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Finding a Good Rear-Facing Tether Point for Honda Odyssey's 2005-2010(please see below for tethering in the newly remodeled 2011)
This information only pertains to carseats that allow tethering while rear-facing. Check your carseat manual to see if your restraint allows this before proceeding. Honda has supplied anchor locations for tethering for forward-facing, but not for rear-facing. Therefore, you must find an adequate place to tether your rear-facing seat. Below you will find step by step instructions and photos on some acceptable rear-facing tethering points in the Honda Odyssey (2005-newer).
There are two rear-facing methods for tethering. One is called the "Swedish Method", in which the carseat is tethered toward the front of the vehicle eliminating rearward rotation during rebound or rear impact. The other method is called "Australian Method" in which the carseat is tethered toward the rear of the vehicle. In that method you would use your Odyssey's preinstalled tethering point on the back of the seat or cargo area (for third row). Of the two methods the Swedish Method is most preferred. I will be demonstrating the Swedish Tethering Method on a 2005 Honda Odyssey EX-L.
On all models of the Odyssey you have the option to slide the second row Passenger Captains chair to the middle position (some models may require removal of "Stowable 2nd Row PlusOne(TM) Seat ", or "Center Console" first). A child in this seat would be positioned very safely because they would be in the middle of the van, therefore better protected in the event of a side-impact crash.
The following photo shows a Britax Marathon tethered rear-facing to the leg of the foldable front tray table between the driver and passenger seats. This is acceptable because the tray table is not connected to the front passenger's seat but instead is bolted down separately to the floor of the vehicle. This method will work for a carseat installed on the passenger side Captain's chair in the middle position (as stated above) or in the outboard passenger side position. This method is NOT acceptable for a carseat installed in the Driver's side captain's chair.
First, lift the tray table to locate the "hole" in which the d-ring extender strap will be threaded through. It also may be easier to go ahead and slide the front passenger captain's chair forward to allow easier access to the tray table.
Then thread the soft end of the extender strap through the hole. This will take some patience and meticulously placed fingers to thread. Then thread the D-ring through the end as shown in photos. The actual piece of plastic covered metal that the extender strap wraps around is about 2-3 inches long and about 1/2 inch wide.
Finally, you can go ahead and clip the Tether Strap (from your carseat) to the D-ring and remove the slack. The tether must be tight, but not extremely tight like your seatbelt or LATCH install. You can roll, or fold up the excess slack and place in the pocket (Britax Models) located on the back of the seat. Britax promotes what is called "Bracing". The front Driver and Passenger's seats may be reclined or adjusted rearward so the carseat braces against them. This will essentially give you the benefits of the "Australian Method" of tethering by limiting the downward rotation of the carseat during a frontal crash.
And this picture shows it tethered to the front driver's seat. You will use this tethering point for a car seat in the second row behind the driver only. Wrap around the plastic under the seat. You will feel a bar back behind the plastic as well. Just wrap on around that.
*Note these instructions and photos illustrate an install with second row captains chairs in outboard positions
There are three acceptable locations to tether rear-facing in the third row of the Odyssey.
--Middle Position--
In these photos you will see under the "Eighth Seat" is a black bar attached to the floor of the vehicle. Slide the extender strap under the bar and thread the D-ring.
This photo shows a Britax Marathon correctly installed rear-facing using LATCH, and Tether with D-ring extender strap in the middle third row position.
--Driver's Side Outboard Position--
In the photo you will see that the outboard driver's side seat is connected to a black bar. Slide the extender strap under the bar and thread the D-ring as shown. This maybe a little difficult, but it can be done with some patience.
--Passenger Side Outboard Position--
There is a black bar attached to the vehicle's floor underneath the passenger side second row captains chair. Slide the extender strap under the bar and thread the d-ring as shown.
Finding a Good Rear-Facing Tether Point for a Honda Odyssey 2011
This video shows how to tether in a 2011 year model. This only demonstrates tethering on the front passenger seat. Please use caution when removing the large plastic piece. You may also try taking your Odyssey to your local Honda Dealership and see if a service technician can remove it for you.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvz3tHFq0xI&feature=player_embedded#"]YouTube - CarseatBlog.com: Rear-facing tethering in 2011 Honda Odyssey[/ame]
This information only pertains to carseats that allow tethering while rear-facing. Check your carseat manual to see if your restraint allows this before proceeding. Honda has supplied anchor locations for tethering for forward-facing, but not for rear-facing. Therefore, you must find an adequate place to tether your rear-facing seat. Below you will find step by step instructions and photos on some acceptable rear-facing tethering points in the Honda Odyssey (2005-newer).
There are two rear-facing methods for tethering. One is called the "Swedish Method", in which the carseat is tethered toward the front of the vehicle eliminating rearward rotation during rebound or rear impact. The other method is called "Australian Method" in which the carseat is tethered toward the rear of the vehicle. In that method you would use your Odyssey's preinstalled tethering point on the back of the seat or cargo area (for third row). Of the two methods the Swedish Method is most preferred. I will be demonstrating the Swedish Tethering Method on a 2005 Honda Odyssey EX-L.
**Tethering Rear-facing Carseats in Second Row**
On all models of the Odyssey you have the option to slide the second row Passenger Captains chair to the middle position (some models may require removal of "Stowable 2nd Row PlusOne(TM) Seat ", or "Center Console" first). A child in this seat would be positioned very safely because they would be in the middle of the van, therefore better protected in the event of a side-impact crash.
The following photo shows a Britax Marathon tethered rear-facing to the leg of the foldable front tray table between the driver and passenger seats. This is acceptable because the tray table is not connected to the front passenger's seat but instead is bolted down separately to the floor of the vehicle. This method will work for a carseat installed on the passenger side Captain's chair in the middle position (as stated above) or in the outboard passenger side position. This method is NOT acceptable for a carseat installed in the Driver's side captain's chair.
First, lift the tray table to locate the "hole" in which the d-ring extender strap will be threaded through. It also may be easier to go ahead and slide the front passenger captain's chair forward to allow easier access to the tray table.
Then thread the soft end of the extender strap through the hole. This will take some patience and meticulously placed fingers to thread. Then thread the D-ring through the end as shown in photos. The actual piece of plastic covered metal that the extender strap wraps around is about 2-3 inches long and about 1/2 inch wide.
Finally, you can go ahead and clip the Tether Strap (from your carseat) to the D-ring and remove the slack. The tether must be tight, but not extremely tight like your seatbelt or LATCH install. You can roll, or fold up the excess slack and place in the pocket (Britax Models) located on the back of the seat. Britax promotes what is called "Bracing". The front Driver and Passenger's seats may be reclined or adjusted rearward so the carseat braces against them. This will essentially give you the benefits of the "Australian Method" of tethering by limiting the downward rotation of the carseat during a frontal crash.
And this picture shows it tethered to the front driver's seat. You will use this tethering point for a car seat in the second row behind the driver only. Wrap around the plastic under the seat. You will feel a bar back behind the plastic as well. Just wrap on around that.
**Tethering Rear-facing Carseats in the Third Row**
*Note these instructions and photos illustrate an install with second row captains chairs in outboard positions
There are three acceptable locations to tether rear-facing in the third row of the Odyssey.
--Middle Position--
In these photos you will see under the "Eighth Seat" is a black bar attached to the floor of the vehicle. Slide the extender strap under the bar and thread the D-ring.
This photo shows a Britax Marathon correctly installed rear-facing using LATCH, and Tether with D-ring extender strap in the middle third row position.
--Driver's Side Outboard Position--
In the photo you will see that the outboard driver's side seat is connected to a black bar. Slide the extender strap under the bar and thread the D-ring as shown. This maybe a little difficult, but it can be done with some patience.
--Passenger Side Outboard Position--
There is a black bar attached to the vehicle's floor underneath the passenger side second row captains chair. Slide the extender strap under the bar and thread the d-ring as shown.
Finding a Good Rear-Facing Tether Point for a Honda Odyssey 2011
This video shows how to tether in a 2011 year model. This only demonstrates tethering on the front passenger seat. Please use caution when removing the large plastic piece. You may also try taking your Odyssey to your local Honda Dealership and see if a service technician can remove it for you.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvz3tHFq0xI&feature=player_embedded#"]YouTube - CarseatBlog.com: Rear-facing tethering in 2011 Honda Odyssey[/ame]
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