Marathon in Trailblazer question

[mish]

Can you use the outboard LATCH anchors for a Marathon in the center of a Trailblazer? My LATCH manual says that GM advises following the CR manufacturers recommendation. I see such a small number of Britax seats I wasn't sure. I had mom install it with the seatbelt, but she would much rather use LATCH if at all possible.

[Jeanum]

Time to whip out a tape measure, because it would depend on the spacing of the borrowed outboard lower LATCH anchors in the Trailblazer according to pg. 91 of the 2007 LATCH manual. :) If the vehicle manufacturer permits it, then Britax allows borrowing of outboard anchors for a center lower LATCH anchor installation if the spacing of the borrowed lower anchors is between 11 and 20 inches apart.

[mish]

So, if it is between 11 and 20 inches it is okay? I just want to make sure before I call mom.

[Jeanum]

Yes, it's allowed in that range of spacing for a Britax seat in a GM vehicle.

[Unregistered]

So you know if it is allowed in an 05 Prius or an 03 Pilot? I have them installed with seatbelt in the middle seat, but was wondering if latch was allowed.

[Jeanum]

Toyota does not allow borrowing of the innermost lower LATCH anchors from each outboard seating position to do a center LATCH installation, so a seatbelt installation would definitely be the appropriate method for a center installation in the Prius. :)

Honda technically does not allow borrowing, either, although we have heard some indication through the CPS grapevine (by word of mouth here, basically, IIRC :)) that Honda has or will be updating its information to allow borrowing if the innermost outboard anchors are spaced a standard distance of 11 inches apart when measured across the center position. However, we haven't seen an official Honda update from Safe Ride News, who also writes and publishes the LATCH manual, nor anything official from Honda in an owner's manual or an owner's manual revision. Plus not every Honda's innermost outboard lower LATCH anchors are spaced 11 inches apart when measured across the center position. I don't know what the spacing is in the center of your Pilot, but even if it happens to be 11 inches apart, at this point in time I'd be more inclined to take a "wait and see" approach and use the seatbelt in the center (or LATCH or the seatbelt outboard) until we see an official update from Safe Ride News/Honda. It's also worth noting that Honda has a child weight limit of 40 lbs. for installing with the lower LATCH anchors, beyond which a seatbelt installation would be necessary regardless of the center lower LATCH installation allowability. :) Toyota defers to the child restraint manufacturer about any child weight limit for LATCH installations.

[Unregistered]

Thanks! That's what I thought, but wanted to double check.