Does anyone put their infant seat in the middle of the back seat of a supercab? Owners manual shows passenger and driver's only where the latch anchors are. I can anchor the seat in the middle using those anchors. It seems to work in the middle but i dont want to do anything against the instructions. Thanks in advance for any experience anyone wants to share.

 

Not a Scab... but I do in my Screw ....I anchor the infant seat base with the lapbelt... Its very secure that way...

 

I did that for my three kids. Make sure to get the straps and seatbelt strap as tight as humanly possible to secure the infant seat. Your goal is to make the frame of the baby carrier one with the truck. Being in the middle is ok. Equal protection from side impact from either side. Newborn seats are always rear facing, and just fit better in the middle. Just my .02 Your actual experience may vary.

You can use the latch straps and the seatbelt. If that doesn't work, go with the straps.

Also, never buy a used child seat at a garage sale. You never know if it has been in a crash already, and is compromised. Should always buy new from the store.

 

I have a screw but it also does not have the latches on the middle. I latch a seat in the middle using the latches for the two outside seats, was told by a car seat expert that this was perfectly fine. I would always use a latch if available over using the lapbelt...much more secure! Oh, I also have seats behind both passenger and driver for three across, all latched in.

 

I have an scab, and we did the middle seat after my son was born. Actually we had too go middle, because the car seat was so big, we had to push one of the front seats up all the way if we put it on the side seats.


It was at this point we entertained the idea of getting a screw. Can't afford that at this point. Now my son is 8 months old, and we had to put him in a bigger seat. It doesn't fit in the middle like the infant seat. So he can't ride in my truck anymore. Unless its just he and I. We have to push the front seat up so far that its dangerous for my wife to ride in the passenger seat.

 

Be careful borrowing an inboard LATCH anchor from the left and right seats to create a middle position that wasn't there from the factory. I think generally speaking it's acceptable to borrow the inboard LATCH anchors as long as it's permitted by the owner's manual and/or the distance (spread) between the 2 anchors is less than 14" (I think the standard is 11"?). If it's more than 14", you do NOT want to put your child in that middle position using LATCH (use the seatbelt method instead).

 

The spacing of the anchors is ~24" for middle use. Sides are ~12". The base I have will work in the middle but I have to stretch the latches to the max. I can use the seatbelt at the same time. Seams like it would be fine but I will most likely put the seat on the passenger side, per owners manual. Thanks.

 

Follow the recommendations of both Ford and of the baby seat manufacturer. If either or both of them say don't do it, then don't do it.

 

This is totally false and we do not recommend installing seats this way. If there is not a dedicated LATCH system for that seat, use the seat belt, follow the instructions with the seat for installation.

 

That is the safest answer. But some seat manufacturers do specify it is allowed for that model and not others. Just have to read the instructions to determine if the seat allows wide placement of latches.