Middle Seat Installation and seat Height? - Jeep Wrangler

[Unregistered]

My husband installed our sons carseat in the middle of the back seat of his Jeep. He had it checked at the firehouse today. They basically told him we needed to level it better and gave us the pool noodle, but they couldn't do it for us since the manufactuer of the car doesn't say you can put the seat in the middle, but the tech at the firestation told us it is the safest location. Anyone know if there is any issue with having the seat in the middle? We are using the LATCH if that makes a difference.

They also pointed out that the back seat of the Jeep is pretty low so if we were in an accident and the seat rolled up into the seat it could smack our son in the face. Is there anything we can add to the back of the seat to make it higher? Thanks!

[crunchierthanthou]

Is it the Wrangler Unlimited? Because no other Wranglers have a center seat. Forcing a center install in a vehicle without a center seating position is certainly not safer than a proper outboard installation.

Which carseat are you using?

If it is The Wrangler Unlimited, that vehicle does allow the outboard lower anchors to be borrowed for center LATCH, but that depends on the carseat manufacturer as well. Not all child restraints can use non-standard spacing, as this position has.

The concern of rebounding into the seatback is largely theoretical. If you're really worried, you can purchase a seat that prevents rebounding. That would be a more logical option than changing your vehicle seat. The brand new First Years/Compass True Fit Premier (model C670) has an anti-rebound foot. Britax convertibles and Sunshine Kids Radians allow the seat to be tethered rear facing. It's important not to tether any other brand against manufacturer instructions, though.

[Unregistered]

Is it the Wrangler Unlimited? Because no other Wranglers have a center seat. Forcing a center install in a vehicle without a center seating position is certainly not safer than a proper outboard installation.

Which carseat are you using?

If it is The Wrangler Unlimited, that vehicle does allow the outboard lower anchors to be borrowed for center LATCH, but that depends on the carseat manufacturer as well. Not all child restraints can use non-standard spacing, as this position has.

The concern of rebounding into the seatback is largely theoretical. If you're really worried, you can purchase a seat that prevents rebounding. That would be a more logical option than changing your vehicle seat. The brand new First Years/Compass True Fit Premier (model C670) has an anti-rebound foot. Britax convertibles and Sunshine Kids Radians allow the seat to be tethered rear facing. It's important not to tether any other brand against manufacturer instructions, though.

The carseat is a Britax Roundabout. We do not have a Wrangler Unlimited, but the center to center measurement on the latch is 11" on each outside seat and the middle.

[Stresch]

Is there actually a center SEAT? Because if there is not a center seating position, you can not put a carseat there.

[andre149]

If your vehicle man. doesn't allow a child restraint in the middle seat than you have to move the seat outboard. The middle is the safest only if it is an approved seating option... which it sounds like is not the case here. A child is much safer outboard if the seat can't be in the middle. I would check on the latch borrowing too and see if your vehicle allows this. This seemed like a logical option in my dads jeep except the manual forbid it ;) in that case a seatbelt install needs to be done.

[BeachMama86]

And since you have a Britax seat, you can RF tether it, so that will eliminate the worrry for your child ending up being thrown forward into the vehicle seat.

Consult both your vehicle and car seat manual for help on tethering, and if you still have trouble or questions, I'm sure people here can help you. I think there is even a video on you tube?