Need inexpensive seat recommendation for OLD van

[Panonim]

Hello oh helpful and knowledgeable people!! I have come here a few times with questions and often they are answered without me even having to post. I LOVE this site, thank you!

OK, now my question:

I would like a recommendation for an inexpensive RFing seat to be installed in a 1995 Chevy Astro van (no LATCH obviously), so it needs to be a simple and secure seatbelt install.

This seat will be used only very occasionally as this is our third vehicle. So I can see it being used 3-4 times per month maybe. Hence why we would prefer to not spend too much on it.

This seat will be for my DS who is 27 months, 25 lbs and about 34" tall. He is uber skinny, if that makes any difference.

Thank you!!

 

[canadiangie]

Is your son rear facing or forward facing?

 

[amyd]

Is your son rear facing or forward facing?

RFing, according to her post.

Original poster, what type of seat belt is in the position where your son's seat will be installed? Is it a lapbelt with a "tail" that you pull to tighten or a lap-shoulder belt?

 

[swtgi1982]

Can you measure his torso length. Have him sit on the floor with legs criss-crossed and back flat against the wall. And measure his back from the floor to his shoulder, this would help make a suggestion.

 

[urchin_grey]

I'd probably get a Safety First Avenue. The Cosco Scenera would work also and be even cheaper, but the Avenue would probably last him a longer since he's thin. My DS has similar stats (only a lot older) and that's what I planned on getting for SO's car if he would ever stop smoking in it.

 

[Keeanh]

Not the OP, but the Safari is the same vehicle. All belts in OP's vehicle are likely locking latchplates. Shoulder-lap outboard, lap belts centre. It's a super-easy vehicle to install in, but I've never tried a Radian, LOL.

I don't think we have the Avenue in Canada. Someone recently speculated that the Schwinn convertible at Canadian Tire might be the Avenue in disguise. I've never checked it out for shell height. I have a 28mo who is the same height but a few pounds heavier. Torso height would help. My 2yo doesn't have much RF room left in the Scenera, as her head is nearing 1" from the top of the shell.

You could try out the Scenera, as well as the Tribute & EFTA. I think they all have about the same shell height. The 50lb Alpha Omega is on sale right now at Toys R Us -- $135. It has a higher shell. And you could always check out that mystery seat at Canadian Tire, it often goes on sale for about $100, but it only RF's to 30lbs. But that might be enough for you.

ETA: I think the EFTA only goes to 30lbs RF too.

 

[featherhead]

Not the OP, but the Safari is the same vehicle. All belts in OP's vehicle are likely locking latchplates. Shoulder-lap outboard, lap belts centre. It's a super-easy vehicle to install in, but I've never tried a Radian, LOL.

I don't think we have the Avenue in Canada. Someone recently speculated that the Schwinn convertible at Canadian Tire might be the Avenue in disguise. I've never checked it out for shell height. I have a 28mo who is the same height but a few pounds heavier. Torso height would help. My 2yo doesn't have much RF room left in the Scenera, as her head is nearing 1" from the top of the shell.

You could try out the Scenera, as well as the Tribute & EFTA. I think they all have about the same shell height. The 50lb Alpha Omega is on sale right now at Toys R Us -- $135. It has a higher shell. And you could always check out that mystery seat at Canadian Tire, it often goes on sale for about $100, but it only RF's to 30lbs. But that might be enough for you.

ETA: I think the EFTA only goes to 30lbs RF too.

Sears was actually selling the Avenue for a while, not sure if they still are, but it's $150, so not really that cheap. The mystery seat at Canadian Tire is just a Scenera. I've checked it out several times. The cover just comes down further on the front, so it looks kinda like an Avenue. And you're right, for now the EFTA only goes to 30 lbs.

OP, do you have top tethers in your vehicle? If not can you get them put in for when your child turns forward-facing? If not, I would probably get a seat that rear-faces to 40/45 lbs. Then at 40 lbs you could possibly go straight to a booster if the child is old/mature enough.

 

[Panonim]

Can you measure his torso length. Have him sit on the floor with legs criss-crossed and back flat against the wall. And measure his back from the floor to his shoulder, this would help make a suggestion.

OK, he is a squirmer but we were able to get a measurement of about 12.5" from floor to shoulder.

 

[Panonim]

RFing, according to her post.

Original poster, what type of seat belt is in the position where your son's seat will be installed? Is it a lapbelt with a "tail" that you pull to tighten or a lap-shoulder belt?

Yep, as mentioned by another poster, the window seats are all lap-shoulder belt, and the centre seats are lapbelt with tail. We could put the car seat in either the centre seat or the "aisle" seat in the second row bench (which is not up against the window but rather a little bit inset). Am I explaining myself clearly? There will be no other carseats in the van.

 

[Panonim]

Sears was actually selling the Avenue for a while, not sure if they still are, but it's $150, so not really that cheap. The mystery seat at Canadian Tire is just a Scenera. I've checked it out several times. The cover just comes down further on the front, so it looks kinda like an Avenue. And you're right, for now the EFTA only goes to 30 lbs.

OP, do you have top tethers in your vehicle? If not can you get them put in for when your child turns forward-facing? If not, I would probably get a seat that rear-faces to 40/45 lbs. Then at 40 lbs you could possibly go straight to a booster if the child is old/mature enough.

No top tethers currently. DH says he could put in floor tethers if needed (he is a mechanic and has installed a lot of tethers at work).

The good thing about my lightweight boy is that it will be a while before he hits the higher weight limits and will probably outgrow in height before weight.

 

[Panonim]

Thank you everyone for your help so far!!

The Americans who responded, thank you , but just want to make sure you noted that I am in Canada, and I know that will affect your recommendations.

 

[Panonim]

Not the OP, but the Safari is the same vehicle. All belts in OP's vehicle are likely locking latchplates. Shoulder-lap outboard, lap belts centre. It's a super-easy vehicle to install in, but I've never tried a Radian, LOL.

I don't think we have the Avenue in Canada. Someone recently speculated that the Schwinn convertible at Canadian Tire might be the Avenue in disguise. I've never checked it out for shell height. I have a 28mo who is the same height but a few pounds heavier. Torso height would help. My 2yo doesn't have much RF room left in the Scenera, as her head is nearing 1" from the top of the shell.

You could try out the Scenera, as well as the Tribute & EFTA. I think they all have about the same shell height. The 50lb Alpha Omega is on sale right now at Toys R Us -- $135. It has a higher shell. And you could always check out that mystery seat at Canadian Tire, it often goes on sale for about $100, but it only RF's to 30lbs. But that might be enough for you.

ETA: I think the EFTA only goes to 30lbs RF too.

Dang, just looked up this one at TRU and it says Backordered. I wonder if that means just backordered online, or if the stores might have some in stock...

 

[Keeanh]

Sent you a PM

 

[Panonim]

Sent you a PM

Thanks :thumbsup:

 

[urchin_grey]

OK, he is a squirmer but we were able to get a measurement of about 12.5" from floor to shoulder.

:doh: Sorry, I just saw you were in Canada. I need to learn to start looking at which subforum things are posted.

I can't be sure what to recommend then, but I can at least say that you should probably skip the Scenera. I just tried DS out in his old one and he's got 2" of growing room. His torso is 12" and he has a small head so add in your DS's .5" of torso and a normal sized head (assuming here) and you've probably got no more than 1 whole inch of growing room left. The good new is though that 35lb RF'ing seats are still an option given his weight.

 

[oddduck]

A true fit maybe? On sale they are $150. I have one installed in my '98 Cherokee. Very secure seatbelt install both forward and rear facing thanks to the built in lock offs.

 

[Panonim]

:doh: Sorry, I just saw you were in Canada. I need to learn to start looking at which subforum things are posted.

I can't be sure what to recommend then, but I can at least say that you should probably skip the Scenera. I just tried DS out in his old one and he's got 2" of growing room. His torso is 12" and he has a small head so add in your DS's .5" of torso and a normal sized head (assuming here) and you've probably got no more than 1 whole inch of growing room left. The good new is though that 35lb RF'ing seats are still an option given his weight.

Well, it does help, actually, to be able to rule out a seat! There are so many out there to pick from, and I wouldn't have a clue which ones would be best for his torso length, so thank you!

 

[Panonim]

A true fit maybe? On sale they are $150. I have one installed in my '98 Cherokee. Very secure seatbelt install both forward and rear facing thanks to the built in lock offs.

We might consider a True Fit, but I was hoping to avoid it. We already have a TF in our everyday van, and it was RFing for a while when DD was younger, and as much as I loved keeping her RFing at the time, it was a PITA to adjust the straps in a RFing position.

 

[Keeanh]

We might consider a True Fit, but I was hoping to avoid it. We already have a TF in our everyday van, and it was RFing for a while when DD was younger, and as much as I loved keeping her RFing at the time, it was a PITA to adjust the straps in a RFing position.

I know what you mean, but I have mine RF in my Safari and I'm finding it's really not all that bad. The release is very easy to do by feel. And if you have the tail of the adjuster come up, it's easy to pull. I guess it might depend on your seatbacks. Did you try the TF in the Astro? Those seats are probably a lot less cushy than where you have it now.

Unfortunately, you're not going to get a CHEAP seat that will RF an average 2yo. I don't have any expectation of my 28mo making it to 3 in the Scenera.

 

[Keeanh]

The mystery seat at Canadian Tire is just a Scenera. I've checked it out several times. The cover just comes down further on the front, so it looks kinda like an Avenue.

If it's a Scenera, why would it only RF to 30lbs? Not questioning you, just thinking out loud...