Question Front seat of a pickup question

[erynn]

We're borrowing a vehicle from my patents right now because both of ours are in need of major repairs we can't afford.
Unfortunately the only one they'll lend us is the little pickup truck that doesn't really fit our family not the crossover where everyone can be safe.
So my 2 1/2 year old has been rear facing in the passenger seat with the airbag turned off and my husband has been sitting in the jumpseat on the driver's side (my parents insist we should be putting the baby in the jumpseat, that it's perfectly safe my nephew had his carseat there all the time *shudder*).
We have to spend 8-10 hours on the highway tomorrow going to Vancouver and back and I'm just not sure what to do. There is no good configuration. In an accident I'm certain my husband would die in the jumpseat. So we're considering for this one trip putting the carseat front facing in the middle. But I don't know I'd that's safe, what about airbags? Presumably it'll fit because there are anchors, but if feels wrong to have her front facing, she's only 30 months. Hell it feels wrong to have her in the truck period.

I would really love some advice.

 

[smackeen]

What about you or DH sitting in the middle seat and keeping dd rf?

 

[erynn]

What about you or DH sitting in the middle seat and keeping dd rf?

Not enough room, tried that. We're not even sure there'll be enough room for three people with her in the middle, haven't tried the seat there yet.

 

[Pixelated]

Is there a manual for the truck? It may not allow car seats in the centre. Do the seats slide back independently? My concern would be having a forward-facing seat in the deployment zone of the driver's airbag. Chances are the centre seat is a lap belt only. I'm sorry I don't have any good suggestions. I assume you all have to go on this trip, and that you can't borrow the bigger vehicle for just this trip. I hope you find a solution.

 

[LittlePeanut]

Can you post the make/model/year of the vehicle? Also, what seat is your child in? I assume renting for this trip is not an option either.

 

[erynn]

It's a ford ranger, not sure the year. Probably About 10 years old and a radian carseat. The front bench slides in two parts. There might be a manual in the glove box.

 

[LittlePeanut]

If it's an '03-10 and has a bench seat, then there are tether anchors in both front passenger seating locations. Personally, I'd still opt for getting her in RF and making it work. Have you tried installing it using the seat belt instead of the UAS hooks? Often that will gain you valuable inches so you can fit 3 across. You can push the child seat as close to the door as possible and hopefully provide enough room for your husband to sit comfortably.

 

[erynn]

There are only anchors behind the middle position, the passenger side has to be seat belt, rear facing in the middle I'm certain she'd be at risk from driver's airbag.
Husband is home now, will go see if the manual is inthere.

 

[bubbaray]

Without knowing what your vehicle manual says, I personally would put the child FFg in the outboard position and your DH center or in a jump seat.

Unless the vehicle manual expressly allows it, I would not put a child in the jump seat. I also would not put a child RFg center front or outboard front uness you had a key to turn off the airbags. That leaves FFg, either outboard front or center front. I would not put a child center front unless the vehicle manual expressly allowed it. Which leaves the only remaining position, outboard front.

The older Rangers had craptastic crash test ratings, so no one is going to fare well in a crash. I think you have to make your seating decisions by the process of elimination. The only viable one IMO is FFg outboard front. Where your DH goes is pretty much his choice.

ETA: to clarify, I would not rely on a "button" or "light" to turn off the airbag unless the vehicle manual specifically says that that for sure makes it safe for a RFg child restraint in the front. I don't know of any vehicle manuals that state that. Unless it is a key off (usually only in regular cab trucks), I would never put a RFg child restraint there. JMHO

ETA#2: the whole FFg without a TA (if there is no TA for outboard front) is a parental decision. Yes, it is not legal to use a FFg harnessed seat without tethering it. HOWEVER, in this situation, there is NO good choice. The RN fared well in US testing without using a TA, so if I was personally going to use a FFg harnessed seat without tethering, the RN would be my first choice. I don't envy OP's choices. I'd actually reconsider the trip if it were me. DH and his friend hit an elk in his friends Ranger. Not good.

 

[LittlePeanut]

I believe the Ranger in question DOES have a key to turn off the airbag. Otherwise, yeah, RF is NOT an option.

 

[erynn]

No manual. Crap.

She rear faces passenger side, airbag off. But we can only turn off passenger air bag.
There is a forward facing tether for the middle seat only. Which makes it seem like someone somewhere thought that was a safe option.

I would never, ever put a carseat in the jumpseat even if there was a manual saying it was okay. Seriously I don't even get how those are legal

 

[erynn]

Oh and yes we use a key to turn off the airbag.
I hate this truck, while I appreciate their willingness to lend it to us while we're totally financially screwed it would be nice if the two of them used this thing and the three of us were able to borrow the freestyle.

 

[erynn]

HAVE to take the trip to see a specialist in Vancouver.

 

[bubbaray]

Who is seeing the specialist? You or the child? Because if it is NOT the child, I would leave the child with the people who are loaning you the truck (or another trusted person). OR, you take the trip yourself and your DH stays home with the child.

 

[jacqui276]

With the car seat installed with a seat belt RFing in the passenger seat as close to the door as possible, is your DH able to squeeze in the middle?
If the middle is just a lap belt, I would probably try to put the car seat in the middle FFing, top tethered and move the seat back as far as you can so that there is a greater distance between your daughter and the drivers side airbag.

Otherwise can just one of you go with your daughter to the appointment (assuming its for her) and have her RFing outboard with the airbag turned off like you have been doing?

 

[erynn]

I think I'm going to end up leaving them both at home.
The appointment is for me, it's just that as ridiculous of a reason as this is I've been going on four hours sleep a night if I'm lucky for months , I'm pregnant and nursing and just so beyond tired I'm not sure I can make the whole drive and not fall asleep without him there to keep me company. There's no one to leave her with here and I can't stay away overnight.
But I think leaving her home with daddy and just hoping for the best on the drive is going to be the safest option.

 

[LittlePeanut]

I think you're right. It seems the lesser of all the evils. None are great options but this one keeps at least 2 people out of the equation. Is another adult able to join you for the journey to keep you company?

 

[bubbaray]

Given what you've posted since my earlier posts, I would see if the GPs or other trusted people could look after your child and then your DH can come with you on the trip.

I'm guessing that you are coming to Vancouver from the Okanagan area? (8-10 hrs driving round trip)? That means either the Coke or Hwy 3, neither of which I'd really want to be driving by myself while tired, PG (sick?) and at the start of winter -- in a vehicle that isn't mine, I'm not used to driving and I'm not sure about the maintenance (winter tires?).

Have you considered staying overnight after your appt? Because if your appt is say, around noon or early afternoon and *then* you drive home, you could still get stuck in rush hour traffic headed eastbound. It is pretty much rush hour 24/7 eastbound on Hwy 1 now.

If I'm wrong in assuming you live east of Vancouver, maybe you are taking a ferry from the Island? If so, I would sleep on the ferry.

If you do make the trip by yourself, take lots of breaks. Bring along some "hyper" CDs (ie., not calming music) and crack the window. If you feel tired, find a rest area and pull over. Maybe pull out a map tonight and plan where you will take rest breaks. If you are going Hwy 5, rest breaks at the Hope, former toll station, Merritt are what I do. If Hwy 3, Hope, Manning Park Lodge, Princeton are all where I like to take breaks -- but there are lots of places to pull over on Hwy 3 (not so much on Hwy 5).

 

[tiggercat]

There are only anchors behind the middle position, the passenger side has to be seat belt, rear facing in the middle I'm certain she'd be at risk from driver's airbag.
Husband is home now, will go see if the manual is inthere.

There should be a tether anchor in the front passenger seat also, per the latch manual.
I would probably try to maximize everyone's safety. FF in the middle with tether, gives both adults shoulder belts and forward facing vehicle seats. Move the seats back as far as possible to get away from the airbag. Drive carefully, slowly, and take breaks.

Sent from my iPod touch using Car-Seat.Org

 

[tiggercat]

Without knowing what your vehicle manual says, I personally would put the child FFg in the outboard position and your DH center or in a jump seat.

Unless the vehicle manual expressly allows it, I would not put a child in the jump seat. I also would not put a child RFg center front or outboard front uness you had a key to turn off the airbags. That leaves FFg, either outboard front or center front. I would not put a child center front unless the vehicle manual expressly allowed it. Which leaves the only remaining position, outboard front.

The older Rangers had craptastic crash test ratings, so no one is going to fare well in a crash. I think you have to make your seating decisions by the process of elimination. The only viable one IMO is FFg outboard front. Where your DH goes is pretty much his choice.

ETA: to clarify, I would not rely on a "button" or "light" to turn off the airbag unless the vehicle manual specifically says that that for sure makes it safe for a RFg child restraint in the front. I don't know of any vehicle manuals that state that. Unless it is a key off (usually only in regular cab trucks), I would never put a RFg child restraint there. JMHO

ETA#2: the whole FFg without a TA (if there is no TA for outboard front) is a parental decision. Yes, it is not legal to use a FFg harnessed seat without tethering it. HOWEVER, in this situation, there is NO good choice. The RN fared well in US testing without using a TA, so if I was personally going to use a FFg harnessed seat without tethering, the RN would be my first choice. I don't envy OP's choices. I'd actually reconsider the trip if it were me. DH and his friend hit an elk in his friends Ranger. Not good.

Not to pick on you, but using a seat without a TA in Canada is not a parental decision. It is illegal, and dangerous.

Sent from my iPod touch using Car-Seat.Org