Radian xtsl for 2004 GMC Envoy xl

Unregistered · Apr 19, 2010

My daughter is about to outgrow her current rf carseat and we're shopping for a new one. She is 11 months old and has been light for her age, but long since birth. I liked the Sunshine XTSL for safety features and the solid construction, but will the superlatch work in my 2004 gmc envoy xl? Our current carseat fits only on the side. Any other good fits for this model

mommycat · Apr 22, 2010

I believe that the GMC LATCH lower anchor limit is 48lbs. You cannot use it past 48lbs, but that means that you can use LATCH at least for the duration of RF your child in this seat. The Radian is a very tall seat and can be a bit difficult to install more upright. However, there are some tips to make it work.

Here's some good news:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?p=728360&highlight=envoy#post728360

unityco said:
None of these installs have been inspected by a tech.
All installs are FF with tether.
...
2004 GM Envoy
Passenger side w/LATCH - Great install.

http://www.car-seat.org/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=728340
(this poster is a tech)

MissAllyLou said:
2003 GMC Envoy XL

FFing l/s belt in center, must use recline foot on Radian and recline the car seat before installation.

RFing l/s belt in center, no tricks needed. Nice and tight. Seat fits perfectly between two front seats.

http://www.car-seat.org/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=264939
(this poster is a tech; where it says "LATCH and seatbelt, she means either/or, not both!)

Stretchy Glue said:
05 GMC Envoy (Standard wheelbase, no 3rd seat)
RF outboard, LATCH and seatbelt
FF outboard, LATCH and seatbelt
SUPER TIGHT, super easy. My belt stalks are recessed so it helped a lot. Chevy Trailblazers are similar but may have different stalks.
Center would work but I had a husky in the other side and didn't have a lot of time to take it out to practice.

In case you need them, here are the tips for getting a Radian more upright:

mommycat said:
The Radian is allowed to brace against the front seat BUT you need to check the vehicle manual as well. Many newer vehicles prohibit anything from touching the front seatback (or storing anything under the seat or even having the mudmats touching the front seat) because of the advanced airbags in the front - the pressure of something on the seatback can confuse the sensors, making the airbags over- or under-deploy.

When you do get a chance to try out the seat, write down these tips to take with you:
- move the front seat all the way forward and recline it out of the way
- put the Radian in the car RF and feed the latch strap through the RF belt path and attach it to the anchors, but don't tighten yet
- if you are able, get in the car and stand behind the RF Radian, facing the back of the car
- place the toes of the RF boot an inch or two away from the seat crease and try to keep them there throughout the installation; if your vehicle seat has a groove/contour there, it will help a bit with keeping the boot properly positioned
- lean over the seat (if you are short it may be a bit of a stretch and you might need to stand on the door frame and the center bump in the floor to reach, at first) and push one hand straight down at the toe area of the seat, by the harness adjuster; at the same time, lean your hips/belly against the Radian's shell and push straight back and a little upwards (not down!) as you haul on the latch strap to tighten it. The aim is to keep the seat more upright while jamming it tight against the vehicle seat back and down into the seat cushion.
- you may need to feed the latch strap through the RF belt path and tighten more that way (gives a better angle to get the last bit of slack out). It can be a big help if you can have another person pull on the strap from the outside of the car while you push the seat in the proper direction to keep it upright as it tightens in

Oh, look at this! Defrost has been so kind as to make a picture tutorial to help with this, right here:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=32350