is this a good idea or bad idea?

I cannot really tell what you are doing with the lower "lap belt" strap. It looks like you have a strap, anchored to something down by the stock belt tension reel, that goes into the child seat base? What is the other end of that strap attached to?

The upper strap looks to be at a very awkward angle to do any real restraining of the seat tipping forward. Pull hard on the top of the seat and see how far it pivots foreward. That strap looks like it will simply pivot forward around the head restraint bar. Best if that strap goes straight to the rear at a shallow angle downward. Maybe draping right over the lip of the bed and anchored on the forward panel of the bed? Also, you would want to ensure that the bed tilt cannot possibly come unlatched in a crash.

I'm not sure if you can see what I did but i hooked his seat to the factory seat mounts in the back. If you look close you can see the hook up on the bottom and the bed. by the way thats not his bud light

lambfam660 wrote:

I'm not sure if you can see what I did but i hooked his seat to the factory seat mounts in the back. If you look close you can see the hook up on the bottom and the bed. by the way thats not his bud light

HaHa, are you sure that he did not sneak a sip while you weren't looking

OK, that sounds like a sturdy arrangement for the cross strap. I'd be a little worried about the rearward anchoring of the seat. give the top of the seat a real healthy pull toward the front. Tie a horse to a post with a long leadrope and he can still move easily from side to side. However, he cannot back up because that is a straight pull with the rope in pure tension. Oh, BTW take your kid out (if you have not already) before you yard on the seat

I did take him for a SLOW ride threw the woods before I posted because I didn't want child protective service coming to my house! I do see what you are saying about anchoring the top of the seat straight back in case it does move you never know? I did shake the hell out of the seat before I put him in it and it did not move at all but there again you never know? Not like I would try to win the baja 1000 with him like that just thought it may be more fun for the kids?

lambfam660 wrote:

I did take him for a SLOW ride threw the woods before I posted because I didn't want child protective service coming to my house! I do see what you are saying about anchoring the top of the seat straight back in case it does move you never know? I did shake the hell out of the seat before I put him in it and it did not move at all but there again you never know? Not like I would try to win the baja 1000 with him like that just thought it may be more fun for the kids?

As he gets a little older and you still take him for rides, he is going to want to go faster. It will not take long at all.

I figure that if you hook up the stap at all, you might as well make it do something worthwhile. The cross strap at the bottom alone will suffice for those slow rides with no crash.

I think you're on the right track with the anchoring system.
Key to this whole setup is the driver! Slow rides! Don't do things that are the least bit risky. Mechanical failure can also happen.
Just take it easy and you will be fine.

My 4 yr old has been riding on the rhino since he was 6 months old, in a carseat in between the seats, first in a rear facing seat and now forward facing, he absolutely loves it, is a bit tighter ride, but his seat does not move at all, and i feel completely confident it isnt going anywhere, cant get a pic to upload though