RF Marathon Install Questions

[mkg9]

We just got a Marathon for our son with a 20% off coupon at BRU. I figured that installing it wouldn't be rocket science, and that my husband and I (with two law degrees between us) could certainly manage it - I may have been wrong! We're upgrading our 8 month old from a SafeSeat, outboard behind the passenger seat in our 2006 Honda CRV.

We've read through the MA manual and looked over the seat, and these are our questions so far:

-We're using the MA in our 2006 Honda CRV (last model before the redesign). Can we try to install it RF with the belt that pulls down from the ceiling, or does this kind of belt prevent proper installation?

-For RF installation with a belt, does the belt go under or over the EPS foam under the cover? Also, does it go in front of or behind where the crotch strap comes through the shell?

-Do you use both of the built-in clips for the belt, or only the clip on the side opposite where the belt is buckled? It seems like you probably can't use the clip on the side where the belt is buckled because the buckle would prevent that.

-Would it be safer to use LATCH outboard behind the passenger instead of trying to get a good install (with tether) in the middle position with a belt?

Some of these questions may resolve themselves after we have a chance to attempt an installation tomorrow.

Any tips you can provide are very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[DaniannieB]

You can try installing your MA with the belt that comes down from the ceiling. Most people don't have much success with it though. It can take a lot of work to get even a halfway decent install. Center is better, but only if you get a good install. I'd much rather see outboard w/ a great install than middle with a wish-washy install.

When RF, you can either go over everything or under everything. That grey foam is not EPS foam, though, it's comfort foam. The EPS foam near the RF belt path is set in holes in the seat; there's no way you could get the belt under it. If you go over everything, use the holes in the cover (closer to the front of the seat than where the hip straps come out). This method is generally for short term installs such as when on the airplane or travelling. If you're installing for a longer period of time, I would go under everything. It's easiest to install RF when you lift up the cover so that you expose the belt path and can pull from inside the seat rather than outside. Of course, if you end up going outboard and want to use LATCH, over vs under and all that becomes a moot point. The belt must go behind the buckle. That means it will be between the buckle and the back of the seat rather than between the buckle and the front of the seat.

If you're using the lock-offs w/ the seat belt (you don't use them w/ LATCH), you can use both, either, or neither. As long as the seat belt is locked in some way, you're fine. (If you use neither, you have to lock your seat belt by pulling it all the way out and ratcheting it back in). Britax generally recommends you use the lock-off on the side opposite the buckle as the lock-off on the buckle side may be broken if the buckle is too close. Do whatever works for you and gets you a good install.

You can use the RF tether whether you use the seat belt or not. (In fact, when you turn FF, hopefully not til DC is outgrowing RF, there should be a top tether anchor for you to use in the middle if you can get a decent seat belt install). Don't use the FF tether anchor, though. Use the D-ring to create a tether point forward and down from your seat.

Here's a site that will help you figure out Swedish RF tethering: http://www.childrestraintsafety.com/swedish-tethering.html

Also check out the MA install videos on carseatsite.com and britaxusa.com.

[mkg9]

Thanks for your help!

I did a test installation with an outboard seatbelt today (I didn't want to remove the SafeSeat base in case I couldn't figure out the install - then I wouldn't be able to go anywhere!). It was much easier than I anticipated and I think I got a great install with the seatbelt (I didn't do LATCH because there's none available in the center position so I wanted to see how the belt would work out). Of course, we'll try the center install tonight (and the tether) and have it checked out by the local CPS-certified police officer.

My only remaining question for people with smaller SUVs and cars is: how do you back up with the MA installed in the center? I had a tough time seeing around the MA installed behind the driver's seat this afternoon. Is it normally this difficult to see? I'm about 5'5" and I drive a Honda CRV.

[niccig]

Thanks for your help!

I did a test installation with an outboard seatbelt today (I didn't want to remove the SafeSeat base in case I couldn't figure out the install - then I wouldn't be able to go anywhere!). It was much easier than I anticipated and I think I got a great install with the seatbelt (I didn't do LATCH because there's none available in the center position so I wanted to see how the belt would work out). Of course, we'll try the center install tonight (and the tether) and have it checked out by the local CPS-certified police officer.

My only remaining question for people with smaller SUVs and cars is: how do you back up with the MA installed in the center? I had a tough time seeing around the MA installed behind the driver's seat this afternoon. Is it normally this difficult to see? I'm about 5'5" and I drive a Honda CRV.


Give the Marathon a try with the center belt. I have a 2008 CRV, and I've been able to get 2 different car seats installed rock solid - wasn't a Marathon, but I imagine it would work. I dont know how different the 2008 and 2006 models are. I also got my Uptown in my Aunt's 2004 model in the center with seatbelt as well.

As for seeing out the back window, you get used to seeing around teh seat. I have DS's Safeguard seat - it's taller than a Marathon. I can see over it a bit and around it a bit, so I use my mirrors a lot. I do have a back-up camera for reversing, so that definitely helps. When he gets taller and I raise the headrest, I'll need to move him to outboard as at the highest setting, I can't see a single thing at all.

[Swimfreak78]

We had the same problem and ended up moving DS to an outboard position. Garage at work has LOTS of columns and I just couldn't see well enough to park.

[WatchingThemGrow]

I wasn't clear about something you wrote initially...you weren't trying to use the belt from the ceiling on the passenger outboard position, right? I'm pretty sure that's only for the center spot.

We have a 2005, so same model. I'm 5'6 but I really can barely remember having just one MA installed, esp. in the center. I think we did, but we ended up moving DD over b/c I was pg and it was difficult to slide in to unbuckle her. Don't you just wish that model had 3 sets of LATCH anchors??? Argh.

[mkg9]

I used the outside seatbelt for the outboard install, just to get an idea of how installing with a seatbelt would work. We didn't get a chance to try a center install last night (it was pouring rain :gloomy:).

I still have the SafeSeat installed behind the passenger, and now the MA is behind the driver. My husband checked out the MA install, and it is VERY tight (definitely less than 1 in of movement, if any). I'm considering tethering it there, because I don't think I will be able to see to back up AT ALL with the MA in the center position, and having it behind the passenger wouldn't allow me to see him when I turn around anyway (I wouldn't be able to see around the MA to the baby).

Three latch positions would be really nice in the CRV! But given the height factor, I think outboard might be our best bet anyway.

Thanks for everyone's help so far!

[niccig]

Three latch positions would be really nice in the CRV! But given the height factor, I think outboard might be our best bet anyway.

Thanks for everyone's help so far!

The 2007 and 2008 CRV's do have 3 sets of latch, well sort of. You can't use all 3 sets at the same time. Driver outboard is dedicated set. The center latch uses one of the anchors from passenger outboard, and this moves the car seat slightly over onto the passenger outboard spot. You CAN'T use all 3 for latch as that means the passenger seat and center seat would share one anchor and that's not allowed. To get 3 across, you can use passenger latch, center seatbelt and driver latch.

I have gotten seats in the center with the seatbelt from the ceiling, so it could be doable in your car. But that doesn't help with rear visibility.

[WatchingThemGrow]

To get 3 across, you can use passenger latch, center seatbelt and driver latch.

I have gotten seats in the center with the seatbelt from the ceiling, so it could be doable in your car. But that doesn't help with rear visibility.

With our 2005, the LATCH anchors move the 2 seats toward the center enough that a center seat will not fit. If I install all 3 seats with belts, I can get 2 MAs outboard and a RF Roundabout or a FF Radian in between. Or, a MA can be replaced with an infant seat.