Regent Short Belt Path Install

[heathernick06]

My son has reached the weight limit for the long belt install in the Regent so I have installed it using the short belt path. I am concerned about the buckle entering the belt path. It is installed in a Chevy Silverado using a lap belt only. It has long belt stocks and I have already tried twisting the stock 3 times which hasn't seemed to help. Here are a few pictures. Is this acceptable? Thanks for your help :)



http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x4/heathernick06/IMG_1808.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x4/heathernick06/IMG_1807.jpg

[jen_nah]

Can you give us some more info. What year model Silverado? Is it a crewcab or extended cab? What is the DOM on the Regent?

My dh has a '02 Silverado crewcab. Our dd's Regent is driver outboard long belt path but we have a pre enhancement Regent so I can still follow old directions.

I could never get a good solid install in the center or driver outboard with the shortbelt path. The belt stalks were just to long and I didn't like how the seat sat on top of the push button release for the lapbelt or it was the pressure point of the seatbelt buckle for the lap/shoulder belt. The only seating position I could get a good solid install was passenger outboard using the shortbelt path b/c it has fixed belt stalk.

[heathernick06]

It is a 99 extended cab. I have it installed in the center. The seat is not sitting on the buckle release though, and it is an very solid install. I am just worried about the 1/2 or so part of the buckle that is sticking out of the belt path.

[jen_nah]

It's hard to tell in the picture but is the belt buckle pressure point where the male & female pieces click into together sitting on the belt path bend?

Let me see if I can find a picture of what ours was doing.

ETA:

Here is the way ours looked. I myself was not comfortable with where the belt buckle was hitting on the Regent. That is the pressure point and I myself was concerned it cause the seatbelt to break in a severe crash. I could never get a good install in the center position in our Silverado or one that I was comfortable with.

The crack in the buckle is just the plastic cover not the actual belt cracked.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/jen_nah/IMG_8351.jpg

[heathernick06]

Thank you for the picture and the responses! Mine was a little bit lower, so it wasn't really hitting the pressure point like yours. I did try it another way but once again, I'm not sure if what I did is allowed. I twisted the buckle stock 2 1/2 times and I flipped the latchplate. The install is much better, and the latchplate isn't sticking out like it was. I thought I had read somewhere that it is ok to flip the latchplate once with the lapbelt, but I could be wrong.

[jen_nah]

Thank you for the picture and the responses! Mine was a little bit lower, so it wasn't really hitting the pressure point like yours. I did try it another way but once again, I'm not sure if what I did is allowed. I twisted the buckle stock 2 1/2 times and I flipped the latchplate. The install is much better, and the latchplate isn't sticking out like it was. I thought I had read somewhere that it is ok to flip the latchplate once with the lapbelt, but I could be wrong.

Yes, You can flip the latch plate on a lap belt to help insure it is locking.

I really hate the Britax changed the installation on the Regent. I am not kidding the long belt path install in the Silverado is a piece of cake and SOOOO solid.

[heathernick06]

Thank you for all the help Jenny. :) I agree, I can get a great install with the long belt path. And I was starting to get really good at installing it that way. Oh well, I guess I will learn to do this quickly also.

ETA: I am seriously considering selling it and getting a Nautilus to replace it. It is such a big seat for such a small vehicle backseat.