Can I fit 3 SK Radians in my Ford Escort?

HummusDip · Oct 4, 2010

I was wondering if anyone has any experience about this. I've contacted SK and they can't give me an exact answer. I have a 97 Ford Escort and I'd like to get 3 SK Radian carseats in it. The website says I need 49 inches from arm rest to arm rest. I'm measuring 48.5-48.75inches. I will have at least 1 carseat rear facing. If it would help, I could have another rear faced for awhile longer..maybe a year or so (until I can get a bigger car and before he gets too big to be RF).

If you have experience with this, please let me know! Thanks.

Irishmama · Oct 5, 2010

I fit two Radians in a 99 Escort wagon, with a Parkway or a Turbobooster. I didn't have three in there but I think they would fit. There was definitely more room with one forward facing and one rear facing. They're a little tricky to install but there's a few tricks that will get them in, thanks to the wonderful people on here.

Do you have any store near you that carries them so you could try it out?

natalie77 · Oct 5, 2010

Glad you came to find out!! Here is the 3 across thread so if you scroll thru the pages looking for your vehicle, someone may have tried 3 seats in it and you can see what will or won't work!

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=33226

BookMama · Oct 5, 2010

I'm sure they'll fit across, but FYI, this is how the Radian fits RF in my 98 Escort. (It's the same as your 97.)

With the help of 3 other techs, we were able to strong-arm it in a little more upright, but it basically requires the vehicle seat in front of it to be all the way forward and bolt upright. :thumbsdown:

(That little slanted piece in the crease of the back seat is the culprit.)

Irishmama · Oct 5, 2010

Yep, mine was really reclined until I pulled the rear-facing boot just a smidge out from the seat bight. There's a metal bar or something under there, and if you get it just in front of that and then push down, it'll go much more upright. It was still close enough that the Radian is touching the car's seat back, don't worry.

I wish I had taken pics of it, it was a really good angle and just enough that DH could put his seat back enough to be able to drive.

HummusDip · Oct 6, 2010

Thank you all! So I have a few more ?'s since you all are so knowledgeable! I already have 2 Britax Blvd's, I'm sure I won't be able to fit a Radian with those...right? It doesn't seem like I have much room between those. Also, my dd is technically ready for a booster..but I was afraid a booster wouldn't fit with 2 Radians..But the first reply poster said she had a booster and 2 Radians..wondering if that would work for me..

I'm concerned about the RF Radian and the seat issue..I really don't want to have to sit straight up, gahh!

I don't believe any store in my city carries them, but I can try a bigger city..Maybe Babies R Us? Would they let me take out 3 carseats and try to get them to fit into my car??

Pixels · Oct 6, 2010

Most BRUs don't carry the Radian. I know BRU usually lets you take out one seat to your car in exchange for leaving your license at the service desk, but I don't know about more than one seat.

The Boulevard puzzles very nicely with the Radian when they are both facing the same direction.

HummusDip · Oct 6, 2010

I'm seeing that Blvd's puzzle well with Radians, but in my car, I barely have much room between the 2. I wonder if it would be possible. I'm working through the 3 across thread right now, I'm on page 7...

Carrie_R · Oct 6, 2010

What are the ages & sizes of your kids?

T4K · Oct 6, 2010

HummusDip said:
I'm working through the 3 across thread right now, I'm on page 7...

There's a nifty tool called "Search this thread" on the first post of the page. You can search for key words so you don't have to look at every post. I didn't find it until recently but it has definitely saved me some time.

Irishmama · Oct 6, 2010

A Turbobooster fit but it was really tight to buckle. An old-style Parkway fit better. The Boulevard and Radians do puzzle well depending on what set up
you are trying. It's all about how they overlap.

Buy Buy Baby carries the Radian in store. Or you could order them from a place like Target, that you can buy online and return in store if you need to, or an online store that has free returns. As long as you haven't used the seats, that is, just tried them in the car.

ETA: Does anybody know if a Radian would puzzle with the two Boulevards the OP already has? Maybe ff BV, ff RN, and rf BV?

emandbri · Oct 7, 2010

A friend of mine has a ford escort wagon with a rf radian in the middle and her older daughter had a really hard time buckling her backless turbo because it was so boxy. I've loaned her my evenflo right fit which is shaped similarly do the harmony and she had an easier time. Assuming the child really is big enough for a booster I think that is your best bet. If he/she still fits in the radian though you might find that easier.

I know my friend has had two rfing radians in hers but don't know about three. My friend will be over later today and I can have her bring her other radian and we can try three and see if it fits. I also have two marathons to play with.

This sounds like fun! lol I will let you know what we find!

BookMama · Oct 7, 2010

emandbri said:
A friend of mine has a ford escort wagon with a rf radian in the middle and her older daughter has a really hard time buckling her backless turbo because it was so boxy. I've loaned her my evenflo right fit which is shaped similarly do the harmony. Assuming the child really is big enough for a booster I think that is your best bet. If he/she still fits in the radian though you might find that easier.

I know my friend has had two rfing radians in hers but don't know about three.

I don't really recommend a backless booster in the Escort, simply because there are no headrests - any child big/old enough to use a backless booster is probably tall enough that the tips of their ears would be over the back of the vehicle seat. :twocents:

emandbri · Oct 7, 2010

BookMama said:
I don't really recommend a backless booster in the Escort, simply because there are no headrests - any child big/old enough to use a backless booster is probably tall enough that the tips of their ears would be over the back of the vehicle seat. :twocents:

That is true she is almost too tall, she had JUST enough head support at the moment. Luckily she has long legs and short torso. I told my friend to keep an eye on it. She almost fits without a booster, just not quite.

Irishmama · Oct 7, 2010

emandbri said:
A friend of mine has a ford escort wagon with a rf radian in the middle and her older daughter had a really hard time buckling her backless turbo because it was so boxy. I've loaned her my evenflo right fit which is shaped similarly do the harmony and she had an easier time. Assuming the child really is big enough for a booster I think that is your best bet. If he/she still fits in the radian though you might find that easier.

I know my friend has had two rfing radians in hers but don't know about three. My friend will be over later today and I can have her bring her other radian and we can try three and see if it fits. I also have two marathons to play with.

This sounds like fun! lol I will let you know what we find!

Can't wait to hear how it turns out!

emandbri · Oct 8, 2010

My friend and I had so much fun!

3 radians totally worked! She has an older one I don't recall the year.

Here are the three radians.

2 radians and a marathon did not work. We were able to get them in but had to slam the door and the door would hit the marathon. I'm afraid over time it could mess up the door latch.

I took some more pictures, they are all in this album.

http://picasaweb.google.com/emandbri/3AcrossFordEscort#

BookMama · Oct 8, 2010

emandbri, did you try FF MA/FF RN/RF RN? I wonder if the FF MA and FF RN would puzzle better.

nak

emandbri · Oct 8, 2010

BookMama said:
emandbri, did you try FF MA/FF RN/RF RN? I wonder if the FF MA and FF RN would puzzle better.

nak

didn't try that because in order for a rfing radian to fit outboard the front seat has to be moved all the way up. I knew that wouldn't work for the OP since an adult in the passenger seat would have no room at all. That is assuming she has a S/O of course.

BookMama · Oct 8, 2010

emandbri said:
didn't try that because in order for a rfing radian to fit outboard the front seat has to be moved all the way up. I knew that wouldn't work for the OP since an adult in the passenger seat would have no room at all. That is assuming she has a S/O of course.

:doh: Oh yeah, I already knew that.

Irishmama · Oct 8, 2010

Cool! I too was wondering about the ff MA/ff RN/rf RN if the OP didn't need the passenger seat?

Can I fit 3 SK Radians in my Ford Escort?

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