Kids Carseats in older rigs?

kilby

kilby

Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Location
Charlotte, NC
Anybody install extra seatbelts for kids' carseats? Obviously I'm not talking about rock crawling with newborns here, but my 2 year old loves to ride in my truck with me. And I have to use it to pick her up from the baby sitter on occasion... stuff like that.

She still is in a car seat, and there was no LATCH system when my truck was built. So I have it strapped in w/ the center lap belt. Just wondering what some other options might be.

So what have you guys done to make sure the thing is safely mounted?
 
When I finish my runner, I'm going to bolt 2 old truck bed hoops through the floor with plates and bolts underneath. That way along with the seat belt I can put a 1" ratchet strap through the seat and my sons carseat to lock him in a little more than just the belt alone. Wife won't let him wheel with me unless he strapped and cagged in. Maybe this will give you an idea and you'll feel a little safer.
 
I just used the regular seat belt. Depending on how old your truck is, if you pull the belt ALL the way out it'll engage "car seat" mode and ratchet when going back in. Basically it won't let out at all. I just put my knee in the car seat and pull the belt in. I can get it tight enough that the car seat won't move at all. (It's kind hard on the vehicle seats though.)
 
Car seat mode, eh? Is that with a shoulder belt? Good to know... I'd like to move her to the passenger seat for a little room, but lap belts are a lot easier to do w/ carseats.

I'm not stressing too much on this; I've got it pretty much worked out. I just figured that I wasn't the only one thinking this through.
 
Yea, shoulder belts do it too. My 5 y.o. keeps pulling his all the way out and then complains that it keeps getting tighter on him and he can't loosen it.
 
rattlecanpaint said:
I just used the regular seat belt. Depending on how old your truck is, if you pull the belt ALL the way out it'll engage "car seat" mode and ratchet when going back in. Basically it won't let out at all. I just put my knee in the car seat and pull the belt in. I can get it tight enough that the car seat won't move at all. (It's kind hard on the vehicle seats though.)
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This is one of the better methods. The seat should have no movement at all. If you can move it with your hands, imagine the kind of movement you will get in a crash.
 
I'm a child safety seat technician. Been through a 40 hour class for it for work. What you're looking for is less than 1" movement side to side at the belt path. If wheeling I would recommend no movement at the belt path. There are three types of seatbelt. One type is the lap belt you pull on to tighten. One automatically catches when you pull it out fast (or hit something). And the last automatically catches and also ratchets when pulled all the way out. The first and last are acceptable without using a locking clip. The second is not usably without a locking clip. If anyone has any questions feel free to call me and I will be glad to answer them. There is way too much to type on here.

Adam
828-778-4598
 
kilby said:
Where do you get those locking clips?
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Each car seat should have one with it. If not, they are actually supplied to us by Ford Motor Company at the fire department. You might check with your local fire department and see if they have them. If not, I can send you one.
 
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