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the new SL are supposedly shipping in about 2 weeks, they are available for pre-order now.
Regular XT's and 80's will NOT automatically RF to 45 - they can be retrofitted if you buy a new harness and latch system, but can only be used in cars made after 9/05, and then you might be doing it in contrast to the vehicle manual.
It makes sense to me, if those were the things they changed that enabled them to pass at a higher limit. The harness may be stiffer. The LATCH connectors are supposed to be stronger. I think they are just making you change the whole thing because that's what they changed from one model to the next, and that's how it was tested.
But the Radian's current connectors can hold to at least 48 lbs, so why would that need to change to go to 45 RF? Also, if the harness can hold 80 lbs FF (where the harness really MATTERS), why would it need to be stronger to hold a kid to 45 lbs RF (when the harness really isn't doing the brunt of the work)?
What about for cars without latch? Can the new radians be installed rf with a seat belt up to 45lbs (assuming a good seat belt install)?
I am still lost. There should be no need for the super latch.
None of it makes any sense, which is why I wonder if Russ (or whoever) was talking out of his...seat bight.
This is what I got back from Russ:
"We have discussed this, but at this point we’re not making the 45 lbs RF/ 80 lbs FF with lower anchors retroactive with SuperLATCH.
We would have to require all three systems (harness, tether, lower anchor) be replaced and there’s no way to guarantee this would be done"
So..... it sounds like, no more? That's a bummer. And he really should have figured it out before he started telling people this at ABC...
Ok, I emailed.
I am so lost on the super latch thing. Why is that needed for rear facing to 45 lbs, when your normal latch already goes to 48 lbs? I understand for forward facing, but not rear. this question stems from hearing that The other radians can rear face to 45 lbs, IF we buy a new harness AND super latch.
and the response:
Prior to the introduction of SuperLATCH, we did not mention RF NCAP at high-capacities, or higher capacity FF NCAP testing with LATCH.
In both cases it is because our previous attachment system was not strong enough to handle this.
That is why 45 lbs is ONLY for Radian80SL and XTSL seats < with the new SuperLATCH system.
45 lbs RF is NOT the same loading as 45 lbs FF.
If you are looking at the maximum forces on the attachment system and vehicle anchors, loads at 45 lbs RF are not too different than 65 lbs FF << Remember how a RF installation positions < in an angled/cantilevered fashion.
As well, RF crash puts a very different type of loading / stress on a child car seat frame < wants to pull it ‘open’…Kinda makes you want to make a seat using steel, doesn’t it?
We WANT people to understand 40lbs RF and 45 lbs RF are very big loads for a seat to handle.
And more importantly, there are NO performance requirements for doing so.
So it’s not a question of high-capacity, it’s a question of what performance and safety is offered at a high-capacity.
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