which has a taller shell, radian or true fit, and how much taller than the marathon are they?

[Amaris]

I'm going to have to start keeping an eye on K's torso growth. I'm hoping it slows down, but I'm not going to count on it. So, if I decide to get a seat with a taller shell which should I look at, radian or true fit? I would like to be keeping an eye out for sales. If I get one I can use it for a spare in dh's car. We were going to get an avenue but haven't found one yet, and I'm thinking I would like something that I can use to rf longer if she does outgrow the ma by height before I am ready to turn her (ideally 3 yrs). Being able to use the seat in dh's car now would be great because then he doesn't think I'm buying a seat just in case!

[wendytthomas]

Shell is the Radian. I'm not positive by how much. About an inch or two, I believe. However, the Radian's top slots are about a half inch taller.

Wendy

[Amaris]

How hard is the radian to install rf'ing if you have buckles slightly forward of the bight? I have to move the nautilus forward at the base a bit to get it tight.

[BW1426]

Shell is the Radian. I'm not positive by how much. About an inch or two, I believe. However, the Radian's top slots are about a half inch taller.

Wendy

I was under the impression that the True Fit had the tallest convertible shell on the US market. I thought it was an inch or two higher than the radian.

[NannyMom]

I think Wendy meant to say Shell is TF. But Radian has higher top slots.

But I could be wrong, as I don't live in Wendy's head :)

[Pixels]

Shell is the Radian. I'm not positive by how much. About an inch or two, I believe. However, the Radian's top slots are about a half inch taller.

Wendy

I believe the TrueFit has the taller shell. Wendy, the way you worded this is a bit weird, leading me to think that you misspoke?

[Pixels]

How hard is the radian to install rf'ing if you have buckles slightly forward of the bight? I have to move the nautilus forward at the base a bit to get it tight.

RFing installs are generally not bad. FFing installs are where the forward of the bight belts make it very difficult.

What vehicle is this for? Someone here might be able to tell you for sure if it installs well (or not).

[Amaris]

It would be in a 2005 Ford Expedition and a 2000 Chevy Impala. The Expedition is the one with the forward of the bight buckles. They aren't very forward, but they are far enough that I had a little trouble with the nautilus.

[solmama]

Shell heights: Truefit-27", Recaro Signo-26.5", Radian-25.5", EFTA/MA-24"

[Amaris]

Shell heights: Truefit-27", Recaro Signo-26.5", Radian-25.5", EFTA/MA-24"

Do you have the highest harness heights as well? Thanks!

[Pixels]

2005 FF lap/shoulder (http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=156743&postcount=28)
2004 (http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=546085&postcount=280) (I'm not sure if it's the same as the 2005 or not, hopefully this will be of some use)

[CDNTech]

Do you have the highest harness heights as well? Thanks!

Installed in the vehicle, the Radian has about .75 - 1 inch more growing room. A Comparison of the top recommended seats can be found by clicking here (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=55415).

DS1 at 5 years old with a 16+" torso... he still fit in the Radian rear facing by height. We took this picture for fun, he was too heavy to rear face.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/133/413178536_aea4680d39.jpg?v=0

Tips/tricks for installing the Radian with forward of the bight seatbelts... http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=28939

[Amaris]

Thanks! I really think I like the true fit. There doesn't seem to be a big difference between it and the radian. I wish I could see a radian in person, and try a true fit. Target here used to have them but they don't carry them anymore and I didn't bother to try it out when they had it.

[ketchupqueen]

Well, one difference is the harness height. Remember that the Radian is not only taller top slots, but allows use over the top slots as long as the ears are below the top of the shell.

[NannyMom]

Because I'm trying to make the same decision you are....

My MA will be going in grandma's car when DD grows 1 more torso inch. I've been debating on replacing it with the Radian or TF. I'm really leaning towards the TF w/ arb. We got a Radian for Baby S and I've been playing with it for a few days. I :love: that it fits all the kids, Baby S through 8 year old A. And it installs easily in my van's 2nd row. It would be nice to have one for any future 3 in a row needs. But... I'm leaning towards the TF. It seems bigger (which it is) and more comfy. The top slots are higher than the MA and BV which were my other options.

[Amaris]

I'm leaning more toward the tf because it sounds like it is easier to install. I know that I will read the manual and take an hour if necessary to install the radian so that it doesn't move, but since I can't be sure I will be the only one installing and we do have buckles that are slightly forward of the bight, I'm probably going to go with the easier overall install. There are occasions when it will be in an 09 camry and an 03 rav-4 also.

[Defrost]

The 3rd row of my car has slightly forward-of-the-bight seat belts, and the Radian was a breeze RF in that position.

[Amaris]

The 3rd row of my car has slightly forward-of-the-bight seat belts, and the Radian was a breeze RF in that position.

Is it just as easy ff'ing? I do have latch so even if I can't get a good rf'ing install with the seatbelt I can't go that route, but ff'ing I know she will be in the seat beyond 45lbs (latch limit on expedition).

[Defrost]

Is it just as easy ff'ing? I do have latch so even if I can't get a good rf'ing install with the seatbelt I can't go that route, but ff'ing I know she will be in the seat beyond 45lbs (latch limit on expedition).

Uh... no, it's actually truly incompatible FF in that seating position. The seatbelt position is only part of the reason, though - the other factors are stiff seats that don't compress well, fixed vehicle seats, and fairly large gaps between the locking areas in the seat belt (as in, when you pull it out and lock it, the spaces between the "clicks" are rather long.)

[Amaris]

Uh... no, it's actually truly incompatible FF in that seating position. The seatbelt position is only part of the reason, though - the other factors are stiff seats that don't compress well, fixed vehicle seats, and fairly large gaps between the locking areas in the seat belt (as in, when you pull it out and lock it, the spaces between the "clicks" are rather long.)

That leaves me thinking true fit. My seats do not compress much either. I haven't payed much attention to how much seatbelt goes back in between each click, but I's nautilus needs to have the straps moved up so I will try to remember to pay attention when I reinstall it.

[Defrost]

That leaves me thinking true fit. My seats do not compress much either. I haven't payed much attention to how much seatbelt goes back in between each click, but I's nautilus needs to have the straps moved up so I will try to remember to pay attention when I reinstall it.

Yeah - if there is a difference in shell height between the two, I can't see it being significant enough to matter more than a few months RF, yk? It's just that the Radian would last longer FF... which would do you no good at all if it doesn't install easily!

[Pixels]

Uh... no, it's actually truly incompatible FF in that seating position. The seatbelt position is only part of the reason, though - the other factors are stiff seats that don't compress well, fixed vehicle seats, and fairly large gaps between the locking areas in the seat belt (as in, when you pull it out and lock it, the spaces between the "clicks" are rather long.)

Well, you could always use a locking clip to deal with the problem with the large gaps in the locking. But if Debbie says it's a true incompatiblity, I believe her.

Debbie, which car are you referring to? In another of your posts, you mentioned that you have a Mazda5. I had NO problem installing a RN in any of the seating positions, RFing or FFing (I tried them all). It could be a difference of model years, though.

[Defrost]

Well, you could always use a locking clip to deal with the problem with the large gaps in the locking. But if Debbie says it's a true incompatiblity, I believe her.

Debbie, which car are you referring to? In another of your posts, you mentioned that you have a Mazda5. I had NO problem installing a RN in any of the seating positions, RFing or FFing (I tried them all). It could be a difference of model years, though.

It's only incompatible in my vehicle - probably in others as well, but that's the only one I've discovered myself. I truly don't know if it would be incompatible in her vehicle or not, but I do know that it's well-reported that forward-of-the-bight seat belts and the Radian tend to make for a trickier installs.

I replied to you in another thread about the Radian & the Mazda 5, but here it is again for others who might be following this thread. I think you might have missed it because you can get it tight in the 3rd row when checking side-to-side (VERY tight, even - I can't tell you how many times Gypsy and I grinned at each other in success after feeling that!) but the base slips out with very little effort when you check front-to-back.

[Pixels]

I'm pretty sure that it was tight in every direction, and that I checked it in every direction, but now I'm not confident enough to say 100% for sure. And, I don't have easy access to one, so it's not like I can run out to the car and check.

[Amaris]

Now it's time to start looking for tf's. I think I might wait for the new one. Does anyone know what will happen to the arb when it's ff'ing?

[Defrost]

I'm pretty sure that it was tight in every direction, and that I checked it in every direction, but now I'm not confident enough to say 100% for sure. And, I don't have easy access to one, so it's not like I can run out to the car and check.

Well, we've had three techs on this board, who are experienced with the Radian, attempt it (two of us on several occasions) and it always comes down to that one problem. :shrug-shoulders:

[jess71903]

Now it's time to start looking for tf's. I think I might wait for the new one. Does anyone know what will happen to the arb when it's ff'ing?

It flips down and under the seat to make a "base".

[snowbird25ca]

Well, one difference is the harness height. Remember that the Radian is not only taller top slots, but allows use over the top slots as long as the ears are below the top of the shell.

AND as long as the child is under the overall height limit. If you have a child over the numerical listed height limit once their shoulders go over those top slots, you can't continue to use it. :thumbsup:

[Gypsy]

Well, we've had three techs on this board, who are experienced with the Radian, attempt it (two of us on several occasions) and it always comes down to that one problem. :shrug-shoulders:

Yep, three very experienced, very knowledgeable techs, we've tried all the tricks, we've done everything possible to get it secure *front to back* but it's just not happening in the 3rd row of the Mazda5.

[snowbird25ca]

Yep, three very experienced, very knowledgeable techs, we've tried all the tricks, we've done everything possible to get it secure *front to back* but it's just not happening in the 3rd row of the Mazda5.

Adding in to the Radian just not happening ff'ing 3rd row of Mazda5. I had it *close* but not quite close enough. The belt just wouldn't click in the one more needed to hold it tight enough. For all intents and purposes, even if I had managed to get it in, I would've considered it incompatible for the average parent because it would not be an install easy to replicate and definitely not one I'd want to ever repeat personally.

And there has been idea sharing between us all between trials and it still wasn't possible to do. So I totally agree with Debbie and Gypsy. It's just plain incompatible ff'ing back there.

[Defrost]

And there has been idea sharing between us all between trials and it still wasn't possible to do. So I totally agree with Debbie and Gypsy. It's just plain incompatible ff'ing back there.

I just realized pixels99 has an XT - with the rubber grips. I'm not convinced that would actually correct the very poor install we were getting with the old model Radian, though. I think it's "tricky," yk?

We should start a new thread - sorry OP!