Radian and Ease of Use??

My DS2 currently rides in a Britax Advocate. I really like the seat, but he is having issues overheating in it. We temporarily have him FF in it, as he was getting so overheated he was getting sick and then choking which is hard to deal with driving in LA traffic. I cant just pull to the side of a freeway. This only happens in my car, a Dodge Grand Caravan. We've tried adjusting the captains chair, air vents, etc, but to no avail. (he has issues with his temperature in general, not just in the carseat, but so far all the tests the dr has run have come back normal). Even FF he is still getting pretty warm, but is no longer getting sick.

He is 2, but small, so I'd really like for him to be RF again. I'm thinking that maybe a more "open" carseat would help him not overheat as much. That has lead me to look at the Radian. My concerns are how well would it install in a Dodge Grand Caravan captains chair and how difficult is it to use?? It would not be moved to other vehicles, nor do we fly, so pretty much once it is installed it will stay there. I would primarily be the one putting him and out of the seat, but on occasion if my mom is visiting us, she may be driving him around in my car.

Or if the Radian isn't the answer, I'm open to other suggestions. We live in So Cali, and it is warm year round, so waiting it out until winter isn't really an option either.

Thanks!

It might help to be in a more "open" seat such as the Radian.

Some people have found "The Noggle" to be helpful, as well.

I have a Town and Country, so a sister vehicle to your Grand Caravan. The Radian is a dream to install in those captain's chairs! I know the Radian has issues with overreclining in a lot of vehicles - not this van! It;s like the Radian was made for this seat.

I'd get him the one with out head wings. If he get warm easily, more stuff around his face might not fell good.

Also...does Diono still make a mesh cover? I had the 80sl a couple yrs ago, in grey mesh. It really help keep my DS cooler.

We didn't have air conditioning in our car for a long time, and we live in the deep South, so super hot. DD RF'ed in a Radian and was always comfortable... didn't sweat in the seat, didn't complain about being hot! She got plenty of airflow from the windows thanks to the open sides of the Radian.

I also find it easy to use. There's a couple quirks that take getting used to. The only thing I don't like about the seat is the headwings. They've given me nothing but trouble. If I could go back, I'd definitely get one without wings. Although DD likes them.. she rests her head on them.

Both of my older kids rf'd in radians in our 2008 dodge grand caravan. So easy to install in the captain's chairs. I loved my radians.

Thanks! We will go look at them this weekend.