Date:         Tue, 31 Jul 2001 11:10:00 -0400
Reply-To:     Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Subject:      Booster Seats Options
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

It is generally agreed upon that most children under 9 or 10 years old
should still be using booster seats because the adult 3-point belts won't
fit them properly otherwise.  Unfortunately, most 5-point harnesses stop at
40 lbs, so between the ages of about 4 and 10 you are completely out of
luck if your bench seat has a lap-only belt.
Also, our son is approaching the age where he will outgrow the 40 pound
limit of the 5-point harness in his booster seat.  Unfortunately, he is not
tall enough or mature enough to be properly secured by the vehicle-only
3-point belt.  We like the added security of the 5-point harness and wish
we could find one that went higher than 40 lbs.  We have found a couple of
options that I thought I would pass along to you.  THIS IS ALSO USEFUL TO
WESTY OWNERS AND OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE LAP-ONLY BELTS IN THE BACK SEAT.   In
our Wolfsburg / Carat, I have occasionally used the rear-facing jump-seats
with our 6 year old with a high-backed stiff booster.  It uses the vehicle
lap-only belt and is not ideal, because unless the crash is exactly head
on, the sideways forces would topple him off the seat where the high back
on the booster would lose effectiveness.  The Eurovan MV's have shoulder
belts for the rear-facer jump seats, but not the Vanagons.

Anyway, Fisher-Price has a model that goes up to 60 pounds with the
integrated 5-point harness, and you can use a tether strap on it for added
security.  It is called the Fisher-Price Futura 20/60.  Its drawback is
that it was advertised as being compatible from 20 lbs. to 60 lbs.  An
early model with a 4-point harness and a "tray" across the lap has proven
in crash-tests to be unworthy for anyone under 30 lbs, so be warned.  The
newer models elminate the tray and go with a 5-point harness.  However, for
the 40 to 60 lb. range, it is capable and FAA approved.  The disadvantage
is that Fisher-Price is leaving the carseat business, so any that you find
still in stores, internet, or catalogs are the last that are out there.  It
is about $90.

Britax makes a "Super Elite" that goes up to 80 lbs, and I think 53 inches
tall!  This thing looks a lot more plush and comfortable than the
Fisher-Price, and it is huge!  It is too wide for an airplane, so it is not
FAA approved.  In addition, I am not sure if two can fit side by side on a
Westy seat because of its width.  (Somoeone who owns a Westy might want to
measure, and compare with the specs on Britax.com.)  Also, there are a lot
of people with older cars with lap-only belts in the rear (American cars
didn't get shoulder belts in the rear until approximately 1987), and this
seat is the only choice that goes up to 80 lbs. with a 5-point harness.
Therefore, even with the $200 price tag, Britax is still sold out!  More
won't be available until "Fall" according to their website -- they are
retooling for another run.

There are many government, insurance, and other sites with the new carseat
rules and specifications on them.  Please read them if you have children
and haven't checked in a while.  We found some good opinions on
epinions.com about these two models as well.

Hope this helps,
Michael Townsend
Durham NC
90 Carat