I bought a used 2015 F-250, 4x4 Crew Cab Platinum in January, as part of the price negotiations I asked the dealer to install the LATCH (Lower Anchor and Tether for Children) system. They agreed to perform the install as part of the sale and wrote it into the sales contract.

I haul two young children daily and i will have car seats in this truck for at least the next 5 years. I know the LATCH system is not required in this vehicle due to the GVW but feel it is a safer way to attach the car seats than just using the seat belts.

The dealership's service department recently told me that it is not possible to install the latch system in an F-250 or bigger since the anchors are built into the seat frame and they are not manufactured this way for the F-250.

I am currently receiving a grade A run around from the dealership and I am sure they are hoping I just give up and go away.

Does anybody else have a LATCH system in a F-250 and what are my next options.

Many Thanks in Advance

 

They appear to be correct. If you look in your manual, it talks about the fact the LATCH system is not in the truck. The manuals are all online if you don't have one.

 

Clearly a case of the salesman saying whatever it takes to make the sale. Generally speaking, that kind of behavior only occurs in places that encourage it. In other words, don't expect the dealership to step up and react with anything more than a shoulder shrug.
You could probably void the sale (with a fight) or decide to keep it.

 

For whatever reason Ford does not put LATCH in their Super Duty's. Dodge and GM I believe have LATCH in their 3/4 & 1 tons but Ford regards the truck as a work truck and not a family hauler, like the F150's, therefore no LATCH. This is how it was explained to me by a FORD engineer at an autoshow a while back. I told him all other brands are placing LATCH in their trucks and Ford needs to catch up.


LATCH is also installed at the factory, built onto the seat frame and cannot be installed by dealer or aftermarket.


The only thing the dealer can install related to child safety restraint systems are seat tether anchors, but your truck should have them installed as standard equipment.


The salesperson you dealt with was ignorant of this fact. Its not a run around, they just can't do it.


Your options for a true LATCH are a pretty much zero.


If you really want to have the base of your seats secured, you can build a restraint system. We did on our Honda Odyssey for the 3rd row seating. We purchased metal d-rings that will click into the LATCH system on the child seat, feeding them up from behind the factory seat. Then we purchased seat belt webbing and had the d-ring sewed into the webbing. Fashioned the ends together with a tension buckle. The result holds the (child) seat bottoms in place by securing on the backside of the vehicle seat. While its not a Transport Canada & CSA approved system it does serve the purpose we wanted by holding the childseat bases in place. However you'll still need to use the vehicle's seatbelt to hold the childseat in place as this is the only legal option.


I also have a 2015 F250.

 

Agreed. Sales person. Said what it took to get the sale. Nothing can be added aftermarket for a Latch system after its left the factory.

Personally, I use the base for my car seat in the middle and don't have any issues. I feel it's not going anywhere and is the safest option. I absolutely would never attempt to make my own, as others mentioned.

The life and safety of my child is not worth it. And I've worked on building race cars and track cars, and installed full harness systems, and its scary seeing other people's work, that don't know what they are doing.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I contacted a engineering firm who will design and fabricate a custom latch system that will meet or exceed safety standards, and hit the dealership with the quote.

It's not cheap so I'm curious as to what the dealership is going to do.

 

Can't do it, I liked them in my 150

 

Perhaps I'm misreading what your saying.....the life & safety of my children are at risk........and my work is scary as I know not what I'm doing.




So, if one READS what I wrote: "it does serve the purpose we wanted by holding the childseat bases in place. However you'll still need to use the vehicle's seatbelt to hold the childseat in place as this is the only legal option."


I do not suggest fabricating a LATCH system to use in place of but in addition to. Perhaps my only omission was what type of childseat we are using our LATCH adapted securing webbing for.


Btw, LATCH is not only on bucket seats with bases, but larger seats for children who've outgrown buckets and LATCH is also on booster seats. Booster seats do not have seatbelt securing systems. We fabricated our own restraint for our boosters, which have LATCH connectors to secure the base. And we still make our children wear their seatbelts!


Excuse me while I say good night to my children, tuck them in, tell them I love them and prepare their lunches for tomorrow.

 

Ew. You feed your children day-old food. Parents these days...

 

My 07 F350 Crew doesn't have the LATCH system but I was plesantly surprised to find the upper tether hooks behind the seats.
I bought my crew cab right after I had my twins. I am very serious about carseats and installing them. I don't believe you need the full LATCH system to have safe carseats.
I bought Britax seat because they were well made (rated) and also had some nice features. Every time I have installed seat in a new car I have brought them to a "check station" to verify they are installed right. I have been asked multiple times if I want to stay and demonstrate proper install. The key is to put some effort into it. I put my knee in the center of the seating area and cinch down the seatbelt. Then tighten down the upper tether. If you do that you will need a chainsaw or sledgehammer to get the seat out