Chevrolet and Ford LATCH limits?

[mkmama]

I didn't even realize that there were weight limits with LATCH systems, until I read it somewhere on here...so two questions:

1. What are the LATCH limits for an '04 Chevrolet Impala and '00 Ford Windstar? I couldn't find the info in the Impala manual and don't have the Windstar's manual handy.

2. Is the weight limit just the child's weight, or the child + seat? I assume child, since most limits seem to be 40 lbs, but I want to make sure.

[munchkin]

Do you have the Lower Anchors in your Windstar or just the Top Tether?

ETA: The tether weight limit and the Lower Anchor weight limit are different. Ford has a weight limit for lower anchors of 48 pounds. The top tether weight limit is 60 lbs. (or 80 if you have a vest or harness system like the 86-Y harness).

I don't know about the Chevy.

[mkmama]

Do you have the Lower Anchors in your Windstar or just the Top Tether?
Lower Anchors as well as the top tether

[Maedze]

Your Ford has a 48 pound limit. Not sure about the Chevy....

[mkmama]

Your Ford has a 48 pound limit. Not sure about the Chevy....

Thanks! Is that limit child or child + seat?

[munchkin]

Thanks! Is that limit child or child + seat?

I updated my earlier post, with top tether limit of 60 pounds (just wanted to make sure you saw that). The limit is the child's weight only, the vehicle manufacturers (and child restraint manufacturers) factor in the weight of the car seat.

[mkmama]

OK, so since my DS1 will be FF in a Nautilus, once he's 48 lbs, I'll have to use the seat belt + top tether in the windstar as opposed to top tether and lower anchors?

And after he's 60 lbs, I'll have to use just the seatbelt?

[munchkin]

OK, so since my DS1 will be FF in a Nautilus, once he's 48 lbs, I'll have to use the seat belt + top tether in the windstar as opposed to top tether and lower anchors?

And after he's 60 lbs, I'll have to use just the seatbelt?

After 48 - seatbelt and top tether. Correct

and after 60 (most kids won't make it to 60 pounds in the Nautilus because they will outgrow it by height first) you should continue to use the top tether, because it will still help decrease the head excursion. Basically it will do its job and then 'break' because of too much weight. (I hope that makes sense!)

[Maedze]

OK, so since my DS1 will be FF in a Nautilus, once he's 48 lbs, I'll have to use the seat belt + top tether in the windstar as opposed to top tether and lower anchors?

And after he's 60 lbs, I'll have to use just the seatbelt?

Correct, sort of :p


While manufacturers frequently put a top tether weight limit on the books, we encourage parents to ALWAYS use the top tether. It is not designed to secure the seat to the vehicle. If the tether anchor fails for a heavier child, it will have all ready done its job (to reduce head excursion). So we don't advise discontinuing use of the top tether.

However, most kids won't make it to 60 lbs in the Nauti, so I wouldn't worry too much about it :p

Oh, and the weight limit is for the child alone, not the child plus the seat.

[Jeanum]

Previous posters covered the Ford, and GM vehicles have a limit of 48 lbs. for installing with the lower LATCH anchors after which it would be necessary to install with the seatbelt. Continuing to top tether a forward facing harnessed seat installed with the vehicle seatbelt is recommended to reduce head excursion.

[mkmama]

So it sounds like in both vehicles I'll have to use seatbelt after 48 pounds...thanks everyone!