It's been a while...RF Roundabout install questions????

[mamabear]

So I gave my sister our outgrown RA for her son. Until it expires because she can't afford a new seat right now. It has 10 months left.
He just outgrew his SR by HEIGHT, not weight. He is approx 26.5" and only 17lbs.

So I was over there installing it for her in her '91 Accord station wagon.
We ended up installing it in the middle with the lap belt. I had to use a tightly rolled up towel under the front to get the angle right. The first time I tightened the lap belt, I got it so tight I didn't realize the entire back of the seat was up in the air! OK, take 2. tightened it up just enough so that didn't happen. Closed the lock off and it's in like a rock.

We don't like the angle. It looks very upright. In the manual it says the angle can be improved with the Versatether. I was planning on tethering it under the leg of the front seat anyway, but remembered reading here a while back that the tether RF can no longer be used to improve the recline??

I was able to get the D-ring under the foot of the passenger seat after popping off a little plastic cover that was over the bolt into the floor. She wasn't happy about that part but stashed the plastic bolt cover thingy in the glove box.

I initially was only planning on pulling the tether tight enough to remove the slack. The seat is in like a rock with the the lap belt. But after I stood back and looked, the seat looked no where near a 45 degree angle. More like 30. So I pulled tighter, until it looked more reclined. It's still not a 45 degree, but more than 30, maybe 35??. I didn't want to pull too tight because I felt like I could pull so tight it could literally break the seat in half! (can that happen?? Is it bad for the seat? Does it stress the plastic somehow?)
If that's all not OK I can go back over tomorrow and re-do it....
Here are my 2 questions.

1.since I have a 5 year old RA, and my manual states it's OK, and actually advised to use the Versatether to improve the angle, is that still OK??

2. At what child's age does the seat not need to be 45 degrees, and can be more upright when RF??

Any Suggestions??


Thanks!!

[crunchierthanthou]

did you have the base in recline mode?

It can be more upright once the child has decent head control and his head doesn't slump forward when he sleeps.

The problem with using the versatether to adjust the angle is that it can break the recline mechansim. overtightening is linked to bases that won't lock into position.

[mamabear]

yes the base is in recline mode.

Well, we only plan on using this seat RF.It will probably never even be moved until he gets a new seat. It will expire in 10 months, when he is 17 months old. He is LITTLE. He will be RF a long while.

Do you think it's a problem?? Should I loosen it some??

[sunnymw]

We ended up installing it in the middle with the lap belt. I had to use a tightly rolled up towel under the front to get the angle right. The first time I tightened the lap belt, I got it so tight I didn't realize the entire back of the seat was up in the air! OK, take 2. tightened it up just enough so that didn't happen. Closed the lock off and it's in like a rock.

I thought you were absolutely not allowed to use the lock-offs or locking clips on lap belts???

As far as the angle goes, take it out and try this... move both front seats forward, and put your body between the front seats and the car seat--with your stomach/ribs pressing into the top of the car seat shell. Like in Defrost's avatar ;) . Then push DOWN and FORWARD with your body while tightening the lap belt. And watch the angle as you're doing it--you should be able to get it slightly more reclined that way, and not have to use the tether to recline it more. Then just use the tether as needed :)

HTH! And good luck!

[joolsplus3]

Sunny, it's locking clips that aren't allowed on lapbelts, lockoffs serve a different function in this case, don't introduce slack, and are fine. :). (here's carseat.org's take on them http://www.carseat.org/Technical/tech_update.htm#Lock-off )

Mamabear, go ahead and use the tether... you aren't going to be manhandling it and cranking it down, just some gentle tugs will get it to a reasonable recline...and lets face it, if it's not broken yet, it won't be (the problem is that it STICKS in recline mode, which you will always want anyway, so no big whup if it DOES break...which it won't :))

[sunnymw]

Good to know, thanks!!

[mamabear]

)

Mamabear, go ahead and use the tether... you aren't going to be manhandling it and cranking it down, just some gentle tugs will get it to a reasonable recline...and lets face it, if it's not broken yet, it won't be (the problem is that it STICKS in recline mode, which you will always want anyway, so no big whup if it DOES break...which it won't :))

Thanks Jools!
I spoke to my sis last night and she plans on never moving the seat, and is very happy with the install and fine with the angle, so I think I may just leave it alone. (although the perfectionist in me wants to go back over and do it again:p)