Need help with 3 across back of Volvo V70

[KMCjuly03]

I have a 2003 Volvo V70. Currently, I have a FF Marathon (behind passenger), FF Radian (middle) and RF Companion. The baby has outgrown the infant seat and I need to get him into a convertible seat. I have 2 Radians and 4 Marathons to work with and can't get them to fit. My DH tried the Marathon RF in the middle and side positions but the base seems to be too wide when RF - he says it will fit FF? We can go to 3 Radians but that means buying 4 more seats in order to equip both our cars - I wanted to check here first to see if anyone had helpful hints or words of wisdom on a configuration that will work with what we already own. Trying desperately to make it work so I can keep my current car!! Thanks so much......

[groovymom2000]

Unfortunately, 3 across in a V70 is very difficult. I have an '04, and a radian and a marathon. I don't have any RF passengers, though. The problems with the center position is that the distance between the seatbelts is incredibly narrow--IIRC, it's about 10.5 inches. The center belt also comes out at the top at an odd angle. I can get the MA FF in the center, and like that install much better than a FF radian in the center, but can you get 2 FF Radians side by side? One with the belt(center) and the other with LATCH on one side? If so, then try to leave the center one, and try the other Radian RF on the side. Then you'll know if 3 radians will fit across. (and post back, b/c I've always wanted to know, but am too lazy to go to the store and try it!)

As far as working with the Marathon--try to install it using the belt instead of LATCH--sometimes that allows you to scoot it over to the side a smidgen more.

Have you tried putting the Radian RF outboard and the MA center FF(one FF child) and then another Radian FF outboard? I seem to recall that configuration working for someone else(not sure of the car, though.)You may have to play around with installs with LATCH and seatbelt, depending on the seat.

How old and what weights are your children? What is your other car(meaning, not sure why you have to have 4 more radians, unless your other car is a Volvo as well)?

I'll think about it some more--let me know what you try out!

[Defrost]

The Radian puzzles pretty well with the MA when they're both FF.

So, ideally you want 2 MAs and a Radian in there, right? And 2 are FF and one is RF?

So, the options to try are:

1. FF MA, RF Radian, FF MA
2. FF Radian, RF MA, FF MA
3. RF Radian, FF MA, FF MA
4. RF MA, FF Radian, FF MA

As I recall, the MAs don't puzzle well when both are FF, so that rules out #3. You said the MA didn't work RF in any position, so rules out #2 and #4. What about #1? And did I miss any configurations?

[KMCjuly03]

Thanks for the replies! My other kids are a 4.5 YO 43# girl and a 3 YO 43# boy. My daughter is currently in the Radian b/c she's narrow enough to sit in it comfortably. I had not thought about RF the Radian - it seems so much more upright than the MAs, I just hadn't even thought of it..... I will have to try RFing it between the MAs and see if they fit that way. Also was trying to keep the baby outboard so I didn't have to reach over another seat to buckle him. Might be asking for too much though, LOL. The other vehicle is a Jeep Grand Cherokee that's wider in the backseat, so whatever works in my car will work in that one, but mine's the primary for driving all 3 kids. Thanks again for the insight!