HELP - Marathon installation and CPS tech locator

[dietre_g]

I have finally installed DS's Marathon in my car and a Scenera in DH's truck. I have the marathon RF and tethered to the floor bolts of the front passenger seat. In the manual they mentioned using a D ring for this kind of tether, but I don't have a D ring (that I can find). Should this have been in my package? Is it something I have to buy and if so, where?

Also, I would like to have a CPS tech look at the installation of both seats. Is there a site where I can locate a tech in my area?? Should I just call the local fire dept? Will they have someone knowledgeable enough on the installation? TIA!!

Dietre F.
Mom to Evan Gregory
Born 3.15.05
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/10029.gif
http://lilypie.com/baby1/060315/1/6/1/-5/.png

[Joolsplus2]

The D-ring is that little footlong strap with the gold ring on it that is attached to your tether when you pull it out of the pocket on the back of the seat. It's possible you somehow didn't get one, in which case Britax will send you one for free.

www.seatcheck.org or www.nhtsa.dot.gov have locators...they may well be at the fire department, or www.safekids.org may have a local coalition to you and you could contact them to see if they have a permanent tech on duty or a check event scheduled.

It seems to be pretty hit or miss whether you'll get a 'good' tech or not, unfortunately, but since you know so much already, it will either solidify what you DO know, or they'll be clueless and you can come back and tell us all about it, and you'll learn plenty from the process either way :)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[bride805]

http://www.seatcheck.org is one place to look for a tech, some fire or police depts. have techs on staff, and my local AAA has a tech.

As far as the D ring tether, mine came clipped to the end of the tether itself. It's a length of webbing(mine's black)with a substantial D shaped ring on one end, and is self-looped on the other. I know when I read it, I was thinking that it would look like one of those little D rings on a handbag. :-) If yours didn't come with one, I beleive you can call Britax themselves. The # I found on their site is 1-888-427-4829.

BTW, how did you hook to the floor bolts? If you have a hook securely attached to the vehicle's frame that the tether will clip to, you don't need the D-ring(techs please correct me if I'm mistaken)!

[sophiesmom]

This post made me realize I probably dont have the kids FF seats tethered correctly in DH"s Ford F150 truck. There are 2 loops behind the seats i used and this can not be right. Would I have to contact Ford to see where to tether correctly? or is there a site?
ThankS

[Joolsplus2]

Those Ford anchors are definitely freaky and you may well have it done it right, actually... how specific are the instructions in the owner's manual for that?
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Joolsplus2]

Ok, depending on the model year, the webbing loops are only for ONE tether, OR you route the tether through one loop and hook it to another loop (like I said, freaky, rofl!).

What model year, and what kind of cab? "Extended Cab/Super Cab" or "Crew Cab/Super Crew" seem to have slightly different instructions also depending on the year. (but I'm just making work for myself...it goes back to the manual, I'm sure you've done it according to the manual?)


Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[dietre_g]

To tether the seat to the floor, we moved the passenger seat all of the way up and removed the covers on the base of the seat (probably not necessary). We took the strap behind BOTH sets of bolted legs to the seat and then back to the marathon. My DH made a knot in the grey webbing to secure it. It seams pretty secure...

BTW, I definetly did not get a D ring - only the black buckle that I think is used when tethering the seat FF to the rear of the car.

Dietre F.
Mom to Evan Gregory
Born 3.15.05
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/10029.gif
http://lilypie.com/baby1/060315/1/6/1/-5/.png

[Joolsplus2]

My, that sounds way more complicated than it would probably be without the D-ring (and quite ingenious ;) )... 1-888-4BRITAX...call them, complain, I'm SURE they'll send you a D-ring for free (or bitch mightily to the store that sold it to you??? really, these things don't just fall off!)

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx