Another nice feature is the "rachet tightening" feature of the side-seats in the 2nd row, where you can fasten child seats really well without them coming loose until you let the belt go all the way into the spool again. Just pull the belt all the way out, let it go in again a bit, and see what happens.
Are you limiting your search for a cruiser because of the LATCH anchors? Also, I'm sure you have, but have you checked the weight limit (includes seat & child combined). Assuming a full car seat, and not a booster seat where the seatbelt holds the child.
I only bring up, because I've had both styles and not overly impressed with the latch system. I trust the seatbelt and top tether anchored to rear cargo ring. The seat belt will keep a 180 lb person in the seat, it can handle a car seat & child.
That is EXACTLY what I am saying. Per the owners manual illustration above. LATCH only exists on the driver's side and center seats of the middle row. There are anchors for all three seats. If you use a child seat on the passenger middle row, you need to feed the shoulder belt through the seat to secure the seat. You can then run the anchor strap over the top of the seat.
Also, when using the seat belts, I use a Might-Tight seat belt tentioner. There seems to be mixed opinions on these. In my opinion, it's mostly due to the fact that it gives morons a fighting change to be morons. Used properly, they are brilliant.
There have been threads on this a couple of times. I'm now running three across and honestly I feel that the old-school seat belt is the most secure. It's really no more difficult and I think you can get it tighter than you can the Latch system. Latch may be a bit easier for a quick in/out but to do it right you still need to get over the top of the seat and push down. I always seem to get it tighter with the lap belt. The biggest downside of the lap belt is that it tends to cock the seat at an angle where it pulls up to the shoulder harness.
Also, when using the seat belts, I use a Might-Tight seat belt tentioner. There seems to be mixed opinions on these. In my opinion, it's mostly due to the fact that it gives morons a fighting change to be morons. Used properly, they are brilliant.
CPS isn't a fan. The link does have a good point: using it most likely will absolve the seat manufacturer from any responsibility if something fails. I'd personally rather have a adequately tight seat than a perfectly tight seat that has added unintended variables into a crash. Not saying it's either good or bad, just that anytime you modify a system you're adding risk and unknowns.
Are you limiting your search for a cruiser because of the LATCH anchors? Also, I'm sure you have, but have you checked the weight limit (includes seat & child combined). Assuming a full car seat, and not a booster seat where the seatbelt holds the child.
I only bring up, because I've had both styles and not overly impressed with the latch system. I trust the seatbelt and top tether anchored to rear cargo ring. The seat belt will keep a 180 lb person in the seat, it can handle a car seat & child.
I am just trying to summarize information that I had a hard time finding easily online. My only requirement for fitting three car seats is that every seat have a shoulder belt and a tether anchor point. Based on the reports today...any 2001-2007 LC will do. Thanks for the info everyone!
I have an 04' LX and three kids in 5 point harness seats in the middle row. The seats are all attached via sea belt and rear teather. I do not trust the LATCH system in any vehicle. Seat belts go through an operational test and I have yet to see any proof that the same goes with the LATCH system. Also a good read: http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/w...now-about-new-child-car-seat-latch-rules.html
I've weighed in on another car seat thread but I wanted to remind folks that LATCH is now only recommended for up to 65 lbs total (car seat and child.)
So installation is really the key for either method. I use the seat belt and and extra metal clip to hold the driver side shoulder belt offset from the seat to avoid the tweaking that a shoulder belt can apply to the car seat. It's the same clip that came with the seat I ordered a few online. I use one clip in the normal spot and another about 3-4 inches over. This actually helps tighten the belt pretty well since the second clip installed is the clip closest to seat base. The tether strap runs over the back to a cargo loop but the seat belt is doing the work in this setup.
I use the seat belt in the middle for a baby carrier base also.
Still have room middle row passenger side to either fold the 40% seat for rear access or sit an adult.
I'm about to reconfigure to backward facing car seat in the middle position and put a booster on driver side. The car seat was in the middle before with the first kid. It leaves the most room up front by not restricting the front seats.
Another key is to test fit with your seat in your vehicle. Some seats are wider at the base or the top or deeper when installed than you think they will be. That's another way of saying YMMV.
That is EXACTLY what I am saying. Per the owners manual illustration above. LATCH only exists on the driver's side and center seats of the middle row. There are anchors for all three seats. If you use a child seat on the passenger middle row, you need to feed the shoulder belt through the seat to secure the seat. You can then run the anchor strap over the top of the seat.
I stand corrected, just looked this morning to confirm. My '06 does not have latch on the passenger side second row seat. I currently run a booster on that side which uses the seatbelt so I never looked for the anchors.
I use the seat belt and and extra metal clip to hold the driver side shoulder belt offset from the seat to avoid the tweaking that a shoulder belt can apply to the car seat
I've tried and I can't seem to get the system as tight with the metal clip as I can by cinching up the ALR belt.
According to CPS, I believe we have belt type 2 in the table ("Free-sliding latchplate with ALR or Switchable retractor") which does not require the metal plate. Maybe I'm all messed up and doing it wrong, but I just buckle, pull belt all the way out, push down on center of seat, and ratchet back in until tight. This doesn't take any more time than getting latch buckles securely tight.
And a very minor point, remember to pad below the car seat or you'll end up with a point load on the leather which will create a permanent dimple.
I guess I should also clarify that you're referring to this type of metal clip? According to CPS that is for ELR type belts.
Yes, that's the clip. I didn't know it wasn't needed with our type of shoulder belt but it does a great job of holding the shoulder belt off the seat. I have used a beach towel under the car seat and I think I have a yoga mat under the baby carrier base.
For installation I put my weight on the car seat to get the slack then set the clips. It's pretty tight that way.
Nor did I until I looked it up for this thread! I was just going by how tight I could get it in the car. I suppose I should RTFM when it comes to child seats, eh? In this case intuition aligned with correct practice.
I use the cargo anchor in the rear floor. Its a little off center but it works for the forward facing center seat strap. Don't think thats what its made for. No other anchors in mine, I clip the main strap to the sewn loop in the seat belts. Mine is a 98.
Check out Radian seats if anyone happens to have lots of kids and short space. The bases are narrow and can easily fit two kid seats and have an open seat (or add another kid seat if you are lucky enough to have 3 little kids).
This is me. I currently run 1 Recaro ProRide, 1 Diono Radian RXT and 1 Chicco KeyFit 30 across the sceond row. Eventually everyone of the kids will be in the Radian. They are very nice seats and sit extremely well and support up to 120 lbs in the booster mode.
Nothing in the middle, just the two cargo rings on the outboard on both sides. I'm sure you could fashion a ring by bolting through the floor, but the seat belt is going to be the main tie down in the early 100s.
This is me. I currently run 1 Recaro ProRide, 1 Diono Radian RXT and 1 Chicco KeyFit 30 across the sceond row. Eventually everyone of the kids will be in the Radian. They are very nice seats and sit extremely well and support up to 120 lbs in the booster mode.
That's cool they added a booster mode. I bought one when it was sunshine kids and the next one when the name changed, and noticed subtle differences. Don't think the ones I have convert to boosters though. But yeah, nice seats, we have the travel bag for one and it folds up nice for planes (still heavy though). I'm going to have a party the day my kids outgrow the car seats, so tired of removing and installing those.
