Question What is the deal with cinching Latch plates?

[MamaChirpy]

I am looking at a 2013 Suburban we may buy. It seems to have the lightweight locking latch plate (cinching latch plate) in the third row. My aunt's 2011 Yukon also has this in her third row. I also saw where the 2014 Dodge/Chrysler vehicles have them now. Why are auto makers going back to these?

They seem scary to me. I have 4 (soon to be 5) kids. We will need car seats for a long time yet. I have looked up how to install a FF harnessed seat with these and I think I can do it. But it just seems like this is less than ideal to have to use cinching latch plates.

How about for booster riders? Any opinions?

 

[ketchupqueen]

They are fine for booster riders.

They are actually usually GREAT for installing car seats most of the time. Just pull tight and go. The only time it's a problem is if they lie at an angle that causes slippage. Then you can try flipping them. If that doesn't hold you just use a locking clip. Of course with more and more seats having lockoffs you run into issues less anyway.

 

[MamaChirpy]

They are fine for booster riders.

They are actually usually GREAT for installing car seats most of the time. Just pull tight and go. The only time it's a problem is if they lie at an angle that causes slippage. Then you can try flipping them. If that doesn't hold you just use a locking clip. Of course with more and more seats having lockoffs you run into issues less anyway.

So you don't actually have to push the plate into position for it to lock? Just pull tight and make sure it locked itself?

And for a booster rider, you just buckle the belt like normal and don't do anything special?

I haven't seen the vehicle in person yet, I am just trying to be prepared before I go. We are waiting on it to be transferred to our town.

 

[ketchupqueen]

Right! Just make sure to remove slack for a booster rider's belt, but you would anyway. Have you ever installed with a lap only belt with a tail you pull? This is actually the same deal but with a shoulder belt instead of a tail. The only problem comes if it won't lie flat enough to lock; twisting the buckle down up to 3 full turns can help with that.

 

[ketchupqueen]

Have you read this page? Very helpful! http://www.carseatsite.com/lockingclips.htm

 

[MamaChirpy]

Right! Just make sure to remove slack for a booster rider's belt, but you would anyway. Have you ever installed with a lap only belt with a tail you pull? This is actually the same deal but with a shoulder belt instead of a tail. The only problem comes if it won't lie flat enough to lock; twisting the buckle down up to 3 full turns can help with that.

I haven't installed a seat with a lap only belt, but I remember them well from my childhood! Ha!
I remember that once tightened, those babies weren't going anywhere.

Ok, thanks so much for your help. I did read that page and it was a help also. You have made me feel a lot better about this vehicle. [emoji16]

Thanks again!

 

[ketchupqueen]

No problem!