Three across Ford Windstar (converted to 8 passenger)-PIC HEAVY

April

Well-known member
Finally! 20 days before my baby is going to be born I have a livable solution to getting 5 car seats in my van. We took out the captain's chairs from the second row and replaced them with a third row bench. So I have a third row bench in the second row and the third row. I couldn't get any combination of seats to work for MY kids in the third row without using a RSTV (which happens to be illegal in Canada.) :whistle: Today I got three across in the second row and then the other two in the third row.

Third row:
Parkway (old style), Nautilus

Second row:
Backless Turbo Booster, FF Radian XT (installed with seatbelt (was with UAS but I changed it), KeyFit (installed with seatbelt)

I couldn't get this combo to work in the third row because of the way the wheel wells stick out. This is actually pretty darn close to ideal as I have the KF behind the driver, which is what I wanted, the youngest forward facer in the centre, which is what I wanted, both boostered kids on the passenger side so they can get out safely in the school drop off line, which is what I wanted, and my 4 year old in the Nautilus driver's side third row where I can still reach her to help her buckle on the occasional time when she has trouble.

There is a slight overhang to the side of the Turbo booster, but I'm not concerned. I'll also have to buckle that booster in to prevent it from being a projectile. I have a Clek Oto that I could put there, but because the lower anchors are offset towards the centre, I can't latch it in. It may work with a backless Monterey because of the flexible latch, but I'll investigate that later.

Pictures:

IMG_0961.jpg


Overhang on the side of the Turbo:

IMG_0963.jpg


Maybe 1/8 of an inch of overhang on the side of the KF:

IMG_0967.jpg


View from the top (excuse the Bits & Bites on the floor):

IMG_0970.jpg


And the third row:

IMG_0966.jpg
 
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Nisha

New member
What is the spacing on the center LATCH? I'm pretty sure it's more than 11" and Sunshine Kids doesn't allow more than 11" for spacing even if the vehicle mfg does. (which Ford does.) - UNLESS that has changed!
So I would just switch and install the Radian with the seatbelt and the KeyFit with LATCH/UAS.
 

April

Well-known member
What is the spacing on the center LATCH? I'm pretty sure it's more than 11" and Sunshine Kids doesn't allow more than 11" for spacing even if the vehicle mfg does. (which Ford does.) - UNLESS that has changed!

Oh crap, I forgot about that. I'm not sure, I'd have to measure. I can change it to seatbelt just fine though, it still installs well.

ETA: Darn. Its 9.8 inches. Off to change it to a seatbelt install. Thanks for reminding me. In my excitement about everything fitting, I figured i'd just use the lower anchors. Totally forgot about the rule! (bad tech-mommy!)
 

Misty-Bug

New member
Oh crap, I forgot about that. I'm not sure, I'd have to measure. I can change it to seatbelt just fine though, it still installs well.

ETA: Darn. Its 9.8 inches. Off to change it to a seatbelt install. Thanks for reminding me. In my excitement about everything fitting, I figured i'd just use the lower anchors. Totally forgot about the rule! (bad tech-mommy!)

I am confused. isn't 9.8" LESS then 11" so wouldn't it be an allowable install?
looks good!! I want your seats. lol. well the XTSL, the Keyfit and wish I had a girl for the nauti!

looks good:thumbsup:
 

Ltaylor

New member
I am confused. isn't 9.8" LESS then 11" so wouldn't it be an allowable install?
looks good!! I want your seats. lol. well the XTSL, the Keyfit and wish I had a girl for the nauti!

looks good:thumbsup:

Im right there with you on that one ! I was like Huh ?

Looks great.
 

April

Well-known member
I am confused. isn't 9.8" LESS then 11" so wouldn't it be an allowable install?
looks good!! I want your seats. lol. well the XTSL, the Keyfit and wish I had a girl for the nauti!

looks good:thumbsup:

No, Sunshine Kids ONLY allows 11 inch spacing.
 

Nisha

New member
No, SK only allows "standard" spacing which is 11" so anything non-standard is not allowed.
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Are you okay with the Turbo overhanging, when it specifies 100% on the seat? I know it's minimal, and if it was just, like, cupholder I'd not even ask, but...
 

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