Baby Car Seat for rear of GT4 [Recommendations?] | FerrariChat
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Baby Car Seat for rear of GT4 [Recommendations?]

Discussion in '308/328' started by cray54, Sep 29, 2011.

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  1. cray54

    cray54 Karting

    Nov 4, 2005
    184
    Ashfield, MA
    Full Name:
    Christopher Gray
    #1 cray54, Sep 29, 2011
    I am interested in installing baby car seat(s) in the back of my Dino. The first baby is on the way and I'm doing my part to prepare (somehow custom install a baby seat in the car).

    I am reasonably certain there is no way to get one to fit in the existing seat (please correct me if I am wrong). Therefore, I have decided to look into replacing the rear seat with a baby car seat. I would likely build a platform on which the car seat would be placed. The seat would be secured through the original seat belt, just without the fiberglass shell back there.

    First, I am interested in the legal requirements of a baby car seat installation and whether it is possible to accomplish within the law.

    Second, I am confident in my ability to create a safe securing method. I am, however, interested in any thoughts regarding the safety associated with doing so.

    Third, assuming we can get past the first two... are there any recommendations for car seats to use? I would be interested in an infant seat or a convertible seat. Ideally we'd be able to get two back there in the next couple years.

    Thanks!
    Chris
     
  2. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 28, 2003
    10,008
    Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Bastuna
    #2 sherpa23, Sep 29, 2011
    You are going to have three stages of car seats. The most important stage is the shortest (go figure) and that's basically for the first year when you use a base (most likely) that holds the rear facing baby seat. When your little one outgorws that, around a year, they go to a regular car seat that faces rearward, then you turn it to face forward. When they are about 40 lbs (between 4 and 5 probably) they go to a booster seat with a regular seat belt.

    That being said, you can properly secure the base for the first stage with the right lap belt, although a very tight latch type system would be superior. After that, a properly installed seat with a shoulder harness is pretty feasible but you can use the same latch type system, especially when the seat is rear facing.

    Even if you're removing the seat, all of this remains pretty much the same. Helpful hint: you can use noodles (the kind for swimming pools) to adjust the tilt on the base for the first year.

    Hope this helps.
     
  3. GrayTA

    GrayTA F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 25, 2006
    15,130
    Deep South
    Full Name:
    PDG
    #3 GrayTA, Sep 29, 2011
    I brought my son home from the hospital in my 308 GTS QV. I also checked with local law enforcement and the hospital in order to ensure that everything was within the law. It was and now my son can say that his first car ride ever was in a Ferrari.

    Having said that, we had a rear facing infant seat with a base. I simply followed the normal guidelines for installation as I would on any car and had no problems. I used a few towels to get it set to the right angles and to protect the leather on the seats. It worked!!!

    We continued to use towels in our other vehicles to ensure that the angle was within acceptable limits and to protect those seats.

    Elias is almost one now and that was, to date, his only ride in the Ferrari. I cant wait for him to get older so we can go for more rides.




    PDG
     
  4. Brian Harper

    Brian Harper F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 17, 2006
    4,078
    San Jose area
    Full Name:
    Brian Harper
    #4 Brian Harper, Sep 30, 2011
    I never got anything to fit back there, others have. Removing the seat just exposes a metal surface shaped like the seat. My best, untried, solution was to buy a sacraficial car seat and cut the base to match the curve of the seat. Car seats are designed to fit an "L" shaped seat and the rear of the GT4 is shaped more like ")". Someone here modified their Mondial rears with a five-point harness. This is probably not legal for child transport but if done well would probably be the safest option.
     
  5. _Yves_

    _Yves_ Karting

    Oct 5, 2008
    91
    Shanghai
    Full Name:
    Yves Dumoulin
    #5 _Yves_, Sep 30, 2011
    Hi,

    I never found any rear facing seat for the rear seats. However when my son turned 15 months I was able to seat him face forward.

    I bought this baby seat: not a perfect match but works OK
    http://www.recaro.com/en/produits/securite-enfant/produits/sieges-enfant/ece-groupe-iiiiii/recaro-young-sport.html

    Of course your front passenger cannot be too tall (fortunately my wife is not).

    FWIW, I discovered a few weeks after buying the seat that my son hated the Ferrari: too much noise, and the gas smell...
    So I barely use the seat in the end.

    Best,

    Yves
     
  6. cray54

    cray54 Karting

    Nov 4, 2005
    184
    Ashfield, MA
    Full Name:
    Christopher Gray
    #6 cray54, Oct 1, 2011
    I was thinking that removing the rear seat would allow some more room for the car seat installations and would allow me to achieve the "L" shaped seat (by installing some brackets). If I did it well, I could set up one seat and one "luggage rack" back there (until junior # 2).

    I suppose I'll see if I can borrow some different rear-facing seats and try getting them back there with the seat removed (as it seems rear-facing seats will be the hardest to fit).

    I would still be interested to hear from anyone regarding other seats they have successfully used in the rear of the GT4.

    Thanks - Chris
     

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