Question What type of seat belt do you find makes for the easiest installation?

Brianna

New member

• May 26, 2011

• #1

I usually only install in my Cavalier with the center lap belt (lightweight locking latchplate and very easy), but for fun I tried installing in a Scion xD with sliding latchplates and a switchable retractor, all shoulder belts, and it was nearly impossible for me to do!

Does the type of latchplate/ lap vs. shoulder generally make for an easier installation in your experience?

 

Keeanh

Well-known member

• May 26, 2011

• #2

If we're talking about seats without built-in lockoffs, then locking latchplates hands-down.

 

Brianna

New member

• May 26, 2011

• #3

I hadn't even considered lock-offs, I've never had the pleasure of playing with a seat with them

 

christineka

New member

• May 26, 2011

• #4

1st choice- locking at retractor. Second choice, lap-only. It all depends on buckle stalks, though. I find the locking latchplate shoulder belts to be difficult to tighten because they want to lock while I'm threading the belt through the path.

 

Keeanh

Well-known member

• May 26, 2011

• #5

christineka said:

1st choice- locking at retractor. Second choice, lap-only. It all depends on buckle stalks, though. I find the locking latchplate shoulder belts to be difficult to tighten because they want to lock while I'm threading the belt through the path.

Click to expand...

They're supposed to lock at the angle they're at while going through the belt path. Try pulling a bunch on slack into the "lap" part of the belt before threading through the belt path. Grasp the buckle around the locking bar so that the belt doesn't retract before you put the buckle in. Once you start threading, the slack should stay in the lap portion.

 

B

babyherder

Well-known member

• May 26, 2011

• #6

My volvo belts with the childseat mode. Slide a button and you're set. No angles or checking to make sure anything locks or locking clips or anything else.

 

sunnymw

New member

• May 26, 2011

• #7

Lightweight locking latch plates like I had in my Durango. That's the ONE thing I miss about it.

Sent from my HTC Evo using Car-Seat.Org... please excuse typos and autocorrect!!

 

MaggieQ

Senior Community Member

• May 26, 2011

• #8

I'm just so use to sliding latch plate with locking shoulder retracted, it takes me 10 seconds to install seats with them, lol.

Sent from my EVO using Car-Seat.Org

 

Pixels

New member

• May 26, 2011

• #9

1st choice - Lap/shoulder with LWLLP
2nd choice - Lap-only with heavy duty locking latchplate
3rd choice - Lap/shoulder with sliding latchplate and switchable retractor
4th choice - Lap-only with locking retractor

 

Kat_Momof3

New member

• May 26, 2011

• #10

exactly as pixels said, but with the last two reversed... I found the lap only with locking retractor a bit easier.

 

Brianna

New member

• May 26, 2011

• #11

Pixels said:

2nd choice - Lap-only with heavy duty locking latchplate

Click to expand...

Do I have a heavy duty locking latchplate?

 

Pixels

New member

• May 26, 2011

• #12

briheartzu said:

Do I have a heavy duty locking latchplate?

Click to expand...

If you have a lap-only belt with a tail that you pull to tighten, then that is a heavy duty locking latchplate. You only see the lightweight ones on lap-shoulder belts because if the locking portion of the latchplate breaks in a crash, that's fine because the retractor will be locked at the shoulder. With a lap-only, it's not an option for the latchplate to break.

 

MommaWhitney

New member

• May 26, 2011

• #13

I prefer locking retractor w/ sliding latch plate becuse thats what I have in my van, dh has in his car, and both grandparents have in thier cars.

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Kac

Ambassador - CPS Technician

• May 26, 2011

• #14

Locking latch plates. Seriously I will take those ANYDAY over locking retractors.

 

CarSeatSafetyMom

CPST Instructor

• May 26, 2011

• #15

1st choice - Lap-only w/ locking latchplate (Center of my Back Seat)
2nd choice - Lap/shoulder w/ sliding latchplate and switchable retractor
3rd choice - Lap-only w/ locking retractor
4th choice - Lap/shoulder w/ Locking Latchplate (my Front Pass. Seat)
5th choice - Lap/shoulder w/ LWLLP
6th choice - Lap/shoulder w/ ELR and a Locking Clip (Outboard in my back seat)

Yes, my car has 3 different types of locking mechanisms. I just wish that the Locking Latchplates were in the outboard rear seats instead of the outboard front seats! Yes, my Drivers' seat belt has a locking latchplate!

 

APmama2MAK

New member

• May 26, 2011

• #16

1 Lap only with locking retractor
2 Lap/shoulder with sliding latchplate and switchable retractor
3 Lap/shoulder with LWLLP
4 Lap/shoulder with Locking Latchplate
5 Lap only with locking latchplate
6 Lap/shoulder with ELR and a Locking Clip

copied and edited carseatsafetymoms text

 

J

jaded

New member

• May 27, 2011

• #17

Lap belt with locking latchplate
lap/shoulder with locking latchplate
lap/shoulder with switchable retractor
lap with switchable retractor(hate hate HATE these for carseat installations)

That's about all I've dealt with in my personal vehicles, and I'm currently battling the switchable retractor in my husband's Explorer, as it is pulling the RA50(installed forward facing) up at a slight angle. I'm sure I'll have to do a locking clip(which, if I must say, I am an expert at! LOL)