86Y question

[katiesmommy]

Since nobody responded to that question in my other thread. Would an 86Y be compatible with loop tethers in the backseat of a truck?

[Gypsy]

Since nobody responded to that question in my other thread. Would an 86Y be compatible with loop tethers in the backseat of a truck?

I think you would need to try it to know for sure.

I have been unable to get all of the slack out of the tether strap when using loop tethers, but I *think* it's mostly because the seat is in the way and even if you shorten the tether ahead of time, you still need it a LITTLE loose so you can actually hook it on the loop.

With an 86Y or a vest I am not sure it would be a problem to get the slack out, but there might be a problem with the angle the tether would pull towards (it won't be straight back) and that MIGHT be a problem with using a harness or vest.

Also, is there a head rest in that seating position? Will you be using the 86Y with a booster?

[katiesmommy]

That's part of the problem. It's not for me, it's for a friend in another state so I can't try it. I believe there's a head rest and yes it will be used with a booster. They just got this new truck and the middle of the backseat is a lapbelt. Right now that's not an issue, but in the summer when she gets her kids they'll need all of the seating positions.

[Defrost]

I still need to check this out for Courtfrog, so I'll do it later on today. We're taking the kids to my parents' to spend the night anyway, so I'll have plenty of time. I'll go put the camera next to my purse right now so I'll remember to do it. :thumbsup:

[Defrost]

Okay, I got it done and took pics, but they're not uploaded yet; I'll get to that later.

Unfortunately, the only thing I could come up with is "I'm still not sure." When I post the pics, you'll be able to see why, but there were two issues in my parents' truck (Ford F150.)

The first was that it won't work on the driver's side - there's a big plastic bump on top of the seat and you have to route the tether strap behind it in that seating position. The buckle for the tether strap ends up needing to be directly behind that plastic thing (it's for the center seat belt) and it won't fit.

That's not an issue on the passenger side, but I had trouble getting it tight enough. It's rather like the same problem you get with a versa-tether and a sedan where the tether anchor is too close to the back of the carseat. The only way I could get it tight enough was to pull the "V" section of the harness into the routing loop, and I'm not sure if that's okay or if I'd be comfortable with that.

I'll post the pics later and hopefully we can get some more techs to chime in.

[Defrost]

All right, here's the pics - sorry it took so long! (Don't mind the kid - his payment for modeling for me is to get into character of some sort. This time he was a "crash-test zombie." ;) )

Here you can see the incompatibility with the driver's side:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/86Y%20harness/IMG_2998.jpg
(Adjusting the length only changes the webbing on the right; the webbing on the left is fixed.)

Here is the 86Y with my 11yo in a backless booster, positioned "correctly." As you can see, there is way too much slack:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/86Y%20harness/IMG_2999.jpg


Then I shortened the tether-side, which pulled the V-shaped section into the routing loop. This corrected the problem with the slack...
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/86Y%20harness/IMG_3001.jpg

...but as you can see, it's a bunched-up mess at the routing loop:
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/86Y%20harness/IMG_3000.jpg

One last note - I tried the fit without the booster as well, which is technically acceptable since my 11 yo is over 65lbs., but it wasn't any better. Still either too much slack or bunched webbing at the routing loop.

[Gypsy]

(Don't mind the kid - his payment for modeling for me is to get into character of some sort. This time he was a "crash-test zombie." ;) )



:eek: :ROTFLMAO: :ROTFLMAO: :love:

[katiesmommy]

Ha, crash test zombie, that kid is a crack up.

So, probably the only way to know for sure is to get one and try it in their truck to see for sure then, huh?

[safeinthecar]

*chiming in*

I'm in the I don't know camp. Maybe call EZ-on and ask them.


There also might be a difference in fit between the regular 86Y, the custom 86Y (I think Debbie has customs), the KidY, and the EZ-on vest. The tether for the RSTV is different too, so that might be another option to try.

[Defrost]

There also might be a difference in fit between the regular 86Y, the custom 86Y (I think Debbie has customs), the KidY, and the EZ-on vest. The tether for the RSTV is different too, so that might be another option to try.

No, I only have one custom 86Y - the one in the pics is the standard (I don't remove the custom even when it's not in use - it just gets tucked neatly under the seat!) I'm just not sure if the bunching is okay.

I can probably check the RSTV, too - Gypsy has one. It'll probably take me another few weeks to get it to my parents', but I think after the 86Y we could just compare measurements between the two and get an idea of whether it's worth even trying. I'll ask if she can bring it tomorrow.

ETA: Gypsy's RSTV is packed away right now, so I can't measure. If someone else has one and can measure, though, I can measure the 86Y and we can compare.

[safeinthecar]

No, I only have one custom 86Y - the one in the pics is the standard (I don't remove the custom even when it's not in use - it just gets tucked neatly under the seat!) I'm just not sure if the bunching is okay.

I can probably check the RSTV, too - Gypsy has one. It'll probably take me another few weeks to get it to my parents', but I think after the 86Y we could just compare measurements between the two and get an idea of whether it's worth even trying. I'll ask if she can bring it tomorrow.

ETA: Gypsy's RSTV is packed away right now, so I can't measure. If someone else has one and can measure, though, I can measure the 86Y and we can compare.


Well the main difference I can think of with the RSTV is that the guidelines for the tether are different. With the 86Y, the "v" in the tether is supposed to be more or less at the top of the vehicle seat. With the RSTV, the placement of the "v" varies because it is dependent on the shoulder height of the child in relation to the height of the vehicle seat.

[katiesmommy]

Okay, so the child will be 6 in June, I'm not sure how tall she is but she has a 17" torso, and she's 45lbs. She'll be in the center of the backseat with step mom's two kids in boosters on either side of her. Is there anything else anyone can think of? I know a nauti would work, but it wouldn't work for very long. Thoughts?

[courtfrog2]

I talked to the lady at RSTV company and she said that it's acceptable to use the vest as long as just the single piece of tether webbing is going through the loop ditrectly behind the child. I tried it with the small vest and it worked perfectly. I will be trying it with the larger vest as soon as I get it. With the larger vest, there is a specific tether strap you have to use for over 60lbs if you are using the lap/shoulder belt. I ordered that one because I need it for a bigger child. I really like our RSTV.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the pictures of the 86Y... I'm glad I didn't order that one! LOL.