Oh... my... goodness. Best install experience ever.

I was so excited about this when I got home, I meant to post about it right that second but alas, got distracted by children. lol

I went to my sitter's house tonight to help her install car seats in her FIL's minivan.

OMfreakingG it was the most incredible car seat experience I've ever had. They just... SLIPPED in!

Thanks to the help of a fellos CS.orger with a LATCH manual I was able to find the tethers easily. There were automatic locking retractors that actually worked and were tight... there was enough room for ALL the seats I was installing (three! ) and the best part?

I broke my rib from coughing yesterday (I have pneumonia...again, sigh) but I was able to install a convertible seat (that darned famous Regal Ride ) my SS1 and threw the booster into position in less than 20 minutes and with NO PAIN. I couldn't open the doors of the minivan, but I could get amazing tight installs with seatbelts of two seats in no time flat.

Three things I've learned...

1. Lockoffs should be on every seat. (I'm so happy to see that they are turning up on more and more new seats).

2. There is such thing as a good and a bad automatic locking retractor seatbelt (the Subaru I have been wrestling has BAD, loose ones)

3. (if any friends from TBW are reading they will totally tease me for this)

...I finally understand why people like minivans. :bag:

They're DESIGNED to carry children! Amazing! I didn't think it COULD be that easy!

FWIW it's a 2002 Toyota Sienna. Not to my taste at all, big and cumbersome and IMO a big hard to get around all the armrests and stuff, but man oh man... talk about a carseat dream world. Lol

Not all carseat are easy to install in Seinna's. LOL.
I experienced that yesterday.... I installed 2 Apexs a SS1 and Intera rf for Johnathon's teacher. Phew was that tough.

Glad you had such a great experience.

Heh thanks. I figured looking around in there that any more than 2 FFing tethered seats could get to be a bit much, and I was very pleased to have the SS1 (didn't even think about the RFing Radian in there).

I was just so taken aback because I have never, not once, spent less than an hour installing seats, and I've never NOT had to puzzle them together in a teeny back seat and fuss with locking clips and all the rest. What a difference a big vehicle made compared to the tiny cars I'm used to, if only just for the ease of movement for me... I was able to stand up on my SS1 base! :shock: