Britax Husky Installation Tips

THIS PAGE IS OBSOLETE AND IS NO LONGER UPDATED. PLEASE VISIT Car-Seat.Org FOR INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS.

General tips for the Britax Husky:

First, read your manual carefully. If you don't have them, or have the original revision 1, please try the new Britax Husky Online Instructions Rev. 3 (PDF Format), the Britax addendum for lap belt installation (PDF Format) and the Britax Husky Recall Instructions .
The Husky may be used front-facing only, from 22 to 80 pounds, for kids 19 to 53 inches tall.
The Husky is a large seat. It may not fit some vehicles and seatbelt systems. It measures about 30" tall and 21" wide (18" wide at the base). It weighs about 26 pounds.
The Husky is recommended to use a "reverse" seatbelt routing method with a lap/shoulder belt. While this makes for a tight installation without locking clips, some lap-shoulder seatbelts may be too short to reach. In this case, you may also use a more traditional belt routing path indicated in the new instructions above, but only when using the top-tether.
With a lap only belt, the shorter "traditional" routing path MUST be used for the seatbelt, and a tether is always recommended. This update was made in a recall notice and consumers should have been sent new labels and instructions.
The top slots are at a seated height of 21 inches. The tops of a child's ears must be below the top of the restraint shell, and their shoulders should not be above the level of the top harness strap slots.
The outer crotch buckle position must only be used for children above 50 pounds
A top-tether must be used above 50 pounds.
The lower LATCH anchors must only be used up to 48 pounds, unless your vehicle manufacturer has specified that the lower anchors in your vehicle are rated to a higher weight.
You may only use the Husky without the recline bar when the top-tether is used.
If you are considering the purchase of a Husky, also read my Epinions Britax Husky Review. You may also visit the Britax Husky Product Information Page.
The Britax Husky is similar to the discontinued Britax Super Elite. The Husky added LATCH and a recline bar, features the Super Elite did not have. There are also other minor differences, so this page only applies to the Husky even though there may be similarities.

Photo Installation Guide for LATCH use with the Husky:

Our guide to LATCH contains general information about LATCH and tether use. You may wish to read it first if you are unfamiliar with the LATCH system.
You may click on a photo to get a larger image from the gallery.
1) If your vehicle seats recline, it may help to recline them somewhat before you begin.
2) Loosen the LATCH attachment straps on both sides.
3) Make sure the recline bar is installed. Though it is difficult to see in the first version of the Britax manual, the correct routing of the attachments is inside the recline bar, as shown here. Webbing wrapped around the recline bar is undesirable. Find the LATCH lower anchor in your vehicle seat and attach the first LATCH lower attachment from the Husky to the anchor until you hear a solid click:
4) Attach the second LATCH lower attachment from the Husky to the other anchor until you hear a solid click:
5) Push the Husky straight back into the vehicle seat firmly with your knee or hand. Pull the slack out of the LATCH attachment straps. The first version of the manual shows the straps being pulled outward, away from the Husky. In some vehicles, it may be easier to reach through the belt slots in the shell to access the loop end on the Latch harness adjuster straps. Pull the straps under the recline bar and through the slots to tighten, as shown:
6) The bottom of the Husky must be flat on the vehicle seat when you have it installed correctly:
7) Since the base of the Husky must be flat on the vehicle seat, this means that the Husky probably should not be reclined such that the recline bar is resting flat along the vehicle seat bottom cushion. Depending on your vehicle, the recline and the installation, the position of the connector and strap with respect to the bar may vary. In most vehicles, the recline bar will usually be angled slightly upward into the back of the vehicle seat as shown:
8) You should use the seatbelt instead of LATCH if you cannot get a tight fit with LATCH, or if your vehicle does not have LATCH at all. If your child is above 48 pounds, you may also need to use the seatbelt instead of LATCH, unless otherwise indicated by Britax or your vehicle manufacturer. Please note the recommended reverse routing path of the belt, which is different than most carseats. The Husky manual has a nice series of example photos for seatbelt installation. A more standard routing can be used with a lap-shoulder belt, but you must also use a top-tether. These are example photos of a seatbelt installation in the 2nd and 3rd row of a 2001 Honda Odyssey:
9) If you reclined the back of your vehicle seat at the start, you can try to adjust it more vertical now. That may help make the installation a bit tighter.
10) Attach the top tether to the appropriate anchor in your vehicle. Consult your vehicle owners manual if you do not know the location of your anchor, as it may vary from the one in this example photo for the 2nd row captain's chair (left) and 3rd row bench (right) in a 2001 Honda Odyssey:
11) Adjust the harness on the child as per the Husky instruction manual. You should use the shoulder slots at or above the level of the child's shoulders:
Questions? Please ask them on the discussion Forums at Car-Seat.Org.

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