2004 ford freestar

[horseymom]

we might be looking into buying our neighbours 2004 freestar. we have a TF and a Frontier. Anyone know if those seats install well in that vehical?

[MissKatie]

I'm not sure, but since they are your neighbors I would suggest taking the seats over beforehand and trying them out, that way you'll know first hand how they install. :)

[Kecia]

Bench seat or captain's chair in the middle row?

[horseymom]

Bench seat or captain's chair in the middle row?

Captians chairs in the middle :)

[KirasMommy]

I have a 2003 Ford Windstar. The Frontier installed well using the LBP with the seat belt. I can't remember if I tried installing it SBP since I only had it for a few days (returned it because Kira's head flopped forward when she slept in it, and I never attempted to install using LATCH). I cannot get my Regent installed in the captian's chairs using SBP (required after 40 lbs on the Regent) because the stalk of the buckle is rigid and sticks up several inches above the bight of the seat. The buckle sits in the belt path and I cannot get a tight install. I ended up replacing my Regent with a True Fit and it fits nicely FFing, but I could not get a good install RFing.

I hope that the Freestar is a little more carseat-friendly than the Windstar. :)

[valleyfam]

I'm almost positive 2004 is the year everything interior and exterior changed for Ford Vans. Not sure if it matters to you but I think there will only be 3 top anchors in the Freestar verses the 6 in the older style Windstar. I agree ask to look at the manual and try your seats out.

[Maedze]

I have a 2005 Freestar and in terms of car seat friendliness, it's definitely downgraded from the Windstar. It went from 6 tether anchors to three (four in bare-bones models, because there's one under the front passenger seat), and 4 sets of LATCH to only 3 :thumbsdown:

The third row is ridiculous. It is narrow and TINY. Even grown adults do not pass the 5 step test back there due to the positioning of the shoulder belts.


The back seat plus Radians is an unholy nightmare. They are not compatible rearfacing for a variety of reasons and extremely difficult (probably impossible for the average parent) to install ff with the seatbelts.

I'm not sure about the particular seats you have in mind though.

[Kecia]

I have an '05 Freestar Limited with captain's chairs in the middle row. I'm happy with it but only because I have 2 kids and don't plan to have anymore. If I had more than 2, I probably wouldn't be driving this vehicle. The 3rd row, as previously mentioned, leaves much to be desired.

I haven't tried to install a Frontier or TF in my van yet so I can't say for certain if they will work or not. I can say that the Radian with seatbelt in the captain's chair was incompatible but I know I can put a Husky/Regent with long belt path there without a problem. The good news is that the lower anchors are rated to 48 lbs if you chose to use them instead of seatbelt up until that point. The biggest issue with the seatbelts in the captain's chair positions is that they are rigid and angled. There is no flexible stalk or coil. This is what the Radian and Decathlon look like installed in my captain's chairs with seatbelt:
3769

3770

HTH!

[horseymom]

thanks for all the imput, keep it coming! I'm not too worried about multipul latch or tether anchors as we only have 2 kids and are not having any more. my only options for my dd is the frontier and Natiulis (b/c I'm in Canada) and being we have a Frontier I would hope it would work out. we are waiting to hear from them if we can make a deal, is so I'll try my seats out.

[horseymom]

I have an '05 Freestar Limited with captain's chairs in the middle row. I'm happy with it but only because I have 2 kids and don't plan to have anymore. If I had more than 2, I probably wouldn't be driving this vehicle. The 3rd row, as previously mentioned, leaves much to be desired.

I haven't tried to install a Frontier or TF in my van yet so I can't say for certain if they will work or not. I can say that the Radian with seatbelt in the captain's chair was incompatible but I know I can put a Husky/Regent with long belt path there without a problem. The good news is that the lower anchors are rated to 48 lbs if you chose to use them instead of seatbelt up until that point. The biggest issue with the seatbelts in the captain's chair positions is that they are rigid and angled. There is no flexible stalk or coil. This is what the Radian and Decathlon look like installed in my captain's chairs with seatbelt:
3769

3770

HTH!

my Explorer has ridgid buckle stocks (although it has longer ones than yours) and it also bunches like that too. I was told it's ok :confused:

[Kecia]

It's not the bunching of the seatbelt that's the problem - it's the fact that I can't get a tight install with the Radian in that position. Actually, I was able to finally get it tight enough (not rock solid but acceptable) but that involved crazy amounts of work and every trick I've ever learned in 10 years of installing seats. Honestly, it's not something that I could expect a parent to replicate. That's why I say the Radian is incompatible with those seating positions.

[mum2two]

I have an 2004 Mercury Monterey, the twin to the Ford and have leather captains chairs in the 2nd row, it's a dream to install my RF MA (and I got a good RF tether spot) and my Regent with latch, haven't had to do the seatbelt yet as DD is still under the 48lb limit. The latch connectors aren't too deep and the captains chairs are well shaped.

We've had to install a MA in the middle of the 3rd row with latch and it was easy too.

I love my vehicle BTW!