RF or FF in a PU Truck

valleyfam · Aug 28, 2008

Hi all. Another thread really got me thinking about this. I am huge advocate of ERF and EH. My dd is 16 mo 22lb. Her primary seat is a rf tethered BLVD. Her 2 back up seats are the older style EF Triumphs. They will expire late next year. Anyway one of these seats in installed in our 91 Chev PU's back seat. It is currently rf but as you all know Triumph does not allow rf tether so my question after reading about rf children hitting the back glass of a truck is would you leave her rf or risk ff her in the truck only? She is in the truck on average once maybe twice a month. It is a rare situation when we have to drive it. Sorry to ramble. I just knew I was doing the right thing rf in every vehicle and now I'm questioning the truck situation. I appreciate any advice.

mommyto2angelgirls · Aug 28, 2008

i'm not sure if there are any stats about rf children hitting rear glass in a pickup. i was concerned so i have my dd in dh pickup rf tethered in her ma. it was a concern of mine. but my oldest did ride in his old truck rf in an evenflo triumph 5.

Jeanum · Aug 28, 2008

I would still say RF trumps FF simply because of the overall safety benefits of rear facing.

I know we've seen posts expressing concerns about an untethered RF seat in a pickup truck, but I'm not aware of or have overlooked actual crash data or studies to back up those concerns. I think the worry is more hypothetical in nature. :twocents: If the worry is really eating away at you, you could consider switching your RF tetherable Britax convertible into the pickup on those rare times when your DD rides in the truck.

carseatcoach · Aug 28, 2008

At her age and size, I would not turn her forward-facing.

crunchierthanthou · Aug 28, 2008

Jeanum said:
I would still say RF trumps FF simply because of the overall safety benefits of rear facing. I know we've seen posts expressing concerns about an untethered RF seat in a pickup truck, but I'm not aware of or have overlooked actual crash data or studies to back up those concerns. I think the worry is more hypothetical in nature. :twocents: If the worry is really eating away at you, you could consider switching your RF tetherable Britax convertible into the pickup on those rare times when your DD rides in the truck.

I agree. Rear facing is always safer, rf tether or not. I have been one to express concern about the rear glass. It's my opinion that adding a rf tether would be safEST, but I wouldn't turn a child ff due to the lack of one. I haven't seen any hard data either way on rf rebounding in a PU. There's a tiny blurb on it in the SBS technical encyclopedia, which is where I believe any comments we see on the matter originate.

The restraint models on which the rear-facing tether is offered, however, can accommodate a child up to 33 lb rear facing, and for this usage the limit on rebound or rear-impact motion may be beneficial. Although crash experience indicates that rebound of infant-only restraints in frontal impacts does not cause serious injury, similar movement of a rear-facing restraint can also occur during a severe rear impact or offset rear impact, which can result in serious injury or death if the infant's head hits the rear door pillar of a sedan, the rear window of a pickup, or some other hard surface. As larger and heavier infants are carried rear-facing, the chance of an infant's head hitting a hard part of the vehicle is greater. Tethering a rear-facing convertible CR to the floor can reduce the risk of head and facial injuries in rear and side crashes by reducing head excursion.

valleyfam · Aug 28, 2008

OK so far you guys are following my line of thinking. I didn't share it before as I wanted to get unbiased opinions first.

As I think out the scenarios I figure it will have to be a really severe crash to actually cocoon her seat all the way into the back window and in that event we are all probably in a lot of trouble. My thoughts are most accidents are not going to be that severe and that in any minor to somewhat serious accident her odds are better rf every other time.

I don't mind keeping the discussion open but unless someone has some crash data to show otherwise I'm planning to leave her rf in the Triumph for the occasional trip. Although if I know we are going to have the use truck for any extended trip or more often than normal I'll pull the BLVD and install it.

Thanks everyone for confirming my thoughts. I really love to hear other ideas.

skaterbabs · Aug 28, 2008

While extended RF really hasn't become wide-spread yet, RF under age one is pretty standard and has been for many years. If RF in front of a pickup's rear window was a danger we would know it. :twocents:

RF or FF in a PU Truck

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