Breaking up with my Radians

Well, let me tell you.

All my Radian love is LOST right now. I ended up putting the Safeguards (full size) back into my truck.

I have a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban. I get a WICKED tight fit w/the Radians and LATCH - only both kids are now above LATCH limit. I can get a decent fit with the L/S belt in the middle row, middle seat (a bit of a fight), and fight for a decent fit in the middle row outboard (driver).

The Monterey is tippy in the third row, so it needs to go in the second row. We also access the third row daily, so LATCH right there just doesn't work (one LATCH is on the single seat of the second row, the other LATCH is on the bench that has two belts in the same row. Whoever thought that one up? Oughta be slapped). Ideally, I need the two Radians in the third row, middle and outboard. I'll be darned if I canNOT get that stupid thing to stay put in the third row outboard! The seat presses up against the seat belt top/retractor on outboard, and no matter how tight I think I've locked it, it's loose. I can fight to get it in (ask Wendy - it's not an easy install at all!) in the middle row, middle seat, but it's getting harder and harder to get it in. I have to twist the stalk, and invert the latch plate (LBO).

In ALL of the scenarios, the latch plates (whether LBO or L/S) hit the side of the Radian, and causes it to be hard to tighten up. I'm not game for continuing to fight for a fit, especially as often as we have to move seats in and out, so I put the Safeguards back in, and have the Radians for back up seats for other vehicles, or to use with a kid that can fit the LATCH limits.

Hmph.

PS the kids in question for the seats are 6 y 9 m girl, 52 lbs, and a 4 y 10 mo b, 48 lbs.

And another PS, there is no way I would feel comfortable with a parent being able to replicate some of the above scenarios. No. Way.

I'm with ya. I can get a decent seatbelt install on the second row driver's side outboard and that's about it. My LATCH install in the center of the second row won't stay tightened, every time I turn around, its loose again I recently tried it outboard in the third row and had the same issues you did with the seatbelt. I haven't tried third row center, but will need one of them to be there when the baby comes.

Why oh why couldn't they make the belt path just a little higher or something?

I fought this seat for more than an hour today in the third row of my suburban. I am hoping someone has a trick.

TheQueenMother said:

I fought this seat for more than an hour today in the third row of my suburban. I am hoping someone has a trick.

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If you have the same issue of the Radian hitting where the belt comes out of the seat? Nope. Haven't found a trick. I've spent way more than an hour combined fighting with that stupid thing, and I have no idea. I think it's just incompatible.

So the Radian shell is pressing against the slot in the vehicle where the seatbelt comes out, at the retractor end? Have you tried unbuckling, let it retract a click or two (I'm assuming locking at the retractor), and rebuckling?

Pixels said:

So the Radian shell is pressing against the slot in the vehicle where the seatbelt comes out, at the retractor end? Have you tried unbuckling, let it retract a click or two (I'm assuming locking at the retractor), and rebuckling?

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Hmmm. No, I haven't. I don't know that I have the hand strength to pull that off, either. I'll give that a try this weekend. I'm not up to pulling all the seats out and doing it right now lol.

ETA I'm not sure that would work, either, b/c even if I twist the buckle stalk the plate still hits the guide on the Radian.

I feel like we should get you a card saying we are sorry for your loss .

mish said:

I feel like we should get you a card saying we are sorry for your loss .

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Either that or just by the superlatch, and use them in the LATCH seating positions.

I'll take a condolence card. It's cheaper. lol.

Ouch! I'm trying so hard to love my brand new radian, but I'm not feeling the love either. It does install in my vehicle, but it's a royal pain. I've never had to fiddle around with a LATCH install so much. Plus, the crotch buckle instructions (use the outermost location for 30+ lbs) makes the harness ill-fitting for kids who get all of their weight from their height. The problem is, with a 30lb, above the charts in height 2 1/2 year old, I didn't want to buy another MA only to flip her around in 5lbs and then run out of harness room before she's ready for a booster. It's such an awesome seat on paper... I am prepared to love it again when it installs ffing beautifully in my vehicle and gets her to age five or six. :fingers crossed: