4 carseats in a 1998 Plymouth Voyager - please help me with the configuration

[elisheva]

I'm having tether points (for use with FFing seats) installed tomorrow afternoon and I'm second guessing their placement...please help me configure.

We have 4 carseats - 1 Sunshine Kids Radian XL FFing, 1 SKR XL RFing, 1 Britax Roundabout RFing, and soon we will have 1 Graco SafeRide for new baby due in a few weeks.

Right now our set up is:

• ds4.5 FFing in the 3rd row, drivers side
• ds2.75 RFing in the 3rd row, passenger side
• dd18mo RFing in the middle row (captains chair), drivers side
• captains chair on passenger side is in storage in the basement so the RF SKR doesn't have to lean on anything

1. Where would you add the SafeRide? How would you reconfigure? I can't think of a way to do it that maintains optimum safety AND ease of access. Would you do 3 across the back or would you add the missing captains chair back to the middle row?
2. If I do 3 across the back, can I put the FFing SKR  in the middle with only a lap belt and a tether? This seems unsafe to me but I long ago learned that carseat safety isn't intuitive...
3. If I add the captains chair back in, should I keep ds2.75 RFing even though his seat will then be resting HEAVILY on the seat in front?

Ugh. If you  can help me with this, you deserve a medal.

[chickabiddy]

Are your Radians XTs or XTSLs?  Is the Graco seat a Snugride or a MyRide?

[SynEpona]

Since I have a vehicle with only 3 tethers, and always want to use that ONE seat that doesn't have it ... I'd put a tether in for every rear seating position if you can. Then, you don't run out of options b/c of tethering.

I can't get my vehicle retrofitted, so I'm stuck with one 3rd row seat that is not that useful, as I have no one old/mature enough for a booster, and it's the last place I want to put a RFng seat.

For your DS2.75, is his RFng seat more upright? I know the Radians can be a pain to install more upright, but that would keep it from interfering with the seat in front, and that 45deg recline is not critical at his age.

[elisheva]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy 

Are your Radians XTs or XTSLs?  Is the Graco seat a Snugride or a MyRide?

XTSL. They are he 2010 model year. The Graco is a SafeRide infant seat.

[elisheva]

Originally Posted by SynEpona 

Since I have a vehicle with only 3 tethers, and always want to use that ONE seat that doesn't have it ... I'd put a tether in for every rear seating position if you can. Then, you don't run out of options b/c of tethering.

I can't get my vehicle retrofitted, so I'm stuck with one 3rd row seat that is not that useful, as I have no one old/mature enough for a booster, and it's the last place I want to put a RFng seat.

For your DS2.75, is his RFng seat more upright? I know the Radians can be a pain to install more upright, but that would keep it from interfering with the seat in front, and that 45deg recline is not critical at his age.

I'm fine wih ds2.75 being more upright but I have NO idea how to install i this way without leaving off the plastic base (which I thought was a no-no). I'm a sizeable person and even wih almost all my weight on the seat, I still can't manage to get the angle any greater than 45 degrees.

To be clear, I'm not looking to tether my RFing seats as I understood you can't for the Radians...

Can I install a FFing Radian in a lap-belt only position as long as there is a tether?

[chickabiddy]

Radians can tether rear-facing.

Harnessed seats can be safely installed with lap belt and tether.

[elisheva]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy 

Harnessed seats can be safely installed with lap belt and tether.

Thank you. This helps immensely.

[SynEpona]

Originally Posted by elisheva 

I'm fine wih ds2.75 being more upright but I have NO idea how to install i this way without leaving off the plastic base (which I thought was a no-no). I'm a sizeable person and even wih almost all my weight on the seat, I still can't manage to get the angle any greater than 45 degrees.

To be clear, I'm not looking to tether my RFing seats as I understood you can't for the Radians...

Can I install a FFing Radian in a lap-belt only position as long as there is a tether?

In your other thread, you got a reply directing you to a great site for very specific info to get a Radian more upright ... it's not always easy, but it can be done! It's about the only time I like to have a helper when I install a seat -- I get the seat where I want it, and then ask them to tighten the strap for the LATCH/UAS or seatbelt.

You CAN tether your RFng Radians, it's a different sort of thing than doing the FFng tethers, and I'm pretty sure it's illustrated in the manual, ours was tethered when it was RFng :)

And you got the answer already to the other.

[elisheva]

Um, I didnt post another thread about getting a radian more upright but sounds like one id like to read...link please?