Booster or Car Seat Options for taller kids

[PabloVTA]

Looking for ideas on which car seats you guys have success with.
My son is 7 years old now, wont be the age limit till October. But I want him to go onto the Rubicon with me this summer.
He's pretty tall, but not the 4'9" ht limit yet. (currently he's 4'3")
I want him in a 5 pointer, but my '94 only has the seat belt to hold it in place.

His old 5 pointer is too small and I really don't want to drop $200 on another booster seat for just 9 months.
In California: As of January 1, 2012, all children must ride in car seat or booster seat until they are at least 8 years old or at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. In addition, all kids younger than 8 years old, must be secured in the back seat.

Any ideas? which models do you run?
Any mods for attaching them better so they don't slide around so much while at a serious incline or twist?

Has anyone got any ideas for adding seat belts to the rear seat attachment points?

Obviously he'll be out of the truck for the majority of the run,and anything mildly sketchy...but I would like to know what you guys are using for the whoops in the desert, etc.

* when he was born, the old rule was 6 years, 60#, now it's 4' 9" and 8, next year it'll be 5 feet and 12...watch.
Thanks.

 

[Brentbba]

Best solution is to move out of the PRK! Pretty soon YOU will need a booster seat! At what point to the psychologists get in on this about it damaging the mental well being of these older kids in car seats like infants! Sheez!!

 

[sdnative]

I really like the simplicity and low cost of the Graco turbo booster, but it is not a harness (we picked up a couple last Thanksgiving for $29 each)

Proir to that we used a Britax Frontier 85 which is a 5 point harness and can grow with the child. It was a great seat but like most Britax pretty bulky.

 

[PabloVTA]

yeah, I've had Britax and Graco's too. Problem is..he's too tall for the 5 pointers, and our seats aren't equipped with the speedy clips at the bottom like the new trucks have.

I don't want to weld in nutserts just to fab up some racing harness.

Does the TLCA have the same rules as the CHP?

**I hear ya Brent, wha the heck does a booster seat do anyway? lift them up just so they can see out a window?

 

[sdnative]

The LATCH system is a convenience feature anyway, so not a big deal. I would rather rely on a good old fashioned seatbelt rather that the LATCH.

The two outside positions should use ratcheting shoulder belts? You can also stuff a towel underneath the seat to make it sit better. I have had good success with putting my knee and body weight into the seat when tightening it down, and using a towel and the ratcheting belt. It was plently tight.

 

[PabloVTA]

he's just gunna have to Man up I guess. Nuthin a ratchet strap won't fix.....LOL.