Lesser of Two Evils

scoutingbear

New member
Which would you prefer to see...a carseat not installed tightly enough or the use of a mighty tight to get a rock solid install? A good friend of mine is using the mighty tight since she claims she can't get the seats tight without it. She won't let me try to reinstall the seats with the seat belt (even though I have learned all sorts of wonderful tips here). Her twins are 4 years in the older style evenflow triumph (not the one to 50 pounds or non-rethreading) and are between 32-35 pounds and are FF. The car is an older sedan, no LATCH and no tethers...and I doubt she would consider retrofitting tether anchors into the car.
 
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tanyaandallie

Senior Community Member
There are often cases where you just cannot say that one situation is better or safer than the other. A Mighty Tight can cause problems with the seat belt. A loose install is obviously not safe either.

In this situation I don't believe you should have to choose which is safer. A Mighty Tight is not necessary to get a good install. Most parents just need to be taught how to get their seats installed correctly. Rather than tell her what is safer, why not encourage her to have her seat checked or try and help her get a good install.
 

bensmom

Admin - CPS Technician
How tight is she able to get them without the MT? It is acceptable for seats to move up to 1 inch. They don't need to be rock solid.

I agree though, she probably just needs to be taught some tricks for getting a tighter install.
 

BW1426

Well-known member
Did you tell her that the mighty-tite can do unseen damage to her seatbelts and can cause them to fail/tear in an accident?
 

crunchierthanthou

New member
it's common for the older Triumph to be outgrown by height by age 4. it might be that their current seats aren't safe at all- regardless of the install method.
 

scoutingbear

New member
Her kids were preemies. They are still below the top slots (I checked when I helped her buckle them in the other day) :) I have given her numbers to techs in her area (and their CHP office does it too...)
 

azgirl71

CPST Instructor
In this situation there is not a safe option when those are the only 2 options :(. If she has used the Mighty Tight for awhile her setbelts are likey destoyed.

If I had to guess i would say she has a older vehicle that does not have locking latchplates or retactors.......OR she does not even know her seatbelts lock in some way.

I would really encourage her to loose the mighty tites, but as I said before her belts mat be destroyed and will need replaced now.
 

scoutingbear

New member
Not sure about the locking plates. Is there any "research" on the use of mighty tights destroying the seatbelt? (and why is it that the same manufacturer of the Radian that I love so much also makes those silly things?)
 

azgirl71

CPST Instructor
I do not know if there is anything in writing anywehre. Sunshine kids will tell you it is fine and it has been tested. However, there are no standards for testing products such as this so we do not know what has been done to test the product.

I do not know if it will fail in a crash. I can tell you I have seen a seatbelt that has been destroyed after someone used a mighty tite on it. The webbing gets all stretched out and the seatbelt id no longer safe to use. Seatbelts are not cheap to replace either.

Do you know whta year the vehicle is?
 

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