cathysizer
New member
I'm looking for a backup seat mainly for my son (5 1/2, 47 lbs., about 43" tall), which will be used in a secondary vehicle, a 1983 Chevy pickup and perhaps my husband's 1996 Jeep Cherokee. I would just jump right on a Frontier but I have some issues. I have seen a Nautilus (regular not elite I think) in a vehicle, messed with it and was not real keen on it for two reasons. 1. Shallow seat depth might be uncomfortable in the long run like for a booster, and 2. Made in China.
Issues needing consideration:
This truck has a single-row bench seat only AND it's a stick shift. I wanted to use the Radian XT passenger side RFing (for now) for DD, moved in and out of my other vehicle (which is what I have been doing with her Intera, which she has outgrown as of right now and it's going to expire soon anyways). The Radian XT works great for DS in the middle, I can shift (BARELY) with that seat FFing.
The biggest issue is shifting into reverse with DS's FFing seat. I can BARELY shift into reverse with the FFing Radian XT in the center, so I think the Frontier 85 is out for that position because I believe I saw that it's much deeper overall than the Radian which barely fits. Please correct me if I am wrong, and I will joyfully go buy a Frontier. The Radian XT I have now measures about 17" by my measurement, front to back at the base. The only reason I am able to shift is the seat is not real deep and it's swept back enough that I can just barely get the gearshift into reverse.
Of course I COULD put DS in the passenger position in a Frontier and FF DD in the center in the Radian. I'm not sure how well that will work with the Frontier because the passenger shoulder seat belt has to be tightened with a clip. Do any of you see that as a real irritating install with a Frontier? It's not easy with the easy to install RFing Intera she had been using because the clip has to be pretightened and then you just have grunt and push to get it in the lock. She will be three in August, she's 31 lbs. and 36". I am not extremely thrilled about FFing her but I am not thrilled with the other choices either. I wish DH would let me sell that truck, I used to love it but now, <sigh>.
I don't think it's an issue with most seats, but I also need to make sure anything I buy for FFing use will be fine without support behind it because my seat backs are low in that vehicle.
This is what I'm working with now:
Primary vehicle 1996 Suburban
DS - Safeguard Child Seat
DD - Radian XT (RFing)
What I do is I keep ONE backup seat, and if I need to transport both kids, I move DD's seat. That has worked well for me. Moving the Safeguard seat is an ordeal, and although I LOVE that seat, I don't like to move it!
I really want a seat I can get the most use out of, I know another Radian would quickly be outgrown by DS. So I guess unless you guys have any other suggestions, I'm stuck with either a Nautilus for DS in the middle of the old truck and DD RFing in passenger seat, or a Frontier for DS in passenger seat and FFing DD in middle.
Any other options? Comments?
TIA,
Cathy
Issues needing consideration:
This truck has a single-row bench seat only AND it's a stick shift. I wanted to use the Radian XT passenger side RFing (for now) for DD, moved in and out of my other vehicle (which is what I have been doing with her Intera, which she has outgrown as of right now and it's going to expire soon anyways). The Radian XT works great for DS in the middle, I can shift (BARELY) with that seat FFing.
The biggest issue is shifting into reverse with DS's FFing seat. I can BARELY shift into reverse with the FFing Radian XT in the center, so I think the Frontier 85 is out for that position because I believe I saw that it's much deeper overall than the Radian which barely fits. Please correct me if I am wrong, and I will joyfully go buy a Frontier. The Radian XT I have now measures about 17" by my measurement, front to back at the base. The only reason I am able to shift is the seat is not real deep and it's swept back enough that I can just barely get the gearshift into reverse.
Of course I COULD put DS in the passenger position in a Frontier and FF DD in the center in the Radian. I'm not sure how well that will work with the Frontier because the passenger shoulder seat belt has to be tightened with a clip. Do any of you see that as a real irritating install with a Frontier? It's not easy with the easy to install RFing Intera she had been using because the clip has to be pretightened and then you just have grunt and push to get it in the lock. She will be three in August, she's 31 lbs. and 36". I am not extremely thrilled about FFing her but I am not thrilled with the other choices either. I wish DH would let me sell that truck, I used to love it but now, <sigh>.
I don't think it's an issue with most seats, but I also need to make sure anything I buy for FFing use will be fine without support behind it because my seat backs are low in that vehicle.
This is what I'm working with now:
Primary vehicle 1996 Suburban
DS - Safeguard Child Seat
DD - Radian XT (RFing)
What I do is I keep ONE backup seat, and if I need to transport both kids, I move DD's seat. That has worked well for me. Moving the Safeguard seat is an ordeal, and although I LOVE that seat, I don't like to move it!
I really want a seat I can get the most use out of, I know another Radian would quickly be outgrown by DS. So I guess unless you guys have any other suggestions, I'm stuck with either a Nautilus for DS in the middle of the old truck and DD RFing in passenger seat, or a Frontier for DS in passenger seat and FFing DD in middle.
Any other options? Comments?
TIA,
Cathy