Help - I have buckle crunch and need to go out!

Post by **mobilecat** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 12:09 pm

Help - I am gong to get buckle crunch.

I have tried our high back maxi cosi booster in the bongo. The seat itself fits fine but the part of the seat belt that accepts the other seems to long. It comes too far up from the seat and I am going to have a buckle crunch problem.

We were going to go out in it this afternoon and the little one is really looking forward to it. Is there anything I can do. It strikes me that any seat would be the same because it is the lentgh of the seatbelt rather than the design of the seat that is the problem. I have just compared the seatbelt fixings on my other car and the bit that accepts the metal thingy is right at the seat - not coming up from it.

Has anyone else got this problem. Is there a fix. WHat can I do?

I will try my cheap booster as its ok for short journeys but its really only for guests on short jouneys.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:19 pm

Hi Catherine, Do you mean the middle belt on the middle seat?

I'm not certain about specifics, but mike at wheelquick has had the mounting underneath the seat re-located in the past for another bongo owner with baby seat reservations.

As far as i can tell an extra mounting bar was welded between the seat rails further forward on the seat, ultimately shortening the belt up top.

Give mike a ring for specifics...

Post by **mobilecat** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:28 pm

Cheers for that. I actually just mean the ordinary backseatbelts. THe problem is that the stalks come up far too far above the seat causing buckle crunch.

For the moment I have twised the stalk straps underneath round and round until they stalk is just poking above the seat (normal position in most cars) and this is fine - no buckle crunch. It isn't idea but I will see hw it works and if i need to I may have to have the stalks shortened or replaced.

Post by **Bob** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:21 pm

I'm not sure what you mean by 'Buckle Crunch', but I think that twisting the strap 'Round and Round' may well prevent the belt from restraining the child seat in the event of a bump, please be careful.

Post by **mobilecat** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:43 pm

Bob wrote:I'm not sure what you mean by 'Buckle Crunch', but I think that twisting the strap 'Round and Round' may well prevent the belt from restraining the child seat in the event of a bump, please be careful.

Bucklecrunch - for people that are not familiar with it is when the plastic housing of the buckle of the seatbelt is in direct contact with the hard part of the child seat/booster seat. The problem with this is the plastic itself isn't that strong and if it is in contact with something hard on impact it could smash, thus releasing the buckle. This is why when the bottom part of the seatbelt webbing/strap is too long you can get this situation.

By twisting the seatbelt stalk strap upto the buckle, it has shortned it. It is the only way to do it without having it professionally shortnened which isn't a viaible option this minute. I think it will be ok for now until I sort out something better. It is the bit below the seat that is twisted. If anything it makes a stronger rope and it doesn't restrict its movement at all.

Thanks for the advice. Please lookout for buckle crunch in your bongo if you have child seats and hadnt considered it.

There is a photo on this site - where the stalk is too long, comes too far up out of the proper seat - like in the bongo. First photo.
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?p=250786

Post by **Bob** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:54 pm

Yes, I can see that this is a problem, just not come accross the term before, this is the place to learn, thanks.

Post by **mobilecat** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 8:06 pm

Bob wrote:Yes, I can see that this is a problem, just not come accross the term before, this is the place to learn, thanks.

No probs Bob - always wanted to say that to someone

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:56 am

OUCH!

Pete & Sue · Post by **Pete & Sue** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:59 pm

Use the seatstalk which is for the other seatbelt.

Post by **mobilecat** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:05 pm

Pete & Sue wrote:Use the seatstalk which is for the other seatbelt.

I will have a go - I think it is also quite long though. I will certainly try it later on today. thanks

brianwfl · Post by **brianwfl** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:41 pm

Hi peeps,

I am afraid I am somewhat disturbed by the action of twisting the seat beIt staIk strap to shorten it. I an a chief Ioadmaster/weight and baIance engineer with a cargo aiIine. I was taught that a restraint when twisted couId resuIt in a reduction in the restraint factor by up to 70%.This is what I teach other Ioadmasters/cargo staff and is ratified by boeing/airbus/raf/usaf.

I feeI that there coud be serious insurance/potentiaI heaIth and safety probs in the event of an accident

perhaps the insurance/ IegaI eagIes can comment.

brgds brianwfI

ps I am having probs with the Ietter I and that is why I am using I, hope the post is readabIe

Post by **mobilecat** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:45 pm

brianwfl wrote:Hi peeps,

I am afraid I am somewhat disturbed by the action of twisting the seat beIt staIk strap to shorten it. I an a chief Ioadmaster/weight and baIance engineer with a cargo aiIine. I was taught that a restraint when twisted couId resuIt in a reduction in the restraint factor by up to 70%.This is what I teach other Ioadmasters/cargo staff and is ratified by boeing/airbus/raf/usaf.

I feeI that there coud be serious insurance/potentiaI heaIth and safety probs in the event of an accident

perhaps the insurance/ IegaI eagIes can comment.

brgds brianwfI

ps I am having probs with the Ietter I and that is why I am using I, hope the post is readabIe

Thanks for the warning. I will be looking into it asap.

Post by **mobilecat** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:25 pm

I am going back down to Halfords where I originally got the car seats from as they are quite good at telling me whats ok and whats dangerous. I have a feeling that they will say the belts need shortening though because I cant think of a single carseat that is designed in a way that this wont be a problem.

If anyone has got a third stage car seat - ie a booster with a high back - for a child over about 3.5 upto 12ish can you let me know what you have and if you are sure it is safe with regard to the buckle not resting on the seat. I wonder if mine just have very long belts.

RobnKathryn · Post by **RobnKathryn** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:55 pm

Catherine

We have Britax First Class Si car seats which have an alternative belt routing to avoid buckle crunch. They fit fine in the Bongo using the alternative route. This seat is only children up to 18kg but Britax may use a similar system on seats for older children.

Post by **mobilecat** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:04 pm

Our maxi cosi priori had the different routing too but the next stage up don't. This is because the booster sits in the chair and strap goes around the child and seat as an adult seatbelt. They all work the same.

I spoke to the car seat fitter this afternoon and basically the straps coming from the floor are too long for any seat to be safe. Please check yours now if you haven't doneso and may have the same issue.

He agrees that short term twisting the underneath strap (below the seat) is safer than have a buckle against the car seat.

I asked about shortening the straps but appently this could cause MOT probs.

He suggested that the best solution would be to replace the bottom part of the belt with a different one because it looked standard.

I will ring Mike @ Wheelquick tommorrow and see if any of the ones on his bongolows are any shorter and take it from there.