Frontier 85 or Radian 65

[my3sweeties]

My son is at 65lbs so I'd like to get a Frontier 85 for him, but is it much wider? Looks like 2 inches wider if I'm reading the specs correctly? I have a MA, RA and Parkway 3 across and I don't know if I can squeeze 2 more inches in there. I guess I could put DD from the MA to RA and then I'd have: RA, PW, Frontier, if the Frontier is about the same size at the MA.

TIA.

DD 10 PW, Turbobooster
DS 8 RA65, Regent
DD 4 MA, MA

 

[wendytthomas]

Is your DS a typical eight year old? If so, maybe Parkway, Radian, Parkway would be your best bet.

The Frontier is about 19-20" wide all around. The Radian is 17" wide at the shoulders and 14" wide at the base. So a HUGE difference.

Wendy

 

[cryswilkins]

The Frontier 85 is much wider and more comfortable for bigger kids than the Radian.

 

[my3sweeties]

Wendy, that is a big difference. You know you're not helping me find a reason to buy a Frontier, right?

 

[my3sweeties]

I justified buying the Frontier 85.... here's how I did it. I'll give one of the MAs to my parents for when my nephew visits (1 yr old). I'm going to try for a PW, RA, Frontier in the back of DH's car. It says the MA is 19 inches so if I replace that with the Frontier that's 19 inches, it should work --- I hope. DD can move into Radian and DS (65lbs) can move into Frontier.

Is 11 car seats in 10 years ridiculous?

 

[my3sweeties]

Opps, 14 car seats in 10 years!

 

[joolsplus3]

Frontier fits nicely right next to/under the Marathon side wings, so as a harnessed seat it would fit.... as a booster, I don't think anyone could get it buckled, though. Here's one next to a Roundabout in my Escape... http://picasaweb.google.com/joolstag/Frontier#

Oops, posted this before I saw you ordered it, but hey, it's still helpful, maybe?
14 in 10 years? Puhlease, that's nothin' (says me, who's had, er, pushing 6 dozen in 13 years )

 

[my3sweeties]

Julie, that is helpful - it makes me miss my Roundabout in Aloha print though! You make a good point - the Roundabout and MA sit up high which enables the Frontier to fit. If I pull out the MA, I might not get the Frontier to fit next to the Radian 65 but I'll give it a try. Hey, if it doesn't fit, I'll put the Frontier in my Ody for my 10 year old - I think it will fit her - and move her booster to DH's Edge for DS. Of course my van will now be incredibly safe with all kids in 5pt harness while DHs car (which we use the most) will have 2 kids in boosters.

 

[carseatcoach]

If it's your almost-10yo and 8yo in properly used boosters, there's nothing about that.

There's no reason to believe that properly used boosters are less safe than harnessed seats -- child passenger safety technicians and advocates have researched long and hard and there is no evidence that children who can use boosters properly are less safe in boosters than in harnessed seats.

 

[my3sweeties]

Chickabiddy - Thank you! That makes me feel better!

 

[my3sweeties]

Now I'm totally confused! Should I just cancel my Frontier and get DS a PW or Monterey if a booster is just as safe as 5pt harness???????

 

[carseatcoach]

There's no evidence that a harness is less safe either, so if it's what you want, keep it. I personally would not buy a harnessed seat for a typically developing 8yo or 10yo.

 

[wendytthomas]

I wouldn't buy a harness either. I'd get another Parkway if it fits. Otherwise, another booster seat.

Wendy