solid RF Radian install w.o. boot -- now what??

singingpond

New member
Maybe this should be over on the Carseat Forum, but the original thread was here, so I thought I would post here.

There was recent discussion of an email from Russ at SK, in which he stated (among other things) that their crash test results for RF were just as good without the annoying foot/boot thingie, but that they still officially require the use of the boot for RF install. I'm paraphrasing, but that was the jist of it.

I currently have a Radian RF (with boot) in the center of my '96 Corolla (no LATCH), for my 2 1/2 y.o. The Radian, with the boot, simply does not fit in either outboard position, because the front seats just can't go up far enough to accomodate the tall reclined backrest of the Radian. However, my infant DD is on the verge of growing out of her Snugride, so I had been thinking of getting a second Radian, which would mean putting it outboard FF for 2 1/2 y.o. DS, and putting her RF in the center Radian. The problem is, I do not really want to turn him FF, since he is only 29#, and easily within the RF weight range.

So, based on Russ's email info., I was just outside trying a RF installation outboard, without the boot. Rather to my surprise, it was solid, and didn't even take very long (did require two full twists of the buckle stalk). The front seat does have to move forward a notch or two from its current position, and it's not ideal for the driver, but probably workable, especially with the Radian very solidly 'braced' against the driver's seat, LOL. I used a triangle of pool noodles taped together, and the resulting recline was probably around 30 degrees, so I wouldn't want to make it much more upright, but may experiment a bit more.

I also tried FF outboard, and could get a probably 'acceptable' install, but not one I was really pleased with -- I hate the way the belt crumples up in the FF belt path, and the latch plate was jammed up against the plastic near the belt path slot, AND I still had a good inch of play. Not sure if I'll be able to improve on it, and it may end up being an 'unacceptable' install.

So, now what??

Should my 2 1/2 y.o. ride RF in a solidly installed seat, but not in accordance with official install instructions? :confused: Or FF in an only barely acceptably installed seat, but in compliance with official instructions? :confused:

I'm also considering putting my oldest DS (6 y.o., currently outboard in a Parkway) in the Radian FF center, and putting both his younger sibs outboard RF in other seats, to be determined. Unfortunately, the Scenera I picked up for the purpose doesn't look like it'll work for what we need either, although I'll have to play more with it before returning it to WalMart. So, this why I'm back to considering a second Radian.

Anyway, thought I would report back, for those who were reading the other Radian thread recently.

Katrin
 
ADS

ThreeBeans

New member
I really need to get out there and try this, but not right now...it's 91 degrees out and I'm 8 months pregnant. I don't have the energy.
 

singingpond

New member
I really need to get out there and try this, but not right now...it's 91 degrees out and I'm 8 months pregnant. I don't have the energy.

Same temps here, so working on carseats wasn't the ideal activity today. However, I did notice it's a LOT easier to install seats when not pregnant, LOL. I originally installed the Radian back in January, back when I was about 7 1/2 mo. pregnant, and it was a real pain, to the point that I haven't been willing to touch it since then. However, today I went out to see if/how the Scenera fit, and I finally got up the nerve to pop the release button on the Radian :), and once it was loose, I figured I might as well try the other places and ways to install it. Somehow it wasn't nearly as hard as back in January :rolleyes:, although still harder than any of our other carseats.

Katrin
 
It really depends on how firmly you trust/believe that the boot-less install is "safe enough". Each of us has to look at that information and make our own decision regarding whether we feel comfortable going against the manual/mfr's directions. I don't know if anyone here can say they "approve" of either install, since neither is "correct", KWIM?

But on a personal level, if you're asking if we'd be comfortable doing it ourselves (RF install w/o boot), my answer would be... not yet... I need more specific info on testing done with this install.
 

singingpond

New member
It really depends on how firmly you trust/believe that the boot-less install is "safe enough". Each of us has to look at that information and make our own decision regarding whether we feel comfortable going against the manual/mfr's directions. I don't know if anyone here can say they "approve" of either install, since neither is "correct", KWIM?

But on a personal level, if you're asking if we'd be comfortable doing it ourselves (RF install w/o boot), my answer would be... not yet... I need more specific info on testing done with this install.

In our particular situation, I'm probably going to leave DS (the 2 1/2 y.o.) in the reclined RF Radian center, and move DD into a RF AO behind the driver. We already own the AO, and it just barely fits width-wise next to the Radian, and actually fits better in terms of height in full recline than my new Scenera does. This is because we use the AO without the base, and the Scenera base makes the overall seat too tall to fit well outboard when adequately reclined for the baby.

However, I was very interested to see that the RF Radian actually installed quite well without the boot (nice and solid). I sure hope SK modifies their official guidelines to allow RF install without the boot, but I'm not quite ready to take that step on my own at this point. Fortunately, DS doesn't really complain about the large recline on his seat, but it obviously is tilted a lot further back than needed for a child of his age.

Katrin
 

snowbird25ca

Moderator - CPST Instructor
In our particular situation, I'm probably going to leave DS (the 2 1/2 y.o.) in the reclined RF Radian center, and move DD into a RF AO behind the driver. We already own the AO, and it just barely fits width-wise next to the Radian, and actually fits better in terms of height in full recline than my new Scenera does. This is because we use the AO without the base, and the Scenera base makes the overall seat too tall to fit well outboard when adequately reclined for the baby.

However, I was very interested to see that the RF Radian actually installed quite well without the boot (nice and solid). I sure hope SK modifies their official guidelines to allow RF install without the boot, but I'm not quite ready to take that step on my own at this point. Fortunately, DS doesn't really complain about the large recline on his seat, but it obviously is tilted a lot further back than needed for a child of his age.

Katrin

Does your ds still have height room left to rf in the AO? You could always put him in the AO and install it more upright - very easy to do with the AO, ;) and then put your dd in the Radian with the 45 degree recline. Might kill 2 birds with one stone? Plus the AO will rf to 35lbs.

I'm in agreement with you that I wouldn't be comfy using it without the base. What would be nice to see would be for them to have the boot adjustable or come with 2 boots so you could choose which you wanted to use.

I'm lucky that my truck cushions compress and angle enough that I can get a pretty upright install of the radian in it - I actually had to use the tether to increase the angle when I had it in our truck briefly back before we bought the SS1.
 

singingpond

New member
Does your ds still have height room left to rf in the AO? You could always put him in the AO and install it more upright - very easy to do with the AO, ;) and then put your dd in the Radian with the 45 degree recline. Might kill 2 birds with one stone? Plus the AO will rf to 35lbs.

I'm in agreement with you that I wouldn't be comfy using it without the base. What would be nice to see would be for them to have the boot adjustable or come with 2 boots so you could choose which you wanted to use.

I'm lucky that my truck cushions compress and angle enough that I can get a pretty upright install of the radian in it - I actually had to use the tether to increase the angle when I had it in our truck briefly back before we bought the SS1.

That's probably a good idea (swapping which kid sits in which seat). DS#2 definitely still fits in the AO RF; if fact the AO is his seat in our other (larger) vehicle. It just seems sort of weird to put the tiniest child in the biggest sturdiest seat in the Corolla, which is probably why it hadn't occurred to me yet. I had really been sort of hoping to put DS#1 (age almost 6) FF harnessed in the center for a while (he still fits in the Radian at top slots), and find seats that would work RF outboard for his younger sibs. It looks now as though two RF Sceneras will not work (for a variety of reasons) in this vehicle, so I'll probably leave the Radian RF center, and perhaps put the baby into it, as you suggest. DS#1 will just have to stay in his Parkway outboard, and he does ride fairly well in a booster.

I still hope SK changes their RF recommendation in the future -- if I could officially RF without the boot, I'd buy another Radian tomorrow, since we'll definitely want the extended harnessing capability for both younger children.

Katrin
 

singingpond

New member
I'm lucky that my truck cushions compress and angle enough that I can get a pretty upright install of the radian in it - I actually had to use the tether to increase the angle when I had it in our truck briefly back before we bought the SS1.

Hmmm.... I just re-read this part of your post -- perhaps I should try the Radian in our other vehicle (an older Ford, with a very soft squishy rear seat) to see if I can mash it into adequate 'uprightness' in that vehicle :) . If I move the AO out of the Ford into the Corolla, I need something else in the second car anyway, and I would just as soon get another higher-weight-limit seat, if it fits. Interesting way to 'get rid' of the recline boot -- just mash it down into the seat cushion, LOL.

Katrin
 

snowbird25ca

Moderator - CPST Instructor
Hmmm.... I just re-read this part of your post -- perhaps I should try the Radian in our other vehicle (an older Ford, with a very soft squishy rear seat) to see if I can mash it into adequate 'uprightness' in that vehicle :) . If I move the AO out of the Ford into the Corolla, I need something else in the second car anyway, and I would just as soon get another higher-weight-limit seat, if it fits. Interesting way to 'get rid' of the recline boot -- just mash it down into the seat cushion, LOL.

Katrin

I had to have the boot slightly out from the seat bite to get at the LATCH anchors, and then when I tightened down the belt, I put my weight right on the leg area of the seat. It made it pretty upright actually. Here's a pic once I had tightened it down with the tether - and the tether was really taut. No way it was reclined enough for ds without really tightening the tether down to adjust the angle.

(click on the thumbnail for the bigger picture.)
<img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/car%20seats//th_rdadianmarch07015.jpg" border="0"/>
 

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