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radian in a Sienna

1132 Views 13 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  alegna, 
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Okay- talk to me about the over-recline issue.

I have an 08 8 pass Sienna. Currently have ds (2yrs, ~28lbs) in a blvd rf, dd in a safeguard.

Ds seems to be on the same growth curve (give or take) as dd. DD outgrew the blvd rf at 3.5 (by weight for sure- though her's was a 33lb and his is a 35lb) and possibly by height. If not by height, she didn't have long left.

I would rather keep ds rf to 4 or 5 if possible... yeah, that's years away, yeah there will be new seats between now and then. BUT if something comes up and we need to rotate seats (the seat for ds in dh's car expires in a year or so I think, need to check) then I would like to go ahead and get a seat ds can rf longer in.

I have tried installing a radian in the captains chairs- it went in okay. Not as fantastic as britax seats, but perfectly legal on the first try.

As I understand it, the biggest concern is over-rotation/over-recline for bigger kids (which ds would be by then... that's the whole purpose)

My sienna manual does NOT forbid carseats from touching/bracing on seat backs. I've read it cover to cover multiple times looking for it
So- given that, would bracing the seat (good install first, blah blah) help prevent the over-recline/over-rotation issue?

If you made it that far, thanks!


-Angela
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D
If you can brace that should solve the problem. IME, it keeps reclining as the child sits in it over time. This actually happens a bit with all seats, but it's the fact that the radian can't be installed much more upright to being with that is the big issue. When you install it with the the foot back from the seat back to get it more upright, it slides towards the seat. Other seats don't see to do that. My '09 prohibits touching, though. It's in the airbag section, not the child restraint section, so go read that section carefully to be sure. Here it is in the '05 manual: http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?p=641190 so you know what to look for. If it's in '05 and '09 I'd bet you anything it's in the '08.

The CA installs like a dream in the Sienna. The MR is great too, but not for taller kids!
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A
aha! thanks! finally found it. Pages after the quoted area, but arranged similarly. Thanks for the link. Okay- can't brace against the front seats... which leaves the back row if I wanted to brace it... hmm...

-Angela
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NaturallyKait
I've never seen the issue in person, but from what I understand it's only the middle row that has this problem, because you can't brace. I'm pretty sure those having problems were fine when they were moved to the third row.
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D
You actually don't have to brace in the 3rd row. The radian stays at a good angle there anyways. I think because the third row seats are less "squishy".
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S
It is totally possible to get a great upright install in the Sienna, it just take a lot of man power and some time. We have an '06 with leather captains chairs.

It takes DH and I about 20min of some acrobatic endeavors to get it upright and this last install has lasted months without a bit of slipping.

From what I understand it is only the captains chairs that have the issue. You have to install it forward of the bight, in front of the velcro strip.

It is almost like you install it while holding the back of the seat up, making it very upright. Then once it is very tight let it down and scoot the boot back, put pressure above the belt path then tighten, tighten, tighten!

The other thing we had to do (even though I didn't want to) is put a piece of shelf liner under the seat. It does slide on the leather but with the liner it has not shifted.
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A
I have an 8 passenger 2009 Sienna, with two RFing radians in the middle captains chairs. They are definitely reclined the full 45 degrees. My kids don't seem to mind- is this a safety issue? I do re-install/re-tighten them every month or so to get them a bit more upright, but they are still pretty darn reclined. They are pretty much rock solid though, so I know the install is ok.
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D
Quote:

Originally Posted by Amila View Post
I have an 8 passenger 2009 Sienna, with two RFing radians in the middle captains chairs. They are definitely reclined the full 45 degrees. My kids don't seem to mind- is this a safety issue? I do re-install/re-tighten them every month or so to get them a bit more upright, but they are still pretty darn reclined. They are pretty much rock solid though, so I know the install is ok.
It's only an issue if the recline goes greater than 45 degrees. Double check when the child is in the seat. I found mine would recline more when my ds was sitting in the seat.
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P
Oh blarg!

I hadn't even thought to check our owner's manuals (2010 Honda Odyssey and 2011 Toyota Camry) for prohibitions against bracing carseats against the seat in front. Sheesh!! And I thought I had this all figured out.

Darn.
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A
Ok, so now I am really confused. I adjusted my seats so they were more like 35 by pulling the base out of the bite of the seat- it worked like a charm. Then I read the manual and called the company. Apparantly radian xtsls are NOT supposed to be less than 45 degrees RFing regardless of the child's age/weight. They are only supposed to be 45 or greater. And the base has to go into the bit of the seat. Is this correct?!?!
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S
Quote:

Originally Posted by Amila View Post
Ok, so now I am really confused. I adjusted my seats so they were more like 35 by pulling the base out of the bite of the seat- it worked like a charm. Then I read the manual and called the company. Apparantly radian xtsls are NOT supposed to be less than 45 degrees RFing regardless of the child's age/weight. They are only supposed to be 45 or greater. And the base has to go into the bit of the seat. Is this correct?!?!
I am not sure this information is correct. The seat can be more upright that 45 degrees, it can not be reclined more than 45. A recline of over 45 is not safe in any situation as far as I know.

Maybe someone else with chime in here...
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A
Does the radian allow the weird rf tether that goes towards the back of the vehicle? (australian?)

That could help the over-recline issue....

-Angela
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D
Quote:

Originally Posted by alegna View Post
Does the radian allow the weird rf tether that goes towards the back of the vehicle? (australian?)

That could help the over-recline issue....

-Angela
It does not. It only allows the other method where the tether is behind the seat (swedish?).
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A
thanks!

-Angela
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