Can the Marathon be used in the upright position when RF?

[TechnoGranola]

I am trying to figure out if the Marathon can be installed RF in it's upright position. The upright position is more upright than I'd like it for DD, but I figured I could then use the tether to get it to a more reasonable angle. If installed in it's reclined position, it doesn't fit behind our driver's seat and if behind the passenger seat, gives the passenger little leg room. DD is 18 months, so can handle a more upright install. I checked the Canadian manual from Sep. '07, and it says
IMPORTANT: This child restraint can be used in the upright or full-recline position with children up to 15 kg (33 lb.), and upright position only with children above 15 kg.

It doesn't specify anything about RF vs FF, so it seems like the upright position is allowed RF? The reason I am 2nd guessing myself is because other seats (like the EFTA) says the seat MUST be used in the recline position for RF.

Can anyone clarify? did I miss something in the manual?

Thanks!

[skaterbabscpst]

I believe Britax has clarified that the seat must be in recline mode when RF, but can be installed more upright for older kids.

[TechnoGranola]

I believe Britax has clarified that the seat must be in recline mode when RF, but can be installed more upright for older kids.Okay, so then my question would be, how in the heck do you get it more upright? In my vehicle, the only way would be to put something under the rear end of the base, which is totally not allowed! Sure, I could push on the front when tightening it in, but that makes little difference, unless I allow the rear of the base to lift off the seat (not good!).

[CDNTech]

:yeahthat: to Becky.

If you want to install it more upright when rear facing, pull the base out from the seat bight 1 - 2 inches and push down on where babies legs sit when tightening up the LATCH/seatbelt. That will install it fairly upright for your daughter while still being in the recline mode.

Base pulled out from the seat bight...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/429820363_6c818c8d2e.jpg?v=0

Resulting angle with carseat in recline mode...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/176/429825151_81475bb970.jpg?v=0

[TechnoGranola]

Thanks Jen. I honestly though I tried that yesterday, and it ended up lifting the rear of the Marathon off of the vehicle seat if I pushed too hard, and if I didn't push hard enough, it didn't do much other than have the Marathon take up more room front to back (since it was further from the bight).

But, there was a REALLY cold wind while I was doing this and the ToysRUs tech that was with me seemed like she was wanting to get back inside, so I felt rushed. She kept telling me to just put it in the upright position if I wanted it installed more upright, basically telling me to quit trying everything I was doing. GRRR.

[snowbird25ca]

If the back edge is lifting slightly once the seat is tightened down, I wouldn't really sweat it unless you're talking a significant lift. Sometimes rf'ing seats do that when tightened really tight, but if you push down on the back of the shell, they go down no problem. The weight of a child is enough to do this in seats that don't rf tether... the MA can be tethered rf'ing though, so I wouldn't worry about a little lift because the tether will pull it down.

And I think Britax has clarified about the seat needing to be reclined when rf'ing mostly because of the recline mechanisms breaking due to being mechanically upright but having the physical forces of the rf'ing tether.

If you can't get the seat really upright though, it's not a big deal. Some kids don't like being upright anyways and prefer more of a 40* angle. When dd was rf'ing at 2.5yrs old, her seat was installed at various angles depending on how it ended up when I reinstalled it. (I was never anal about going for an exact angle, as long as it was within range and dh had room in the passenger seat that's all I cared about.) She was always more content and slept more frequently when the seat was more reclined.

So don't feel like you have to get it in there upright. As long as it's not over-reclined, it's perfectly safe. :thumbsup:

[TechnoGranola]

I guess I have to make another trip to ToysRUs and check it out again. I'm don't want it to be upright, I just want it to fit, which right now it doesn't. I'm thinking though, that unless I am willing to lose access to our 3rd row, this seat isn't going to work for us anyway because there is no way it's fitting behind the driver's seat with him driving. It touched the seat when in my seating position and I'm 7" shorter than him! I realized I didn't try reclining the 2nd row seat, so I may give that a shot to see if it gives us some more room.

[snowbird25ca]

Do you live near any of the techs on the board here? Maybe one of us could help you try some different seats - especially if one of us owned some of the ones you're considering.

The MA fit in my tiny Saturn ION - granted it was upright, but my 6' very stocky dh was able to sit in front of it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2305876561_b07c1657a4.jpg

[TechnoGranola]

Do you live near any of the techs on the board here? Maybe one of us could help you try some different seats - especially if one of us owned some of the ones you're considering.

The MA fit in my tiny Saturn ION - granted it was upright, but my 6' very stocky dh was able to sit in front of it.
Jen was actually visiting right near me over Christmas and she came by with both the Radian and Marathon. Unfortunately, it didn't make any sense to try them, in our vehicle, at the time because we were buying a new vehicle. We have the new vehicle now, but we don't have Jen anymore. :)

I did stop by a baby store and check out the Radian on the weekend, and (as Jen had posted on one of my threads) it fits great in the centre of my 2nd row and I could still get access to my 3rd row. I really wanted a Britax, but the Radian may be the way to go since it won't interfere with either the driver or front passenger or the 3rd row. I just have to test it with my older one sitting outboard, as if it bothers her I don't want to have to listen to complaining everyday. :)

DH is 5'11", but has long legs for a man and also very long arms, so he sits quite far back with the seat quite reclined so his arms have room to stretch out. The pics posted so far give me hope though. :)