Offset seat install?

[jleecole]

I know this is probably a dumb question, but I guess the only dumb question is one which is unasked: I have two seats to install, and I don't have enough room to install one center and one outboard (which I need to do because I have a third child). is there a way to offset a seat from center with a seatbelt install as long as it is tight? Or would that not even work if I tried? I do not have the second seat yet so I can't try...

On a side note, my friend told me today that her husband installed her two seats in her Dodge Durango so that they straddle the center (neither are outboard, and neither are in the center). Nobody else can sit in back (which works for her because she only has two kids). Is it possible to have seats installed that way correctly?? I don't know if they are installed with latch or seatbelts..

[Misty-Bug]

well if you can tell what vehicle you have and maybe your seats in question as well as your kids stats, as in if they are FFing or not that may be helpful to some.
Alot of people have successfully installed three carseats so there should be room. Make and model of the vehicle should help. But I am not a tech just my suggestion

[sunnymw]

First of all... I have a Durango, and I can't even wrap my head around how that could remotely be possible. Now, the seat in mine is 40/20/40, meaning the middle seat is super super skinny, but *I* can still fit there to sit (even though it's not safe--lap belt and no head rest).

Secondly, yes. That's usually the first suggestion for three across: don't use LATCH, use seat belts, so the seats can be out farther. I know the seats can touch as long as both are individually secure, but I'm not sure what the rules are for touching the doors. :) HTH! And good luck!!

[mommyto2angelgirls]

i can't figure how you could put two seats in a durango and them not be outboard or center and be tight. as mistybug said your car and the seats you are going to use and whether they are rf or ff and we can help you. it is possible to get seats to fit next to each other. but each seat needs to be individually installed. meaning on e can't help keep the other from shifting side to side.

[jleecole]

My vehicle is a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The seats will be a Frontier and either a BLVD, EFTA or a Radian depending on what I can get to fit. I would prefer either the BLVD or EFTA but I will get a Radian if this is the only way I could get them to work. I don't have to get the second seat for a few months (planning ahead), so I don't know what my kids will be then, but my son (currently 37" tall, about 30 lbs, maybe more by now) in the FF (obviously) Frontier would be outboard, and the baby would be center in the RF BLVD, EFTA, or Radian. I would like to try moving the Frontier to the center and the RF outboard if I can get the RF in without having my knees up to my chin in the front seat (that is why I moved the FF outboard - the snugride made my passenger seat way too close to the dash for me or my husband to sit comfortably) and the Frontier doesn't block my whole rear view mirror like the BLVD did before I moved it.

[joolsplus3]

Short answer is yes, installing the seats with the seatbelt instead of LATCH can usually move them an inch or two in the direction you want them to go so they fit better :thumbsup:
And just making sure...you know the handle can be up on the Snugride and it can even touch the front seatbacks? That might give you a little more flexibility in where you can install things?

[jleecole]

I don't remember for sure if I had the snugride touching the seat, but I remember it was difficult to get it out because of the release latch being so close to the seat. So if it was not touching, it was probably only about an inch back from the seat back. But once my son outgrows the snugride, he should be able to sit at more of an incline, so I might not have to move the seat up as much..