RAM CHASSIS CAB 2016 Owners Manual

2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over the front
of the vehicle seat – while they are still sitting all the
way back?
3. Does the shoulder belt cross the child’s shoulder
between their neck and arm?
4. Is the lap part of the belt as low as possible, touching
the child’s thighs and not their stomach?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If the answer to any of these questions was “no,” then the
child still needs to use a booster seat in this vehicle. If the
child is using the lap/shoulder belt, check seat belt fit
periodically and make sure the seat belt buckle is latched.
A child’s squirming or slouching can move the belt out of
position. If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck,
move the child closer to the center of the vehicle, or use
a booster seat to position the seat belt on the child
correctly. WARNING!Never allow a child to put the shoulder belt under an
arm or behind their back. In a crash, the shoulder belt
will not protect a child properly, which may result in
serious injury or death. A child must always wear
both the lap and shoulder portions of the seat belt
correctly. 2THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 89

Recommendations For Attaching Child Restraints
Restraint Type Combined
Weight of the
Child + Child
Restraint Use any attachment method shown with an “X” Below
LATCH –
Lower Anchors
Only Seat Belt Only LATCH –
Lower Anchors
+ Top Tether
Anchor Seat Belt + Top
Tether Anchor
Rear-Facing
Child Restraint Up to 65 lbs
(29.5 kg) XX
Rear-Facing
Child Restraint More than
65 lbs (29.5 kg) X
Forward-Facing
Child Restraint Up to 65 lbs
(29.5 kg) XX
Forward-Facing
Child Restraint More than
65 lbs (29.5 kg) X90 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Lower Anchors And Tethers For CHildren
(LATCH) Restraint System Your vehicle is equipped with the child restraint anchor-
age system called LATCH, which stands for Lower
Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. The LATCH system
has three vehicle anchor points for installing LATCH-
equipped child seats. There are two lower anchorages
located at the back of the seat cushion where it meets the
seatback and one top tether anchorage located behind the
seating position. These anchorages are used to install
LATCH-equipped child seats without using the vehicle’s
seat belts. Some seating positions may have a top tether
anchorage but no lower anchorages. In these seating
positions, the seat belt must be used with the top tether
anchorage to install the child restraint. Please see the
following table for more information. 2THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 91

LATCH Positions For Installing Child Restraints In
This Vehicle
Regular Cab
• Lower Anchorage Symbol – 2 anchorages per
seating position
• Top Tether Anchorage Symbol Crew Cab Split Bench
• Lower Anchorage Symbol - 2 anchorages per
seating position
• Top Tether Anchorage Symbol92 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Crew Cab Full Bench
• Lower Anchorage Symbol 2 anchorages per
seating position
• Top Tether Anchorage Symbol 2THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 93

Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With LATCH
What is the weight limit (child’s
weight + weight of the child re-
straint) for using the LATCH an-
chorage system to attach the child
restraint? 65 lbs (29.5 kg) Use the LATCH anchorage system
until the combined weight of the
child and the child restraint is
65 lbs (29.5 kg). Use the seat belt
and tether anchor instead of the
LATCH system once the combined
weight is more than 65 lbs
(29.5 kg).
Can the LATCH anchorages and
the seat belt be used together to
attach a rear-facing or forward-
facing child restraint? No Do not use the seat belt when you
use the LATCH anchorage system
to attach a rear-facing or forward-
facing child restraint.
Can a child seat be installed in the
center position using the inner
LATCH lower anchorages? No Full bench rear seat only: Use the
seat belt and tether anchor to in-
stall a child seat in the center seat-
ing position.94 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With LATCH
Can two child restraints be at-
tached using a common lower
LATCH anchorage? No Never “share” a LATCH anchorage
with two or more child restraints.
If the center position does not have
dedicated LATCH lower anchor-
ages, use the seat belt to install a
child seat in the center position
next to a child seat using the
LATCH anchorages in an outboard
position.
Can the rear-facing child restraint
touch the back of the front passen-
ger seat? Yes The child seat may touch the back
of the front passenger seat if the
child restraint manufacturer also
allows contact. See your child re-
straint owner ’s manual for more
information.
Can the head restraints be re-
moved? No 2THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 95

Locating LATCH Anchorages
The lower anchorages are round bars that are
found at the rear of the seat cushion where it
meets the seatback. They are just visible when
you lean into the rear seat to install the child
restraint. You will easily feel them if you run your finger
along the gap between the seatback and seat cushion.
Locating Tether Anchorages
Regular Cab models have tether strap anchor-
ages behind the front center and right seats.
Crew Cab models have tether strap anchorages
located behind each of the rear seats. Crew Cab Rear Outboard Seats Driver Side96 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

1 — Tether Strap Hook
2 — Tether Strap To Child Restraint
3 — Tether Anchor
LATCH-compatible child restraint systems will be
equipped with a rigid bar or a flexible strap on each side. Each will have a hook or connector to attach to the lower
anchorage and a way to tighten the connection to the
anchorage. Forward-facing child restraints and some
rear-facing child restraints will also be equipped with a
tether strap. The tether strap will have a hook at the end
to attach to the top tether anchorage and a way to tighten
the strap after it is attached to the anchorage.
Center Seat LATCH — Crew Cab Full Bench
WARNING!• Do not install a child restraint in the center posi-
tion using the LATCH system. This position is not
approved for installing child seats using the
LATCH attachments. You must use the seat belt
and tether anchor to install a child seat in the center
seating position. (Continued)Regular Cab Tether Anchorages 2THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 97

WARNING! (Continued)• Never use the same lower anchorage to attach more
than one child restraint. Please refer to “Installing
The LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint System”
for typical installation instructions.
Center Seat LATCH — Crew Cab Split Bench
If a child restraint installed in the center position blocks
the seat belt webbing or buckle for the outboard position,
do not use that outboard position. If a child seat in the
center position blocks the outboard LATCH anchors or
seat belt, do not install a child seat in that outboard
position. WARNING!Never use the same lower anchorage to attach more
than one child restraint. Please refer to “Installing
The LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint System” for
typical installation instructions.
Always follow the directions of the child restraint manu-
facturer when installing your child restraint. Not all child
restraint systems will be installed as described here.
To Install A LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint
If the selected seating position has a Switchable Auto-
matic Locking Retractor (ALR) seat belt, stow the seat
belt, following the instructions below. See the section
“Installing Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat Belt”
to check what type of seat belt each seating position has.98 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE