I have a Cosco booster seat that I bought at Wal-Mart for like $70 2 years
ago. It too incorporates a five point system and is rated up to 80 pounds.
The thing my son likes about this one is that it is a checkered flag Dale
Eirnhart one.
Peace out,
Peder
'84 westy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Johnson" <johnson@SAW.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: Booster Seats Options

> Michael,
>
> Many thanks for your posting.  I have a 2 yr old who will outgrow his car
> seat very soon and I will need to make a change to accommodate his rapidly
> growing body.  Out of all our vehicles, he prefers to ride in "Nesta", our
> 85 Westy GL and so I must begin to research the available options.  Thanks
> for prompting my attention.
>
> PeterJ
> 85 Westy GL "Nesta"
> Willard, WA
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Townsend" <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 8:10 AM
> Subject: Booster Seats Options
>
>
> > 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
>