stir_fry_boy
New member
Anyone looked into this? I love how my 5th gen infant car seat base stays in the car but when I use my 3rd gen, it's a PITA to get the car seat in properly.
Adding LATCH to the 3rd gen?
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trovergraywilson
New member
Wait, like the additional loop to secure car seats? My 2002 has LATCH points on the back of the rear seats.
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4Runnin2000
New member
I think he means the latches that are built in to the bottom of the seats on newer vehicles that you just clip the car seats to. I second this. It is a pain to put car seats in and out if you have more than one and can't use the center seat belt. But I don't know how you would put in some latches that arent somehow tested and approved for car seats by the manufacturer. If they fail, and someone gets injured, insurances might not cover it. Maybe I'm wrong. But I am also curious if anyone has done this.
stir_fry_boy
New member
Those are tethers. They came standard in 1999 I believe, before the LATCH was standard in 2002-2003. The LATCH is the lower anchor in between the upright seat cushion and the flat cushion.
Mgyver1
Member
[MENTION=48234]stir_fry_boy[/MENTION] The top tethers came standard for the 3 rear seating positions starting in 2001. 2000 and before had the ability to add top tether anchors to the rear outboard seats by bolting in an anchor in the rear cargo area. You can not add the lower anchors of the LATCH system to a 3rd gen, as there was never one designed for you to retro fit. If you have a nicer car seat which has a lockoff built in to the base,you can install the car seat base in your 3rd gen using the seatbelt very easily. The safest place for the car seat though is in the middle, which happens to have a lap belt which is the most easily used seatbelt method to secure the car seat base (or seat itself).
What car seat are you installing and what seating position are you putting the seat in?
For information on adding the '01/'02 top tethers to your '00 and older, see my write up: 3rd Gen child car seat tether install
What car seat are you installing and what seating position are you putting the seat in?
For information on adding the '01/'02 top tethers to your '00 and older, see my write up: 3rd Gen child car seat tether install
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stir_fry_boy
New member
Thanks for the reply. I'm installing a Chico Key Fit 30 Magic. It's brand new. I was reading the owner's manual and it has provisions for using the middle lap belt in the back with the base. The base is expensive (~$80), but the ease of getting the car seat in and out is worth it.
Mgyver1
Member
That is an excellent seat! Yes that base is super easy to install with LATCH but it's also pretty easy with seatbelt since it has a built in lockoff. If you use the lap belt you don't even need the lock off. For the lap belt you just put the belt over and tighten until it moves less than an inch side to side at the belt path or front to back, also making sure it's at the right level.
You can also install that seat using the lap belt without the base, although it's a lot more difficult to get it to stay at the propper angle.
So you can either get another base and mount it in your 3rd gen, move the base between cars or install it without the base in your rig. If you're ever coming to Vegas feel free to holler at me, I'd be glad to give you a demo with a few different seats.
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stir_fry_boy
New member
Yeah we like the Chicco a lot. The original base is in my 5th gen. You must do a lot of car seats?
I am pretty familiar with Vegas as I went to grad school there. Loved it
Mgyver1
Member
Yeah I've installed a fair amount of car seats in different vehicles, but not enough to make me an expert by any means. I personally have owned a Chicco Key Fit 30, and then all the rest Britax - Advocate, Boulevard and Frontier. My folks also have a Britax Pinnacle and a Graco Tranzitions. After installing cheapy Walmart specials and high dollar ones like the Doona, I definitely think you get what you pay for and the nicer seats are *usually* easier to install, especially when they have a built in seatbelt lock off if you're doing a seatbelt install. Britax Click Tight seats are awesome for seatbelt installs and the Chicco Key Fit base is by far the easiest LATCH base to install of any car seat I've ever messed with.
Again for your setup, I think your best option if your baby is going to be spending any more than a few chance occasions in the 3rd gen is to get a 2nd base and install it in the rear center seat. You don't have to worry about the lock off or anything as the center lap belt has a locking latch plate. Just slip the seatbelt over the belt path and snug down. If you can't get it tight enough while it's clicked in, you can unclick it, take out a little bit of slack and then re-click it. If you need the other seating positions and have to install the base in one of the outboard seats then I would use the built in lock off in the base instead of the seatbelt retractor. It should cover it in the seat's manual on how to use the base's built in lock off.
I would also suggest having your seats double checked by a Child Passenger Safety Technician if you can find one. I always compare it to rock climbing, you always have someone else double check your harness and knots before you go climb/rappel, why not have your car seat install double checked also?
https://www.safekids.org/coalition/safe-kids-arizona
