Question Would you re-harness this child?

[jen_nah]

Ideally, I would. But really I wouldn't because I don't trust the hooks enough to use them as TAs

Okay I am confused by your statement. What hooks are you talking about and why don't you trust the Regent?

 

[NannyMom]

Okay I am confused by your statement. What hooks are you talking about and why don't you trust the Regent?

OP and I have pretty much the same vehicle. THere's debate over wether or not the hooks behind the 3rd row are only cargo tie downs, or tether anchors. Not that I don't trust the regent. It's the anchors on the vehicle I don't trust

If it weren't for that issue, I'd say reharness her

 

[Defrost]

What vehicle is it - the Suburban?

The 86Y isn't exactly restricting - my 6yo niece, for example, shoved the shoulder straps aside and pulled her arms through. But she's used to being allowed to ride in a booster with the shoulder strap behind her. If there's a major discipline issue, the 86Y isn't going do much, but if it's just a matter of the child forgetting to stay in position, it should work just fine. Leaning to the side won't have much effect, for example.

The RSTV is more restricting, but also more work to get in and out of.

 

[Jennifer mom to my 7]

Just wanted to chime in, that depending on how fast she grows, she should have at least a year in a regent, if she is even with the top slot of the nautilus. My just about 6 year old was even or just over the nautilus top slots when we got it last January (at 56 pounds and 46.5 inches?), but is still in the regent (barely) at 69 pounds and 48.5 inches.

 

[NannyMom]

What vehicle is it - the Suburban?

The 86Y isn't exactly restricting - my 6yo niece, for example, shoved the shoulder straps aside and pulled her arms through. But she's used to being allowed to ride in a booster with the shoulder strap behind her. If there's a major discipline issue, the 86Y isn't going do much, but if it's just a matter of the child forgetting to stay in position, it should work just fine. Leaning to the side won't have much effect, for example.

The RSTV is more restricting, but also more work to get in and out of.

It's a Durango. And accord to the LATCH book, our 3rd row seats are non existant, lol.

 

[Judi]

It's a Durango. And accord to the LATCH book, our 3rd row seats are non existant, lol.

I installed two regents in the back. There were tethers there. :shrug-shoulders:

 

[Defrost]

Well, I'll you what. This is obviously a parental decision. But here's my experience - I have two EZ-On heavy-duty TA kits in my possession, including the installation instructions, so I know exactly what they look like.

I also have a '97 Chevy Astro, with two cargo hooks behind the third row.

Since we know that some Chevy Suburbans allow use of the cargo hooks as TAs, I went out and tore up the padding and liner in my Astro to get a better look at the cargo hooks. Then I crawled underneath the van to see how the cargo hooks were attached on the bottom.

The only major difference between the Astro cargo hook and the EZ-On HDTA was that the plate on the Astro was rectangular instead of round. It's a heavy-duty bolt, attached to the vehicle body on a flat metal surface, with a plate on the other side.

Now, I have no idea what a Durango cargo hook looks like, but as a parent making a parental decision, I'm perfectly comfortable using the cargo hooks in my Astro as TAs. I would suggest if you're going to use cargo hooks as TAs that you do the same thing - figure out how they're attached to the vehicle and what they're made of. :twocents:

 

[mommycat]

The only major difference between the Astro cargo hook and the EZ-On HDTA was that the plate on the Astro was rectangular instead of round. It's a heavy-duty bolt, attached to the vehicle body on a flat metal surface, with a plate on the other side.

As a note of caution, there are a couple of things you can't assess by visual inspection:
1) the thickness of the metal plate, or rather the vehicle body plating
and
2) the grade of the metal and the associated strength.
Just because it looks the same does not mean it is.
I would call the manufacturer to make sure.

 

[Defrost]

As a note of caution, there are a couple of things you can't assess by visual inspection:
1) the thickness of the metal plate, or rather the vehicle body plating
and
2) the grade of the metal and the associated strength.
Just because it looks the same does not mean it is.
I would call the manufacturer to make sure.

You're right, of course - but my point was, the EZ-On HDTA doesn't require you to know the thickness of the vehicle body plating. It just says to find a flat spot at the appropriate angle. If I were to install HDTAs in my Astro, I'd use the same location the cargo hooks are already in.

 

[mommycat]

You're right, of course - but my point was, the EZ-On HDTA doesn't require you to know the thickness of the vehicle body plating. It just says to find a flat spot at the appropriate angle. If I were to install HDTAs in my Astro, I'd use the same location the cargo hooks are already in.

Ah. Gotcha. :thumbsup: If that is all they require then I assume the plate that goes underneath is sufficient to spread out the load so the bolt anchor doesn't pull through. I would personally still want to know what the cargo hooks themselves were rated to or if the manufacturer allowed it, and if the manufacturer doesn't recommend to use them, maybe replace them with the HDTA just to be on the safe side. But I guess that might be my parental decision.

 

[Defrost]

Ah. Gotcha. :thumbsup: If that is all they require then I assume the plate that goes underneath is sufficient to spread out the load so the bolt anchor doesn't pull through. I would personally still want to know what the cargo hooks themselves were rated to or if the manufacturer allowed it, and if the manufacturer doesn't recommend to use them, maybe replace them with the HDTA just to be on the safe side. But I guess that might be my parental decision.

The retro-fit for my Astro 3rd row is a strap that attaches to the cargo hooks and has a loop in the center to create a center-TA. I guess technically there's no TA retrofit for the outboard positions... but the center TA is attached to the cargo hooks!

 

[amie815]

I would definiety re-harness her. If she doesn't sit correctly then there is to much risk involved.

 

[mommycat]

The retro-fit for my Astro 3rd row is a strap that attaches to the cargo hooks and has a loop in the center to create a center-TA. I guess technically there's no TA retrofit for the outboard positions... but the center TA is attached to the cargo hooks!

Hah! I guess it depends on what the car manufacturer decides. :thumbsup:

 

[Kat_Momof3]

the regent will give her different amounts of room in different cars... and with the recline bar required... I don't want to assume that she'll fit as though the top slots are 20.

I picked OTHER... I would instead get her a super high highback booster (Monterey) and an 86-Y harness (www.ezonpro.com) and harness her indefinitely.

For your son, who is close in age, I'd go by his maturity on whether to do it for him, too, or not.

If you don't, stress to her the rules for seatbelts alone with boosters and what she must do in order to not have to use the harness. Set up a reward chart and go from there.

I know it's not a discipline issue, but you may find this helps her get a more solid understanding of what is required and yet also let her do it on her own time.

the other kids are younger than her by enough that hopefully she'll be ready to leave the harness behind when they go into boosters... and if not, deal with it at that time by again explaining why.

 

[April]

I installed two regents in the back. There were tethers there. :shrug-shoulders:

What year Judi? There is actually a recall on the Durango for my year (2000) for lack of tether anchor info in the manual. The hooks we are referring to are considered TA's by Dodge for some model years, and are considered definitely NOT TAs in other model years although they look identical. There is no info on the mysterious hooks for the 2000 model year.

As a note of caution, there are a couple of things you can't assess by visual inspection:
1) the thickness of the metal plate, or rather the vehicle body plating
and
2) the grade of the metal and the associated strength.
Just because it looks the same does not mean it is.
I would call the manufacturer to make sure.

The manufacturer doesn't seem to know. I've called Dodge USA, Dodge Canada, AND the dealer. They won't tell me and keep ping-ponging me back and forth to each other.

Ah. Gotcha. :thumbsup: If that is all they require then I assume the plate that goes underneath is sufficient to spread out the load so the bolt anchor doesn't pull through. I would personally still want to know what the cargo hooks themselves were rated to or if the manufacturer allowed it, and if the manufacturer doesn't recommend to use them, maybe replace them with the HDTA just to be on the safe side. But I guess that might be my parental decision.

Can you do that though? If there are already TAs in the second row (which btw are used on my two youngest kids seats), then can I replace the mystery hooks with heavy duty TAs?

the regent will give her different amounts of room in different cars... and with the recline bar required... I don't want to assume that she'll fit as though the top slots are 20.

I picked OTHER... I would instead get her a super high highback booster (Monterey) and an 86-Y harness (www.ezonpro.com) and harness her indefinitely.

For your son, who is close in age, I'd go by his maturity on whether to do it for him, too, or not.

If you don't, stress to her the rules for seatbelts alone with boosters and what she must do in order to not have to use the harness. Set up a reward chart and go from there.

I know it's not a discipline issue, but you may find this helps her get a more solid understanding of what is required and yet also let her do it on her own time.

the other kids are younger than her by enough that hopefully she'll be ready to leave the harness behind when they go into boosters... and if not, deal with it at that time by again explaining why.

It would be a pre-advisory regent, purchased from a member of this board. (Who has been very patiently waiting for my decision on this)

We'll be getting Montereys for the other truck anyways, but I'm just thinking it may be easier to get the Regent then to get as prescription for an 86Y from our non-existant family doctor, have Transport Canada approve it, and then wait 8 weeks to get it here. If I'm going to use an imported seat/harness, then why not the Regent?

She doesn't care whatsoever about rewards. We had reward boards and she just didn't try and said she didn't care. She doesn't care if we take her toys away or punish her when she breaks rules. She's just indifferent to everything and has lots and lots of anger for a 7 year old. I'm just trying to find the best, easiest way to keep her safe right now, WITHOUT making it a discipline issue. They were moved away from us, pulled out of school, then completely abandoned by their biological mother last year. Then they came to live with us full time and Faith has been having a real hard time at school, put into learning assistance and speech therapy, all while trying to adjust to the changes at home. Then in December, her biological mother kidnapped her and we had to get her apprehended by the police and brought back to us. She has a lot of anger and is in counselling now. I just don't want to stress her out anymore than necessary right now, but still need her to be safe.

I'm not concerned with Griffin (our 6 year old) whatsoever in his booster. He sits great and understands and abides by the rules. He does want our GN that's sitting in the basement though

Thanks everyone for helping me sort this out. My mind has been just spinning on this issue. Any more opinions or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[Judi]

I thought it was a 2000. I guess I must be off. The info I had for the 3rd row was the tethers are square rings in the rear scuff plate trim.

 

[April]

I thought it was a 2000. I guess I must be off. The info I had for the 3rd row was the tethers are square rings in the rear scuff plate trim.

There are a ton of threads about it now between me and NannyMom But I got Nicole (QuassEE) on the phone and she went through her latch manuala nd said there's definitely no info for a 2000 Durango third row, and that there is a recall for the missing TA info in the vehicle manual. Apparently Dodge is supposed to be able to just fax it to me, but like I said, I'm having no luck with that at all. :dizzy:

 

[Judi]

Yes, I have been reading those. Just crazy. I don't have my manual with me, wondering if my install was a 1999?

 

[mommycat]

Can you do that though? If there are already TAs in the second row (which btw are used on my two youngest kids seats), then can I replace the mystery hooks with heavy duty TAs?

We'll be getting Montereys for the other truck anyways, but I'm just thinking it may be easier to get the Regent then to get as prescription for an 86Y from our non-existant family doctor, have Transport Canada approve it, and then wait 8 weeks to get it here. If I'm going to use an imported seat/harness, then why not the Regent?

As far as the tether anchors, I will say that I don't know for sure - in fact, I didn't even know they existed until Defrost brought that up. However, if all the instructions for those anchors say is to find a flat area at the right angle, then I don't see why not. Are those anchors just for use with the harness, though, or could you use them with a harnessed seat as well? Those are questions for someone who knows more than me.
The bottom of this page shows the anchor kit: http://www.ezonpro.com/products/familyVehicle/86yHarness.shtml
Mystery hooks must be strong enough to support something, even if only cargo. This kit would improve on that, at least, by letting you know the anchor hardware is up to the task. Whether the location is correct, I don't know.

As for having to get a prescription for the harness, I guess the Regent does sound like an easier option. Though somewhat less legal. So maybe you could get the Regent to use while you jump the hoops for getting the harness? :shrug-shoulders:

 

[NannyMom]

There are a ton of threads about it now between me and NannyMom But I got Nicole (QuassEE) on the phone and she went through her latch manuala nd said there's definitely no info for a 2000 Durango third row, and that there is a recall for the missing TA info in the vehicle manual. Apparently Dodge is supposed to be able to just fax it to me, but like I said, I'm having no luck with that at all. :dizzy:

Are they not faxing it to you because you're in Canada? Or just because they enjoy the run around?

I know I pm'd you... but I found the recalls on the website and my Durango has no incomplete recalls either (we got it used). Dh's going out, when he comes back in I'll have him bring in the manual (it's too cold and snowy for me) and see if I can dig any more info out.

A few weeks ago, I called a dealership to find out if they were TAs or CAs (cargo anchors). He didn't find any info to say yes or no....so I got a CYA answer of they were only CAs (he did say his info says there are CAs in the 3rd row).

Maybe if I calla gain and ask about this recall QuassEE (or anyone with a latch manual), is there something to reference when I call the dealership? Ugh...hopfully the new latch manual will have this all worked out.