Preface:
So as many of you already know, one of the disappointing features found in fullsize SUVs (Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon, etc) is often a single top tether in the 3rd row... usually to be shared by the drivers and center seat leaving the passenger side without top tether. Why the car manufactors do this to the SUV they market to large families, I have no idea.
My wife and I, both being adamently against giving into the minivan, recently traded in our Subaru Tribeca on the much larger '09 Chevy Suburban (captains chairs) with the notion of maximum comfort in the SUV platform. We have 3 kids, ages 2,2,5 all in FF carseats. We had been riding the 2yr olds in the 3rd row and the 5 yr old in the middle row as 3-wide did not work well in the Tribeca and had planned on keeping this configuration in the Suburban getting the more spacious captians chairs leading to the easier to access 3rd row. But then discovered the 1 top tether in the 3rd row limitation found in this class of vehicle.
So I went back to consult my car seat manuals. The younger two ride in Recaro ProRides (FF) while the older in Recaro ProSport (5pt harnessed configuration). If I read correctly, the manfactor states only when used with a locking belt is the top tether optional (for LATCH and non-locking, its required). And wouldn't it happen, while the Suburban uses locking shoulder belts in the 2nd row, the 3rd uses a locking plate style belt meaning top tethering is a must.
Background:
Let me preface this with I am by no means an expert in the field nor hold any safety certifications. I do have a fairly extensive automotive hobbiest background and have spent considerable time modifying vehicles in pursuit of my hobby. I have skills in metal work, fabrication, and have built safety systems such as roll cages and 5-pt harnesses for adults previously. I'm not advocating anything in this post, just simply sharing a personal experience... anymore more you take from this is at your own perial.
Now, I've seen the posts warning against sharing anchors as well as those that say using cargo anchors is a death sentence... I've also seen posts pointing people to the E-Z-On mounts as viable alternatives, though this has always sat uncomfortable with me. Though I don't dispute their hardware is rated sufficiently, there is so much variability and vagueness in the mounting location, I fail to see how an E-Z-On bolt/washer sandwiched between some sheet metal is generally any better (though no doubt when attached to a structural location of the vehicle, this product completely lives up to the task)
Solution:
I had a couple of Britax Connector/D-ring straps left over from when we RF'd the girls. We used these to girth hitch around structural members of the 1st row seats and provide a top tether point when they were rear facing since most US cars do not have tether anchors behind the 1st row. I first sat out to find something similar for the Suburban's 3rd row seat that I could lash this to, but alas there was none easily accessed out of the lower rear of the seat.
Then I looked to the structural cleats the removable rear seat attached to. However, realestate was tight and there wasn't sufficent room to girth hitch the bulky webbing to and not intefer with the seat latching. Then what I noticed was the cleat the seat attached to was removable with two substainal bolts. So what decided on, was removing the cleat and passing the eye of the webbing through it before bolting it back down. This would give a lower profile than the girth hitch. Furthurmore, I used some tape to fold over the eyelet of the webbing in half and give an even more minimal profile. Now the wedding could be slid to the side and not interfer whatsoever with the seat latching.
What I'm left with is a tether mount for the passenger side seat that is in almost identical alignment with the factory one on the drivers seat. I've used components all properly rated for safety and the attachment point isn't dependent on sheet metal, but rather a structural element of the car (what holds the seat in place).
.
.
.
So at this point, flame suit on, I'll open it up for comments/critisms. Acceptable solution to providing an additional top tether point to the 3rd row of a Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon or not? Just looking for personal opinions, not a binding certification. Good idea or not? Better to have this configuration than locking-plate style lapbelt only? or unsafe enough you'd change the vehicle or carseat to avoid not needing have multiple top tethers in the 3rd row?
Thanks,
So as many of you already know, one of the disappointing features found in fullsize SUVs (Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon, etc) is often a single top tether in the 3rd row... usually to be shared by the drivers and center seat leaving the passenger side without top tether. Why the car manufactors do this to the SUV they market to large families, I have no idea.
My wife and I, both being adamently against giving into the minivan, recently traded in our Subaru Tribeca on the much larger '09 Chevy Suburban (captains chairs) with the notion of maximum comfort in the SUV platform. We have 3 kids, ages 2,2,5 all in FF carseats. We had been riding the 2yr olds in the 3rd row and the 5 yr old in the middle row as 3-wide did not work well in the Tribeca and had planned on keeping this configuration in the Suburban getting the more spacious captians chairs leading to the easier to access 3rd row. But then discovered the 1 top tether in the 3rd row limitation found in this class of vehicle.
So I went back to consult my car seat manuals. The younger two ride in Recaro ProRides (FF) while the older in Recaro ProSport (5pt harnessed configuration). If I read correctly, the manfactor states only when used with a locking belt is the top tether optional (for LATCH and non-locking, its required). And wouldn't it happen, while the Suburban uses locking shoulder belts in the 2nd row, the 3rd uses a locking plate style belt meaning top tethering is a must.
Background:
Let me preface this with I am by no means an expert in the field nor hold any safety certifications. I do have a fairly extensive automotive hobbiest background and have spent considerable time modifying vehicles in pursuit of my hobby. I have skills in metal work, fabrication, and have built safety systems such as roll cages and 5-pt harnesses for adults previously. I'm not advocating anything in this post, just simply sharing a personal experience... anymore more you take from this is at your own perial.
Now, I've seen the posts warning against sharing anchors as well as those that say using cargo anchors is a death sentence... I've also seen posts pointing people to the E-Z-On mounts as viable alternatives, though this has always sat uncomfortable with me. Though I don't dispute their hardware is rated sufficiently, there is so much variability and vagueness in the mounting location, I fail to see how an E-Z-On bolt/washer sandwiched between some sheet metal is generally any better (though no doubt when attached to a structural location of the vehicle, this product completely lives up to the task)
Solution:
I had a couple of Britax Connector/D-ring straps left over from when we RF'd the girls. We used these to girth hitch around structural members of the 1st row seats and provide a top tether point when they were rear facing since most US cars do not have tether anchors behind the 1st row. I first sat out to find something similar for the Suburban's 3rd row seat that I could lash this to, but alas there was none easily accessed out of the lower rear of the seat.
Then I looked to the structural cleats the removable rear seat attached to. However, realestate was tight and there wasn't sufficent room to girth hitch the bulky webbing to and not intefer with the seat latching. Then what I noticed was the cleat the seat attached to was removable with two substainal bolts. So what decided on, was removing the cleat and passing the eye of the webbing through it before bolting it back down. This would give a lower profile than the girth hitch. Furthurmore, I used some tape to fold over the eyelet of the webbing in half and give an even more minimal profile. Now the wedding could be slid to the side and not interfer whatsoever with the seat latching.
What I'm left with is a tether mount for the passenger side seat that is in almost identical alignment with the factory one on the drivers seat. I've used components all properly rated for safety and the attachment point isn't dependent on sheet metal, but rather a structural element of the car (what holds the seat in place).
.
.
.
So at this point, flame suit on, I'll open it up for comments/critisms. Acceptable solution to providing an additional top tether point to the 3rd row of a Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon or not? Just looking for personal opinions, not a binding certification. Good idea or not? Better to have this configuration than locking-plate style lapbelt only? or unsafe enough you'd change the vehicle or carseat to avoid not needing have multiple top tethers in the 3rd row?
Thanks,