I have a 2000 D2. With the addition of our 4th son (Due in July), my family (boys, wife, and I) will no longer fit in our Avalanche. Fitting for car seats in the Disco is my first choice, with buying another bigger vehicle being a waaaaaaaaay distant 2nd option. We use big car seats. 2 Recaro Prosports, 1 Recaro Signo 2 and a Britax Chaperone infant seat. In any combination, only 2 will fit in the backseat, 3 are too wide.

I know installing on the jumpseats is not recommended. So, I want to mount to of the seats in the cargo area where the jumpseats would go. I am not sure if fabricating some sort of mount would be possible or if I could safely mount to the floor with the location of the gas tank. If I am going to do this, I am thinking I will take out the backseat and mount all 4 car seats the same way. This way all of the car seats would have distance from the doors in the event of a side impact. Also, would allow for optimum placing of infant carrier base for ease of my wife loading/locking the carrier when the new guy is weighing it down.

A few thoughts I have... Maybe steel tracks/plate that run the length of the front of the forward car seats (Old 2nd Row) to the back of the rear car seats (new 3rd row)? Try to find some of those mini-van tracks that allow those seats to be forward/backwards or something similar? Mount full seats and install car seats on them or only use seat bases, like used on captains chairs and mounting to them?

I can see opening the back door and the 3 older boys using the spring step to climb in and get to their seats.

Again, these are thoughts, not sure which way I will go. I promised my wife we would not buy a minivan. Though, we both really like (Well, I really like, she is ok with) a Sprinter van. I have to admit that I 'Built' a new Sprinter on the website yesterday and searched for available used ones. Would really prefer to wait awhile on that move.

Anyone have any experience or insight with getting 4 big car seats into a D2? Any and all input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Ross

 

So, in a nutshell, what you are asking is if you can/should modify your trucks seating just to fit four car seats.

Sell the avalanche, buy the sprinter. Call it a day. Or look at the chevy traverse. Will seat 7 car seats comfortably. Dont modify your truck's seating, especially where kids are concerned.

 

You are in total denial.
You cannot safely install the car seats that way.
You could (I assume you have 3rd row) put the oldest in the 3rd row and the youngest in the 2nd row, the only problem with the 3rd row is if you are rear ended there is little to no crumple zone and glass will cover them.
I used to drive a Sprinter, great vans for MPG (20's) and room, but plagued with bugs.
Sorry to say but you are going to have to suck it up and buy a main stream mini van like my wife and I are doing.
We are getting a Kia Sedona.

 

I really hope this thread is a joke.

 

Bolting those seats in there like that might affect the resale value a bit.

 

Also, the tracks could be designed so that the seats snap in for easy removal. Then the track design could be duplicated on the roof for travel on nice days or for scenic off road adventures.

 

Your joking right?? Please tell me your not going to actually do this!!! Its kind of like the car seat with the gas can and kid on the seat deal...
Mom cited for strapping gas can in baby

 

Spike,

As I want to take the family on numerous roadtrips around the country, the mpg's were a huge attraction to the Sprinter. Especially with the alternative being either horrible mpg C Class RV's or not much better mpg full sized SUV's. Curious, how long was your experience with the Sprinter, was it a commercial or a consumer and what were some of the bugs you mentioned. What year/how long ago did you drive it? Wondering if some of those bugs have been worked out. I have not done much research on the end user experience, was pretty much sold on the interior space, safety of the heavy duty frame and of course the mpg. Before I get hammered, yes I know this is a LR forum. However, anything you can share about the driving experience would be great.

Thanks,
Ross

 

Not speaking for Spike but as someone who fixes these things(Sprinters) day in and out, it generally noy that bad as they once were. Mercedes has taken over Sprinter, so quality has improved vastly overthe Dodge days. I would recommend an extended warranty because when big items do fail, they cost alot. But now its all small items. The commercial use Sprinters take a beating and repairs are always more expensive becauae their drivers keep on going, making small problems even larger. The private use Sprinters are always less headache free.