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View Full Version : RF tether in a 2001 doge caravan


emars002
07-15-2008, 05:26 PM
I just had my seats checked at the fire dept by safe kids - They said they haven't seen a Britax in a long time and they had never seen a true fit. Anyway - the TF and the RF MA in my malibu passed with flying colors - the FF BLVD in my van was fine - but they made me undo the tether to the RF BLVD. They said the bar I attached the D ring to isn't bolted to the floor - which they are correct, the actual bar is not - it is bolted to the seat - they want me to attach the d ring to the seat track but there is no where to put the d ring - anyway, they had me undo it and told me to call britax b/c when they tried to call they were already closed. If anyone has a seat Rf and using the tether in a 2001 dodge caravan in the middle row help! Here are pics:
The bar that the D ring is attached to (where I originally had it tethered):
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll208/emars002/DSC00845.jpg
this is the bar again - it is up under the passenger front seat - DH shook it as hard as he could - whatever that bar is it does not move:
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll208/emars002/DSC00847.jpg
This is a picture of the area they want me to tether to - as you can see there is no place to wrap the d ring through so they said i was best off not to use it:
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll208/emars002/DSC00846.jpg
If they are right, then so be it - I feel more comfortable with the RF tether but obviously i don't want it if it is unsafe. they told me b/c there was not an authorized location that I should not use the tether at all. Otherwise, i was impressed - they were very thourough - they wanted me to install one of my seats for them but then didn't bother with the other 3, i had to explain to them to look under learning curve for the True fit on their recall list and when I was the only person left all 5 techs were admiring the shannon BLVD's:) They asked if they could call me when there next tech class is to see if i want to go - i told them sure.

emars002
07-15-2008, 07:17 PM
anybody have a suggestion for me?

Misty-Bug
07-15-2008, 07:49 PM
this may be a long shot but can you show me what your seat belt stalks look like? Can you lift the plastic and it look like this?
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/Misty-bug/carseats/Jan408005.jpg

this is my seat stalk. But I don't see how you can do this. Not to mention I am sure I am no help cause i have a different make and model of car completely

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/Misty-bug/carseats/october26008.jpg

emars002
07-15-2008, 08:08 PM
this is the seat i am trying to tether to (seatbelt has no place - i lifted the plastic and its likes the seatbelt webbing itself is belted to the floor) nothing to wrap the d ring through:
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll208/emars002/DSC00849.jpg
this is the left side of the seat track (it seems that would be the best place to tether to or the tether will be pulled way over to the right if use the right side of the seat:
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll208/emars002/DSC00851.jpg
this is the right side of the seat:
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll208/emars002/DSC00852.jpg
i was just out there laying on the floor for 10 minutes staring under there and i cannot find anything but that bar - why would that bar be so bad? why can't minivans be more car seat compatible???? they are family cars for goodness sakes:hitselfonhead:

TerisBoys
07-15-2008, 08:16 PM
Passenger side?

What's usually recommended is to pull the underseat storage bin out, and tether to the bar behind that. It's part of the base of the seat, and doesn't move.

emars002
07-15-2008, 08:20 PM
Passenger side?

What's usually recommended is to pull the underseat storage bin out, and tether to the bar behind that. It's part of the base of the seat, and doesn't move.

thats exactly where it was and the tech told me i couldn't do that:eek:
this is the bar behind the drawer that the d ring is around and they made me un hook it.
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll208/emars002/DSC00845.jpg

TerisBoys
07-15-2008, 08:23 PM
That's what the techs here almost always suggest.

I've never done it :( Back when I had a RF seat in a Town & Country we were still allowed to tether to the seat it was on (which is worlds easier in a Caravan!).

Go with that bar. It's a structural part of the seat and doesn't move. Call Britax in the morning, or wait for a tech here to confirm this.

emars002
07-15-2008, 08:27 PM
I'll wait until the morning to see if a tech replies, if not i think i am going to have to go "parental decision" on this one - the bar doesn't move - its structural and i would rather tether than not - thanks for your opinions:)

TerisBoys
07-15-2008, 08:30 PM
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=23161

emars002
07-15-2008, 08:44 PM
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=23161

thank you - I went out there and hooked it back up - i'll call dodge/chrysler tomorrow but i know there are no other locations to use and dodge is going to be like "what's a d-ring" - i feel very comfortable the way it is now - i know the tech said no but she also said she had not seen a britax seat for a while so maybe they haven't a lot of experience with RF tethers - the other tech was looking for an actual anchor point unitl the other tech told her there aren't any - thats why she has the d-ring.

CDNTech
07-15-2008, 09:35 PM
I'm fine with you tethering to that bar. That's where I've always tethered mine to and recommend others tether theirs to.

emars002
07-15-2008, 09:47 PM
I'm fine with you tethering to that bar. That's where I've always tethered mine to and recommend others tether theirs to.

thanks - it does make me feel better to have a tech ok it:)