Protection for LATCH top tether

[NorthShoreLC]

File this under mundane, but I know a lot of you guys have kids so I'm looking for some advice. I just turned my youngest son's car seat around to face forward and I have the top tether run over the seat back and attached to the LATCH point in the cargo area.

The strap compresses the leather and foam in the seat pretty severely and after just a week or so it is leaving a pretty good divot. I can't imagine what it will be like after a couple of years.

Proper installation and safety are my first concern, but I wonder whether any of you have found a product or an install technique that doesn't completely destroy the seat.

Something like a steel bar that runs between the headrest mounts horizontally across the seat top to accept the tether would seem ideal but no such thing seems to exist.

Thanks!

 

[marcfj60]

I had those top tethers on for about 2 years. When they moved up to boosters, I took the tethers off and had the same issue. But the dents went away after a few weeks so it didn't leave anything permanent. I still deal with the lingering filth of putting kids back there though.

 

[tj43]

I had the same issue. I folded a microfiber towel and placed it between the seat and the strap. The foam is still compressed some, but it distributes the load across more of the seat and stops the leather from creasing.

 

[ChuckB]

I'm turning my twins around in about 4 months to face forward. Good to know. Thank you.

 

[NorthShoreLC]

Thanks guys. I threw a towel under the strap, too. Glad to know the divot pops back out.

 

[patrickfinley]

Same for me, folded washcloth under the strap contact point.

 

[TXLX100]

I have two forward facing seats tethered to the cargo ring and the leather is all smashed. Good to know it might return to normal someday.

One tip I found useful is to secure the seat belt as tight as possible and then secure the top tether, the seat is much more snug that way (and also smashes the top of the seat real good!).

 

[nakman]

The other trick is lean the seat back a few clicks, secure everything, then bring the seat back forward again- stuff feels rock solid.

So glad I'm down to just one kid in a booster, and one who can ride without one.. still deal with the "filth" though, lol.

 

[Rover4]

The strap compresses the leather and foam in the seat pretty severely and after just a week or so it is leaving a pretty good divot.

To me, it sounds like your tether strap is cinched down too tight. I have two Britax car seats and the installation instructions say to hook over a designated vehicle tether anchor and remove slack. So that's what I did. No divot required. The purpose of the tether strap is to minimize forward motion during a frontal impact. If I grab one of my car seats with both hands and pull it forward, the movement is minimal, a couple inches at most.

 

[3D FJ]

Why don't you go to buy buy baby and Getty the two piece seat protector made by lion heart. Protects the seat bottom and back from any creases or folds or compression. I have two for the truck and it works great. In my wife's Audi, I don't use it (lease) and the seats have stretch marks where the car seat was placed

 

[NorthShoreLC]

I have always used a seat protector that does a decent job on the bottom and back. It's the top tether that's new.

Good question about over tightening the tether. I'll take a look. I didn't really crank down on it as I recall, but felt like it needed the tension to stop the forward motion.

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

I have always used a seat protector that does a decent job on the bottom and back. It's the top tether that's new.

Good question about over tightening the tether. I'll take a look. I didn't really crank down on it as I recall, but felt like it needed the tension to stop the forward motion.

Try doubling up with a second Lionheart seat protector over the top.

The fold that the Lionheart has for the forward seat bottom might work for the top too. Just put a second one on, upside down.

Sent from my iPad using IH8MUD

 

[3D FJ]

On mine, the seat back protector is separate from the seat bottom protector. I just raise the seat back part, and have it roll over the top of the seat and then install the car seat. No problem with mine making any marks and i put almost my 180lb body on the seat as i tighten it.