Question Need help - 3 across in Volvo

[fenella76]

I just got back from my car seat install appt with the CHP, and the tech took a quick look at my back seat and said from experience he knows it's not gonna fit, and that I should put one of my kids FF in the 3rd row. I currently have 2 evenflo triumph RF (twins are 26lbs) and 1 snugride I am trying to add to the middle or outboard. When I had the triumphs installed in my new car, Volvo XC90, I had a different tech and he said he had not done 3 across, but would try different configerations till it fit. I've seen the 3 across thread on this board and have seen many smaller cars fit 3 across. I called DH almost in tears (the other option the tech gave me was to buy a minivan!), DH said he would try himself this weekend. I would prefer keeping all three kids in the 2nd row and don't want to put my kids FF till they reach the max. Should I look at getting 2 new seats that are narrower, I've heard the radians might fit?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am just so upset that the tech didn't even try, maybe it was too close to his lunch! I also can't believe he would suggest putting them FF already, he did say the recommendation was till they reached the max, but that they were over the legal weight limit!

TIA,
Fenella

 

[ketchupqueen]

Well, you quite possibly can get 3 across, but it's also quite possible that you need different seats to do so. The Evenflo Triumph Advance is one of the widest seats on the market. Where do you live? One of the techs from our board might be more willing to take the time to check out what will and won't work in your car, we all believe in rear-facing to the limits of the seat, and we might know where you can try Radians in person.

Also, it's not a tech's job to put your seats in for you. It's his job to check your installations, teach you proper installation and use, and help you if necessary, but he shouldn't do it for you. I can see why the officer was frustrated if you showed up wanting him to do something that he can see is going to be a lot of work or impossible without trying it yourself first.

 

[Maedze]

He wasn't very professional in how he treated you, but I'll agree with his assesment...the likelihood of getting two Evenflo Triumph Advances AND a Snugride in a 3 across all rear facing is pretty much nil, unfortunately.

Can you share with us your children's ages and sizes and the exact model of your vehicle?

 

[fenella76]

He wasn't very professional in how he treated you, but I'll agree with his assesment...the likelihood of getting two Evenflo Triumph Advances AND a Snugride in a 3 across all rear facing is pretty much nil, unfortunately.

Can you share with us your children's ages and sizes and the exact model of your vehicle?

I have 26 month old twins, about 26lbs each and I have the volvo XC90.
I live just outside of Los Angeles, CA
Thx

 

[ketchupqueen]

What part of L.A.? We have several techs in the area. And I know of at least 2 stores that carry the Radians (there might be one more but I know of 2, one in OC and one in Pasadena.)

 

[fenella76]

I live in Valencia, north of LA.

 

[ketchupqueen]

I'm in Tujunga. You're about an hour or so from me, and an hour or more from Jennie, who is in Orange County. If you want to meet part-way some time, I'm always up for that. The Right Start in Pasadena and Bergstrom's in Anaheim both carry Radians in-store.

 

[fenella76]

Thanks, I will let you know. I am pretty sure DH tried the seats out before we took the payments over for the car from my sister, so I'll have him try over the weekend, and if it doesn't work, at least getting new seats is cheaper than a new car!

 

[ketchupqueen]

Very true! Remember that when you put them in they need to have less than 1 inch of movement when checked at the belt path, and they need to be independently tight-- if you take out the one in the middle, the ones on the sides are still tight, and if you take out the ones on the sides, the one in the middle is still tight.