Britax Frontier lap belt question

[Unregistered]

I Have a Dodge Caravan 07 and a newly aquired Frontier, because I travel 2 hours a day round trip with my DD I have my seating arranged so she can be in the centre position 2nd row (removed captain chairs from van entirely). Our Marathon fitted well in the centre installed with the lap belt. We have the Fronteir installed same position with the lap belt, but my DH could only get it to work with the long belt installation, but the instructions say the lap belt should be used only with the short belt route. He says he's read that it is fine, but cannot find where he read it, neither can I. Is this OK or do I have to move her to a shoulder/lap belt postion, therefore no longer in the centre position (which I really don't want to do!)
Thanks in advance if you've made it this far!
Sarah

[LISmama810]

You must use the short belt path with a lap-only belt.

If it isn't already, try lining the buckle up with the hole in the seat where the seat belt goes through.

Is your lap belt the kind you tighten by pulling a tail? If so, make sure you pull the tail back through the hole for the belt to get a better angle when you tighten. You might also try feeding the tail back through the belt path itself.

If your buckle is very long, you can twist it up to three times to shorten it. That might help, depending on your situation.

Make sure you test for tightness at the belt path only--not at the front or top of the seat.

If none of that helps, or if no one else has ideas that I haven't thought of, you need to move the seat to another position. A properly installed seat in an outboard position is safer than a poorly installed seat in the center.

You might also look for a technician in your area who can help you.

[mburks26]

If your belt is the one with the tail this is how I get my seats in there. I thread the belt through the belt path but do not buckle it I tighten the belt until the male part is just a few inches away from the female part, put all my weight in the seat and make it buckle all the way. I also twist the female end so I really have to put weight in the seat to get it to buckle. So I am tighting the belt before I buckle. I do the same thing with my grandmas lap/shoulder belt locking latch plate as well. I can't ever seem to get a locking latch plate belt tight while its buckled.

[safeinthecar]

I find that the Frontier installs a lot better if you can recline the vehicle seat while you tighten the seat belt (put it back upright after you tighten). Also, make sure the recline block is in the forward position.