Radion80 won't install in Subaru '00 what should i get?

[lylagus]

Hi! I'm new to this forum. I have a 15 month old child who weighs 20lbs 5oz and is 31 1/4" tall. He's really thin and long. I want to keep him rear facing as long as possible and he still fits into our Chicco KeyFit30 infant seat that goes up to 30lbs.

I just purchased a Radion80 and am unable to get a good install in any of the rear seats using the seat belt. I don't have latch in my 2000 Subaru Legacy Outback. My seatbelt stalks are too long and i can't seem to twist them enough to get the right fit rear facing. I think i got a decent install in our Ford 250 Superduty (2004???) rear facing but there is nothing to tether the top to. I used the center lap belt for the truck install.

I figure I should just return it if there is no way to use it rear facing....:mad:

What type or car seat would be most compatible with my baby and car type? I've been looking at the Britax Boulevard but worry that it won't fit rear facing.......

Thank you sooo much!

[wendytthomas]

At 15 months he doesn't need a 45 degree angle, so a Boulevard would work. I'd also look at the Learning Curve True Fit, the Evenflo Triumph Advance, the Graco My Ride, and the Britax Marathon.

First, how long are your stalks? The entire stalk can go into the beltpath rear facing if it'll fit. That's fine. You just can't have the buckle at the turn of the path. That puts pressure on the buckle which can cause it to fail in a collision.

So you end up getting something that looks like this.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1131/1024867622_0e2dca8d7e.jpg

That would be acceptable.

Second, you don't NEED to tether the Radian. It can be, but it's not required. Most rear facing seats do not tether. Sometimes it's hard to find a place to wrap the D ring around to make a tether point, and so you just have to let it go.

I'd try the seat again letting the stalk be as long as it can, and maybe ignoring the tether for now, and see if it works better for you. If not, check out one of the other seats I mentioned.

Wendy

[lylagus]

i'm still having troubles...so i'll have to return it and look for another..thank you for the recommendations

the problem is the length of the seatbelt stems (too short to work as you pictured above and too long to twist) and the low base of the Radian....super bummer