Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2011 10:01:14 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Baby seat installed in backseat of Vanagon.
In-Reply-To: <1318142228.60777.YahooMailNeo@web111723.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
I have done so, for my grandson. Of course, the camper has lap belts only in the back seat, and no top strap. And there are no underseat anchors like in newer cars, just the belts.
First time, we used the lap belt only, which is acceptable. I retrofitted the belts however, and now have a three point belt (I got mine from GoWesty. GoWesty sells a top restraint to install also. I bought it, but then realized that it runs all the way to the rear of the van, and installs to the top of the rear hatch area. I deemed that a little jury-rigged and questionable, and backed off doing that.
Whether a lap belt only or a three-point belt, the installation is identical to that of any car without the top strap. Lap belt only may actually be preferable as the baby seat installation is simply easier, and no restraint is gained with the 3-point (belt fits across the baby seat in the same fashion whether 3-point or lap belt only).
If you decide to put in 3-point belt(s) for the rear seat, you'll find GoWesty instructions to be straightforward and excellent. The anchor points are built into the van, just not used in the camper, because of the cabinets (but doable). One very important caveat about changing out seat belts. The anchor bolts may be very hard to remove, and it is imperative that the bolt anchor holes be cleaned thoroughly to make sure the bolts screw back in smoothly and without damaging the threads. Forcing the bolts in without cleaning the holes first may result in the bolt stripping the thread. Then a more complicated fix is required -- retapping or retrofitting with a new proper hardness nut and washer with longer proper hardness bolt. Ask me how I know.
The left passenger belt is harder to refit than the right, because of the cabinet. You may find that torquing the anchor bolt for the chest strap inside the cabinet is difficult and the needed torque is hard to achieve (just a very awkward position, and with an extension on the torque wrench, actual torque is uncertain). Might be better to retrofit only the right side belt. Once properly installed, the left side retractor hangs easily, also, because it passes through the cabinet. Anything stored in the cabinet can interfere. It also can interfere with converting the seat back to the bed position. That may be why GoWesty is the only source for left side 3-point belts for the camper. Other vendors just sell the one for the right side.
David McNeely
---- Scott Greiner <greines@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> I have a 1982 westy. My wife & I are expecting our first child dec12th. Has anyone installed a baby car seat in a Vanagon back seat?
SOG
Mesa, AZ
--
David McNeely
| 
