Radian install

[romanoma]

I'm new to this forum - LOVE IT!! I have never joined another forum in my life, but this one is so exceptional. Thanks for all the help already.

Has anyone tried to install a Radian FF in the center of a 2005 CRV with lap/shoulder belt? We will be trying this weekend and I know we will have issues with it.

Also, soon to be traveling with our radian, any install tips for our rental car (don't know what it will be yet!). Any way to get it checked while away?

Thanks!!

[Pixels]

Have you read the Install Tips for a Radian with forward of the bight seatbelts thread (http://car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=28939)? If not, do so. The most important hints seem to be twisting down the belt stalk up to 3 full twists, positioning the seat slightly forward of the bight, and using the FFing recline. Though there have been some reports of it installing better in certain vehicles/positions not reclined.

For the rental, assume a 40 pound LATCH limit. If the child is under 40 pounds, install with LATCH, as it is sooo much easier in the Radian. Try to get as much practice installing it in different vehicles and different positions as you can before you go. The Radian definitely gets easier to install the more you do it. I would even ask neighbors/friends if you can "borrow" their vehicle to try it out in.

Remember to check the vehicle's manual to see which (if any) are the appropriate anchors to use if you want to use LATCH in the center position. The RFing seat might fit better center seat, so it can come up over/between the front seats. Seats that are next to each other can touch or even press on each other, you just have to make sure each is independently tight. That means install the first seat, and get it tight (less than one inch of movement at the belt path). Then install the second seat, getting it tight also. Take out the first seat, and check if the second seat is still tight. Of course if they aren't touching you don't have to worry about that.

[Defrost]

I have actually installed a Radian in the center of a CRV. Unfortunately, it was my SIL's car two years ago and I can't remember any specifics. I want to say it was an '03-05, though. I'm almost positive I used LATCH, though.

I do have a co-worker who has a CRV; if he's at work tomorrow night I'll ask him what year it is and take a peek at the back seat. I'm usually able to see any possible install problems just by looking.

Glad you like the forum - Welcome! :thumbsup:

[romanoma]

Thanks for the replies!

I don't think my year crv has center latch, so I used the seatbelt, twisted the stalk only once as the center stalk is short. Any specific angle required for the FF seat? Seemed I could have moved it forward or back several inches and still had it on the seat in a stable way (prior to install). I do have the recline foot in use.

Anyway, I tried it today and I think I got a good install, seems really solid, not quite sure how hard to "shake" it though to test it. I'm about 5'7" and 130 lbs, should I have to use my body weight a little to test for movement?

Also, can I use an outboard top tether anchor?

If not, do I have to uninstall it and take off the safe stop?

TIA!

[NannyMom]

Thanks for the replies!

I don't think my year crv has center latch, so I used the seatbelt, twisted the stalk only once as the center stalk is short. Any specific angle required for the FF seat? Seemed I could have moved it forward or back several inches and still had it on the seat in a stable way (prior to install). I do have the recline foot in use.

Anyway, I tried it today and I think I got a good install, seems really solid, not quite sure how hard to "shake" it though to test it. I'm about 5'7" and 130 lbs, should I have to use my body weight a little to test for movement?

Also, can I use an outboard top tether anchor?

If not, do I have to uninstall it and take off the safe stop?

TIA!


You can not use the outboard TT anchor. There should be 3 on your roof... 1 for each seat.

To test for movement, you use your weak hand, hold the seat at the beltpath. and move it around to see if it moves more than 1 inch from side to side or front to back.

[Pixels]

Thanks for the replies!

I don't think my year crv has center latch, so I used the seatbelt, twisted the stalk only once as the center stalk is short. Any specific angle required for the FF seat? Seemed I could have moved it forward or back several inches and still had it on the seat in a stable way (prior to install). I do have the recline foot in use.

Anyway, I tried it today and I think I got a good install, seems really solid, not quite sure how hard to "shake" it though to test it. I'm about 5'7" and 130 lbs, should I have to use my body weight a little to test for movement?

Also, can I use an outboard top tether anchor?

If not, do I have to uninstall it and take off the safe stop?

TIA!
There is no specific angle for a FFing seat. Just keep it reasonable, no 45 degree angles. The back of the carseat probably should be within a couple of inches of the vehicle seat back at the bottom, and definitely should be touching at the top.

You cannot use an outboard top tether point for the center seat. Check your roof, if you don't see one there, check the vehicle manual. It should have a section on installing child seats and show you clearly where the top tether points are.

And yes, if you don't have it top tethered, with a seatbelt install you must not use the SafeStop. To use SafeStop you have to install with lower anchors, top tether, or both.

[Defrost]

I know for sure that my SIL's CRV had three full sets of LATCH. Again, though, I'm not sure what year it was, so perhaps Honda stopped doing that at some point? If you look in your vehicle manual, it will tell you for sure. Regardless, it does have three top tether anchors - that's required by law.

The angle shouldn't matter too much, since you got a good install, but you do want to avoid too large a gap - most of the back of the carseat should be in contact with the vehicle seat.

[joolsplus3]

Debbie, they just started doing three sets of LATCH in the last year or so, I think with the newest eggy shaped CR-V's? The older boxy ones didn't have LATCH in the center.

But it's true, there have been three top anchors since 2001, so there's definitely one in the middle :)

[NannyMom]

Debbie, they just started doing three sets of LATCH in the last year or so, I think with the newest eggy shaped CR-V's? The older boxy ones didn't have LATCH in the center.

But it's true, there have been three top anchors since 2001, so there's definitely one in the middle :)

:( I wish my Dad's CRV (2004-2006) had center latch. Sofi's BV had to go outboard because the seatbelt had issues with the lockoff.

[Defrost]

Debbie, they just started doing three sets of LATCH in the last year or so, I think with the newest eggy shaped CR-V's? The older boxy ones didn't have LATCH in the center.

*headdesk* You're right - I'm confusing the CRV (which my MIL had) with the Saturn SUV my SIL had!

I did install the Radian in both of those vehicles, but they are so similar and it was during the same trip that I managed to get them mixed up in my mind! :o

[romanoma]

Thanks for all the help! I'll look for that top center tether point. I'm so glad it fit in my center seat so my DS will be even more safe. I really didn't find the install as hard as I expected after all the horror stories I read. It makes me less worried about a latch install in our rental car next week.
BTW is the harness always a little stiff in the radian, or is it due to a really tight install? If it's the install, I guess I can live with it for the sake of his safety :)

[Pixels]

I know that one of the changes they made to the newer Radians (9/08 DOM and later) was a deeper harness channel. I'm guessing the reason they made this change is the harness getting a bit trapped in some vehicles.