Question 2002 Ford Explorer Install Help with Britax Frontier

H

HotAirMama

Guest
I'm looking for some advise on installing my brand new Britax Frontier 85 into my 2002 Ford Explorer XLT. My car does NOT have latch (urgh...) and I only have one child. So - I really want to put her in the center seat of the 2nd row. There are top tethers in the car. The middle seat only has a locking lap belt only - so my only option is the short method. If I did move to an out position, I would need to order a locking clip.

The 1st thing to note - is this car seats are a 60/40 bench that has an extreme seat angle (like 30% angle). I have used a Marathon and Roundabout in here and always had to roll up a towel to fill in the extra space.

So - the Frontier has the "block" that moves and it says it HAS to be on the front of the seat while in harness mode. If I put the block forward like I'm supposed to - it only exaggerates the fact that the seats are at an incline. I get a better fit if the block is to the back (for booster mode only) - is there a safety reason you're not supposed to have the block in back for harness?? or is it just for the correct incline (if you had a flatter seat?)??

Next question - I know when she was a baby, it was a big deal to have the correct incline angle on the actually seat. Is that as big a deal for a 3 year old? I don't see anything about it in the booklet? Because of the above issue - if I keep the block forward, the actual block isn't all the way on the seat (it hangs over a bit) and I feel like she's leaning too far back. Shouldn't this seat be more upright??

Also - the seat doesn't move at the belt and top with the tether, but the front will wiggle a bit. Is that OK?
 
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An Aurora

Senior Community Member
Can you take a picture regarding the angle issue you are having?

You do NOT need a locking clip. You have locking retractors on the outboard seats. Just pull the belt all the way out slowly until it reaches the end to engage the locking retractor.

You can't use a towel with a FF seat, unfortunately.
 

Judi

CPST/Firefighter
First of all, a locking click would not be needed, since your seat belts lock.

Second, you check for tightness at the belt path, so it sounds like you are doing well.

Third, hi! Welcome! I get ahead of myself sometimes.
 

Jessica61624

New member
LATCH isn't all the important since with the frontier you'll need to install with a seat belt at 40/48 lbs anyways. I've had a hard time getting a good install with lap belt only. If you can get a good install great! If not I would not hesitate to move the child to the out board seat. As the pp stated your seat belts lock so a locking clip is not needed. Iirc in 1996 locking belts became a requirements.

As far as the block it must be forward. It either was tested in the other position and failed OR wasn't tested at all and we don't want to be the first to try. To get a good install with slanted seats it helps to push the front of the seat with your knees while you tighten the belt.

This is a great video showing how to install long belt path.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uuovrWhQp0"]Britax Frontier: Installation Using Vehicle Lap/Shoulder Belt; Long Path - YouTube[/ame]
 

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