Probably redundant question about the Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe

[unregistered]

Hi,

This has probably already been asked, but I can't find the answer in the search. I have an almost 18 month old DD, who is in a Marathon in one car, and I just bought a FPSVD for our second car.

Can I use the rear back strap thingy as a rear tether? The strap connections to the shell appear to be identical to the Marathon, I was wondering if I could order the extra connector strap piece from Britax to tether it? Or is this very bad (dont spank me) I really love the safety of the rear tether on the Marathon and I want the FP seat to be as secure and safe, esp. since this car doesn't have LATCH.

Thanks for the advice!

[Jeanum]

I'm interpreting your question to mean you're wondering if you can top tether the FPSVD rear facing? No, tempting though it may seem, the Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe cannot be top tethered rear facing. Although it is manufactured by Britax, the FPSVD is not tested and approved to top tether rear facing like your Marathon, so please don't put your child in the undesirable position of being a test case. Just tuck that tether strap away and keep your little one rear facing in the FPSVD as long as possible until he maxes out the FPSVD rear facing, either by weight when he reaches the rear facing weight limit, or by height when there is less than one inch of shell above the top of the his head, whichever comes first. You can top tether the FPSVD to an appropriate top tether anchor in the car when the time comes to use it in forward facing mode. While lower LATCH anchors cannot be retrofitted in pre-LATCH vehicles, many vehicles can be retrofitted with a top tether anchor for use with a forward facing carseat. A rear facing seat untethered is safer than a top tethered forward facing seat, too. :thumbsup:

[BookMama]

Jean is right - RF tethering is not allowed with the FPSVD.

I also wanted to clarify that though the FPSVD and the MA are extremely similar, they are NOT the exact same seat, as you can see from the pictures below. (MA on the left, FPSVD on the right.) You can see that the tether is positioned differently, among other differences.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/taruff/FPSVDMAinside.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/taruff/FPSVDMAback.jpg

[Stretchy Glue]

Jean is right - RF tethering is not allowed with the FPSVD.

I also wanted to clarify that though the FPSVD and the MA are extremely similar, they are NOT the exact same seat, as you can see from the pictures below. (MA on the left, FPSVD on the right.) You can see that the tether is positioned differently, among other differences.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/taruff/FPSVDMAinside.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/taruff/FPSVDMAback.jpg

As strikingly similar as the two are, the differences (although subtle) are also quite substantial. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[canadiangie]

Wow, those are great pics pp!

It's great to see the differences in seats. :thumbsup:

To the OP...

a rf untethered seat is extrememly safe -- no worries there. the rebound or cocooning that occurs with an untethered rf seat is not a safety concern, only a different way of riding down a crash.

you said you just got your fpsvd. remember that it has a 6yr lifespan from date of manufacture. since they haven't made the fp seats for about a yr now your seat may have lost some of it's lifespan. now with that said you probably got a spankin' deal, so if your seat only has say 4.5-5yrs of use left I wouldn't dispair... it's just something to tuck in the back of your brain for down the road... seat expires 6 yrs from date of manufacture. :thumbsup:

[henrietta]

Also, it doesn't matter if you are using LATCH or not, as it isn't safer or less safe than installation w/the car's seat belt. It's just supposed to be easier and less error proof (it isn't necessarily that either!)

hths

henrietta

[Unregistered]

Thanks you guys, you've answered all my questions. Those pictures are great- it took me a minute to see the difference, but you're right- that is substantial.

So thanks again! I'll keep ithe tether tucked away and keep her RF as long as possible!

[Mama!]

Thanks you guys, you've answered all my questions. Those pictures are great- it took me a minute to see the difference, but you're right- that is substantial.

So thanks again! I'll keep ithe tether tucked away and keep her RF as long as possible!

Where did you find a FPSVD? They're as scarce as hen's teeth nowadays.