tethering a rearfacing britax in Honda Oddessey

[DrSally]

I know this question has been posted before, but I need to make sure. DH says he can't find a position on the passenger front seat to tether our Decathalon (rear facing). So, he tethered it to the 2nd row seat itself (the seat it is installed in). Is this ok, I thought it was supposed to be top tethered to the seat in front of it. Is so, where? TIA!

[o_mom]

What year?

2004 and older there is a solid metal bar under the passenger seat that can be used. It has a plastic trim piece over it, but you can get the d-ring around it if you take the drawer out first. Here is the thread with pics: http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=13&topic_id=62471&mode=full&page=2

Britax at one point said don't tether to the same seat, but they have never backed that up and it doesn't say anything in the manual about it.

[Joolsplus2]

Yeah, depends on where your top tether anchor is? On the older style van, it's right in the middle of the bottom of the seat, that's the one I use. On the newer style, it's on the seatback, and I'd be reticent to wrap my tether strap all the way around the seat to get it back there, and would prefer to use a solid bolted part under the front seats instead.

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[DrSally]

Oops, sorry. It's a brand, spankin' new 2007 EX-L. Here are a few pics:

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/drsally/July2007071.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t136/drsally/July2007070.jpg

The top tether point is actually on the back of the 2nd row seat (BTW, not one dealership could show them to me). DH has it tethered to it's own seat on this black bar under the front of the seat. My question is, do you think it's better to find a point on the seat in front of it? There doesn't seem to be anything metal or a logical tethering point on the front seat.

I appreciate all your help!

[o_mom]

I think that isn't too bad. It is straight down and not rubbing on anything. The metal bar on the floor would also be a good spot.

I'm not sure if there is anything on the front seats of the newer ones. Sometimes there are metal bars under trim pieces, but unless you take them off you won't know for sure.

[DrSally]

Thanks. I was just wondering about the impact forces and how solid the seat would stay when tethered to it's own seat vs. the front seat. I also thought about the metal bar on the floor too. I think you're right, there really doesn't seem to be a place on the front seats. I think I will stick with this set up, but just wanted to pass it by you guys first. Thanks!

[Joolsplus2]

Yeah, that's ok. You know, the flipside of Britax warning us to do it NOT to the same seat, is that the crash experts from the car makers say you should NOT do it to a different seat! (They don't really mean it, though, it's seriously not enough force to worry about). The LATCH manual assures us that tethering to the front seat or the same seat is acceptable and safe...phew!

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[HIU8]

I had this same issue. There is a place on the bottom back of the front seats where the plastic pops off (you have to work at it, but it does pop off). The plastic is a piece that spans the width of the seat, so the entire piece will pop off as one. It is only held on by plastic clips. This piece of plastic covers a metal bar under the front seat that is attached to the floor of the car. that is where you should tether the RF seat. Put this plastic cover someplace where you will find it again. When you turn DC FF you can put the plastic back on the seat.

HTH

Heather
DS 11/27/04
Happily RF in a MA at 2.5 yo, 27 lbs and 36 in

DD 6/9/07
RF in a Safeseat

[Lilysmom06]

I had the same question a few months ago when we bought our van. I tethered it to the same bar that you have it tethered to. The seat is rock solid. Hopefully it won't be a problem.

Let me know if you find a better place for it!

Kathy

[DrSally]

Julie, thanks so much for your input. I feel better now. It is interesting--the conflicting recommendations. If it's ok on the same seat, I'll keep it there. It is nice to know of the front seat option pp mentioned. I will keep that in mind if we remove and reinstall the seat at some point. THanks everyone!!!

[mom2jacknkatie]

I noticed you've got the tether on the outside of the bar used to adjust the seat. I've got mine (I use the bar on the floor) on the inside because I thought it might possibly cause the bar to move up and unlock the seat if say the child seat was pushed from behind causing the tether to tighten (if that makes sense). I'm also a super tight installer and when I tried it as pictured, I couldn't get it tight enough to my satisfaction without the tether pulling up on the bar. Does anyone else know what I mean? Or am I just way paranoid?

[DrSally]

Hmm, that's interesting. I'll have to go out and take a look at it. May be a reason to switch it to the floor.

[Joolsplus2]

I know what you mean, I just maybe didn't look close enough to see if it was that 'moving' bar... definitely thank you for saying something!!!!
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[annasmom]

I just did this exact same tether (after reading this thread!), and I don't think she has it on the moving bar. The black bar above the tethered one in the picture is the chair-moving bar.

[mom2jacknkatie]

Yes, the bar she has it on is fine. I'm actually talking about the tether being under the moving bar. Mine is routed through the inside so that it is over the moving bar, that way it can't possibly move it up causing the seat to unlock. Sorry if my previous post was a bit confusing. I hope this made more sense.

[DrSally]

Ah ha, I see. I will def move it to the "inside" of the top bar then.

[tarynsmum]

This is what we (another tech and I) did on a new-ish (2005-2007) Oddy and a Boulevard today. I was SO glad the other tech was there, I didn't know I could pull that plastic off! It was really easy too, and snapped right back on.