Help finding the right (4) seats... 2004 Chevy Venture

[Unregistered]

Hi... Here's my challenge. I have 6 kids. 2 are out of boosters (13 and 11). Then we have a 5 yo (42 lbs), a 2.5 yo (25 lbs), a 1.5 yo (18 lbs) and a 9 month old (24 lbs). We have a 2004 Chevy Venture minivan w/8 seats (bench rear, 3 Capt seats in row 2). One LATCH position (outboard capt behind driver) and one built-in restraint (outboard behind front passenger). Currently the 2 babies are in Graco Safeseats, rear facing in row 2 (one in the center, one outboard behind driver). The 5 and 2 yo are ff in the rear seat (one center, one outboard driver's side) in Marathons.
The 9 month old is getting uncomfortable in his Safeseat, I'm ready to put him in a convertible. Thought I'd get Radians for the rear two, then put the Marathons in the center row... the Radians won't get a tight install cause of the seat belts.
What seats can I get that will (hopefully!) allow my 11 year old to continue eating??? (The Marthons have him pretty well squished in the rear...)
The 1.5 yo has special needs/low muscle tone, so needs to be rear facing as long as possible. Would you consider turing the 9 month old ff (in another, say, 6 months?) and put three ff across the back? We cannot get a different car... HELP!!

 

[Kat_Momof3]

I'd get the Safety 1st Comfort Air to replace each Marathon... they they are narrower, have a higher rf limit, and should free up some space for your 11yr old.

just make sure you have rolled towels and/or pool noodles... as they need them in order to recline properly.... especially for a newborn or low-tone child.

 

[melniemi]

I have this same van.

I would put a ffing radian in the third row center w/9 and 11 yo's on either side.

Then rearface the other 3 across the middle row. Put the oldest on the side with Latch - so the seatbelt won't be in the way for kids to get in the third row. That seat can be more upright and you can move the front seat forward and that seat forward for access to the third row. If you are going to ff the 2.5 yo, put that seat in the Latch position so you can easily slide it forward for access.

Rearface the 2 youngest center and outboard middle row in marathons or whatever. The middle row is so wide that you will be able to fit any combo of seats that you want.

Post back if you have other questions. I'll try my best.

 

[autumnlily]

Hey, I know OP!

Some other ideas to consider - after playing in your van.

I'm toying with ideas for when all 8 family members need to ride together

Option 1
middle row: *FF Radian (J), RF MA & infant seat
back row: FF MA in the center (w/top tether) or another Radian. This should leave enough space on either side for older children.
*thinking ahead for when (J) out grows the Radian, substitute with high back booster and give Radian to 2.5yo

will add more ideas when the kids take a nap

 

[northernmommy]

I have this van as well. Personally, I'd put the 2yo rf in the center back row, with the older kids on either side. Then put the babies rf in the middle row, and your 5 yo ff in one of the outboard seats. The seats have a grey lever on them, near the floor...if you push or pull on it (I can't remember off the top of my head) the whole seat will tilt forward, no need to uninstall the 5yo's seat, giving lots of access to the back row. Check your integrated seat as well...it may have LATCH anchors in it, mine does.

At 2.5 years old, your son/daughter would still benefit from the added safety of rearfacing. If you're interested in learning more about it, we can give you more information on it

As for the Radians not installing with the seat belt, I have one in my van now, and have installed it with both LATCH and belt in most positions. Where are you trying to put it in? If it's the center middle row, you can get a new, flexible belt stalk put in by Chevy at no cost. (It's in the owner's manual, I'll go look for the page number after I get my kids their lunch)

If you like, I can go try my Radian in whatever positions you were thinking of too

Hope that helps!

 

[autumnlily]

I have this van as well. Personally, I'd put the 2yo rf in the center back row, with the older kids on either side. Then put the babies rf in the middle row, and your 5 yo ff in one of the outboard seats. The seats have a grey lever on them, near the floor...if you push or pull on it (I can't remember off the top of my head) the whole seat will tilt forward, no need to uninstall the 5yo's seat, giving lots of access to the back row. Check your integrated seat as well...it may have LATCH anchors in it, mine does.

At 2.5 years old, your son/daughter would still benefit from the added safety of rearfacing. If you're interested in learning more about it, we can give you more information on it

As for the Radians not installing with the seat belt, I have one in my van now, and have installed it with both LATCH and belt in most positions. Where are you trying to put it in? If it's the center middle row, you can get a new, flexible belt stalk put in by Chevy at no cost. (It's in the owner's manual, I'll go look for the page number after I get my kids their lunch)

If you like, I can go try my Radian in whatever positions you were thinking of too

Hope that helps!

I worked with the OP yesterday in her van...if you don't mind sharing some info with me, I'D LOVE IT!

She is aware of the Lever - that is SO great, I wish my seat flipped forward like that for access to the back. So, she is good there.

She had asked about the changing out of the belt stalk - heard it from her original tech. I'll reiterate the message! Thank you. She only has one LATCH.

At this point, we are trying to install the Radian (65SL) on the back bench - outboard passenger. Although, I forsee it someday moving to the center position on the back bench.

The original Tech she went to could not get a good install on the back bench. However, I felt the outboard passenger install was very good. Makes me nervous that another Tech (with more years under his belt) felt uncomfortable with the install. I would owe you BIG TIME if you could tell me about your experience/comfort level with the install there 'Bench, outboard passenger' and 'Bench, center'.

Thanks! I don't have her email, but I will call her and tell her to revisit this thread.

 

[Judi]

I have done some work in this van, but it was a 2001, I think. Those belt stalks are, um, fun!

 

[northernmommy]

The original Tech she went to could not get a good install on the back bench. However, I felt the outboard passenger install was very good. Makes me nervous that another Tech (with more years under his belt) felt uncomfortable with the install. I would owe you BIG TIME if you could tell me about your experience/comfort level with the install there 'Bench, outboard passenger' and 'Bench, center'.

Thanks! I don't have her email, but I will call her and tell her to revisit this thread.

IIRC, it was great outboard and just acceptable center (it's been about a year since I put a RN back there, and it was an old style one). I'll go out this afternoon and play around with it and get back to you

Oh, and her 2nd set of LATCH might be a bit hidden...my van defiantely has them on the integrated seat, but they're in teh bight a bit further than the other seat.

 

[autumnlily]

IIRC, it was great outboard and just acceptable center (it's been about a year since I put a RN back there, and it was an old style one). I'll go out this afternoon and play around with it and get back to you

Oh, and her 2nd set of LATCH might be a bit hidden...my van defiantely has them on the integrated seat, but they're in teh bight a bit further than the other seat.

When you say 'integrated' seat - is that the seat with the built-in child harness option?

We were just doing a quick - "does this fit" trial and not a full seat check, so I didn't read the manual yet

Thanks again!

 

[northernmommy]

When you say 'integrated' seat - is that the seat with the built-in child harness option?

We were just doing a quick - "does this fit" trial and not a full seat check, so I didn't read the manual yet

Thanks again!

Yup!

 

[northernmommy]

Okay, back from playing

Solid installs, both center and passenger side, rf and ff
I had to twist the buckle three times in each position, and hold the male end edge against the vehicle seat while I tightened, or else it got caught up on a corner-ish thingy on the RN. I took a picture so you'd know what I mean! The male part needs to get behind that bump on the RN, or it's really hard to get all the slack out of the seatbelt.

Hope that helps!

 

[northernmommy]

The original Tech she went to could not get a good install on the back bench. However, I felt the outboard passenger install was very good. Makes me nervous that another Tech (with more years under his belt) felt uncomfortable with the install. I would owe you BIG TIME if you could tell me about your experience/comfort level with the install there 'Bench, outboard passenger' and 'Bench, center'.

I forgot to touch on this, meant to in my first post. The RN is sometimes a beast all in it's own when it comes to seat belt installs. He may have had plenty of experience with seats in general, but not a lot with RNs. There are definitely a few tricks to them!

 

[autumnlily]

Okay, back from playing

Solid installs, both center and passenger side, rf and ff
I had to twist the buckle three times in each position, and hold the male end edge against the vehicle seat while I tightened, or else it got caught up on a corner-ish thingy on the RN. I took a picture so you'd know what I mean! The male part needs to get behind that bump on the RN, or it's really hard to get all the slack out of the seatbelt.

Hope that helps!

FANTASTIC!!!

I forgot to touch on this, meant to in my first post. The RN is sometimes a beast all in it's own when it comes to seat belt installs. He may have had plenty of experience with seats in general, but not a lot with RNs. There are definitely a few tricks to them!

The store he works at stopped carrying them on their shelves due to the install difficulties the in-store Techs encountered. The store offers a great service by having Technicians on staff - but it is sad that the Radian can be challenging (I could easily see how trying to work with a Radian, while you have a store full of customers waiting - could be daunting).

I'm glad you were here to help! And, re-affirm my findings! Thank you!