A friend is giving us a ride to an activity Wed. morning. She has a 2000 MY T&C. I've asked whether she's had tether anchors retrofitted but not got an answer yet. If she has, I know they could be put behind each captain's chair and both outboard 3rd row positions, but don't know whether she will have had them all done. So when I find that out I'll obviously be more clear on my choices.
In the meantime, I just need a reality check to make sure that these are reasonable choices for this vehicle.
Children are:
Emma, 6 years, 41 lbs., excellent booster rider
Bridget, 4 years next week, 43 lbs., not booster ready
Maggie, 2 years next week, 37 lbs., rear-facing
There is another child in the vehicle, friend's son C, who is in an unknown seat that I don't intend to move, in one of the captain's chairs. He will be the only other passenger besides me (I'll be in front) and his mom (driver.)
So, available vehicle seating positions are all 3 back row seats (center is lap-only belt) and one captain's chair.
Available car seats are many, but Emma will be boostered in a high-back TB, as long as it fits 100% on the vehicle seat (alternatives include RSTV); Maggie will be in a CA unless you guys think I need to have a Radian available (we only have one 40 lb. RF Radian available; so we only have 2 seats that Maggie can currently use, and the Radian is currently installed in the Corolla so I'd need to know I might need it ahead of time); Bridget will be in the SafeGuard Child Seat (unless it does not fit 100% on the vehicle seat, which is a requirement for use with this seat.)
So far these are my scenarios:
If no tether anchors have been installed, Maggie will rear-face in Complete Air in the back row outboard, Emma will be boostered in the other outboard third row seat, Bridget will be in SafeGuard Child Seat in captain's chair, tethered to third row lap belt. If the angle is too great to third row lap belt, Bridget will be in captain's chair tethered to third row outboard belt, Maggie in CA center, Emma boostered on the other side of her.
Questions with this scenario: will a CA fit in the center with a TB next to it if needed, or will I need the Radian? Will a TB fit 100% on the rear seat?
If tether anchors have been installed in all available positions, Maggie will RF in captain's chair, in CA, and Bridget will be in the third row outboard, tethered, in SGCS, Emma boostered in third row.
Questions for this scenario: will the SGCS be able to be 100% on vehicle seat in third row? Also booster? Will I have problems with CA RF in captain's chair?
If tether anchors have been installed behind captain's chairs only, pretty much the same as no tether anchor scenario, Maggie and Emma outboard back row, except Bridget will be tethered to dedicated anchor behind captain's chair.
Any other concerns I should be aware of with this vehicle? I've installed in my in-laws' 98 Grand Voyager, which is a twin to the T&C as far as I know, but I don't know if there were significant changes between model years. I did have trouble with the Radian RF in the back row of that one, it only fit in the middle; that's why I'm planning to use the CA unless I need more room to put the TB next to a seat in the rear middle. I had no issues with the lightweight locking latchplates in my in-laws' but I've heard they can be an issue which is why I was planning on the SGCS, which has a lockoff, and the CA which is a bit more adjustable (with use of rolled towel or noodles) in how you position it than the Radian.
Thanks for any input and experience. I will need to do it quickly-- we'll already be getting there later than the rest of the group because friend teaches a piano lesson that morning-- so I want to have contingencies worked out so I can just walk in, look around, and get it done in as little time possible.
In the meantime, I just need a reality check to make sure that these are reasonable choices for this vehicle.
Children are:
Emma, 6 years, 41 lbs., excellent booster rider
Bridget, 4 years next week, 43 lbs., not booster ready
Maggie, 2 years next week, 37 lbs., rear-facing
There is another child in the vehicle, friend's son C, who is in an unknown seat that I don't intend to move, in one of the captain's chairs. He will be the only other passenger besides me (I'll be in front) and his mom (driver.)
So, available vehicle seating positions are all 3 back row seats (center is lap-only belt) and one captain's chair.
Available car seats are many, but Emma will be boostered in a high-back TB, as long as it fits 100% on the vehicle seat (alternatives include RSTV); Maggie will be in a CA unless you guys think I need to have a Radian available (we only have one 40 lb. RF Radian available; so we only have 2 seats that Maggie can currently use, and the Radian is currently installed in the Corolla so I'd need to know I might need it ahead of time); Bridget will be in the SafeGuard Child Seat (unless it does not fit 100% on the vehicle seat, which is a requirement for use with this seat.)
So far these are my scenarios:
If no tether anchors have been installed, Maggie will rear-face in Complete Air in the back row outboard, Emma will be boostered in the other outboard third row seat, Bridget will be in SafeGuard Child Seat in captain's chair, tethered to third row lap belt. If the angle is too great to third row lap belt, Bridget will be in captain's chair tethered to third row outboard belt, Maggie in CA center, Emma boostered on the other side of her.
Questions with this scenario: will a CA fit in the center with a TB next to it if needed, or will I need the Radian? Will a TB fit 100% on the rear seat?
If tether anchors have been installed in all available positions, Maggie will RF in captain's chair, in CA, and Bridget will be in the third row outboard, tethered, in SGCS, Emma boostered in third row.
Questions for this scenario: will the SGCS be able to be 100% on vehicle seat in third row? Also booster? Will I have problems with CA RF in captain's chair?
If tether anchors have been installed behind captain's chairs only, pretty much the same as no tether anchor scenario, Maggie and Emma outboard back row, except Bridget will be tethered to dedicated anchor behind captain's chair.
Any other concerns I should be aware of with this vehicle? I've installed in my in-laws' 98 Grand Voyager, which is a twin to the T&C as far as I know, but I don't know if there were significant changes between model years. I did have trouble with the Radian RF in the back row of that one, it only fit in the middle; that's why I'm planning to use the CA unless I need more room to put the TB next to a seat in the rear middle. I had no issues with the lightweight locking latchplates in my in-laws' but I've heard they can be an issue which is why I was planning on the SGCS, which has a lockoff, and the CA which is a bit more adjustable (with use of rolled towel or noodles) in how you position it than the Radian.
Thanks for any input and experience. I will need to do it quickly-- we'll already be getting there later than the rest of the group because friend teaches a piano lesson that morning-- so I want to have contingencies worked out so I can just walk in, look around, and get it done in as little time possible.