kenn6645
Simpsonville, SC
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We are planning a trip to Niagra Falls in early June. We will be taking our 9 month old granddaughter. Is there any special requirements to hook up a baby seat for travel? Can we hook it into the couch with seat belts? Can we use the passenger seat? Any input would be helpful.
thanks
Kenn, Pat, Lucky & Divot
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In The Dawghouse
Round Lake IL US
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We bolted ours into one of the storage compartments. Nice and solid and another plus is that we can't hear her when she cries.
Just kidding. We put the carseat on the couch and strap it down with the seatbelt.
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69RoadRunner
VA
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If there are no airbags, you can use the front seat. If she weighs enough, she will be forward facing in the car seat. The couch would put her facing sideways. It's not ideal, but when you're driving something many tons heavier than almost everything else, you're pretty safe.
There's a little clip you might need to keep the front shoulder belt tight.
I use car seats in the back of my Road Runner that only has lap belts.
09 Newmar Ventana 3942
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tkzamp1
Vermont
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I was under the impression that the couch was not a good location - so we put our grandchildren in the booth area so that they are either facing forward or backward and not to the side. Not sure if there are specific rules on this.
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69RoadRunner
VA
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tkzamp1 wrote:I was under the impression that the couch was not a good location - so we put our grandchildren in the booth area so that they are either facing forward or backward and not to the side. Not sure if there are specific rules on this.
That would be the better location. The OP didn't mention a dinette with seatbelts.
That's where my kids will be strapped down when I get my MH. I just hope my son's booster and my daughter's car seat will both fit there.
My son's booster seat has its own harness. It's good for him up to 100 pounds.
A booster seat with just a lap belt is pointless. The reason you use a booster seat is to make the car's shoulder belt be in the right position.
If you only have a lap belt, there's no need for a booster. Only using a lap belt for a child is not a good idea, which is why I use the booster with its own harness.
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In The Dawghouse
Round Lake IL US
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tkzamp1 wrote:I was under the impression that the couch was not a good location - so we put our grandchildren in the booth area so that they are either facing forward or backward and not to the side. Not sure if there are specific rules on this.
Our motorhome is a little different in that Our couch faces forward, not to the side.
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kenn6645
Simpsonville, SC
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Gordon, I tried the storage compartment, but could still hear her .
thanks for the responses. In Ma. the child car seat law states they must be backward facing until a year old. She actually is long enough and weighs enough to sit in the forward facing seat. We have a free standing dinette and chairs. Not a good solution. If I turn the passenger chair facing the back and strap her in her present seat she should be okay? Thanks for the continued help.
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apr67
Tallahassee, Florida
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Kenn6645, most states laws don't cover child restraints in RV's. I'm sure some do. Just remember, buses have no such rules.
In my mind you have to make a best effort and obey the spirit. With the twins 5 mo (when we test drove our new RV) we straped them in the car seats rear facing in the dinette, with the table removed. Our old kid (2.75 yo) is in a big car seat that has its own restraints and is buckled with only the lapbelt. Since she is more grown (stronger head/neck muscles) we have her sideways (couch). If I could face them all the right way I am sure that I would.
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en3chix
middle peninsula, Virginia
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I work for a fire department and have attented a 40 hour class on how to install car seats. Putting them in a side ways facing seat is not a good idea unless the seat and the child restraint tell you it's ok to do so. If you put the child around a dinette, you have to think about where a child would be hit if the table breaks away in an accident. with adults it would be in the belly, with a child in a car seat, it could be in the head or chest and could do alot more damage. The best idea is to contact the rv manufacute and see what they say, then contact yor local F.D. and see if they install car seats and have them show you how to do it. Don't just take it by there and let them do it, make them show you so you can do it yourself. PM me if you have more questions.
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69RoadRunner
VA
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I doubt you'll get anything official from the manufacturers. I wouldn't trust it anyway.
Here's a picture from the Newmar site. Why would you use a booster seat with just a lap belt?
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