How do I know what type of seatbelts I have? And a question on booster training.

[my2boys]

How do I find out what type of seatbelts we have in our cars?
We have a 2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab and will have (if it ever starts again) a 1997 Ford Explorer.

We are going to be booster training DS1 in the next few months. Does the type of seatbelts we have make any difference - either in training or which seat we buy? Is there anything special I will have to do in either car because of the type of belts?
Our boys are harnessed now so I haven't thought about it before.

I'm pretty sure the Dakota belts lock at the latchplate.
I *think* the Explorer does something at the shoulder - when I tested our FPSVD in it we had to really get in the seat to get the belt back in to lock. A friend of ours said something about it locking every 3/4 inch or so. But I tried it once, in a hurry, in the dark so not sure how good of an install I had (and I can't do it again right now).

Thanks!

 

[tanyaandallie]

If the seat belt locks, it locks at either the latchplate or the retractor. To see if it locks at the retractor pull the shoulder portion of the belt all the way out and then slowly feed it back in. As you feed it back in you would hear a clicking sound and when you pulled back on the belt it would be locked. If it just pulls right back out then it does not lock at the retractor.

How the seatbelt locks really makes no difference on booster use. The only thing you need for a booster is a lap/shoulder belt. Never a lap only belt. If you have a seatbelt that locks at the retractor, you can lock it when you buckle your child in as a reminder to sit properly. I did this with my dd when she was a new booster rider.

 

[April]

Your Dakota most definitely locks at the latchplate. I'm not sure about the Explorer.