RF installation on a 04 Santa Fe

[LissaB]

I can not for the life of me figure it out:( We've been using what we thought were the anchors under the two side seats with our old car seat but the latch belt that comes with the radian doesn't fit!!!

So, either I was using the wrong anchors (very scary thought) or I'm doing something extremely wrong. I just can't figure it out and want to bang my head against the wall.

PLEASE HELP!!!

[LissaB]

I'm embarrassed to admit that we were in fact using the wrong anchors with my sons infant carseat:( I feel awful:( I found the right anchors and have the radian in place but just needs to be tightened which seems impossible for me to do. Hopefully hubby can do it when he gets home.

[crunchierthanthou]

Is it in the middle or one of the outboard positions? Do you have the rf base on it?

[LissaB]

Is it in the middle or one of the outboard positions? Do you have the rf base on it?

It's in the middle with the rf base on:)

[An Aurora]

Not sure if you can use LATCH in the center in Hyundais.

The RF installation of Radians with LATCH is super easy normally. Can you clarify why the LATCH belt won't fit? Are you using the correct belt route?

[LissaB]

Not sure if you can use LATCH in the center in Hyundais.

The RF installation of Radians with LATCH is super easy normally. Can you clarify why the LATCH belt won't fit? Are you using the correct belt route?

I got it; but now I'd like to know about the center seat latch issue.

I thought the latch was supposed to be the safest option! If I can't use the latch in the center, can I put it rf on a side seat or no?

[crunchierthanthou]

LATCH and seatbelts are equally safe. Some vehicles do not allow LATCH installations in the center seat. Check your vehicle owner's manaul, but I believe Hyundai does not allow it. You can still install in the center using the seatbelt.

[LissaB]

Can someone explain why I can't use the latch? I just want to know the technical reasons why. Also, would it be safer to leave the latch on and also use the lapbelt? I mean, won't that be double the safety?

Also, I know that this is a car seat site and that there will be really passionate responses so please understand that I am trying to educate myself and don't want a lecture or made to feel like a bad parent /end disclaimer:)


Thanks!!!!

[Christi61315]

I used to have the tuscon which is simular to the santa fe and I could only use latch in the sides and not in the middle.. You would have to have 6 latch anchors to be able to use the center and I to dont think Hyundai does that.. I dont think they test the 2 outboard latch conectors using a seat in the middle.. if that makes sense...

[ThreeBeans]

I have a 2003 Santa Fe.

1. You CANNOT use LATCH in the center. Lower anchors are a whole set, not two individual hooks. If you 'borrow' the hooks from the outboard positions, you are using two halves of separate wholes, not a single whole. Unsafe. You must use the seatbelt to install.

2. LATCH is NOT safer than seatbelt. It is the exact same safety. It is supposed to be easier, but it's certainly no easier than lap belt installation ;)

3. You absolutely CANNOT use both LATCH and a seatbelt. It's one or the other. :)

[crunchierthanthou]

Can someone explain why I can't use the latch? I just want to know the technical reasons why. Also, would it be safer to leave the latch on and also use the lapbelt? I mean, won't that be double the safety?

Also, I know that this is a car seat site and that there will be really passionate responses so please understand that I am trying to educate myself and don't want a lecture or made to feel like a bad parent /end disclaimer:)


Thanks!!!!

I'm sure no one wants to make you feel lectured or like you're a bad parent. I certainly don't, but I know I can sometimes be a bit... exuberant when it comes to this stuff. I'm sorry if I've come off as being harsh. :o

Using LATCH in the center without a third set of dedicated lower anchors is called borrowing. It's only allowed if it's specifically stated in both your vehicle and carseat owner's manuals (which SK does allow, but Hyundai does not).

There are specific standards for LATCH anchors, including spacing. And while they may look the same from the outside, there are two ways in which they are connected to the vehicle frame. There is a bar connecting the two anchors for the seating position. Some vehicles are like this: o_o o_o (no bar in the center seat) and some look like this: o_o_o_o (where they are all connected). Vehicles that do not allow borrowing either have no bar in the center to support the anchors or have non-standard anchor spacing or both. (note: some vehicles with non-standard anchor spacing still allow center LATCH, but that's where your carseat manual comes in. most carseats do not allow for that).

You cannot use both lower anchors and a seatbelt to install. The carseat and vehicle manuals will specifically say to use one or the other. The carseat may have been tested this way and failed or not been tested at all. Seatbelts will stretch in a collision and carseats are designed for that. Two belt systems may restrain the carseat too much and not allow it to function correctly or one belt may interfere with the other's ability to function properly.

[LissaB]

nak

ty!!! this is exactly the kind of response I was looking for:) Makes complete sense and yet you didnt make me feel like a donkeys behind for asking. thanks again!!!

I'm sure no one wants to make you feel lectured or like you're a bad parent. I certainly don't, but I know I can sometimes be a bit... exuberant when it comes to this stuff. I'm sorry if I've come off as being harsh. :o

Using LATCH in the center without a third set of dedicated lower anchors is called borrowing. It's only allowed if it's specifically stated in both your vehicle and carseat owner's manuals (which SK does allow, but Hyundai does not).

There are specific standards for LATCH anchors, including spacing. And while they may look the same from the outside, there are two ways in which they are connected to the vehicle frame. There is a bar connecting the two anchors for the seating position. Some vehicles are like this: o_o o_o (no bar in the center seat) and some look like this: o_o_o_o (where they are all connected). Vehicles that do not allow borrowing either have no bar in the center to support the anchors or have non-standard anchor spacing or both. (note: some vehicles with non-standard anchor spacing still allow center LATCH, but that's where your carseat manual comes in. most carseats do not allow for that).

You cannot use both lower anchors and a seatbelt to install. The carseat and vehicle manuals will specifically say to use one or the other. The carseat may have been tested this way and failed or not been tested at all. Seatbelts will stretch in a collision and carseats are designed for that. Two belt systems may restrain the carseat too much and not allow it to function correctly or one belt may interfere with the other's ability to function properly.

[LissaB]

I'm back:) We moved him to the side FFing since we have a new baby on the way and need the center for the infant carrier. I just want to make sure I can use the latch FFing in this car on the side.

When I installed it, it was a little loose, so I used the foam pool tube under the front to keep it nice and tight.

Does that sound correct?

Thanks in advance!!

[Jeanum]

Good idea to try out seat installations in preparation for the new baby. :thumbsup: Are you using a pool noodle with the infant seat, or with the forward facing Radian you mentioned you have in your earlier posts? If it's the forward facing Radian, then no, sorry, pool noodles are only to be used for rear facing seats that allow a pool noodle to be used at the vehicle seat crease (bight) to increase the rear facing recline angle. Pool noodles are not allowed with forward facing installations. The Radian doesn't even allow use of pool noodles for rear facing due to its rear facing recline leg. What you can try with the forward facing Radian, instead of a pool noodle, is to extend the Radian's forward facing only recline foot built into the bottom of the Radian's base along the front edge. There's a small blurb about it in the Radian's manual. Extending it might help you achieve a tighter forward facing installation with less than 1 inch of movement at the Radian's belt path. Note the built-in forward facing recline foot is entirely different from the Radian's rear facing only recline leg, which is a separate/removable part.

Another thing to consider, if the carseats can be properly installed side by side, would be to install the infant seat on the side, and the forward facing Radian in the center of the back seat. This would follow the general rule of thumb of placing the least protected child in the most protected position in the back seat, which translates into placing the forward facing child in the center, and the rear facing baby, who is more protected by virtue of being rear facing, on the side. If this isn't workable for you, don't sweat it. What really counts is getting both seats properly installed, and you might also find it necessary to install each carseat on the sides of the back seat to separate the kiddos if the older one tries to "help" a little too enthusiastically with the new baby. :)