Installation headaches in 2001 Suburban

[AuLait]

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time I've needed to post for help ;)

We have a 2001 Chevy Suburban with captain chairs in the second row. When purchasing the car, we imagined that the captains chairs would be great for seat installation, but they're turning out to be a headache! I'm so wishing we went with a minivan.

I have a 4 year old (45 lbs) in a Regent, a 3 year old (around 30 lbs) in a Roundabout and for our new arrival in May, I have a Graco Safeseat.

There is no LATCH, but there are two tethers. One drivers side outboard, 3rd row and one passenger side 2nd row (captains chair). I know that my Regent will have to be tethered when my 4 year old hits 50 lbs, which will be any day the way the kid is chowing down.

The obvious set up is to put two in the back row, keep one captain chair folded down for access, then a seat in the other captains chair.

However, we have been unable to get a good install in the 3rd row with the Regent. The seat buckles are in front of the seat crease by a good 4 inches (no long belt... they actually attach to the seat in front of the crease). The shoulder belt is not long enough to do what I think is called the reverse belt path? In any case, we've tried any number of ways to thread the belt and get a tight install with the Regent back there with no luck. So, because of the tether requirement, we put the Regent in the captains chair.

Then we realized that we can't put the Safeseat in the 3rd row either because of the buckle being in front of the crease. Is there ANY way to work around this?

So that means, if I'm thinking correctly, that the Regent has to be in the tether spot in the captains chair, the Safeseat has to be in the other captains chair (because of the buckles being in front of the seat crease) and the Roundabout (which we'll have to upgrade soon) has to be in the back.

But with both captains chairs up, its nearly impossible to get by to buckle in anyone in the third row.

Headache, headache, headache! At this point, we are willing to buy another carseat to make this workable unless there is another installation solution I'm missing.

Do you have any suggestions for me? Thanks so much.

[J-max]

I have an 04 and I can get a really good install (SBP) in the 3rd row, drivers side. What were your issues here. I am not an expert (only had my regent for about a month), but there are several here and I can go take pics of mine, if that will help you. I have also had a BLVD in every seating position in the suburban, so the roundabout can fit anywhere.

I have the bench seat in the middle and keep the pass side folded down for 3rd row entry (unless I have my niece in a RF decathlon) - then my 2 bigger kids get in from the back - which is an option, if they can climb over the seat.

[AuLait]

Thanks for the reply Jess!

The major problem with the 3rd row install for the Regent is how the buckle sits on the seat. Its kinda hard to explain... I'll have to grab some pictures today. Basically, we cannot tighten the belt because the buckle sits right on the corner of the seat and prevents the belt from moving. I've even had my big husband sit on the seat while I try to tighten it and the angles just don't allow it.

I was originally hoping to have an older kid and and the baby in the 3rd row to eliminate fighting and make seating easier (only have to climb into the back to buckle in one instead of two), but unless there is some workaround for getting the SafeSeat installed with a buckle that is in front of the seat crease, that is not going to be possible. Bummer.