Top tethering Evenflo Maestro in Chevy Colorado crew cab? /was Re: can't tether radian in nissan frontier pickup??

mkchristo · Aug 15, 2011

I realize this is an old post, but was there ever any resolution?

I am trying to install an Evenflo Maestro seat into a Chevy Colorado Crew Cab and believe I am running into the same problem - the adjustment/tensioner on the top tether strap of the car seat is too large to fit between the back of the truck's rear seat and the wall of the truck, which prevents me from latching the seat in place. My plan was to use the latch connection points + the top tether, but the issue I described above is preventing me from using the top tether anchor.

I believe that Evenflo has a top tether extender that I can order, but all information and pictures that I have found online to this point show that it too has an adjuster/tensioner (I assumed it would be a straight section of strap with the necessary connectors on either end), and unfortunately evenflo's website is short on details, as was the person I spoke with on the phone this afternoon.

Just looking for any thoughts/tips from anyone else regarding installation into a crew cab truck before I consider ordering a part that might not work for my needs.

mommycat · Aug 20, 2011

For reference, this is the original thread:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=149245

This post has pictures of the Evenflo TT extender:
http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=365118&postcount=9

If I am understanding the vehicle seat geometry correctly, there is room for the adjuster closer to the anchor, and above the seatback, but it touches against the rear wall at the top of the seat back, yes? If the original TT adjuster can be shortened close enough to the carseat shell that it is held above the seat back, attaching the extender should work - I think only if the length of the extender at its shortest is not longer than the distance from the "bad" location to the seatshell. (It's getting late and harder to picture it in my mind.) Is it possible to get some pics and/or measurements?

mommycat · Aug 20, 2011

Is this the rear seat? Is the blue cutout the TA location?
http://image.motortrend.com/f/33844888+w786+ar1/2012-Chevrolet-Colorado-ZQ8-Crew-Cab-back-seats.jpg

ETA in that case this probably won't work if the buckle is the same size - I was imagining this all wrong, especially since I had the adjuster moving up while the hook stayed put - wth? - I need to go to bed. Sorry!!!

ETA2 although the picture in the post I linked above does seem to look like the extender buckle is a little narrow than the original buckle, so maybe it would help after all?