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Date:         Thu, 19 Aug 2004 09:21:49 -0700
Reply-To:     Mike Pedersen <mikeped@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Pedersen <mikeped@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Shoulder Belts, Booster Seats, Infant Car Seats... Help!
Comments: To: Jim & Wilma Quan <thequan@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <BD49767E.28A1%thequan@sbcglobal.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Jim,

If you are just using car seats, then you can use just lap belts with the tether. I had a retractor on the passenger side that I swapped out with a regular lap belt. I then placed the tether anchors with fender (big) washers on the firewall. I would reccomend using the quick adjust kind of tethers (like a seat belt adjuster), so you can tighten them adequately. You can put a shoulder belt on the passenger side (search the archives), but not the drivers side due to the locker.

I like Shawns idea on the shoulder belt harness, but am hesitant to use once kids heads get higher than the back of the seat. Another option to consider, is putting in a middle seat with belts. My Westy has the tracks built in already (Canadian version). The seats have headrests and with the lapbelts and Shawns harnesses should be safe. Other list members have put these track in their vans, in varying degrees of safety IMHO. If you elect to do this, be aware that VW places the track bolts through the floor at the sills, frames, and angled floor stiffeners, not just through the floor.

As it is for us, my 6 year old now sits up front in his booster, and myself or my wife sit in back with my 4 year old in a car seat. Alas, we have just about outgrown our Westy, and is part of our decision for selling it this week. That and we want a boat...

Regards,

Mike Pedersen Powell River, BC 88 Westy

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of Jim & Wilma Quan Sent: August 18, 2004 9:11 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Shoulder Belts, Booster Seats, Infant Car Seats... Help!

Well folks,

Baby number two is almost here and I need to start figuring out how to get my '91 Westy Syncro up to snuff to safely carry around my two bits of precious cargo according to the laws of the land. I know I need to install a shoulder belt and will need to bolt down some tether anchors somewhere behind the rear bench seat. I know I have seen to posts regarding shoulder belts, but don't recall anything about tethers specific to infant car seats. Anybody been down this road already? I would appreciate some suggestions.

Thanks

Jim -- Jim Quan '91 Syncro Westy


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