Top Tether install RF Marathon in Kia Optima (2004)?

[Gwen M]

DS is 15 months old, 30" & 21lbs. He is RF in a Britax Marathon in a 2004 Kia Optima. I have his seat installed with the lower anchors - but no top tether.

Nothing in the car manual about top tether - do I use it or no? Where to I put it?
Thx.

[crunchierthanthou]

Vehicle manuals rarely cover rf tether because there are few seats in the US that allow it. At this time, only Britax and SSK make convertibles that can tether rf.

A rf tether point is toward the front of the vehicle so that the tether angles forward (rather than down or back). It cannot be on the same seat as which the seat is installed. It should be metal, nonmovable and anchored to the frame of the vehicle. Seat legs and buckle stalk anchors work well, as long as they don't interfere with front seat function. Wrap the tether connector strap (also called the d-ring) around the point you find and connect the tether. It should be taut so there is no slack, but not so tight that it affects the recline.

Those instructions are for the Swedish method. The Australian method is also covered in your MA manual, but most of us find it cumbersome and it isn't nearly as popular. It goes around the top of the shell toward the back of the vehicle.