Are there some vehicles that you just can't get a good install in with a Radian? - Page 2

[Riverdog]

I have two radians, one forward facing and one rear facing. They are each outboard in my '10 Jeep Patriot, with SOLID installs using latch. The passenger seat is snug, but we can still fit. I can also get solid installs ff in a Hyundai Accent ('03), rf and ff in a Kia Sedona ('03).

I could not ever install safely in an '89 Jeep, or a '95 Nissan Altima. I have not had great luck with seatbelt install due to the narrow frame of the Radian (the seatbelt buckle often gets pulled into the seat). If I couldn't install it with latch, I would probably buy a different seat.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by 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?

just the front seats. But then you can't brace them in the middle row of a sienna... so they tend to over-recline.

-Angela

[moondiapers]

We've installed the radian rear facing in the center and outboard in our 1999 Saturn sl2.

[Amila]

Angela- I just moved DS to the middle 3rd row in my Sienna, so he could RF in his radian longer. Hes only 2, but almost 35 pounds, so I thought it was the best move. No other carseat I bought would keep him that way longer. It installed much better than in the captains chairs, PLUS, the bracing totally eliminates the over-recline issue, which is great. Just an FYI! Its a pain in the butt to get him in and out, but I guess you have to pick your battles.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by Amila

Angela- I just moved DS to the middle 3rd row in my Sienna, so he could RF in his radian longer. Hes only 2, but almost 35 pounds, so I thought it was the best move. No other carseat I bought would keep him that way longer. It installed much better than in the captains chairs, PLUS, the bracing totally eliminates the over-recline issue, which is great. Just an FYI! Its a pain in the butt to get him in and out, but I guess you have to pick your battles.

Thanks! That's what I'm considering. I figure I can take out one of the captain's chairs or load him through the back hatch. I'm used to using that back space (flip the 3rd row up and down often) but I can get used to leaving half of it up all the time. Glad to hear it worked well! Do you have it installed with the belt or LATCH?

-Angela

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by alegna

Thanks! That's what I'm considering. I figure I can take out one of the captain's chairs or load him through the back hatch. I'm used to using that back space (flip the 3rd row up and down often) but I can get used to leaving half of it up all the time. Glad to hear it worked well! Do you have it installed with the belt or LATCH?

-Angela

I used mine for one trip in the 3rd row and didn't have an overrecline issue, even without bracing. It's just the captain's chairs. I couldn't easily get a good install with the belt, so I used latch.

[Amila]

I took out the captains chair behind the driver to create an aisle, and used LATCH in the 3rd row. But according to my manual you have to have all the seatbacks at the same angle, so you can't have half of the back down, unfortunately. HTH!

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by Amila

I took out the captains chair behind the driver to create an aisle, and used LATCH in the 3rd row. But according to my manual you have to have all the seatbacks at the same angle, so you can't have half of the back down, unfortunately. HTH!

Though that is a parental decision (one that I have made myself)...

[nia82]

Ok, so we bought the Sienna XLS 7 passenger 2011 on Saturday. I only have a Britax Boulevard for now, but we installed it in the captain's chair behind the driver's seat (lemme tell you, those latch hooks are HARD to get to), not completely upright, with a slight recline, as DS loves it that way. DH is 5'11" so the seat is scooted back pretty far, but we also scooted the captain's chair back all the way (we don't use the third row for now at all). There is TONS of space between the rearfacing Britax and the driver's seat, at least 2 feet. I cannot imagine the Radian being that much bigger to not fit in there? it must recline then like a bed and be 1 foot taller than the Britax to actually hit the driver's seat. I don't know if the older Sienna has less space though.
I will be checking out a Radian next week in SFO at my MIL's and can take measurements...
Anyways, DS will remain in the Britax til he hits 35 pounds, and the new baby will be in the Maxi Cosi Mico until she outgrows it, so I don't know how soon I really need to buy the Radian then... I was also thinking of buying it on Amazon, it's $220 there and they do take them back if they don't fit, no mess no hassle... Free return shipping!

[an_aurora]

Yes, it really is that much bigger and takes up that much more room. The Britaxes easily and readily go more upright, which saves a ton of room, whereas the Radians are stuck at a 45* angle, and with the tall shell, it takes up a ton of room.

[DahliaRW]

Actually, I can fit a Radian in my sienna with the captain's chair pushed all the way back (the LATCH in the '09 is easy to get to, so I guess they changed it for the worse on the '11). Even over reclined it fits in the sienna. It's just not safe reclined over 45 degrees. Not to mention ds hated being that laid back (before it started overreclining). The CA, on the other hand, fits just fine headrest fully extended (which is taller than the radian) with the captains chair NOT all the way back.

[alegna]

Ditto. I installed a radian in the sienna once and had tons of space.

-Angela

[jillmamma]

I have a RF Radian installed in my 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee for my 8.5 month old DD. She is in the middle of the back row with a seatbelt install (other two kids on either side). Middle fits pretty well, and really is our only option as it is a lap belt and has no tether anchor behind it, and I have one child in a HBB, and one FF that needs a tether, so shoulder belt or tether needed for other 2 positions, so I have not tried it on the side as I can't use the middle for either of my older two. Her seat does recline a lot, but it fits between the 2 front seats, so no problems as far as not being able to move the front seats back. I don't have to worry about airbag sensors either as does not have the newer type. I was able to get it a little more upright by installing as others have suggested here...putting more weight on the part where her feet will go while pulling the belt.

[an_aurora]

I had a Radian in my Jeep Grand Cherokee and it was like the seat was made for the car. It easily installed upright and allowed the front seat to be all the way back! And then I moved to a minivan and couldn't sit in the front seat because the Radian was stuck at a 45* angle.