Date:         Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:13:14 -0500
Reply-To:     Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Subject:      Re: Toddler seat
Comments: To: dmc@CYBURBAN.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi,

Here is my method for the Breverra toddler seat, useful for the lap-only
middle position or the outboard 3-point position on the back bench of my
Carat.

1:  Put a high-friction rubbery shelf liner on the seat to minimize
tipping.
2:  Unhook the fabric hooks on the left side of the car seat.
3:  Thread belt and fasten as tight as you can.
4:  Unhook belt.
5:  Shorten lap belt by about 3-4 inches.
6:  Install metal locking clip that should have come with the carseat.  The
slip-buckle design on the Vanagon requires it.
7:  Kneel on top of the carseat with my 200 lbs. to compress seat foam.
8:  Thread buckle into latch.  You will notice that the length of belt on
the latch is so long, that the latch and buckle are practically in the
frame hole in the back of the carseat.  That's why you loosened the carseat
cloth cover, so you can reach it.  Turn the vehicle latch around so that
the red release button is not reachable by the occupant.
9:  Bounce on carseat so that the vehicle seatbelt latches when the vehicle
seat foam is compressed as much as possible.
10: Replace carseat cover hooks.
11:  Install tether strap.  It really helps hold down the top of the
carseat and prevent it from tipping and wobbling.  Your choice of anchor
point and method is up to you.  The Eurovans put them in the roof behind
the bench seats, some people weld them to the floor.  I just loop it around
the headrest post -- not as good as the frame of the vehicle but better
than nothing.

By the time the VW Isofix standard is required in the US, I won't need
carseats any more.
I have found a way to thread the vehicle belt on the Breverra that improves
it immensely, but since it is not the manufacturer's recommended method, I
won't mention it here.  I will be at EveryBus 2002 if you want me to show
you.

Michael


----------
> From: Dave M <dmc@CYBURBAN.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Toddler seat
> Date: Thursday, April 04, 2002 10:44 AM
>
> > Date:    Wed, 3 Apr 2002 15:33:52 -0800
> > From:    Julianna Thoennes <mumbrue@ATTBI.COM>
> > Subject: Re: Toddler seat ?
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > We have two Century Breverra for our boys.  The seat goes to 60 lbs,
and it
> > has a 5 point harness.  These worked well for us.  You just buckle the
seat
> > in tightly, and the 5 point harness keeps them safe.
> >
> But how do you secure the seat with the lap belt? Its impossible... at
least in my '87
> Wolfsburg. There is no way to get the seat to be firmly secured against
the seat back.
> Without that, the toddler seat is useless as a safety
> device.
>
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