Kid Safety - No center shoulder belt

[Flank]

So I regularly (every day) tote my three kids around in my 80 and will soon run into a problem that the center seat in the second row has no shoulder belt. All my kids are 70lbs and under at 9 years, 7 years and 4 years, so all require child seating of some sort.

My youngest is in a forward facing harness that does not require a shoulder belt, but she will soon move up to a booster. Boosters require a shoulder harness. This is not a problem in my wife's Expedition with the 70/30 split seats (which has shoulder harness for all seats, incidentally), as two can easily sit in the second row and the third and oldest child can move to the back by bucketing the smallest seat by the door with disturbing the other two seats.

The 80 cannot do this as the seats are 50/50, so you can't easily get access to the back without removing a seat from the second row, and soon I will have an issue putting all three in the second row.

Is there a shoulder harness retro kit? Has anyone found a booster that integrates a should harness?

 

[NLXTACY]

I don't have a solution for the center row. But here is what I did to solve the booster issue
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/how-to-make-sure-your-kid-is-straight-pimpin.272413/#post-4234324

 

[Flank]

Yeah, I read up on that back in the day you showoff , looked terrific, but will not solve my issue.

 

[Walletclan]

I keep the passenger side 2nd row seat up so the bigger kids (age 9 and 6) go to the back. My 4 year old has a child seat behind the driver seat. Problem solved.

 

[NLXTACY]

Yeah, I read up on that back in the day you showoff , looked terrific, but will not solve my issue.

Just showing some ideas

It's since made its way to a happy new owner in Alaska.

 

[Flank]

I keep the passenger side 2nd row seat up so the bigger kids (age 9 and 6) go to the back. My 4 year old has a child seat behind the driver seat. Problem solved.

Not an option. I have one of the rear seats removed for my interior tire carrier, plus I am hauling stuff in the rear of the truck almost constantly. Basically, I need to have all three in the 2nd row.

 

[LS1FJ40]

Couldn't you mount a roll bar behind the 2nd row and go five point safety harness?

 

[bhmmapping]

Check the guidelines for booster seats, your nine year old may be fine in the middle.

I can't find any reference to 70 lbs - it is based on height and proper belt position in every guideline I have seen.

I would be more comfortable with the factory lap belt in the middle than I would be with anything retrofitted.

 

[bmac1996acc]

Install one of these and anchor it to the floor behind the second row.

http://wescoperformance.stores.yaho...googlepepla&utm_medium=adwords&id=62891276046

 

[Flank]

Check the guidelines for booster seats, your nine year old may be fine in the middle.

I can't find any reference to 70 lbs - it is based on height and proper belt position in every guideline I have seen.

I would be more comfortable with the factory lap belt in the middle than I would be with anything retrofitted.

I agree with the factory lap belt being secure to the car, only problem with this is, I don't want any of the kids to be without shoulder belts. Lap belts alone in a frontal collision lead to scrambled insides guts, broken hips, etc.

 

[LS1FJ40]

Check the guidelines for booster seats, your nine year old may be fine in the middle.

I can't find any reference to 70 lbs - it is based on height and proper belt position in every guideline I have seen.

I would be more comfortable with the factory lap belt in the middle than I would be with anything retrofitted.

I agree with the factory lap belt being secure to the car, only problem with this is, I don't want any of the kids to be without shoulder belts. Lap belts alone in a frontal collision lead to scrambled insides guts, broken hips, etc.

I've seen this. My cousin got nearly sliced in half with just a lap belt. It wasn't pretty.

 

[Flank]

Nope, its not:
http://www.freewebs.com/carseatssavelives/seatbeltsyndrome.htm

 

[bhmmapping]

sounds like your family has outgrown your truck then for your needs.

 

[LS1FJ40]

Not an option. I have one of the rear seats removed for my interior tire carrier, plus I am hauling stuff in the rear of the truck almost constantly. Basically, I need to have all three in the 2nd row.

Move your tire back outside on a swing out. Voila, more room inside for humans!

(For the record, this is why I only have two kids.)

 

[Dazrin]

If you are saying that they MUST all be in the second row AND not be in a full child seat AND that they must all have shoulder belts you probably need to look for a new vehicle. I doubt you will be able to find a product that will retro-fit (and meet DOT requirements) a shoulder harness into an existing vehicle.

Personally, I would put my 4 y.o. in a full car seat until they outgrow it. I know ours goes up to 85 lbs so that would give you a little more time. Heck, my 7 y.o. still rides in a full, 5 point, car seat. She doesn't like it, but it keeps her safer.

 

[savvy]

Install one of these and anchor it to the floor behind the second row.

http://wescoperformance.stores.yaho...googlepepla&utm_medium=adwords&id=62891276046

This

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

There is a company that will sell you a kit to be able disable the passengers side airbag. That would add an element of flexibility.

You have to first sign a bunch of paperwork dissolving them of liability. That is the only step I ever completed.

 

[NLXTACY]

There is a company that will sell you a kit to be able disable the passengers side airbag. That would add an element of flexibility.

You have to first sign a bunch of paperwork dissolving them of liability. That is the only step I ever completed.

Well...if thats the case then why not just disconnect the accelerometer that is that yellow thing under the shifter console? Not that I advocate doing so but its the same affect and it also means you disable the driver's side as well. Which,

 

[bmac1996acc]

There is a company that will sell you a kit to be able disable the passengers side airbag. That would add an element of flexibility.

You have to first sign a bunch of paperwork dissolving them of liability. That is the only step I ever completed.

I had this done whwn I had a 350Z and my daughter was in a read facing car seat. NHTSA has a list of installers and like you said fill out the registration paperwork.

 

[Flank]

I guess the truck is just going to have to go up for sale... Sad. Since I just put new tires KM2s and suspension on it...
Uh Huh. sure. Actually, I was hoping there was a rigid booster available that had a built in shoulder belt. I've also found that there are harness seats that take kids that are bigger. That will probably be the solution for now.