ez-on harness 86Y and which booster?

[victoryrocket]

I'm posting a new thread about this topic because I was looking for any problems/appreciation for the ez-on 86y harness. We have a Gracco turbo-booster seat for my six year old daughter, approx. 55 pounds and 46 inches tall. Our 2001 CRV middle lap belt (no shoulder harness), top anchor for tether, is too short in the seat back for her head. We have NOT been using this vehicle full time, but it will be our full time vehicle shortly with five passengers. She is the youngest. Trying to avoid a $233.00 possibly one year car seat investment. This seems like a great alternative and manufacturer states the ride ryte booster is no longer available with the 86Y harness, but ANY high back booster can be used with the system that they sell separately.
http://www.ezonpro.com/index.shtml
Anybody with suggestions of using this system with our existing booster or have another suggestion of a better booster?
megan

[Defrost]

The 86Y works very well with the TB. I have pics here (http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/86Y%20harness/), but they show the Air Booster. The TB fits very similarly with the headrest on, though.

The only potential problem I can see is that Honda has a 40lb limit on the tether anchors. While it is acceptable to exceed the limit for top tether anchors for carseats (since the top tether is a supplemental restraint), EZ-On does not allow it (because the top tether with a harness is a primary restraint). Will you be able to install the heavy-duty tether anchor (it comes with the 86Y)? Sometimes this is very straight-forward, other times it's difficult-to-impossible, depending on the vehicle. Where is the current tether anchor located?

[victoryrocket]

There are three top tether anchors and two anchors (metal rings) on either passenger side behind the seats. I cannot find one directly behind the middle seat. Is this the potential site for the 86Y heavy-duty anchor? I'm beginning to wonder if the 86Y would work better for my 8-year-old son as a back seat window-seat rider. It seems investing in the radion may be my only option for my middle-seat rider daughter. She is way over 40lbs and I'm not sure how hard it would be to install this heavy duty middle anchor for the 86Y to be used with her current TB....I would want it done correctly.
Also, the middle lap belt has a piece of plastic that "catches" the belt so it stays tight. Is this a safety clip? Can it be used with the radion or do you recommend another device to make this a safer car seat?
I appreciate all your assistance...this is our 3rd child, but first time trying to make our family fit an existing car rather than choosing the car to fit us.
megan

[victoryrocket]

Defrost....looks as if in one of your pictures the custom 86Y harness has a wide space between the two anchors? This picture is labeled as "custom 86Y h..." There is approximately 34 inches between these two anchors behind the seats in my car. Just a thought...maybe this could work.?

[Defrost]

There are three top tether anchors and two anchors (metal rings) on either passenger side behind the seats.

You should check your vehicle owner's manual to find out what those anchors are. My guess would be they are cargo hooks, and they cannot be used to tether a carseat or a harness. The regular 86Y harness only uses one tether anchor.

Are your top tether anchors on the ceiling?

Is this the potential site for the 86Y heavy-duty anchor?

If you go here (http://www.ezonpro.com/instructions/EZONinstructions_familyVehicle_86y.pdf), you can read EZ-On's instructions on how to install the heavy-duty TA.

I'm beginning to wonder if the 86Y would work better for my 8-year-old son as a back seat window-seat rider. It seems investing in the radion may be my only option for my middle-seat rider daughter. She is way over 40lbs and I'm not sure how hard it would be to install this heavy duty middle anchor for the 86Y to be used with her current TB....I would want it done correctly.

You would need to install the heavy-duty TA for your son as well. Your easiest solution would be a high-weight harnessed seat (like the Radian) for your daughter and keep your son in a booster - you wouldn't need to alter your vehicle in any way for that. But as you first posted, it's not the cheapest solution. Perhaps the newly relased Nautilus would be a better choice? Your daughter could use it longer than the Radian as it has higher harness slots, and it's cheaper (around $150). It's not as narrow, though, so buckling your son's booster seat next to it might not work as easily as with the Radian.

Also, the middle lap belt has a piece of plastic that "catches" the belt so it stays tight. Is this a safety clip? Can it be used with the radion or do you recommend another device to make this a safer car seat?

That kind of seat belt is called a lap-only belt with locking latchplate. It's perfectly acceptable for installing carseats. :thumbsup:

So, you're basically stuck having to choose between a cheaper but more labor-intensive solution, or a more expensive but easier solution. Easier-but-more-expensive is also somewhat safer, because it will provide one more point of protection (5-point-harness over a 4-point-harness), and also simply because easier means you've got the best chance of using it correctly.

Hope that helps! I know it's a crappy situation to be in.

[victoryrocket]

Thanks for all your help!
I will check out the Nautilus, but I'm prepared to buy the radion for less hassle and greater safety. I plan to recommend this site to all with tricky car seat questions (and not so tricky). This is a phenomenal forum.
megan:thumbsup: