how to thread RF latches in True Fit

[Unregistered]

I am a FTM and I have no clue how to thread the RF latches. I have a True Fit and the pictures do not seem to be helping me. Can anyone show me a picture or tell how this is supposed to look? It looks like they cross over in the picture, but that does not seem to make sense. Please help! I need to install this seat today.

[Jeanum]

Hi, I don't have True Fit installation experience and don't think I fully understand your question, so I'm mainly bumping this up for more members to see. I edited the thread title to include True Fit to hopefully grab more True Fit experienced members' attention for you. :)

Are you asking which way the lower LATCH connectors should be positioned? If I remember correctly from True Fit photos, the connectors are the "alligator style" clips like those used on Britax carseats. For alligator style connectors, the biggest part of the jaw (using the alligator mouth analogy) needs to be on top, with the smaller part on the bottom, to properly hook onto the car's lower LATCH anchor in the vehicle seat crease. I hope this helps you out some.

[An Aurora]

They are on a long continuous strap, connected to the car seat by a short little strap. You need to position the strap into the lockoff, making sure that with the strap untwisted the alligator LATCH clips are positioned like Jean mentioned (larger part on top). Attach the LATCH clips to your lower anchors, tighten the strap, and then close the lockoff. HTH

[snowbird25ca]

When the LATCH strap is positioned correctly, the tightening side is going to be on the passenger side of the vehicle once the seat is installed. Route the LATCH belt so that it is in front of the buckle (it'll have to be that way to lay flat across the lock-offs anyways, but it's still worth saying,) and just make sure that the yellow loop that slides along the belt is out of the way of the lock-offs.

I agree that the manual is lacking in showing clear directions of how to position the LATCH belt. As long as you're getting the entire belt straight across the rf'ing belt path and through the lock-offs, then you should be good. If you look on the inside of each of the clips, there will be writing on there that's raised from the rest - it will say "this side in, facing up" and will have little arrows pointing up. You'll know you have the LATCH strap routed the right direction if that applies, otherwise you'll need to switch which end is on which side of the seat. As long as the tail to tighten is coming from the passenger side when you go to tighten, you'll know that they're positioned properly.

Post back if you still need more help and I'll try and take some pic's for you tonight. :thumbsup:

[Unregistered]

Ok, so I think I figured it out. I took some pictures, but don't know how to attach. The only way I could get the seat tight was to add a towel under, now I think it is angled too much. I know it should be 45 degrees when rf, but she is almost 8 months old and does not want to lie down like this. She is sleeping so I can not put her in it until the am. It also seems snug behind my seat. I am only 5'2" - how do taller people do this. I drive a Jeep Cherokee 06. How do I post the pics or can I email them to you?

[Jeanum]

Hi, I'm just chiming in here again to let you know you can upload your pictures to a free photo hosting site like photobucket.com Then you can post a link here to your photobucket album, or post the [IMG] links for each photo from your photobucket album for more help with your True Fit installation.

[tmcg4]

ok here goes.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/tmcg4/100_0447.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/tmcg4/100_0448.jpg

Please let me know what you think. It is still a little lose, but I am unable to pull the stap to tighten. Is there a trick to this too?

[featherhead]

Actually, now they are saying that it can be reclined between 35-45 degrees when rearfacing, so you can put it a little more upright for your dd.

[An Aurora]

That seems a bit over-recline to me, especially for an older infant.

[Defrost]

I'm not familiar enough with the True Fit to tell, but it looks like the LATCH strap is behind the lock-off? I thought it was supposed to go through the lock-off - does anyone else know?

As the recline - it looks okay based on the red "line" sticker, but I also think it looks over-reclined. Maybe try a smaller towel? You've got this properly positioned, btw. :thumbsup: It's just thicker than what you need.

[An Aurora]

Yes, Debbie you are right, the LATCH strap needs to go through the lockoff. :thumbsup:

[Defrost]

Yes, Debbie you are right, the LATCH strap needs to go through the lockoff. :thumbsup:

Okay, in that case, I'm thinking the OP is having trouble figuring out how to use the lock-off (I seem to recall another thread about it being confusing if you weren't familiar with lock-offs?) Hopefully snowbird will post some pics that will clear that up. :)

[TechnoGranola]

Yup, her strap is not going in the right place. It seems she's not using the lockoffs. I think that will help her immensely as it will pull the front of the seat down easier, compress the towel more and have less of a recline (and a tighter install).

[TechnoGranola]

Here's some pics that another mama took of what the LATCH strap should look like when installed RF (view from under the cover) http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=458140&postcount=5

[TechnoGranola]

And there are some good pics that hipmaman took here http://picasaweb.google.ca/hipmaman/Carseats2008 There is one showing the LATCH strap with the RF lock offs open which would be really helpful for the original poster. The caption under the pics says something like "RF lock-offs open....". I'd link directly to the exact pic, but I didn't have time to ask for permission to do that!

[tmcg4]

WOW! You guys are good to notice that I had the lockoffs wrong. I decided that the latch clips are a pain the a**! I was unable to thread them through the lockoffs right (nothing really showed me how to under the seat) and I could not tighten it. When I pull on the strap it does not move.

I have installed with the seatbelt and got a really tight install with the lockoffs. Here are more pics. I think it is sitting too upright now - yes. She would prefer to sit more upright, but I want it to be safe too.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/tmcg4/100_0448.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/tmcg4/100_0447.jpg

[tmcg4]

I think I posted the same pictures as before so here are the correct ones.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/tmcg4/carSeat001.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/tmcg4/carSeat002.jpg

[TechnoGranola]

WOW! You guys are good to notice that I had the lockoffs wrong. I decided that the latch clips are a pain the a**! I was unable to thread them through the lockoffs right (nothing really showed me how to under the seat) and I could not tighten it. When I pull on the strap it does not move.You don't actually thread them through. Take a look at the first link I posted a couple of posts up. The pic on the left shows the lock offs. You rotate the red lever and the yellow piece pops up and out of the way. You play the LATCH strap over the red teeth, put the yellow piece down, and rotate the red lever to lock the yellow piece into place.

As for tightening the LATCH strap, try it without the anchors attached. Can you loosen/tighten? If so, then it just might be that you are pulling against the buckle which isn't allow you to tighten. The buckle should be on the passenger side (if I recall correctly), then pull towards the driver's side of the vehicle to tighten. Even easier if you have the tail end of the strap pulled through the passenger side hole of the seat (so you are pulling the strap in the seat rather than beside if, if that makes sense at all!).

[Defrost]

I have installed with the seatbelt and got a really tight install with the lockoffs. Here are more pics. I think it is sitting too upright now - yes. She would prefer to sit more upright, but I want it to be safe too.


Looks much better! :thumbsup:

I don't the seat looks overly upright. You could try it again with a smaller towel if she's having trouble sleeping, but to me it looks to be within the 30-45 degree range.

One more thing - sorry, I'm really not familiar with the True Fit, but it looks like only the lap-portion of the seat belt is in the lock-off. It may just be the picture, of course, I can't tell for sure. On the Britax seats, you have to have both portions of the seat belt in the lock-offs. What does your manual say?

[snowbird25ca]

One more thing - sorry, I'm really not familiar with the True Fit, but it looks like only the lap-portion of the seat belt is in the lock-off. It may just be the picture, of course, I can't tell for sure. On the Britax seats, you have to have both portions of the seat belt in the lock-offs. What does your manual say?

Yep, both lap and shoulder have to be through the lock-off. I can't tell in the pic either.

[snowbird25ca]

Here's some links of pic's I took tonight. I didn't uninstall the seat and lift the cover, but they may help a little. From the looks of the first pictures posted earlier with LATCH install, I think that the LATCH belt wasn't routed in front of the buckle and straight across and that was stopping it from sitting in position properly.


This one shows the lock-off on the passenger side and you can see the yellow strap that connects the LATCH belt to the seat shell:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/compass%20true%20fit/DSC01467.jpg
Passenger side from a different angle:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/compass%20true%20fit/DSC01468.jpg
Driver side lock-off:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/compass%20true%20fit/DSC01469.jpg
Side view of belt coming out of lock-off on driver side:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/compass%20true%20fit/DSC01470.jpg

And storage area for LATCH anchors when not in use:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/compass%20true%20fit/DSC01473.jpg

If you're going to leave the seat installed with seatbelt than you should put the lower anchors back in the storage compartment - there's one on each side of the seat. :thumbsup:

[tmcg4]

Ok, I really think I am missing something here. I do not see a yellow strap for the latch belt. Mine comes from the back of the seat. Should I be pulling this out?

Also, now I have the seat so tight I can not really get to the part of the seat where I can adjust the harness straps - any suggestions here?

You guys have been really helpful - thank you and sorry for all the questions.
~Tracey

[snowbird25ca]

The LATCH belt will definitely be attached to the shell by a strap of some sort - it's possible they've used different colors webbing? You could try pulling all the LATCH belt into the ff'ing belt path just to see what it looks like - the flap on the back is easier to move than lifting up the front of the cover, so maybe being able to see the entire belt would be helpful? You certainly don't have to use LATCH, I just wanted to give you the pictures in case you needed it or wanted to use it in the future.

For the adjuster strap as long as you can get the webbing up above the seat when installing it, then you can reach at the back of the seat and pull the straps tight there, then just pull the slack out of the harness adjuster strap. I tend to not adjust the harness on dd very often, but I've gotten better at it when I do. The more upright it is the harder it is to access though, so if you have too much of a problem you could always recline it a smidge more.

[TechnoGranola]

Ok, I really think I am missing something here. I do not see a yellow strap for the latch belt. Mine comes from the back of the seat. Should I be pulling this out?I found my LATCH strap was initially set in a spot to be used for a FF install, so I had to lift up my cover and look under there. Then it became obvious where the yellow strap was and I could untangle everything and get it moved towards the front of the seat for RF. I also had to give mine a flip (swap the alligator slips to opposite side) as they were set up for FF so the arrows on the clips would have been pointing in the wrong direction.

[tmcg4]

Ok all - I think I have this figured out. The latch was threaded throught the harness holes so I could not see the whole thing. I have fixed it and it is now installed very well with the latch belt and lock offs. I also put a pool noodle under so it reclines enough for me to kinda reach the adjuster strap.

Thank you all for all of your help! I really do appreciate all of the advice and pictures. I could not have figured this out without you!
Tracey