What Child Restraint System?

glacked · February 9, 2009

Are you using in your crew cabs? Please, hold the "duct tape" or other jokes to a minimum, unless they are too good not to share.

We are expecting our first child - boy! - and I'm trying to get a head's up on what others have found works well in the truck.

66nova · February 9, 2009

Are you using in your crew cabs? Please, hold the "duct tape" or other jokes to a minimum, unless they are too good not to share.

We are expecting our first child - boy! - and I'm trying to get a head's up on what others have found works well in the truck.

We just had our first child, actually 6 weeks ago today. I have an 07 Crew Cab 1500. I use the LATCH system ( I think that is what it is called) with a Graco Car seat and base. We bought a base for my truck and one came with the seat for my wifes car. It is very simple, there are a set of straps that buckle to metal latches that your truck has between the seat back and seat bottom.

If you need pictures, I will be glad to post some. Just let me know.

Congrats by the way! I know everyone says this, but get your sleep now.

Neutron · February 9, 2009

We started with the LATCH system with the base, but noticed my daughter's seat would sit at a higher angle than what the car seat manuf. recommended. Now we use just the car seat with the seat belt attached to it.

hass1500 · February 9, 2009

I used the latch system with the base whenever possible (i.e. the truck only has the latches on the passenger side and middle I believe). Most bases have an adjustment to compensate for the angle of the seat and I believe there are ways to add more angle (i.e. put a rolled up towel in the crease) to help. The nice think about the belts is that you can fully extend them and release which will "lock" the belt at the tightest. Either way, make sure YOU sit or kneel on the base/carseat when tightening the belt, as this will remove 95% of the play the seat will have that could cause the seat to become loose.

My kids are 2 & 4, so they are in full car seats now and when you get to that point, I recommend the Britex seat. It is a little more money (~$250-300), but it is very solid and more comfortable when the kids are sleeping in the seat.

Congrats on the new arrival.

pchrist · February 9, 2009

8 month and a 2 year old here. We just got two new graco nautilus's and I used the latch system to attach one in the truck and one in our van. The middle seat for the 8 month old is still backwards but it is a convertible that I am currently using the belt for. Wish it had the latch system. seems more secure with that. Oh and only an extended cab here.

ckwilson73 · February 9, 2009

I also used the Graco system with the base and latch. It works great. I even ordered a seat protector from one step ahead to put under the base so it wouldn't mess up my seat.

chuck16 · February 9, 2009

My truck didn't have anything to attach to the seat belt so for the first 12 months we just used the seat belt and then when it was time to turn the seat , forward facing, I used the mount for the factory Seat belt under the seat.

J-man67 · February 9, 2009

I have an 8 MO and we used the LATCH for the first seat. He grew out of that rather quickly, so we then both upgraded to a nice convertible style. Its an infant seat thats transforms up to a booster. The LATCH system on that was PISSING ME OFF. I was outside about to set the seats and the vehicles on fire. It was attached to the seats wrong, or I am an idiot, which most of you will assume the later. Anyway, I tried the belt and it seems to be working great. Just pull the belt ALL the way out and then it becomes a rachet belt. I also agree with the "put ALL of your wieght on the seat as you pull the belt tight. That will ensure a tight fit. Good luck!

66nova · February 9, 2009

A few pics of the Graco system we use. I like it. It's easy in and out.

Base

LATCH

Seat in Base...I know the color doesn't match, I picked the silver to match my interior when the seat wasn't in there.

DenaliJay · February 10, 2009

A few pics of the Graco system we use. I like it. It's easy in and out.

Base

LATCH

Seat in Base...I know the color doesn't match, I picked the silver to match my interior when the seat wasn't in there.

We have that same seat for our 4.5 month old son. In another 2 months we will have to get him a bigger car seat, he is growing like crazy.

glacked · February 10, 2009

Thanks guys. I got slammed at work yesterday and had no time to check up and post thanks. Good advise.

I know the lady who does the car seat checks with my town's PD. I'm going to have her check/double check my work once whatever is installed.

Anyone have any experience with the Recaro child seats? My brother, who has no kids, told me about them after some google research. I think he has Recaro seats in his track car and he loves them.

sno · February 10, 2009

Make sure the Recaro seat isn't one of the ones that was recalled last year. A big batch of these (supposedly repaired) recently went on sale at a popular Internet outlet. Could be in other retailers as well.

http://www.parents.com/product-recalls/car...tible-car-seats

TheNikeMan · February 10, 2009

I just install the Graco base in my truck this weekend, as we our expecting a little girl any day now!

I used the seat belt method primarily in my extended cab truck, in the middle seat location. The instructions advised not to use the LATCH system if the distance between 2 latches exceeded 11"s, as it appears mine is only setup for driver/passenger side system. With that being said, I used the seat belt and I also hooked it up the LATCH system for a little extra security. It is as solid as a freakin' rock! I did end up having to put a few towels in the seat crease to bring the angle down a little bit.

Did you all end up using that locking clip, for the seat belt method?

Scherer22K · February 10, 2009

Great post.

Congrats to all those expecting. My wife and I are expecting twins in June so the back seat of my crew cab will have two bases. We will be using the Garco as my brother and two of my cousind used them so we will have extra bases, we will need two for my truck and two for the wife's car plus a couple for grandma. These two (find out what they are on Feb. 20) are going to cost me a fortune.

I have used the latch in my truck when my neice was smaller and it worked very well.

LawmanSS · February 10, 2009

Mine is an extended cab, but we're using the Chico Key Fit system for our 5 month-old son. While the LATCH system is much more convenient to install, I used the seatbelt to install the base in the center position. Statistically, the center position is safer than the outboards, but the center position isn't approved for LATCH...at least in the extended cabs.