Kids Carseat Questions

[bcmaxx]

My New girl has a 4 yr old boy ( just turned four in december). He loves the jeep, and we are planning on a lot of wheeling and playing in the jeep (xj) this year. An interior cage is priority on my list as these things seem to pancake on a good roof flop. I am wondering id anyone can tell me what kind of carseat I should be looking for? My 89 only has rear lap belts, most seats require a shoulder belt. So far he has been strapped in the front for getting to where we are going then just using the lap belt in the back with his current carseat.Can I retrofit in a shoulder belt? or run something of a tether/ restraint off rear shock hoop? Just looking for any ideas.

 

[casm]

My New girl has a 4 yr old boy ( just turned four in december). He loves the jeep, and we are planning on a lot of wheeling and playing in the jeep (xj) this year. An interior cage is priority on my list as these things seem to pancake on a good roof flop. I am wondering id anyone can tell me what kind of carseat I should be looking for? My 89 only has rear lap belts, most seats require a shoulder belt. So far he has been strapped in the front for getting to where we are going then just using the lap belt in the back with his current carseat.Can I retrofit in a shoulder belt? or run something of a tether/ restraint off rear shock hoop? Just looking for any ideas.

I don't remember the exact year it was introduced, but: in either '99, 2000, or '01 the XJ got LATCH childseat fittings under the back seat as standard. '01 is sticking in my head for this as I don't believe my 2000 has them but seem to recall that the '01 did.

In any event, you may want to look into retrofitting them. I have no idea what's involved with this, but suspect that some welding will be required. The advantage is that any pretty much any child seat made in the last decade will be designed to directly-attach to the anchor points, and they hold the seats in very solidly.

 

[GSequoia]

Forward facing car seats don't require a shoulder belt, in fact they lock it away. The only thing you're really lacking in the Jeep is a top tether strap bracket. There were kits produced by Chrysler for it but you can't find them anywhere anymore (if you find any kits let me know, I want two!).

As for brands technically any will provide the minimum but the more you pay the more comfortable and easy the seat. We have two car seats for my two year old, a cheap Cosoco and a good Britax. The Britax lives in my '96 Cherokee in the center seat (no shoulder belt) and fits really well. Just put your knee into the seat and push down while tightening the belt and it won't move.

You could fab up a top tether bracket quite easily, just put a QUALITY small hook behind the base of the backrest, I would attach it to the floor not the seat. I may end up doing that one day but I haven't committed yet.

 

[GSequoia]

I don't remember the exact year it was introduced, but: in either '99, 2000, or '01 the XJ got LATCH childseat fittings under the back seat as standard. '01 is sticking in my head for this as I don't believe my 2000 has them but seem to recall that the '01 did.

In any event, you may want to look into retrofitting them. I have no idea what's involved with this, but suspect that some welding will be required. The advantage is that any child seat made in the last decade will be designed to directly-attach to the anchor points, and they hold the seats in pretty solidly.

Nope.

XJs never got LATCH. If they did I'd trade the '96 for that year.

That said LATCH isn't really necessary. It's just a (much) easier way to attach car seats. You can get them in just as secure with good old seat belts as you can with latch.

 

[r33pwrd]

4 year old probably only needs a booster (unless he is really small) but they do make booster seats this is what I will do with my 3 year old as it adds some extra support than a standard booster does (standard booster is just a base they sit on) but I guess you would need to add a shoulder strap as well. the seats with a 5 point harness would be ideal but I think a 4 year old will be to big. http://www.google.com/products/cata...alog_result&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CEwQ8gIwAg#

 

[casm]

Nope.

XJs never got LATCH. If they did I'd trade the '96 for that year.

That said LATCH isn't really necessary. It's just a (much) easier way to attach car seats. You can get them in just as secure with good old seat belts as you can with latch.

I'm gonna disagree on this one - but only insofar as I can't remember definitively that it did have it. My recollection is that the '01 did (and I recall there being a label to that effect in it somewhere), but it's been six years since I had that Jeep so it's completely possible that I'm brain-farting on this one. The 2000 definitely doesn't; I just double-checked it. :cheers:

 

[xjwisconsin]

we never got the latch system. however pre 99's have a d ring type latch that came from the dealer. mounts down into the floor. To be used with the teather on most seats. post 99 got three ring mounts that are located in the headliner between the soundbar and the rear window. I pulled some for my 98 a couple months ago, am holding my week old daughter as I type this. have not had the time to investigate yet if I can retrofit them to work in my 98. Were using a britax pumpkin right now. I have it strapped down in the center of the rear seat. works great. Safest seat I found. I think your looking more for older kids though Eh? IIRC Mastercraft and Sparco make little race style seats for kids. I remember someone years ago taking out the rear stock seat and installing these in conjuction with harnesses attached to their cage.

 

[Cottontail]

I have a 2001, and don't know about the LATCH system. I'll look when I get home. I do have roof brackets by the hatch for the back straps. Our '04 WJ has them, but the '96 ZJ doesn't.

We have Britax car seats and they work well in all of our Jeeps.

Curious, but your '89 only has lap belts? My '85 and my '90 XJs had shoulder straps.

 

[GSequoia]

Curious, but your '89 only has lap belts? My '85 and my '90 XJs had shoulder straps.

Those were aftermarket / dealer add-ons. XJs didn't get shoulder belts in the back seats until 1991.