weight limit for latch?

Bella85 · 08-05-2011, 07:47 AM

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I've heard that there is a weight limit for using latch in the car and I have checked my owners manual in both our cars and cant find anything about it. We have an 04' Mitsubishi Lancer and an 03' Nissan xterra. We are using the Graco Nautilus in both cars (5pt hardness, not booster).

Jeanum · 08-05-2011, 08:08 AM

Hi and welcome to car-seat.org.

According to the LATCH manual, Mitsubishi vehicles have a LATCH installation weight limit of 48 lbs. Nissan states to use LATCH up to the weight limit stated by the carseat manufacturer for LATCH installation, which is 48 lbs. in the case of your Graco Nautilus in harnessed mode.

wendytthomas · 08-05-2011, 12:17 PM

You didn't mention where in the car you're installing, but I wanted to mention that neither of your cars allows for LATCH use in the center.

Wendy

08-05-2011, 09:54 PM

An add-on to that question...when calculating the weight for LATCH limits, do I add the weight of the child to the weight of the carseat (ie, my 18 mo old is 25lbs, her car seat is 20 lbs, are we effectively dealing with a 45 lb LATCH attachment)? Alternately, do car manufacturers assume a maximum car seat weight and then publish a limit over and above that weight, that refers to the child occupant of the seat only?

Jeanum · 08-06-2011, 07:16 AM

The carseat weight is technically factored in and the specific LATCH installation weight limit is stated in terms of the child's weight only in most cases. If you happen to have a Subaru, though, that's the one vehicle manufacturer which currently states the combined child weight plus the weight of the child's carseat cannot exceed 60 lbs. total for a LATCH installation.

08-06-2011, 08:53 AM

Hi, thanks so much for that answer....my daughter will be riding LATCHed for quite a bit longer then. Appreciate it.

Bella85 · 08-08-2011, 10:10 AM

Thank you! The seats are being used with LATCH on the drivers side, not in the middle

08-09-2011, 02:30 PM

Thanks! I have a 10 Nissan Cube and just won a beast of a Smart Seat. I am excited but the seat weighs 33 lbs and my twins weigh 15 lbs. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to use the LATCH system.

I still have to figure out if I can showhorn it into the Cube in the first place tho...

08-05-2011, 08:08 AM	#2
Jeanum Moderator - CPS Technician Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 13,584	Re: weight limit for latch? Hi and welcome to car-seat.org. According to the LATCH manual, Mitsubishi vehicles have a LATCH installation weight limit of 48 lbs. Nissan states to use LATCH up to the weight limit stated by the carseat manufacturer for LATCH installation, which is 48 lbs. in the case of your Graco Nautilus in harnessed mode. __________________ Regards, Jean DD1 Age 11, 63" 5 steps/Harmony LiteRider DD2 Age 7, 53" Britax Parkway/Recaro Vivo Click here if you wish to view the full size version of my avatar

08-05-2011, 12:17 PM	#3
wendytthomas Moderator - CPS Technician Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dresden, Germany Posts: 25,080	Re: weight limit for latch? You didn't mention where in the car you're installing, but I wanted to mention that neither of your cars allows for LATCH use in the center. Wendy __________________ wendy, mom to piper, 7/26/02, 54", 67#, Ozzi, Monterey (thank you, Diono!) laine 9/16/09, 36.5", 28#, True Fit, True Fit Premier 2004 Audi A4, 2012 Mazda5 Currently using TFP and Ozzi in a 2013 Ford Mondeo

08-05-2011, 09:54 PM	#4
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Re: weight limit for latch? An add-on to that question...when calculating the weight for LATCH limits, do I add the weight of the child to the weight of the carseat (ie, my 18 mo old is 25lbs, her car seat is 20 lbs, are we effectively dealing with a 45 lb LATCH attachment)? Alternately, do car manufacturers assume a maximum car seat weight and then publish a limit over and above that weight, that refers to the child occupant of the seat only?

08-06-2011, 07:16 AM	#5
Jeanum Moderator - CPS Technician Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 13,584	Re: weight limit for latch? The carseat weight is technically factored in and the specific LATCH installation weight limit is stated in terms of the child's weight only in most cases. If you happen to have a Subaru, though, that's the one vehicle manufacturer which currently states the combined child weight plus the weight of the child's carseat cannot exceed 60 lbs. total for a LATCH installation. __________________ Regards, Jean DD1 Age 11, 63" 5 steps/Harmony LiteRider DD2 Age 7, 53" Britax Parkway/Recaro Vivo Click here if you wish to view the full size version of my avatar

08-06-2011, 08:53 AM	#6
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Re: weight limit for latch? Hi, thanks so much for that answer....my daughter will be riding LATCHed for quite a bit longer then. Appreciate it.

08-08-2011, 10:10 AM	#7
Bella85 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2	Re: weight limit for latch? Thank you! The seats are being used with LATCH on the drivers side, not in the middle

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weight limit for latch?

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