Are there some vehicles that you just can't get a good install in with a Radian?

[nadia105]

After having several Marathons (which we LOVE), we got dd a Radian 80 a couple years ago b/c iot was narrow and we could fit 3 across in our Saturn when necessary (main vehicle for kid hauling is a 2002 Venture). We can get a decent install only in the center of the Saturn (with a LOT of effort), I cannot seem to get a tight fit in the van at all, or outboard in the Saturn.

DD is 7.5 and in a HBB 99% of the time (harnessed the other 1%), but I am thinking that the Radian could be great for the new babe due in April. We never used it RF b/c dd was 5 when we got it, maybe the rf install would be easier? I'd put it in the van since we can't fit everyone in that Saturn once there are 6 of us.

Any install tips appreciated!

[mamadelbosque]

Absolutely. Radians are *HUGE* front-back rear facing, *ESPECIALLY* for newborns/young babies, cause' they have to be so reclined. Later on it tends to still be huge cause' its *SO* hard to get an upright install with. I had a raidian briefly but as I couldn't get it installed satisfactorilly I returned it. Definetly try it rfing before baby is born, to be sure. GOod luck!!

[amyhulen]

We had a Radian 80 and it absolutely would not fit in the back seat of our 2007 Toyota Tacoma no matter what I did to install it front facing. I ended up having to sell it at a loss because I couldn't return it despite it not being used.

[KaliShanti]

Installs like a dream in my Hyundai Elantra. This is semi-upright for an older baby.

[KLM99]

We have a Radian - not sure what type, but it is super tall when installed rear facing. We have to have the front seat pushed all the way forward in our Mazda 3 (which is a super little car anyway) so we can use it for our son (who just turned one). That said, love it. Just feeling a little scrunched in the passenger seat for a while

[nadia105]

Thanks mamas. I'll have to give the RF a try some day when I feel like wrestling with the darn thing for a bit.

Maybe I just need to get better with the locking clip to get a tighter fit ff for dd now. I have an awful time trying to use that thing!

[red and lulu]

I have a Radian 65 rf in my Subaru outback. The passenger seat has to be pushed way up to accommodate the incline of the car seat. It drives me nuts. I can't put it in the middle. FF is fine, but dd isn't ready for that yet. I have found that I can only get a good fit using the latch, if I use the seatbelt its lousy.

[Mrs-Mama]

We have had good installs with our Radians FFing and RFing in our Saturn Vue and in our Toyota Sienna (8-passenger). At first, DH said he could get a better install using the seatbelt (FFing) than the LATCH but then he figured out some way to pull it tighter even with the LATCH. I really don't see how a Radian would fit in anything RFing unless it is in the middle seat where there is a little bit of opening toward the front...it does take up quiet a bit of space. That is the reason we decided to go with the 8-passenger Sienna...just to give us that middle seat.

[MJB]

I can install it RFing in about 10 seconds with the seatbelt in my Mazda5. I had it installed with a locking clip and seatbelt in my old Volvo both RFing and FFing; it took some work but that was the locking clip's fault and I actually found the Radian easier than some because of how easy it is to get to the seatbelt under the cover.

[DahliaRW]

There are definitely vehicles where a belt install of a radian is impossible. There are definitely vehicles where it is impossible to get a radian installed rfing due to room. And there are defintely vehicles where the radian overreclines with time or with taller/heavier kids. So yes, it is not compatible with every vehicle!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by Mrs-Mama

We have had good installs with our Radians FFing and RFing in our Saturn Vue and in our Toyota Sienna (8-passenger). At first, DH said he could get a better install using the seatbelt (FFing) than the LATCH but then he figured out some way to pull it tighter even with the LATCH. I really don't see how a Radian would fit in anything RFing unless it is in the middle seat where there is a little bit of opening toward the front...it does take up quiet a bit of space. That is the reason we decided to go with the 8-passenger Sienna...just to give us that middle seat.

How often do you have to reinstall rf in the sienna? I have a sienna 8 pass too and would like a rf seat to keep ds rf longer but I'm scared off right now by the radian reviews. How big/heavy is the child you rf in it?

thanks!

-Angela

[an_aurora]

Angela I have not heard good things about the Scenera RF in the Sienna.

[DahliaRW]

I have personal experience in an '09 with a rfing Sienna. My son was around 35-36" and 30-33lbs at the time and it overreclined badly. Would have had to reinstall every few days. Bought a complete air and the problem was solved!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by an_aurora

Angela I have not heard good things about the Scenera RF in the Sienna.

Exactly- which is why I was wondering the variables here if they had some trick or it was just a little baby or what

I would like a seat to keep ds rf longer than his blvd, but I won't buy a complete air... and other than a radian there's not yet another good choice. Contemplating moving him to the back row at that point but hoping something better hits the market before then OR there is some way to fix the radian install issues.

-Angela

[treeoflife3]

I have my 19 month old in an rf xtsl in an 08 prius. The front seat doesn't allow for my husband to be comfortable but its perfect for me. It was a bit more cramped in our 07 elantra but still rideable (and I did ride in it that way, for a 12 hour trip)

[nia82]

So DS weighs 32lbs and will outgrow his Britax Boulevard soon and I will have to buy the radian xtsl to remain rearfacing. We will buy a Sienna 2011 7 passenger 4wd soon, will I have troubles with the radian then?

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by nia82

So DS weighs 32lbs and will outgrow his Britax Boulevard soon and I will have to buy the radian xtsl to remain rearfacing. We will buy a Sienna 2011 7 passenger 4wd soon, will I have troubles with the radian then?

I don't know if they changed the seats for the 2011, but I know the issues continue through 2010. So it's hard to know. There are other 40lb rfing seats, however. So you do have options and you don't have to get a radian.

[an_aurora]

Originally Posted by alegna

Exactly- which is why I was wondering the variables here if they had some trick or it was just a little baby or what

I would like a seat to keep ds rf longer than his blvd, but I won't buy a complete air... and other than a radian there's not yet another good choice. Contemplating moving him to the back row at that point but hoping something better hits the market before then OR there is some way to fix the radian install issues.

-Angela

The trick is to get a different seat . The new Britaxes RF to 40 pounds and so do the new Evenflos. If you need the height for RF I guess you just have to decide if you hate Evenflo or Dorel more than FF . I have a Complete Air for my 5 yo (only seat on the market she can RF in) and it's fine. Not as solid as the Radian but so much easier to install.

Oh, and does your Sienna have the air bag warning? I know some years do, some years don't...

[alegna]

Originally Posted by an_aurora

The trick is to get a different seat . The new Britaxes RF to 40 pounds and so do the new Evenflos. If you need the height for RF I guess you just have to decide if you hate Evenflo or Dorel more than FF . I have a Complete Air for my 5 yo (only seat on the market she can RF in) and it's fine. Not as solid as the Radian but so much easier to install.

Oh, and does your Sienna have the air bag warning? I know some years do, some years don't...

Yeah, mine has the airbag warning- hard to find and not listed in the same places as some, but I did finally find it

I'll move him to the back row before I buy dorel or evenflo. I can do that (and it can be braced there and the over-rotation doesn't seem to be an issue in the back row. He's getting closer on height than weight, but weight isn't far off (he's 27-28lbs now and seems to be on the same curve as dd- she outgrew her 33lb blvd by height and weight at the same time at 3.5) So I expect I have another year, and then we're talking buying a new seat to keep a 3.5yr old rf.... so... sigh. If we were talking about a barely 2 yr old it would be different.

I'm EVER so pissed that the new britaxes have shorter shells- could just spit nails. I would have bought one if it was higher.

-Angela

[nia82]

Those airbag sensors, what do you mean, for the front seats or the 2nd row captain's chairs? I thought as long as the Radian doesn't touch the front or passenger seat we're good?