2011 Honda Odyssey Carseat Q&A

[rosefall]

If you don't mind having each seat outboard, you can remove the center seat for an aisle, too.

I hope to avoid that if at all possible. One of the main reasons we went with the Odyssey was so we should be able to fit 2 convertibles RF, center and outboard so we can access the third row without anyone having to crawl under a RF car seat.

 

[rosefall]

I think the two TFs will work. The one I have fits easily in the center seat with room for the outboard seat to go down (though it does rub in the process). It would be tight if the seats were exactly next to each other, but I think if I put the vehicle seats at slightly different depths, it will work great.

 

[rosefall]

I just wanted to come back and let you know that the True Fit installs well in all second row seats and with a True Fit in the center and a True Fit Premier outboard, the other outboard seat will fold down for third row access, even with all seats the same depth. I imagine the seats could also be reversed, since they seem to have the same shell.

 

[geekmom]

This is a great thread!

We are currently driving an 05 Quest and looking at upgrading to an '11 Odyssey. My older two ride in Boulevards right now. Would it be possible to seat two FF Boulevards and a Chicco Keyfit22 across the second row? What about if I added a Frontier into the mix? I suppose I could haul all three seats to the dealer to play if they would let me...

 

[SafeDad]

I don't have a Keyfit or older Boulevard on hand. It sounds like it should be relatively easy, especially if the rear-facing infant seat is in the middle.

I could do a Frontier 85, Marathon 70 and an infant seat like a SnugRide 30 if that would be close enough to help?

 

[geekmom]

This would really only be for travel. And it does seem like it would work, especially after seeing your video above with the RF seat in the middle.

I am so sorely temped by the Odyssey, especially after having to climb over children/seats/etc at 37 weeks pregnant to help my 4 yo buckle her Blvd in the center back of the Quest. Sigh. I think we are headed back to car payment land!

 

[bnsnyde]

In the captain's chair, behind passenger, would this van have loosening problems with Superlatch of a RF XTSL? I am probably going to put an XTSL there.
Then the big question, is a seatbelt install RF there doable and secure? Easy enough?

I have no problem with SL on my FF XTSL in the back (works great, super easy). But I guess I'm trying to avoid using SL RF if I can help it, to be safe.

 

[SafeDad]

I will check the Radian XTSL there this week.

 

[bnsnyde]

Thanks so much! This will be my first real RF Radian install (though FF I feel I'm an expert now!) and I really want to do it right.

So, if you think seatbelt install there (second row captain's chair) isn't tight enough or easy enough, then I'd use SL but only if it's compatible with no loosening. (Initial incompatibility, etc.) I realize you can't test longterm loosening.
If nothing works then my daughter can just go FF and I'll quit worrying about it. Shortly, she'll only fit RF in the XTSL anyway.

 

[SafeDad]

I don't have a child to test RF long term for any potential loosening, but I will install it both ways and see if it is secure initially at least.

 

[SafeDad]

I think this video should answer some questions about the Radian and 3-across. I found the lap/shoulder install of the Radian to be mediocre rear-facing in the captain's chair. There was more side-to-side motion than I would like, but it could probably be installed acceptably with effort. The main issue is that it just takes up a lot of room!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-KxRZ9bfas"]YouTube - ‪2011 Honda Odyssey with Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL and 3-Across‬‏[/ame]

 

[mom2011]

Re: 2011 Honda Odyssey Caseat Q&A

Glad I found this! I am becoming an expert on this van.

I've gotten some feedback before, though limited as the vehicle is new. I am wondering what's best for baby when he outgrows bucket (And I plan to ERF). The limitation? It must fit on that 8th seat RF and FF with no issues AND outboard middle row (which should be easy). He could end up in either of these locations. Beside him will be the Advocate with side wings, either RF or FF. So even on wide mode space is an issue. I will use latch RF but for FF I will have to do seatbelt as child will likely be 40 lbs.

I'd LIKE to go with a Boulevard. Maybe Marathon? But my big thing is head protection. In the future when baby is FF I plan to stick a Radian in the 8th seat as it's narrow and easy to climb into. The big question...does a seatbelt install work there? I am thinking no but I have no idea. I wouldn't really want to trust SL if I had that anyway.

I've got a Radian FF Radian seatbelt install outboard 3rd row. Did you get a solid install? Whew! I did the recline mode, by the way.
I'm going to put the Frontier 85 there (longbelt) eventually.

The kids are growing so fast I have to keep up with our seating arrangements, etc

Did you find something to fit RF beside the RF Advocate CS 70? I'm looking to do the same, when my 6 month old will soon outgrow the infant seat. I already have a second (older model) Advocate from our other car, but I am guessing that will not fit.

 

[BrookeSLP]

I wish I could just FIND a '11 Odyssey. There are not any touring models within 100 miles of me. Thanks for the info Darren!

 

[tl01]

I wish I could just FIND a '11 Odyssey. There are not any touring models within 100 miles of me. Thanks for the info Darren!

They are really hard to come by in my area. Some people have had luck looking really far away and those areas are willing to deal more. I think in the north east they had a better supply.

In my area they are sticking with MSRP for Touring and Touring Elite if they even have any. When I bought mine, I called at least 40 dealerships working on pricing.

 

[SafeDad]

Even the EX model is quite nicely appointed for 2011 and includes the 8th seat. It's also considerably less expensive!

 

[bnsnyde]

We got the most basic model that included the 8th seat. I didn't care about any features except safety and capacity, and ours has all the safety features. Would have liked the blind spot tool for what that's worth, but I didn't want any DVD, etc. My $7 mirrors I added seem to do wonders for the blind spots, too. They help a lot, as I went from a car driver to a van driver overnight.

But I wanted to change my license plate to carseat and I see that's taken in my state!

 

[SafeDad]

But I wanted to change my license plate to carseat and I see that's taken in my state!

;-) You are about 2 months too late!

 

[acoro]

Off topic but since PP mentioned, am I the only one who feels these blind spot alarms, crash avoidance sensors etc are contributing to even more careless drivers? I understand their value, don't get me wrong but I see so many distracted & careless people behind the wheel that it makes me wonder if having vehicles equipped with such things will just make an already bad driver worse?

 

[tl01]

Off topic but since PP mentioned, am I the only one who feels these blind spot alarms, crash avoidance sensors etc are contributing to even more careless drivers? I understand their value, don't get me wrong but I see so many distracted & careless people behind the wheel that it makes me wonder if having vehicles equipped with such things will just make an already bad driver worse?

In the cars where I have seen them, they are not intrusive at all. They are located in postition where you eyes go as you check for mirrors etc. If someone is going to be lazy and not check their mirrors but will use the system instead I'd say that's an improvement. Sure the system isn't perfect but it does a pretty good job IMHO. Certainly makes me feel a little better since I'm usually driving on not enough sleep (DS2 is still up a lot at night), DS1's seat blocks my view when I turn my head, and DS2 is often screaming since he hates the car. I'll take any last bit of info I can get.

 

[RhondaD]

I've become carseat obsessed lately so I wanted to contribute and ask a questions now. We have a 2011 Odyssey EX-L, 2nd row seats in wide mode and two sweet boys. I HAD the greatest fit in 2nd row (5 yo son in FF Nautilus harnessed in 8th seat) + 6 month old in Keyfit 22 RF behind driver-I have good install photos if you want me to post. I'm about to switch KF for the RF Roudabout we have from '07.)

Now my 5 yr old (43 lbs, 44 inches) absolutely hates being harnessed after a recent long drive so we've just bought a backless turbo booster since it's narrower for the 8th seat, he's mature, never sleeps anymore- so far so good but I'm keeping a close watch. I prefer to have him in the middle since it's safer FF. After placing him in it, I noticed how much narrower that 8th seat is in the back compared to the front and it hangs off the sides about 3/4 inch each side near the back. Is that ok? I read the whole manual and didn't see anything about side hang in the backless booster (I know the Nautilus booster mode has to be on the seat 100%- but 80% was fine in harnessed mode, but this one does not say for the backless booster). It's also a lot harder for him to buckle the seat belt in this center jump seat since the belt latch part is a bit deeper. What to do? He's about to start kindergarten with the drive up drop off (which I've never experienced) and being faster in and out was a plus- but maybe not so. Thanks for the help!