MA (or other higher weight britax seat) poll, what are you doing now?...

What are you doing now?

  • I will use a MA rear-facing

    Votes: 52 61.9%
  • I will not use a MA rear-facing

    Votes: 2 2.4%
  • I will use a MA FF for a child under 40 lbs

    Votes: 29 34.5%
  • I will not use a MA FF, for a child under 40 lbs, in the cars that had issues

    Votes: 7 8.3%
  • I will not use a MA FF, for a child under 40 lbs, in any car.

    Votes: 12 14.3%
  • I will use a MA FF for a child over 40 lbs.

    Votes: 28 33.3%
  • I will not use a MA FF, for a child over 40 lbs in the cars that had issues.

    Votes: 6 7.1%
  • I will not use a MA FF, for a child over 40 lbs, in any car.

    Votes: 20 23.8%
  • clicky box

    Votes: 13 15.5%

  • Total voters
    84

emandbri

Well-known member
I was curious what others are doing after watching the Transport Canada crash test videos.

To make it easier for me I put "MA" in the poll but answer if you are using any big britax convertible.

Vote for ALL that apply to you, you can vote for more than one answer.
 
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Raegansmom4

New member
I put "clicky box" because I am no longer using my MA because I have dd in a MyRide. I'm not scared of the rebound or downward rotation by not having dd tethered. I would also not be scared to use the MA again when dd is ffing.
 

tiggercat

New member
I'll use my MAs rearfacing, or forward facing for any sized kiddo, as long as it's not in a vehicle with issues. I switched Megan into the RN XT in the Caravan, but she still rides in MAs in my Camry and my FIL's Camry. I am very eager to hear Britax's response to this, and that will help me decide whether to look at replacing those MAs (but probably to boosters which I don't want to do, since I can't afford 2 more HWH seats right now for fairly rare occasions)
 

jujumum

Well-known member
My son will continue to ride rf in the MA/DC for several months until dd passes him the BVs, then he'll ride rf in the BVs until outgrown. I thought the rf MA videos looked great when tethered.

My dd rides in 2 BVs and 1 MA ff. Since she is only 35lbs, my husband doesn't think that they videos pose any issue since they were for dummies that weighed 15-16lbs more than her. However, I'm FREAKING OUT. Really, in caps. I've watched the each of videos like 5 times each of the MAs, RNs, AOEs, Regents, and GNs.

I've taken out my BV's and studied the harness at the back and the design. The BV wasn't tested, but the design of the back doesn't look very strong. The harness is held in place by a black plastic bar that puts the weight on the metal bar in the center and the thin plastic edges of the shell. This doesn't look very strong to me. If this part broke through the shell like the MAs that failed, I'm afraid that dd could be impaled by the metal bar on the rebound.

My DH thinks that I am paranoid and totally insane for even contemplating that happening. However, looking at the GN & RN videos, I like the way the performed better, plus, both of them are reinforced with steel and the physical construction looks so, so, so much more solid than the back harness part of the BV. I am not an engineer or tech, but the all plastic FN back doesn't look as strong to me either compared to the GN & RN, though it does look more solid than the BV.

So, I've decided that I will not ff dd in the BVs over 40lbs, and am considering buying a Frontier, RN, or GN for her to use sooner rather than later. I planned on moving her out of the BVs in 6 months or so anyway (she is running out of leg support). I have a Regent, but it is such a bear and I dread the thought of it.

I just bought a $109 GN yesterday and dd loves it, but I can only install it with tether in DH's car, and I prefer to have seats that can be used in both cars. I'm also worried about headslump in it, and his car is the one that she needs to be able to sleep in. I think we'll keep it either way as a spare, and part with the Vivo that I bought for when I need a spare for her cousins/friends.

Today is the last day of the great deals on the Frontier until February, and I'm torn about buying one. I can likely use the FN in both of our cars, and I wanted one in 6 months anyway. But then again, I love the RN for 3 across. I have perpetual car seat buyers remorse and indecision, I'm hopeless.:eek:

ETA: I do know that the TC didn't intend for their videos to be used for comparison, but I am using them for theoretical comparison purposes along with my own unprofessional examination and opinion of seat construction.;)
 

monstah

New member
I have always planned on using only RN's for FF. I could vote that "I will not use MA FF" but it's not because of the TC videos. I have just always believed in the strength & excursion numbers for the RN. The only thing that has changed now is that using the MA FF will be a last resort.

I currently use a MA RF for DD1. When she hits the weight limit, or, when DD2 outgrows the KF30, DD1 will move into a FF RN and DD2 will move into the RF MA.
 

brightredmtn

Well-known member
I have a 31lb three year old RF in a MA in his father's car. I was planning on getting a Radian XTSL once he gets close to 35lbs.

I guess I still have a problem with these videos since they reused the seats over and over again. I can't help but think that the seats were compromised in the repeated crashes.
 

InternationalMama

New member
I guess I still have a problem with these videos since they reused the seats over and over again. I can't help but think that the seats were compromised in the repeated crashes.

None of the seats you are seeing fail in the videos are seats that were used before. They are all being crashed for the first time. If a seat failed after already being crashed that seat was excluded from the study.
 

brightredmtn

Well-known member
None of the seats you are seeing fail in the videos are seats that were used before. They are all being crashed for the first time. If a seat failed after already being crashed that seat was excluded from the study.

I don't care if the seat has been considered to officially "fail" or not previously. It still doesn't change the fact that they've been in some pretty serious crashes in which most of us would replace the seats had they been real crashes. Heck all of the manufactures would say that the seats require replacement (even Britax.)
 

InternationalMama

New member
I don't care if the seat has been considered to officially "fail" or not previously. It still doesn't change the fact that they've been in some pretty serious crashes in which most of us would replace the seats had they been real crashes. Heck all of the manufactures would say that the seats require replacement (even Britax.)

I think maybe you misunderstand?

The ones like the FF MAs where the harness is ripping out, those seats were not in -any- crashes before. They were being used for the first time. No manufacturer would say to replace a brand new seat, right?

So is it me or you who is misunderstanding? Sorry if it's me!
 
Last edited:

brightredmtn

Well-known member
I think maybe you misunderstand?

The ones like the FF MAs where the harness is ripping out, those seats were not in -any- crashes before. They were being used for the first time. No manufacturer would say to replace a brand new seat, right?

So is it me or you who is misunderstanding? Sorry if it's me!

Right but there are a few other seats that keep getting used again and again.
 

mykidsmylife

Well-known member
Well after seeing the Ma performance and studying my Blvd. I have decided to sell my Blvd and keep Seth in the RN. River will use the old Blvd until 40lbs then most likely be in a booster anyways. ;)
We drive a Caravan on the Autobahn at high speed where other cars frequent 120 MPH's and well over.
 

InternationalMama

New member
Right but there are a few other seats that keep getting used again and again.

But they are only included in the videos if they performed well. So where's the problem there? I mean, if I watch the True Fit video and I think, wow, that seat performed well, and I know it may have been crashed before shouldn't that actually -reassure- me. Why would it concern me? Surely seats can't be crashed and then somehow perform better than they would if they were new...

I think I'm definitely the one who is misunderstanding your concern about this now!
 

emandbri

Well-known member
I think what brightredmtn is trying to say is that she is wondering about how valid the crash tests can be if some of the seats had been used more than once.

It also wouldn't be fair to use the videos to compare how one seat does with another when one of them may have already been in a crash which could make the other seat looks like it performs better when that might not really be the case.
 

ginny4

New member
my son is REALLY close to if not already 40lbs FF in a FPSVD in a grand caravan. i'm uncomfortable with the what the videos show but i'm not changing my current set up for something that may not even be the MOST accurate info.
 

brightredmtn

Well-known member
I think what brightredmtn is trying to say is that she is wondering about how valid the crash tests can be if some of the seats had been used more than once.

It also wouldn't be fair to use the videos to compare how one seat does with another when one of them may have already been in a crash which could make the other seat looks like it performs better when that might not really be the case.

Exactly! Thank you.
 

coleslawcat

New member
I saw this thread and have been trying to find the original post this is referencing. Could someone please direct me to it, or explain what the possible issue is? I have one child in a Marathon right now. He will be moving to a Radian shortly because of outgrowing the MA RF, but I plan to hang onto the seat to use with our next child or with him FF in the future. From the bits I can gather from this thread it sounds pretty bad (the harness ripping through the plastic?).
 

simplychels

New member
I love my MA and will proudly continue to use it rf'ing while tethered.


i cant say right now whether or not she'll ff in this seat. I have a radian XTSL pre ordered and so her ff'ing days are wayyyy too far into the future to even speculate what seat I may use.
 

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