3 across and placement issues in full size crewcab trucks (long)

[J-max]

Bare with me, this may get long;)

Our most used with kids vehicle is an 04 suburban and the kids are - 9 in BPB, 4.5 in regent, 3 in BV, and 2 months in snugride. (we have the BV #2 just moved out of for the baby when she is ready for it)

We also have 2 crew cab trucks that we will use lots now that the weather is nicer and I am not hugely preg, we are spending more time with the cows and will use the trucks more. We have a 2000 Chevy 3500 (no airbags, but locking seatbelts and 2 tether anchors installed in rear center and passenger positions) and an 94 GMC 6500 (chassis is 94, but cab is not original so not really sure what year it is and we can not find out, but close to 94) No locking seat belts, airbags, ect - I have NEVER got a good install in here with lots of different seats, so any ideas are welcome) DD#1 passes 5 step test easily in here. ATM I have 2 older evenflo convertibles (from when DD#1 was little) installed, but they expired this winter and I am not comfortable using them for much - It is our feeding truck right now, but if we go off the ranch the BVs go in. *Both have manual transmissions, so I have to have room to shift.

So, I need recommendations for 3 seats for the 3 little girls, that will be good second seats, not too expensive (I can't do 3 more britax seats), and can travel well - we have been lugging the BV when we fly (often, my dh is a pilot) and it would be great if we had easier to travel with seats. If they are the same seats it will cut down on fighting and easy installation, but not necessary) Also, DD#2 is very sensitive and picky and LOVED her BV - it is the only car seat she ever sat in with out constant crying, and only grudgingly moved to the regent, so the closer they are to the onyx BV, the better.

I also need help on seating configurations. We are about a 50/50 split on having Dh with us (so sometimes we will have 2 adults and 4 kids, and sometimes only 1), so someone will have to sit up front. I am think if only 1 adult, then dd#1 can sit front passenger (does have shoulder belts), but if 2 adults, then who to put in the middle front (lap only belt).

So, if you made it thru this and are not throughly confused, can you help:D
Thanks!

[mommy_quigg]

Wow... I'm not sure about which seats to recommend... Maybe 3 Radians? They're very narrow so great for 3 across and then all 3 youngest could have the same seat so it would help with fighting. It can be difficult to install though so I would try it out before you buy.

The weight of the Radian bothers some people, but you can buy shoulders straps for it and wear it like a backpack and it's very easy. I have scoliosis and even though it's heavier, carrying the Radian is easier for me than carrying his AOE.

I would rather keep your oldest in the back and put the 4.5 y/o in her harnessed seat in the centre in the front - whether your DH was with you or not.

[jen_nah]

In your '00 you can do a LOT of different configurations with no issues. I have easily gotten 2 Regent with a Roundabout in our '02 Silverado crewcab. I can't do a MA in the center but that is due to the lapbelt & LATCH bar and the seatbelt stalk webbing being to long. The belt buckle hits the LATCH bar on the MA and doesn't allow for me to get a tight fit. I am sure a Decathlon would fit easily.

I tried a Radian in the center and it was a no go. I didn't try the outboards as I was looking for it to fit in the center.

I haven't tried the Nautilus in our truck but it could easily go outboards with a Scenera or Uptown in the center.

Since your needing to fit 4 kids in the truck my configuration would be. Older dd in booster or l/s belt in the outboard position that does not have a top tether. Then center I would put 3yr old in a Nautilus & baby in a Scenera or Uptown outboard (baby & 3yr old could be switched to your preferance but having baby outboard would make getting him/her out easier for you & older sib coud buckle 3yr old up). Then I would put the 4yr old in the front passenger seat in a Nautilus. If dad is with then I would move that seat to front center to allow the front passenger to have a l/s belt.

I don't know for sure if the '00 has a top tether on the front passenger seat leg but our '02 Silverado does. If you look on the inner front passenger seat leg you will see a hook (pic below). This is a top tether for the front passenger seat or can be used for rear face tethering. This is from our '02 2500 Silverado (crew cab).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/jen_nah/carseats/IMG_0398.jpg

[singingpond]

Just wanted to point out that a lap-only belt is not really considered safe for a human being (severe internal injuries can result in a crash), but it is fine for installation of a harnessed carseat. This was sort of implied by the other posters (they both suggested putting your 4 y.o. in a harnessed seat in the front center), but not explicitly stated. Just wanted to clarify, in case you (OP) had not come across this information before....

Katrin

[J-max]

jen_nah - our truck 1-ton CK (what they used to call "work truck") so no frills - basic bench seats with no tether mounts. It was our only vehicle for several years, so we had tether anchors installed behind the rear seat when our oldest was little.

singingpon - I did know that, but thanks for posting it :)

I was actually wondering about how a couple of Nautiluses would fit. Maybe 2 Nautiluses and a Scenera or Uptown?? How easy is the Nautilus to install and travel with? I am not as worried about hte install in the 1-ton, I think I can get that, it is very similar to a suburban. What I am concerned about is the install in the 2.5 ton with no locking seat belts, any installation tips for that?

It would be really difficult to go somewhere and tryout seats - we are 3+ hours from a town with a Baby's R us or anything like that where I could try out seats, even a Walmart is almost 2 hours away - we live way in the middle of nowhere and I can not afford the diesel to drive one of these to town . So I am really concerned on the fit issues with radians, especially where I already have trouble installing seats in this truck (and I am good at installing seats)

GRRR, I have become a total Britax snob I think, I love my Britax seats, but just don't think I can do 3 more that are not used everyday, so I am trying to compromise on cheaper, easy to install, easy to travel with seats. Thanks for any help and all suggestions.