Radian in the center '99 Subaru pic

[Judi]

Ok, techs (and others), are you comfortable with this install? It is in the center of a '99 Subaru, with the stupid plastic thing and hella long belt stalks. Three full twists, by the way.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m216/DallasOregon/Radian%20subaru/100_0393Medium.jpg

Buckle feeding:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m216/DallasOregon/Radian%20subaru/100_0394Medium.jpg

Interior look at buckle. Will not hit child:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m216/DallasOregon/Radian%20subaru/100_0395Medium.jpg

Gap between back of seat and vehicle seat:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m216/DallasOregon/Radian%20subaru/100_0396Medium.jpg

[djma]

I'm not a tech - but may I ask if you've tried outboard? I just don't know that I'd want that underneath my child.

That's a tough one...

(Your puppies are absolutely adorable BTW):D

[pastrygirl]

That was why I moved my RF MA outboard. I couldn't get the latchplate completely out of the belt path, which is where I prefer it to be. I have two buckles/latchplates since I have a seat belt that comes down from the ceiling. Three full twists wasn't enough to keep either one out of the belt path. Yet outboard, it works just fine.

This is my opinion as a mom, not a tech. I don't know the official tech stance. :o

[crunchierthanthou]

I would flip the locking latchplate to make sure it doesn't loosen over time (or on impact).

[Defrost]

Not sure about the "tech stance," but my personal comfort zone says "no." I've just got it in my head that buckles at the edge of the beltpath would have too much force on them in a wreck. They're not designed to work that way, yk?

[MissAllyLou]

I'd say no, but not from a safety standpoint. Safetywise, I'm sure it's fine, but I wouldn't want that under my kiddo. :twocents:

[Judi]

It is inbedded pretty good, on the inside.

yes, it does work outboard. Just atempting center, to fit two other kiddos that need the outboard lap/shoulder.

[doriansmummy]

Darn.:( I was hoping it would work out.
I put it back outboard, rock solid install with the top anchor installed now!:thumbsup:

So back to the drawing board Judi...:p
Now I am not sure what I am gonna do when I have my 2 nieces with that lame lap belt.

[Judi]

And no head rest.

[doriansmummy]

I know..:(
Let me know if you can think of anymore ideas.
I can not remember if when we had the regent in the middle if it was doing the same thing?

[Judi]

I think it was ok. We should have tried it again.

[safeinthecar]

If you untwist the buckle stalk can you get the whole buckle into the belt path so that it is laying flat against the shell. Kinda like an airplane belt.

[Judi]

But then it would be behind the kiddos back.

[doriansmummy]

I think it was ok. We should have tried it again.

I know... Well, it is outboard for now and in there tight with my trick of standing with my back on the ceiling.:thumbsup:;) I guess next time you are down this way we can meet up and play around again.

[Defrost]

I installed the Radian in our Astro yesterday and was unable to get an even remotely acceptable install outboard (lap/shoulder belts). I've had it in the center before (lap-only belt) but it's tricky, and I noticed something I wasn't comfortable with. I'm not sure it applies to what's going on with in your Suburu, but I thought I'd share just in case. :)

Okay, so I got it installed the same way I'd had it before (tighten the seat belt, unbuckle, flip the latchplate, re-buckle = rock-solid install) and then when I had DD sit in it, I realized I'd forgotten to move the harness to the top slots. :rolleyes:

So, I reached around and unbuckled the seat belt, then I grabbed the seat to flip it over. It wouldn't budge. The latchplate was jammed against the edge of the belt path and that "lip." I can take pics if you'd like.

So... was my install only rock-solid because of where the latchplate was jammed? Does it matter? I can't figure out the possibilities of what might happen in a crash - would that "lip" break? Would the latchplate? :shrug-shoulders:

I've seen this problem with the Radian and seat belt installs before - I was looking over an install that was rock-solid, and I realized it was only that tight because the Radian shell was jammed against the side of the twisted buckle stalk (perpendicular to the shell). Without uninstalling the carseat, I reached around and turned the buckle stalk parallel to the shell, and the seat was very loose.

Anyway, I was able to move the Radian closer to the outboard side to pull the latchplate away from the belt path, and twist the buckle stalk. (I know that probably doesn't help with the Suburu, I'm just finishing the story.)

[Judi]

Anyway, I was able to move the Radian closer to the outboard side to pull the latchplate away from the belt path, and twist the buckle stalk. (I know that probably doesn't help with the Suburu, I'm just finishing the story.)

I was thinking about this, this morning actually and was going to post if Erin thought that would help, lol.

[Defrost]

I was thinking about this, this morning actually and was going to post if Erin thought that would help, lol.

Heehee!

I'll go take pics... ;)

[doriansmummy]

So... was my install only rock-solid because of where the latchplate was jammed? Does it matter? I can't figure out the possibilities of what might happen in a crash - would that "lip" break? Would the latchplate? :shrug-shoulders:

I've seen this problem with the Radian and seat belt installs before - I was looking over an install that was rock-solid, and I realized it was only that tight because the Radian shell was jammed against the side of the twisted buckle stalk (perpendicular to the shell). Without uninstalling the carseat, I reached around and turned the buckle stalk parallel to the shell, and the seat was very loose.

Anyway, I was able to move the Radian closer to the outboard side to pull the latchplate away from the belt path, and twist the buckle stalk. (I know that probably doesn't help with the Suburu, I'm just finishing the story.)

Let me go take some photos of my install now so you can guys can look at it.

Here they are:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/doriansmummy/DSC_0178.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/doriansmummy/DSC_0179.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/doriansmummy/DSC_0180.jpg

[Defrost]

Okay - one thing I noticed when I was snapping shots was that the camera is VERY easily fooled in this situation. I was trying to re-create the issue I described earlier, plus add some "not like this" and "more like this" shots. Well, I kept ending up with pics where it looked in the pic like the install was "leaning" on the latchplate, but I could clearly see from the top/front of the beltpath that the latchplate wasn't actually touching. 3-D is apparently a big help here!

Anyway, take a look; I didn't end up with many good pics, but here's what my install looks like now:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Radian/IMG_2518.jpg

And here are the comparison pics of how much I scootched it over to get the latchplate further out of the belt path. Yeah, I know - they look identical! I really didn't scootch it that much! But if you look at the dirt-spot on the vehicle seat (nice to know dirt has a purpose in these cases, eh?) you can see the minor difference.

#1: Scooted over to pull the latchplate away from the beltpath:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Radian/IMG_2520.jpg

#2: Centered (latchplate too close to beltpath):
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Radian/IMG_2529.jpg

ETA: I checked out your pics and it looks okay from the view you're able to get.

[Judi]

I like that Debbie. I was hoping that would work.