Frontier on Subaru Legacy 2005 Wagon?!

[kcoin]

Hello,
After doing all the research/reading the manual I bought the Frontier. Great seat but with a Certified INstaller we could not get a good fit. We tried both the center(only the SBP) and the driver side passenger using both paths(LBP and SBP). When I tried the LBP(I had read on Amazon that one person with a 2005 Legacy Wagon had done so) the belt stalk was not really to the outside of the seat but up against the back of it. My Instructor had never attempted a Fronteir before but we spent 45min to an hour attempting all the different installs. I had the instructions printed out along with the extra 'tips'. I really want to give this one more try since there was a good install from someone! The belt stalks on 2005 for the side seats are VERY short(as others have said the ealier Subaris were long). Not that it mattered much as the stalk itself was behind the seat in each case(less on the LBP than the SBP). The stalks have a plastic cover and are very shallow(the instructor could only do a 3/4 turn and he is a big guy). Possibly we are doing it wrong? The LBP, we took the belt down the inside of the front of the chair then one side around the red guide near the bottom of the seat and then a back into the holes for the short path to the other side(hole there too) and then out to the clip. Please any help would be great! Has anyone gotten a good install on a Subaru 2005 Legacy Wagon(I'm not sure when they redesigned after 2005, 2005 was a new design to priors)? I did get the 5$ return from Elitecar seats just in case! If this doesn't work,any other 5pts working for Subaru 2005 LEgacy?
Thanks!!
Kate

[Splash]

I've put it in a 2006 Forester. Not the same, I know, but my dad's 2006 Legacy appeared identical to my backseat setup, just slightly wider.

How much does the child weigh? Subaru will allow LATCH usage to 60 pounds (there has been much confusion on it, but I've spoken personally with one of the engineers there who assured me that they built in the extra buffer solely as a CYA measure and since my manual says 60 pounds, feel free to use it to 60 pounds). I also have in writing from Britax that all their seat are LATCH tested to their full weight capacity, being 80 pounds for the Frontier. As most children will outgrow the Frontier in the neighborhood of 65 pounds, I've made a parental decision to continue to use latch until 60 pounds, then either fight with the belt or abandon the seat.

But I HAVE put it in LBP. It's not super solid, but it is an absolutely acceptable install.

Where are you located? We probably have a tech nearby who can help you!

[Unregistered]

Splash!
Thanks for your reply! My daughter is 4 and 40lbs. I thought the Frontier seat said to use the belt after 40lbs? Though,I do know about the latches on Subaru going up to 60lbs. That said I do want this to be our last seat. My daughter is 40Lbs and 43 inches now(possibly 43.5:>). I'm thinking that at before the age of 8 or 57inch(MA state law) she maybe above 60lbs and I did not get a good install at all with the belts. I did go to the Police station where I found a NHTSA inspector which could not get the seat in(he had never put in a Frontier before though). I think the 2006 Forester would be similar to my Legacy. I really want to get the Belt installation to work. I live in the Boston Area and can go both near Boston and outside of Boston(I live near but work West of the city). Is there a difference between your certification and NHTSA? (your certification may have more specific install coverage?) Thanks for the help!!! Any suggestions are welcome!!
Thanks,
kate

[Splash]

NHTSA doesn't certify. SafeKids is the only certifying body, but NHTSA does weigh in on the material. So, that's probably what he meant.

The backseat is similar, near identical.

Something that I find to help with the install is to install it with LATCH first. Get it as tight as possible with LATCH. This will be fairly easy. Lower the seatbelt adjuster (on the side of the vehicle). Then install it loosely with LBP. Grab the shoulder belt right by the buckle and tug tug tug. Get the lapbelt as tight as possible, as the lapbelt is what holds the seat. Feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor, pull the shoulder belt as tight as possible while still holding the lap belt tight. Once you've got that done, try raising the seatbelt slide adjuster. Then release the LATCH. MUST release the LATCH. It's only there as a third hand to keep the seat still and tight while you work around it.

It's not rock solid. It's not gonna shake the vehicle. It WILL move when pulled on. But it's an acceptable install, which is what we're going for! Make sure you attach the tether as well.

It's not an easy seat to install, and most Subarus are not easy cars to work with. But it'll work. If you can't get it done, or it's too difficult, or you can't duplicate it, then return it. A Graco Nautilus has the same harness height (actually a little higher) and installs like a dream in my car. SO easy. Actually, eventually I'll move the Frontier to my van and the GN to my car. The GN is not as good a booster as the FN, but it's okay. The GN is also ~$100 less, so you can buy a dedicated booster when/if you need it.

[DahliaRW]

One thing to think of too, is that by the time she is 60lbs she may have outgrown the harness and need to use it as a booster. In which case you don't have to worry about installing the seat, just using it as a bpb. Which will get her until 8yrs easily.

To comment on what the pp said, the nautilus is an easy install in a subaru (and I've only done it with the seatbelt in an '01 Outback). The belt path is nice and high and suepr accessible. So if the frontier won't work, you may want to look into that. It'll last you just about as long (slightly shorter as a hbb, but it converts to a lbb).

[kcoin]

Hello!
Thanks for all of your replies! I'm going to do all your recommendations plus more! I think I will a) look at a couple of the frontier videos just to be sure I had the LBP correct b) get another certified installer to try c) check out the Graco and possibly others(Sunshine kids Radian in Subaru?). I have read that the Graco(and possibly the same with Radian) are great but the crotch strap is shallow and there isn't a third slot for it. My daughter is 43inches and 39Lbs..so this could be a factor going forward. A trip to Babies R Us may do the trick there(have her sit in it and see!:>).
Let you know what happens! I really want the Frontier to work as it fits her great. There is one time a month that my cousin takes her in a 2008 Ford Escape..any thoughts on how it may install there?
Thanks again!
Kate

[Splash]

I just ordered a Radian, and i know with 97% certainty that it will not work. But I ordered it because I want to try, again (I've tried multiple times). So a Radian is probably out.

[kcoin]

Hi all,
Well I looked at the Video on U-tube and that made it very clear. We(the car-seat inspector and I) were not getting it right! I tried doing it myself after watching the video and got a good install! I then went to the inspector again to show him and we put it in even tighter! Not budging!:> LBP was used and even though I read all the instructions..what made it clear was the video! NOt really hard once you know how to do it!(though it does help to have someone hold the belt while you feed it). YIPPY! I'll try to get this into the Successful Frontier install thread too(though the website has been up/down alot recently!)
Thanks for all your help!!!
Cheers,
Kate

[Trailcat]

I own a 2007 Ford Escape and installed it in the passenger outboard location with the LBP; it's rock solid. The 2008 Escapes may have the same seat belt lengths as the 2007?

Cindy