final questions on rotation!

Hazelandlucy · Oct 30, 2014

I have a 2014 Odyssey. I can't have a seat touch the passenger seat, but I can on the driver's side.

So what is the safest?

Behind the driver and carseat touching the seat back.

Center seat where carseat can freely rotate downward with nothing stopping it (too much neck force? risk of hitting console?)

Passenger seat with 1/4 inch to stop rotation immediately or 8 + inches to allow either no interference or downward rotation stopped at a later point.

Is downward rotation a big enough concern that I should switch the Foonf to behind the driver to touch and also allow me to european route my Coccoro in the center for easy access (the low side of belt).

Sorry to be so fixated on this. I know I have asked these questions before, but I can't quite get it straight in my head whether hitting the front seats is good to limit rotation - and at what distance - or no impact and maximum rotation happening.

murphydog77 · Oct 30, 2014

Anywhere. Remember that the maximum rotation allowed for carseats is 70* and testing for that number is done on a very soft bench that doesn't resemble the cushioning of today's modern vehicles. OTOH, you do have heavier carseats with higher RF weight limits that could affect the rotation as well. I do think it's something you're overthinking, though. We simply aren't seeing injuries on rf kids in properly installed and properly used carseats.

Also, keep in mind that even if the carseat is installed on the passenger side where the carseat can't touch the front seat, the front seat will be moving in the same direction as the carseat in a crash--they move in tandem.

Hazelandlucy · Oct 31, 2014

That study I linked in the load leg convertible thread made it sound like it was happening in real life and every time when tested at NCAP level so I have totally fixated on it (plus seeing all those load leg infant and convertible seats overseas).

I will try to relax though and stop "researching" worst case scenarios! Especially since the seat I really want doesn't even have rebound control, lol.

safeinthecar · Oct 31, 2014

murphydog77 said:
Anywhere. Remember that the maximum rotation allowed for carseats is 70* and testing for that number is done on a very soft bench that doesn't resemble the cushioning of today's modern vehicles.

Also important to take into account is that the maximum amount of rotation hasn't been changed since the days when seats either had no harness, or a harness only meant to keep a baby from crawling out of the seat. 70* rotation on the test bench is a very conservative holdover number and has very little correlation to how modern seats and cars perform. It's main value is as an indicator that the seat will prevent ejection even with gross harness misuse.

There are many methods for managing crash energy other than rotation. A load leg is just one way.

bnsnyde · Nov 1, 2014

I'd go with the center seat. It's the middle OF the middle of the van. Pretty safe!

We had a RF Advocated there for a while. It was great! It was RF tethered, too. I had to remove some plastic off the van down by the seats to do this, which wasn't a big deal.
Now we have 6 carseats installed (your same van but 2011 year) and we are more limited for choices due to various reasons. I put the 18-month-old outboard since I want her seat to rotate (it's an Orbit Toddler) when I put her in. Saving my back while pregnant).

final questions on rotation!

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