Genevieve
CPST Instructor
DH bought a 1995 GMC Sierra and it's now our "camping" vehicle. Kids will be in it 3-4 times a year. No top tethers and no ability to retrofit (I have already checked the LATCH manual and called the dealership. The belts do have locking latchplates, with lap/shoulder belts outboard, and lap belt in the center. There is a backseat, but it's quite small and there is very little head excursion room. Headrests are small and stuck, I can't raise them anymore. No airbag in the front passenger seat. It's clearly not the "best" in terms of car seat compatibility, but it's what I have to work with.
Kids are:
Ninja - 6.5 years old, 45lbs with 16in torso. Typically harnessed, but is a good booster rider.
Gambit - 4.5, 38lbs with 15in torso. Cannot sit in a booster yet.
Rocket - 12 months, 21lbs with 11.5ish inch torso. RF'ing, obviously.
I have many seats available. Nautilus (x2), ProSport, RA50, CCO, Turbo, Harmony Dreamtime, Avenue, Scenera, and I can borrow my SIL's XTSL if I needed.
I was thinking, Nauti in the center (good HE numbers with no tether and there is HE room between the front seats) CCO driver's side (tethered RF'ing since there is a glass "wall" on the back), but I can't decide what/who to put on the passenger side. There is so little room between the backseat and the front seat and lack of HE space concerns me. I could put a booster or harnessed seat there for Ninja and move the front seat up as far as possible (no airbag for me to worry about). But, I still think he's going to hit the front seat if we are in an accident. I may try to fit the RN in there RF'ing, but I don't hold out too much hope as the backseats are very flat. I don't think I'll be able to get it upright enough. Though I guess I can forcefully brace since I don't have an airbag at all on the passenger side, let alone, advanced airbags.
I am willing to buy any seats to make this work. My condition to DH was that I have the right to buy whatever seats neccessary so that I feel comfortable with the kids in the car. He's been wanting a "camping" truck for YEARS, so that was our compromise.
Can you PLEASE help me think this through
Kids are:
Ninja - 6.5 years old, 45lbs with 16in torso. Typically harnessed, but is a good booster rider.
Gambit - 4.5, 38lbs with 15in torso. Cannot sit in a booster yet.
Rocket - 12 months, 21lbs with 11.5ish inch torso. RF'ing, obviously.
I have many seats available. Nautilus (x2), ProSport, RA50, CCO, Turbo, Harmony Dreamtime, Avenue, Scenera, and I can borrow my SIL's XTSL if I needed.
I was thinking, Nauti in the center (good HE numbers with no tether and there is HE room between the front seats) CCO driver's side (tethered RF'ing since there is a glass "wall" on the back), but I can't decide what/who to put on the passenger side. There is so little room between the backseat and the front seat and lack of HE space concerns me. I could put a booster or harnessed seat there for Ninja and move the front seat up as far as possible (no airbag for me to worry about). But, I still think he's going to hit the front seat if we are in an accident. I may try to fit the RN in there RF'ing, but I don't hold out too much hope as the backseats are very flat. I don't think I'll be able to get it upright enough. Though I guess I can forcefully brace since I don't have an airbag at all on the passenger side, let alone, advanced airbags.
I am willing to buy any seats to make this work. My condition to DH was that I have the right to buy whatever seats neccessary so that I feel comfortable with the kids in the car. He's been wanting a "camping" truck for YEARS, so that was our compromise.
Can you PLEASE help me think this through