Question seat placement ?

[smartbuyer]

I have decided to turn my 3 yr old around erf and buy a radian xtsl but where I wanted to place it there is not a lower anchor or latch. I have a 2003 chevy astro 8 passenger. I have two latch and anchor on outboard seats on second row and one one back passenger side. I have 4 kids, 15month rf, 3 yr old currently f.f and 6,9 in boosters. My van only has one back sliding door to get all the kids in and out. I guess I could put him erf out board on drivers and 15 rf on the pass. out board. Any other ideas?

 

[Defrost]

I'm not sure how much the design has changed since '97, but I had no trouble with seatbelt installs of the Radian in my van ('97 Astro.)

Here's some pics of my seats & seat belts. Do they still look about the same in your van?

ETA: Actually, I don't think it matters because I think I'd put both RFers in the 2nd row anyway, like you said.

 

[smartbuyer]

They look the same. Do you need to use a locking clip with these kind of buckles?

 

[Maedze]

No, that giant thing on the buckle is called a 'locking latchplate'. You plug the belt in and tighten. The latchplate 'locks' the belt in place.

 

[NannyMom]

I'd but both little ones in the 2nd row. The 15 month old behind the driver like you said.

 

[Defrost]

Well, if you use LATCH you won't need this advice, but just in case you decide to use the seat belt, I just realized that I said I had "no trouble" getting the Radian in my van. I forgot that not everyone knows the same tricks!

I did have to flip the latchplate for forward-facing installs. Otherwise it ends up tilted at the edge of the beltpath and won't stay locked. You just get the seat installed & tight, then unbuckle, flip the latchplate over, and then re-buckle it upside-down.