Question Installing Britax Marathon in 1992 dodge minivan with seat belt?

[Unregistered]

Hi,

We are looking to get an extra car seat for Grandma's 1992 Dodge minivan. There are no latch connector points and the seat belt does not retract! We would like to get a Britax Marathon but only if it will install securely!

I know the Marathon has belt lock offs in the car seat - would the car seat be safely installed using just one lock-off? Two? Lock-offs plus a locking clip? Please help! Ideally they would be installing it in one of the second row passenger seats (the second row has two bucket seats like in current Honda Odysseys).

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ninetales]

Can you clarify what you mean by "the seatbelt does not retract"? Do you mean it doesn't lock? Or that it doesn't go back into the seat at all?

 

[Unregistered]

Sorry- to clarify, the seatbelt does retract but it doesn't lock. I've pulled it all the way out and let it go and it does not lock the way all the other (newer) cars I've installed in before do.

 

[bubbaray]

I think your vehicle might have locking latch plates. If not, just use both (ETA please check your manual to see if you should use one or both) built in lockoffs on your MA. Do not use a locking clip too, just the lockoff(s)

 

[ecj98]

I think your vehicle might have locking latch plates. If not, just use both built in lockoffs on your MA. Do not use a locking clip too, just the lockoffs

Yep, Caravans have locking latchplates. I have no problem getting Dds Marathon installed in my dad's older Caravan.

 

[amyd]

I think your vehicle might have locking latch plates. If not, just use both built in lockoffs on your MA. Do not use a locking clip too, just the lockoffs

Don't the new MAs say to just use the lockoff closest to the buckle?

 

[bubbaray]

Yep, Caravans have locking latchplates. I have no problem getting Dds Marathon installed in my dad's older Caravan.

I'm not sure if a 1992 one will tho

 

[bubbaray]

Don't the new MAs say to just use the lockoff closest to the buckle?

That could be

 

[amyd]

I think the Classics allow/allowed either/both/neither if you can lock another way and the 70s and G3s say just the one closest to the buckle. Either way, OP, check your manual.

 

[Unregistered]

So I talked to my mom and it's actually a 1993 Plymouth Voyager. (Not sure if that makes a difference.) Thanks for all the responses. Can you please explain what locking "latch plates" are?

 

[kidrepair]

We had a 92 Chrysler T&C,we had DD3 originally behind driver in a rf MA,once she was ff we moved her behind passenger so she could be closer to the only sliding door and she used our RN. Both seats installed so easy.The RN went in so easy and tight.

 

[happiness-and-balance]

Don't the new MAs say to just use the lockoff closest to the buckle?

yes

 

[bubbaray]

So I talked to my mom and it's actually a 1993 Plymouth Voyager. (Not sure if that makes a difference.) Thanks for all the responses. Can you please explain what locking "latch plates" are?

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=161343

 

[Unregistered]

Melissa, thanks for that great link re: locking latch plates. I'm going to my mom's today and now I know what to look for. I don't have the car seat yet and when I get it of course I'll be reading the manual carefully. But It seems like if the van has the locking latch plate that's all I should need to install it with the seat belt lock off (or lock offs depending on manual) on the marathon, right?
Thanks everyone!