radian install, buckle just touching?

Hi~

I''ll give you the bare-bones question first, then all the details: Can the car's seat belt touch the radian shell at all to be properly installed? I don't mean be bent or entering the belt path, just touch the seat at all???

Here's the background: I have 2 Radian 65s.. one is about a year old and the other one I bought yesterday.... we have 3 across in the back of our 98 Toyota 4 Runner. Currently the set up is:
DS, 2 3/4yrs, 33 lbs (plus or minus a half pound so we turned him FFing) FF in MA passenger side
DD1 4 1/2 yrs, 38 lbs, FF in Radian65 in Center
DD2 16 months, 21 lbs, RF in Roundabout driver side

Radian is tricky to install because I've been following page 30 of the manual that says the seatbelt buckle can't touch the Radian. I've had it checked by a tech and we figured it out so I am comfortable with my first seat's installation in the center, although the buckle is very very very close to the seat.

I bought the 2nd radian as an extra seat, and also for when the baby outgrows the Roundabout. We need an extra seat for a road trip we're taking with my parents this weekend (so one of the FFing kids can ride with them part of the drive each day without re-installing seats).

I'd like to put the MA in my parents' car, and put the new Radian65 in the back of my car. It seems to install nice and tight,

BUT Here's my question:
Can any part of the car's buckle TOUCH the Radian? In the manual of our old Radian65, page 30 talks about no part touching.. this is really tricky to do, we have to twist the belt stalk and it is technically not touching but very very close. THE NEW RADIAN 65 MANUAL DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION ON PAGE 30 or anywhere else in the book. It says see page 30 for information on the location of the car's seat belt, but page 30 doesn't have that info & I don't see it anywhere else either. I put a call in to Sunshine Kids, but customer service didn't know and I had to leave a message for tech support.... I'm hoping you all could maybe answer my question so I know if the seat will work for my trip or if I have to totally re-group. We're leaving Saturday, but I don't want to keep this 2nd Radian if I can't get a good install outboard because with 2 Radians and one backseat, one would have to install outboard! Like I said, the seat is in super tight, but a tiny part of the seatbelt buckle-- the top of the female part, is touching the side of the seat, not the belt path.

THANKS in advance!!!
~Tiffany

[easterbun]

Well, I never had an old manual, so I was never aware of this (since my manuals don't say anything) - but considering that in my (relatively narrow) car there is no way for the buckle NOT to be touching to seat in some way (just due to how the belt is spaced) I'd say it's fine, as long as the belt not bent at the belt path and the buckle isn't going into it.

[CDNTech]

YES, it can touch. It just can not bend... make sense?

The buckle is also allowed to be all the way in the belt path as well... again, just can not bend.

[Dragonflymama]

Originally Posted by aidensmom02

The buckle is also allowed to be all the way in the belt path as well... again, just can not bend.

I didn't know that! Good to know for some seatbelt installations of our Radian in other vehicles.