Car Seat Split

[Dollyroux]

Hello all,

Our 98 Patrol has a rear seat with a 50/50 split. A few years ago when my husband had an extra bolt for a baby seat put in, the guy who did it told him that you can't have a baby/child? seat over the split in the seat. I can't seem to find any reference to it at the RACV or Kidsafe websites but a few references in other forums. Does anyone know if this is true or not? I need to know - I'm having twins in June and I will need all the back seat!

[melbel]

I would be very surprised if you have more than two anchor points in your car as they don't put the, in behind a split fold. You cannot safely install a child seat over a split. The new patrol still only has the two anchor points so. Wold say yours is the same.

[Sopdet]

Check with VicRoads as to this as they would be the owners of the legislation to cover this.

[*Efjay*]

My understanding is because the tether strap can slip between the split

[willow5]

My understanding is because the tether strap can slip between the split

That was my first thought too. You might need to check your car's manual or call the manufacturer of both the car and the seat.

[Dollyroux]

Poo, it looks like a new car is in my future isn't? Poo, double poo. I know I can get extra bolts installed, so that's no worry. I wonder if I just can replace the back seat with another non-split type? Hmm.....buggery!

[willow5]

I would be very surprised if you have more than two anchor points in your car as they don't put the, in behind a split fold. You cannot safely install a child seat over a split. The new patrol still only has the two anchor points so. Wold say yours is the same.

So Melbel is the split in the middle of the seat or between the seats IYKWIM? I have just bought a Commodore wagon, the seats split to fold down, but I think there is a factory anchor behind the seat that splits, so the middle seat. The split is between the middle and passenger side seats. So the seat wouldn't sit on/or over the split it's self. Is that the same or different to the 4wds do you know?
I will go and check the anchors as soon as I can muster some energy

[littlebuttercup]

I'm very interested to see these replies. I'm having baby #5 in April, and we have a 7-sweater Tarago. So we'll either have to get an anchor bolt installed behind the back split, or get a lap/sash belt installed for the split-seat for our eldest (instead of just the lap belt there already).

[melbel]

Sounds like yours is a 60/40 split same as my Astra. You can have three seats across a 60/40 split as long a child seat doesn't straddle the split, that's where it is a safety issue. They don't install anchor points directly behind a split, hence only two anchor points in a car with 50/50 split seats.

[willow5]

Sounds like yours is a 60/40 split same as my Astra. You can have three seats across a 60/40 split as long a child seat doesn't straddle the split, that's where it is a safety issue. They don't install anchor points directly behind a split, hence only two anchor points in a car with 50/50 split seats.

Thanks melbel that makes sense
I would imagine you'd still need to be mindful of the anchor strap not slipping between, it could not be as tight as needed, or not behave the way it should in an accident, maybe? I haven't had a good look at mine though so it could be far enough away that it won't matter.

[melbel]

Yeah you still need to be careful the straps can't slip down regardless of where the split is. Mine s far enough away that it didn't matter when we had the capsule in the middle. Definitely the best bet little buttercup would be to see if you can get a lap sash professionally installed in that position. Depending on the roof structure of the car, SOMETIMES it is possible to get an anchor point put into the roof but not always as roof structures can be a bit hit and miss.

[Dollyroux]

Thanks for the replies everyone - I'll give VicRoads a call tomorrow and see if they can advise. Blargh! I don't have money for another car!

[melbel]

You can try an engineer and see if they can install a roof point in the middle for you.....that's another option

[*Efjay*]

Actually the other problem you might face is the seat not sitting correctly at the base. I know in the car I had that had a 50/50 split, you wouldn't be able to put a forward facing seat on because there was a hump in the middle from the hidges for the split. If the base of the seat not effected you should be ok.

Most of the manuals in car seats will tell you to put a towel or something over the split if its a possible problem to prevent the strap slipping down it.