

| Subject: | Re: Convertible car seat for Vanagon - Canadian Safety Standards |
| From: | Shawn Wright |
| Date: | Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:02:18 -0700 |
It's there on my '88 CDN model Westy, and I have installed shoulder belts from a '90 model on the right side. I plan to do the left side once I get around to pulling the cabinets. Our kids are 9 and 10, so I've been through all this, and the only way I was happy with the front facing seat was to make a rear anchor by running a piece of chain between the two seat mounting bolts*, then clipping the seat's rear mount belt clip into the chain link. This would allow me to make both seats very secure, by adjusting the rear strap tight enough so when the lap belt was clipped in, the seat was wedged very tightly into the foam. *the seat mounting "bolts" I mean are the large philips head machine screws visible on the rear deck just behind the seat at each corner. I removed them, and installed a standard metal car seat anchor hook, then a washer, then a longer bolt. I then linked the chain using threaded quick links at each side, and left the chain loose enough that it would reach about 1/2 way up the seat when attached to the car seat strap. The chain was chosen large enough that the car seat clips fit into the links, and has a breaking strength of at least 600lbs IIRC. I've used the same stuff to lift engines with... :-) All that said, since you will eventually want shoulder belts anyway, you may be able to devise a system using the rear should belt that works well also, and just do that. I got my belts and all the pieces for about $100 from a wrecker, and pulled them myself, so I could see exactly how they installed, and got the plastic trim piece for the side panels, etc. On 29 Mar 2008 at 8:21, Paul Guzyk <paullist08@GUZYK.COM> wrote: > According to GoWesty there is a threaded anchor behind the rear side panel. > > "The reel mounts into a factory threaded hole - no drilling or > welding is required" > > Perhaps see if the threaded hole exists on your Cdn van then use it > to hold your existing seat securely? > > http://gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3218&search_phrase=child%20seat%20anch > or&start=60 > > item kt-122 > > >I'm hoping the list can help me purchase the appropriate car seat for my > >toddler who has outgrown her rear facing infant seat. I drive a 86 Westy Shawn Wright http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels '88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed '85 Jetta Diesel 1.6NA
Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »