Anything you are not seeing can be added by a competent welder, machinist, fabricatir, etc hell even ratcheting straps would work if done correctly (therein lies the problem)

Just need some latch points put into it.
Keep in mind all of us grew up WITHOUT any of this and in far more dangerous tanks of vehicles.

So “ Safety” is really subjective
IMO the existing restraint system is fine

 

[LONGJP2]

I didn't even know ratcheting seat belts existed.
The seat belt should have no issues holding the car seat.
IIRC, there are LATCH attachments near the tailgate on the floor. Not sure if all years have them.
Here's some more info.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/child-seat-anchors.20223/

If your plan is to go topless, I would like to point out not every kid enjoys it.
It's way more windy than the front seat and can be a little scary for some kids.
At least they won't be sitting next to an open door on the highway like in a JK/JL.

Here's my kids in the back of my CJ8 about 20 years ago.

 

[red02tj]

Replace the seatbelts! Seatbeltplanet.com will add the locking retractor. There was a reason they were added to all new cars after 2002ish…they work. Thankfully I walked away and the kids had already been dropped off, but the infant seat didn’t move more than and inch.

 

[red02tj]

If your plan is to go topless, I would like to point out not every kid enjoys it.

^this…LJ sunshade on the TJ made a huge difference for the kids.

 

[nk24]

IIRC, there are LATCH attachments near the tailgate on the floor.

These are for forward facing seats. Rear facing seats for infants can’t use them.

Seatbeltplanet.com will add the locking retractor.

Thanks for this. I’ll have to look into it.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Though the belt feed didn't ratchet, I found the buckles to have a cinching effect that when pulled tight, did not allow the belt to loosen and held the seat effectively (didn't move more than an inch side to side with me yanking on it). Caveat was that if the interior was particularly dusty it would work loose, so I remember cleaning the seatbelts a time or two.

My oldest was already forward facing when we got a Jeep, but my youngest started rear facing. He didn't like going topless, I think the aerodynamics make it so the wind whips around and hits them directly in the face. After him pitching a fit the entire time for one topless drove I just waited until he was forward facing. He's 5 and he loves it now, and his seat connects via latch now that we're in an LJ.

 

[CreepinDeth]

I didn't even know ratcheting seat belts existed.

Ratcheting straps, not seat belts
You can ratchet down the base of any car seat.

Newer vehicles have those 2 bars in between upper and lower seat and pull straps with hooks hold it there.

For babies, the carrier detaches from the base
The seat belt is something entirely different, and an extra layer

 

[Foxhound67]

I put both of my kids seats in my 99, I wasn't happy at all with how unsecure they felt. I bought a pair of these and now they are tighter than any seat I've ever installed, bonus it only costs like $7.

 

[Succentor]

Ratcheting straps, not seat belts
You can ratchet down the base of any car seat.

Newer vehicles have those 2 bars in between upper and lower seat and pull straps with hooks hold it there.

For babies, the carrier detaches from the base
The seat belt is something entirely different, and an extra layer

I think he’s talking about the inertia reel belts which when fully extended ratchet back so the seat is firmly held in place. Later model inertia belts do that.

 

[ColoJeep]

Hello all,

New to owning a jeep but picked up my first 2000 TJ! I would like to put my two year old as well as an infant car seat from time to time. The rear seats belts do not ratchet and lock like newer models. Is that by design and is it safe for rear facing car seats? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Try fully pulling the seatbelt all the way out of the retractor , then slowly allow it to retract . That's how it works on our 98 4Runnerand they ratchet down tight !

 

[kingofenglund]

I have a 2004 and the seat belts don't lock in after pulling them all the way out as well. Are there any TJ seat belts that do do this? I'd love to throw the car seats in as well.