Trouble Installing Safety 1st Air Protect Complete Air RF

gingerbread · Jun 27, 2011

So, we bought three of these seats today and managed to successfully install one FF. We used latch and it's rock solid. But I can't figure out how to install this seat RF my my car! We have a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. We need to install one seat RF behind the passenger seat and the other RF in the middle. Reading the manual has me completely confused. It says I need to fold up the base for RF and install the seat so the recline is such that the line on the seat is parallel to the ground as shown in this pic:

When I do that there is a crazy amount of space in between the car seat and the seat of the car that no pool noodle could ever fill.

Am I doing something wrong here? Or is this seat not compatible with my car?

Pixels · Jun 27, 2011

You are neither doing anything wrong, nor do I see any incompatibility. You can either wedge the carseat into the vehicle seat back, and forgo noodles, or use a noodle pyramid or towel pyramid to fill the gap. Personally, I think wedging is easier.

NannyMom · Jun 27, 2011

No, you're doing it right. The Complete Air is crazy reclined when installed. And for the gap, you can either pile up pool noodles in a huge pyramid or you can stand at the head of the carseat and push in with your body to wedge it into the vehicle seat as you tighten the belt.

gingerbread · Jun 27, 2011

Thank you both so much. This is nuts! Does the seat really have to be that reclined? One of the RF kids going in this seat is 2 and I don't know if she will tolerate being so reclined.

When you say to "wedge" the seat, can you please explain a bit more? Do you mean push it into the seat it is latched in to?

And also, can these seats be braced against or touch the passenger seat? I did not see anything in the manual regarding that.

christineka · Jun 27, 2011

According to safety 1st, the line must be parallel to the ground, but the seat has passed testing sitting more upright.

Brigala · Jun 27, 2011

gingerbread said:
Does the seat really have to be that reclined?

According to the manufacturer, yes, it does.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150277379310219

Pixels · Jun 27, 2011

Do you have the stand in the proper position for your forward facing seat? I don't have a clear view, but it looks like it might be in reclined mode.

gingerbread · Jun 27, 2011

Brigala said:
According to the manufacturer, yes, it does.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150277379310219

Well that's scary. Did I buy the wrong seats for my kids? After reading that link I'm a bit worried.

gingerbread · Jun 27, 2011

Pixels said:
Do you have the stand in the proper position for your forward facing seat? I don't have a clear view, but it looks like it might be in reclined mode.

I will check it tonight. Thanks.

Ninetales · Jun 28, 2011

gingerbread said:
Well that's scary. Did I buy the wrong seats for my kids? After reading that link I'm a bit worried.

As the parent, it's pretty much your call. Some people are ok with putting it more upright because Dorel says that it passes testing. Others are not comfortable with that because they are so insistent on using the line indicator. You're the only one who can decide for you.

Your pictures look like the ones Dorel posted on their FB showing "correct" installation.

gingerbread · Jun 28, 2011

I returned all three of these today and ordered more radians. i couldn't sleep last night for thinking about all of this. I'm going to stick with what I know and love and bite the bullet on the bill.

Trouble Installing Safety 1st Air Protect Complete Air RF

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