Crazy idea: So how long until vehicle manuf'ers make seats with the option of "RFing mode"

heyruthie · Jun 20, 2009

(WARNING: I'm very, very PG, and my brain is a little kooky right now

)

But how long before we can forego this whole FFing, RFing carseat thing--and the seats IN the vehicle ITSELF can swivel to be RFing as a safety feature--since we basically all have heard the adage "We'd all be safer RFing...." (And I don't mean like the old swivel captain's chairs in our 1985 Ford Econoline conversion van!)

I'm talking about a full-tilt re-engineering that allows the seats to have 2 separate "modes" if you will. At least in minivans, it couldn't be that hard to actually test captain's chairs and make them purposely able to be RFed as a safety feature (including a full array of airbags and other restraint features that work in RFing "mode.")

Then, all carseats could be installed "FFing" but the vehicle seat would face the opposite direction....KWIM? It would make installs a lot easier!

Just dreaming.....

ketchupqueen · Jun 20, 2009

Can't the T&C middle seats be used RFing while driving?

bobandjess99 · Jun 20, 2009

ketchupqueen said:
Can't the T&C middle seats be used RFing while driving?

not with a carseat....

wendytthomas · Jun 20, 2009

But they can be used rear facing for older children and adults who are no longer riding in a booster. It would be awesome if the carseats could be installed there forward facing on a rearward facing seat, but they're just not tested to take the forces backwards. I don't know what would go wrong (since they have the entire seat back holding up the carseat back, which supports the child), but it's certainly not for me to say what could happen. Since everyone is against it I have to figure something horrid happens during testing.

Wendy

emandbri · Jun 21, 2009

You can use the backwards seat in the T&C with the intergrated booster.

If someone were to make a van where you can install a car seat in a rear-facing seat I would buy it ASAP and we have always bought used.

ketchupqueen · Jun 21, 2009

bobandjess99 said:
not with a carseat....

Yeah. But I was thinking for adults/older kids.

Jeanum · Jun 21, 2009

emandbri said:
You can use the backwards seat in the T&C with the intergrated booster.

Have you specifically found documentation in the vehicle manual to support that? Not picking on you, just wanting to see the documentation to support it so we have it for future reference as this question pops up from time to time here.

Bookmama and I ogled the built-in booster in an '09 Chrysler T&C minivan at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, but there was no owner's manual present and the labeling on the booster didn't specify, nor was there a product specialist present to answer questions about whether the built-in belt positioning booster was allowed to be used if the Swivel and Go vehicle seat was turned rear facing.

andre149 · Jun 21, 2009

Hypothetically speaking here... because no kids should be crash test dummies... but it would seem that if you had a FF seat installed on a RF vehicle seat and were in an accident the forces would be similar to getting rear-ended at high speeds?? The vehicle seat would seem to take the brunt of the impact, then the car seat could "cradle" the kid.

Although... if you did actually get rear-ended I suppose this would be true in reverse as well, which would be bad.

(I'm sitting at a yard sale with NO people... my mind wanders lol)

Gena · Jun 21, 2009

My concern with being allowed to install a FF carseat on a RF vehicle seat is the mass confusion it would cause the general public. It's hard enough to get some people to understand that the harness goes below the shoulders RF and above the shoulders FF. So what happens when you install the carseat FF and then swivel the vehicle seat to be RF? Certainly the people here would know where the shoulder straps should go, but how many "typical users" would? Wouldn't a lot of kids end up riding backwards with their harnesses at the wrong setting? What kind of injury would this cause in an accident?

Karen · Jun 21, 2009

Gena said:
My concern with being allowed to install a FF carseat on a RF vehicle seat is the mass confusion it would cause the general public. It's hard enough to get some people to understand that the harness goes below the shoulders RF and above the shoulders FF. So what happens when you install the carseat FF and then swivel the vehicle seat to be RF? Certainly the people here would know where the shoulder straps should go, but how many "typical users" would? Wouldn't a lot of kids end up riding backwards with their harnesses at the wrong setting? What kind of injury would this cause in an accident?

This is a good point. People would install an infant bucket on it, and then turn it backward, so that they could "see their kid." If used appropriately it would be fantastic, but I see some serious misuse.

heyruthie · Jun 24, 2009

yup...misuse can happen at any point. but honestly, the current gammut of CRs is also pretty confusing, and we hope that people manage it all. i'm just imagining a day when there was no more RFing install AT ALL. you always installed FFing, and just turned the seat--streamlining things (never happen--I know.) the literature would read something like "until the age of 4, your child's vehcile seat must be turned rear-facing...." since vehicls seats are tested WAY beyond child-type weights, it could really make the process simpler--none of the "if he's over this weight" or "under this height" stuff. If he's 3, he's RFing. If he's 4, he's can be FFing.....KWIM?

As I said before, a girl can dream, right?

emandbri · Jun 24, 2009

Jeanum said:
Have you specifically found documentation in the vehicle manual to support that? Not picking on you, just wanting to see the documentation to support it so we have it for future reference as this question pops up from time to time.....

Weird, I replied days ago and it isn't here. I don't have a T&C but read here that the build in booster could be used in the rear facing seats.

Jeanum · Jun 25, 2009

I think we've had prior discussions pondering whether it's allowable but not seen specific documentation to know either way. :twocents:

Crazy idea: So how long until vehicle manuf'ers make seats with the option of "RFing mode"

heyruthie

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ketchupqueen

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bobandjess99

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wendytthomas

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ketchupqueen

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andre149

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heyruthie

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