Britax Regent Installation in a 2004 Dodge Durango

[Unregistered]

I have a 2004 Dodge Durango, and have recently purchased a Britax Regent. I have always kepy my son, who is 3 and 30 lbs in the middle seat, but there are no latch connectors in the middle seat. I had it installed in the middle using the latch connectors from the outboard seats, but I wasn't completely sure that this was safe so I moved him to the side. I would really like to leave him in the middle, but the seat belt is too short to use the LBP. Is it safe to use the latch from the outside seats for the middle seat? Also, Do I need to take the headrest off before I install? When the headrest is on, the back of the regent does not touch the car back except for the reclining bar, it rests on the headrest, but when I take the headrest off it seems like it is reclining too much. Please help!!

[Jeanum]

According to my LATCH manual, you are allowed to borrow the second row outboard seating position's lower LATCH anchors to do a second row center installation in the '04 Durango if it's a child restraint with flexible LATCH connectors. Britax allows borrowing as well (both the vehicle and child restraint manufacturer have to allow borrowing), and your Regent has flexible LATCH connectors, so you're good to go with a center LATCH install. :thumbsup: As for the headrest, unless your vehicle manual specifically says to leave the headrest in place, it should be alright to remove it and store it securely or store it outside the car entirely so it won't become a projectile in a crash.

[teacher01]

Thanks for the information. My only concern with removing the headrests is that it seems to make the seat recline so far back. The manual doesn't say anything that I can find about removing the headrests, but it isn't safe if the car seat isn't touching the back of the seat is it?

I am very happy abou tbeing able to move him back into the middle!! I really feel like he is safer there, and he actually likes it better.

[Jeanum]

I would rather have the Regent supported more by the vehicle seatback with the vehicle headrest removed based on your description, but I'm not quite sure of what you're describing about the recline/recline bar. Does your vehicle seat have a recline mechanism? Have you tried installing the Regent with the vehicle seatback more upright and/or fully upright? You could also post pictures of your installation to help show us what's happening there. You could upload pictures to a free photo hosting site like Photobucket or Flicker and post links to the images here for a look-see. :)