Is this OK?

[firemomof3]

I installed a cargo in the 3rd row of my minivan which has long belt stalks. With the stalk twisted 3 times, the buckle itself is "inside" the shell of the car seat, is that OK?
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg303/firemomof3_photo/graco%20cargo/carseat001.jpg

[Maedze]

If the buckle is not resting on the bend of the frame, I'd be comfortable with it. It's not ideal, but it's tolerable.

[daycaremom2002]

I would be ok with that too, but you might try shifting the carseat over on the vehicle seat a small amount. I find that this helps when I install my Cargo if the buckle hits like that.

[cookie123]

I'm surprised it's a tight install with the buckle on the edge like that. Do you have less than an inch of movement at the belt path?

[Pixels]

My understanding is the only thing you want hitting the edge of the belt path is webbing. Having a part of the buckle hit it puts a lot of force on it and the buckle, and it could compromise the safety.

[mommycat]

What does it look like without any twists?

[Maedze]

OOO that's a thought. Untwisting might put the whole buckle into the belt path, thus eliminating any question :thumbsup:

[firemomof3]

OK, so I flipped this orange piece of plastic thats under the cargo (I'm guessing it has to do with recline) and that somehow made it so that now when its installed it looks like this:
And yes, rock solid!
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg303/firemomof3_photo/graco%20cargo/carseatpics017.jpg

[mommycat]

You are correct - it is a recline foot:
http://www.gracobaby.com/Instruction%20Manuals/ISPB007BF.pdf
8.5 Using Recline Foot
(on certain models)
Some models come with a recline foot on the bottom
of the seat.
1. To use recline: flip foot to
front of seat.
2. For storage: flip foot
toward rear of seat.

[Defrost]

It's hard to say because we can't see the lap-portion of the belt in the pics. It looks like the lap-portion of the belt could be supporting the beltpath (which would be correct) and the latchplate just happens to be in front of that, yk? Or it could be that the latchplate is actually holding that edge of the beltpath. You'd have to determine that yourself, because you can actually see it.

I think I have a picture somewhere...

Ah, here we go. Okay, this picture is hard to explain. It's a Husky(Regent), and the view is from the FRONT of the carseat, looking through the beltpath. Now, you can't see the lap-portion of the belt in this pic, either, but you can see that the latchplate is centered in the beltpath - not resting on it anywhere.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Husky/IMG_1517.jpg

If yours is similar to this - with the lap-portion of the belt actually holding the edge of the beltpath, and the latchplate just sort of "hovering" in the beltpath, it's good. :thumbsup:

[mommycat]

And again - I would be interested to see what it looks like without any twists in the buckle stalk. And is there a bit of a gap under the seat in that last pic? I would personally try to untwist the buckle stalk, make sure the latch plate feeds into the belt path and is not hung p on it, and then shove like mad straight down (and maybe a bit towards the seat bite) in the bum area hoping it will go far enough that the buckle is in the belt path. Just to see if it would work. :twocents:

[daycaremom2002]

The problem I have had with the buckle all the way in the belt path on the Cargo, is that then the child's back is in contact with the buckle. There is no padding on that seat. I always worry about discomfort on an everyday basis, and injury in a crash.

[mommycat]

I would worry about comfort as well, but as far as injury goes, I would likely prefer whatever injury a lump in the back would cause vs the extra movement and possible head injuries from a less-than ideal install (or God forbid, if the buckle was to break from being stressed on the edge of a seatshell). Though I guess you never know for sure. If the lump comes out on the side of the seat it may be that their back is not in contact as if it came out mid-seat back.

[joolsplus3]

My understanding is the only thing you want hitting the edge of the belt path is webbing. Having a part of the buckle hit it puts a lot of force on it and the buckle, and it could compromise the safety.

People tend to worry that a buckle on the edge might be dangerous, but I don't think that's borne out in the data. What we DO know is that a locking latchplate will not stay tight if it's tipped in a belt path, so that's a good reason to keep the buckle off the edge of the belt path :thumbsup:

[mommycat]

Thanks Julie, that's good to know! I guess it is still best to avoid it if possible, but no need to panic? I would think it would be worse to have the connection between male/female on a hard point as opposed to the main part of the buckle itself, if one needs to choose between the non-ideal positions.

[Defrost]

People tend to worry that a buckle on the edge might be dangerous, but I don't think that's borne out in the data. What we DO know is that a locking latchplate will not stay tight if it's tipped in a belt path, so that's a good reason to keep the buckle off the edge of the belt path :thumbsup:

My concern is more that it can hide a loose install. I've had a few experiences where I thought the car seat was really tight, but it only felt that way because of the way the latchplate/buckle was jammed in there. I couldn't tell that the seat belt was actually too loose because the carseat was held in place by the position of the latchplate/buckle.