3 twists, right?

[lovemyfamily]

Just double checking on the female end of the seatbelt, we can have up to 3 twists, right?
We did this and got a rock solid install on the base of our Peg Viaggio SIP, center 2nd row of our 2001 Yukon XL, but DH said he wanted me to double check that 3 twists is ok.
TIA!

[crunchierthanthou]

Yes, up to three full twists.

congrats on the new baby girl. :love:

[singingpond]

3 360-degree twists (in case anyone else is reading this thread for reference, and is not completely sure what 'full' means in this context).

Here is a quote I have seen a number of times on this site:

"Vehicle belt webbing is extremely strong and can withstand pull tests of over 6000 lb. This is 3 to 4 times the strength needed to restrain a 60-lb child in a severe crash. Laboratory tests conducted by IMMI Child Restraints in 1998-99 found that the average strength of vehicle belt webbing, pulled until failure, gradually reduced depending on the number of full twists: 1=6%, 2=11%, 3=20%, 6=40%. Some of the webbing had been soaked in apple juice or cola, which resulted in slightly more degradation than untreated webbing. When other samples were twisted and later untwisted, the webbing returned to its normal strength. These data indicate that up to three full twists in belt webbing will not reduce its strength enough to risk failure when restraining a child."

I think this is the source, although I didn't double-check:

http://www.carseat.org/Technical/tech_update.htm#twistedvehbelt


Katrin

[mommyto2angelgirls]

when would you twist the belt??? for what reason??? i have never heard of it. does it get a tighter instal or prevent motion better.

[crunchierthanthou]

Some vehicles have long buckle stalks (the short piece of webbing that connects the female end to the vehicle frame). You can twist it up 3 full twists when the buckle is hitting against the beltpath of the seat and preventing a tight install.

[lovemyfamily]

Thanks ladies. I am glad I was right on this.
What cruchier described is the exact reason we needed the twists. The female end was not low enough in the seat and therefore the buckle was being angled over the top of the base and DH couldn't get it tight. It is nice and tight now.

[firemomof3]

Here is a picture of a Britax Wizard installed using the lap/shoulder belt with 3 twists. My vehicle has long belt stalks and by twisting it, I was able to get a much tighter instal. :thumbsup:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg303/firemomof3_photo/carseat003.jpg