Center install in 2000 Mountaineer?

Long story short, my dd is about to outgrow her MA rf by weight. The center seating position in the 2000 Mountaineer is really narrow, narrower than the footprint of the MA as best I can tell by eyeballing it. So I check my owner's manual to see if they forbid a center install b/c of this. They don't mention it at all, but only give instructions for a lap/shoulder belt install. The outboard positions have l/s belts, but the center has a lap belt only. Is that their way of implicitly forbidding/discouraging a center install, or are they forgetting that some of these even have a lap-only belt? I hate to assume one way or the other. I'd be really disappointed if I had to put dd forward-facing AND outboard!

I have a 2001 Mountaineer and I do not remember reading anythin in the manual stating that you cannot place a CR there. I have installed the MA in both the RFing and FFing positions and both were solid.

Just remember that when you install the MA with a lap belt only, you have to route the belt UNDER the Latch bar. Also with a lap belt only install with a lap belt there is no way to use the lock offs.

You will also want to make sure to use the top tether. My 2001 says that the three closest cargo hooks can be used as Tether anchors. One for each position.

I'm thinking they redesigned the Mountaineer in 2002 (added 3rd row) so ours should be pretty similar depending on trim (mine's AWD). I have had zero luck finding anything even remotely resembling an anchor in my cargo area, so I'm taking it to the dealer so they can either point it out to me, or install a new one.
Is your Mountaineer as much fun at the gas pump as mine these days?

Oh yes, our Mountaineer guzzles like nothing I have ever seen. 14.9 MPG on average....

The tether hooks in out Mountaineer are not actual tether hooks; they are the cargo hooks but the manual stated that they can be used for top tethers for a CR.

Do you have a vehicle manaul? It should be able to tell you in there. Is there a mat in your cargo area? Ours has a mat there and it has slots in it. If you lift the mat you will find the cargo anchors (IE Top Tether Anchors).

2000 was the first year that ALL vehicles were required to have top tether anchors, so I am sure that yours has them... They do not look like the standard tether anchors because they also serve the purpose of being cargo tethers. THey are much larger, at least the diameter of a quarter and sort of D shaped (at least the center one is).

Hope this helps some.

ETA: My sons Bday is in 10/05, he is weighing 32.5 lbs that past couple of days and I have been debating over buying a seat with a 35# Rfing limit or getting him one of the new combo seats... He dislikes FFIng in the MA because his legs get uncomfortable while sleeping. I think he needs something he can fold his legs up in.

I'm glad to hear that I should be able to get a good center install--it's a relief! I crawled back into the cargo area and I don't even see cargo hooks. I'm wondering now if the previous owner had them removed or something--stinking used cars! I think I have a few weeks before I have to try (especially since I'll have to get an anchor installed), so I'm sure I'll be back on with a frantic "What am I doing wrong??" thread.

Here's what the LATCH book says: "The 2000 owner's manual does not identify the closed loop cargo rings behind the rear seat as tether anchors" (which means they are ). For the center you use one of 2 squared O-shaped rings near back of floor. (by the liftgate).

And you really can't find anything that looks like that back there? Like Laurette said, did you see if there's a mat or carpeting covering them?