Graco 4Ever All-in-1 Car Seat
Like the Fountain of Youth or the Holy Grail, a true “forever” car seat has been eluding desperate searchers for years. Yes, there already are seats that rear-face, forward-face, and turn into a booster, but they are often lacking in at least one function, and when that happens, what’s the point?
So when Graco came out with the 4Ever All-in-1, which rear-faces, forward-faces, and turns into both a high-back and backless booster, it was easy to get excited but also easy to have reservations. Will it really do what it claims, and do it well?
Short answer is, yes! The Graco 4Ever DLX is a CarseatBlog Recommended Carseat and a 2022 Editors’ Pick.
Note: The Graco 4Ever has been discontinued. The newer version of this seat is the Graco 4Ever DLX. The DLX model features a forward-facing lockoff for easier seatbelt installations.
4Ever Specs & Features:
- Rear-facing: 4-40 lbs. and child’s head must be 1″ from gray headrest adjuster handle
- Forward-facing (with harness): 20-65 lbs and 49″ or less
- High-back booster: 40-100 lbs. and 38-57″
- Backless booster: 40-120 lbs. and 40-57″
- No-rethread harness with 10 position headrest
- DLX model: built-in forward-facing lockoff
- Adjustable base with 6 recline positions (3 for rear-facing, 3 for forward-facing)
- Easy-to-read bubble level indicator
- Steel reinforced frame
- Energy-absorbing EPS foam
- Premium push-on lower LATCH anchor connectors (LATCH limit: child weight of 42 lbs.)
- Dual integrated cup holders (simple assembly required)
2022 4Ever DLX Fashions: Bryant, Fairmont, Joslyn, Kendrick, Zagg
Measurements:
- Lowest harness height (with infant insert): 7″
- Highest harness height: 18″
- Tallest booster height: 18.75″
- Internal rear-facing height: 27.5″ (that’s one inch below the headrest adjustment lever of 28.5″)
- Crotch buckle positions: 5″ and 7″
- Seating depth: 12″
- Internal seat width: 13″
- Widest external seat width: 19.5″ (at cup holders)
- Widest point on base: 15″
- Narrowest point on base: 11.5″ (at very front and very back)
Installation/Fit to Vehicle:
In general, the 4Ever is an easy-to-install seat, which is always a good thing. It installed nicely in rear-facing and forward-facing modes in the vehicles I tried it in (2010 Honda Odyssey and 2014 Honda Civic) with the seatbelt and with LATCH. The belt paths are clearly labeled and color-coded both on the seat and in the manual (blue for rear-facing, orange for forward-facing, green for booster). The LATCH and tether straps are easy to loosen when you need to, but stay secure otherwise. My particular model has the premium push-on LATCH connectors, but the manual includes a drawing/description of the hook style, too, so it’s possible that other models will come with those.
LATCH Weight Limit: 45 lbs. For kids over the LATCH weight limit, install the 4Ever with seatbelt and tether.
Inflatable Seat Belts: Graco has determined that the 4Ever CAN be installed with inflatable seat belts found in some Ford Motor Company vehicles. Other types of inflatable seat belts are still incompatible for use with the 4Ever. There are no issues when using the seat as a belt-positioning booster.
Here’s a video showing how to switch the LATCH straps from forward-facing to rear-facing modes, how to tighten the LATCH straps rear-facing, and how to put a rear-facing child into the seat:
This seat lacks a built-in lockoff device for installations with seatbelt so it’s very important to understand how your seatbelt locks if you’re going to install the 4Ever with seatbelt and not with LATCH anchors. Remember – once your child reaches 45 lbs. you must discontinue using the lower LATCH anchors and switch to a seatbelt installation (plus tether) instead. All vehicles made after 1996 have seatbelts that can lock in some way to hold a carseat tightly in place during routine driving. Most vehicles have switchable retractors but some vehicles or specific seating positions have locking latchplates instead. It’s important to know what your vehicle has and to understand how these features work before you install this carseat with a seatbelt. See your vehicle’s owners manual for specific information on how to install a carseat in your vehicle using the seatbelt. If you have questions, please visit our car-seat.org forum and we’ll be happy to help answer them.
The 4Ever includes a total of six recline positions, and the recline is easily adjusted by pulling an adjuster on the front of the seat. For rear-facing, you’re allowed to use positions 1-3. A bubble level on the side of the seat shows the acceptable recline range.
I was impressed by how well the seat fit in my 2014 Civic in its most reclined mode in position 1. The front seat in the Civic isn’t all the way back, but it’s in exactly the same position I have it in for regular use, which is quite comfortable for my husband and me. There are only millimeters between the 4Ever and the front seat, but that still works. A baby’s weight probably wouldn’t cause the seat to recline any more than that.
Adjusting the recline positions doesn’t make a big difference in the amount of space that the seat takes up front-to-back however in positions 2 and 3, there is a little more room between the 4Ever and the front seat. In position 3, the front seatback could even be adjusted back a bit more if needed.
Based on how this seat fit rear-facing in my Civic and how it fared in our Rear-Facing Convertible Space Comparison, the Graco 4Ever could be a good choice for tall parents who need a lot of legroom upfront and/or vehicles with small backseats.
This is how it looked in my Odyssey, in position 3. There was plenty of room there.
Forward-facing, you can use recline positions 4-6, although position 4 (the most reclined of the forward-facing positions) must be used for children under 40 lbs. In position 4, the seat is quite reclined. This didn’t pose an installation problem in either car, although in a very tight situation (like a pickup with a very small back seat) there might not be enough room for a child’s legs in that most reclined forward-facing position.
It blocks some rear-visibility (especially in the highest height setting), but that’s not unusual with a tall seat in a small car. I didn’t have any issues with it in my Odyssey.
In high-back booster mode, position 6 (most upright) must be used, and it’s important to note that the vehicle headrest can’t cause a gap between the booster and the vehicle seat. The 4Ever does not require vehicle head support in high-back mode, so it’s fine to remove a problematic headrest as long as the vehicle doesn’t prohibit it. This could cause a potential compatibility issue in cars with fixed headrests. However, because the main shell of the seat is rather short, and the extendable headrest sits quite a bit forward of the shell itself, it is likely to play nicely with jutting headrests.
Graco also does not allow any overhang of the booster seat, so that could be a problem with shallow vehicle seats.
The good news, though, is that LATCH use is permitted in high-back booster mode. (The LATCH connectors are incorporated into the back of the seat, so LATCH is not an option in backless mode.)
Another nice feature of the seat, in general, is that the base is nice and flat, so no need to worry about strange bumps or sharp edges poking into your vehicle upholstery.
The 4Ever manual does not specifically address non-standard LATCH spacing, although it does say to use only lower anchor sets designated by the vehicle manufacturer. According to the LATCH Manual (a book many CPS technicians consider just as valuable as their technician guide), Graco allows non-standard spacing wider than 11″. The 4Ever manual states not to use LATCH and the seatbelt at the same time to install the seat when using it with the harness.
Fit to Child:
When a car seat is rated for use from 4 lbs, it’s important that it actually fit a 4-lb child. We used a Huggable Images preemie doll to check the fit with the infant insert, and it did work well, although there are some things you need to be careful of.
If you put the baby in the seat the way it seems it “should” be (crotch low against the crotch buckle), the straps wind up coming from the child’s ears, which isn’t acceptable, even on our newborn doll (photo, below left). However, if you push the baby’s bum back so it sits on the “bump” created by the insert, the straps are right at the baby’s shoulders on our preemie doll (photo, below right). This did create a large gap between the baby and the crotch strap, so a rolled washcloth might be needed to keep a smaller-than-average newborn in the right position.
The nicely contoured infant body insert must be used if the child’s shoulders are below the bottom slots without it. It may only be used rear-facing. There is also an infant head pillow, which also can only be used rear-facing, and only when you’re also using the body support. (The head support slides into a strap on the back of the body pillow, so it wouldn’t make much sense to try to use it separately anyway.)
Since I no longer have babies, I used the seat rear-facing for my 2-year-old, who weighs 30 lbs. and wears size 2T shirts. He fit wonderfully, with plenty of room to grow.
Although my 37-lb, 43-inch 5-year-old is forward-facing, I put her in rear-facing just to see how she fit. Not only did she have plenty of growing room left (the headrest was three clicks from the top), the seat left plenty of room behind the driver’s seat in my Odyssey. Anna has been forward-facing since her fourth birthday, but asked if she could rear-face again after trying out the 4EVER!
I did use the seat forward-facing for her, too. The 4EVER sits higher than the seats normally uses, but she didn’t mind the climb. Because she’s under 40 lbs, we had to use the very reclined position 4. I thought it looked awkward, but she didn’t complain a bit. I can’t imagine head-slump would be an issue with the seat in this position!
She still has plenty of room before she maxes out the 4EVER forward-facing by height, too. My finger is marking where the tallest harness position is in relation to her shoulder.
It’s important to note that when using as a high-back booster, the #6 recline position (most upright) must be used. Also, the belt guide doesn’t go much higher than the top harness slot. That means that a child who outgrows the harness by height won’t have much more time before the high-back booster is also outgrown by height. On the plus side, though, you saw how much room my slightly-taller-than-average 5-year-old has left in the harness, and she’d have a bit more in high-back mode, too, it would last her until I was comfortable putting her in a backless booster.
The booster was a bit hard for her to buckle. I think part of that was because of the height of the base, but part of it is that she doesn’t ride in a booster and isn’t used to buckling yet. The shoulder belt fit well in both the Civic (left) and Odyssey (right). The lap belt was ok, though I would have preferred a bit lower.
This photo below shows poor belt fit, but I wanted to demonstrate how much room she’d have left before she outgrew it. (The shoulder fit would likely improve as she got taller.)
Here’s a video demonstrating forward-facing and high-back booster mode. In it, you’ll see that Darren’s son Jon had a very good fit in the high-back booster:
The first thing I noticed about the backless booster is that it’s BIG! It sits about two inches higher than the TurboBooster, and it’s quite a bit wider, too.
Because Anna is only 37 lbs, she doesn’t yet meet the 40-lb. minimum for the backless booster. Since she’s close, I put her in it just to see how the fit might look in a couple pounds. Her knees were very far from the edge, and while the lap-belt fit was decent, the shoulder belt was horrible (though I didn’t have the belt guide attached). That didn’t surprise me given her size, though.
So I enlisted my 10-year-old for help. He’s right at the top limits of the seat at 57″ (though only 67 lbs). In the Odyssey, the booster is so tall that he almost didn’t have enough headrest to support his ears, and the shoulder fit was bad. In the Civic, though, the fit was fantastic. That’s proof that booster fit will vary by vehicle and seating position, so make sure you always try them out!
Ease of Use/Cover/Maintenance
All in all, the 4Ever is very easy to use. Because the seat is a 4-in-1, I was concerned there would be all sorts of complicated quirks, but it’s really quite intuitive to use.
Some things I especially loved:
- You don’t need to remove the harness to use the seat in booster mode. You do need to tuck it out of the way in a cubby in the shell, but that’s no big deal. It would be nice if the cubby were just a bit bigger to accommodate the harness pads a bit more easily, but it all smooshed in. (If you check out the forward-facing/booster video above, you’ll see that Darren managed to get it in there much more nicely than I did.)
- The cover removes very easily. When I do car seat reviews, the part I dread most is having to remove the cover for our “naked” photos, because that’s often the most frustrating part. With the 4Ever, though the cover comes off nicely in three parts, using some tabs and elastic loops/hooks, but mostly just pieces that contour over the seat. Getting it back on was just a tad tricker because you have to remember where the elastic loops hook (and I started to put the “wing” cover on backwards), but even that wound up being easier than with most seats. You can machine-wash the cover in cold water on the gentle cycle, then hang to dry.
- It converts to a backless REALLY easily. Disconnect the harness, pull back the cover, move the red tabs, and pull off the back. That’s it! Video:
One ease-of-use complaint is about using the harness, especially rear-facing. For some reason, the harness can be hard to tighten evenly and completely on the other Graco convertibles, and the 4Ever is no exception. I’ve used the Graco MySize 65 for a long time, and the tricks I use on that seat worked on this one, too. When the 4Ever is rear-facing, it helps to make sure all slack is pulled up from the hip area first, then pull all the slack in the harness out the back of the seat (behind the shell) before pulling the adjuster strap to tighten the harness. Also, don’t buckle the chest clip until after the harness is tightened! For some reason on these Graco convertibles, that really makes a difference.
The other concern is that the harness folded and even twisted a few times during the month or so I used the seat. It had a tendency to bunch in the buckle tongues, and one of the buckle tongues flipped over a few times. I stayed on top of straightening it, but not all parents do. I’d love to see a change that would keep that from happening.
I should note that the harness issues only happened when rear-facing. Forward-facing we didn’t have any folding/twisting, and the harness adjusts very smoothly and easily.
FAA-Approval/Lifespan/Crash Guidelines/Inflatable Seatbelts:
The 4Ever is FAA approved for airline use *with the harness*. It has a 10-year lifespan, and it must be replaced after any crash.
Graco 4Ever Advantages:
- No-rethread harness with tall height limits
- Installs easily with LATCH or seatbelt
- Relatively compact for rear-facing
- Fits small babies well
- Converts easily to high-back and backless booster mode
- Easy-to-remove cover
- Harness doesn’t need to be removed for booster use
- Can use LATCH in high-back booster mode
- DLX model: built-in forward-facing lockoff
- Can be installed with Ford Motor Company inflatable seat belts
- Instruction manual is clear and well written
- 10-year lifespan before expiration
- Can accommodate all children under 40 lbs. rear-facing (nearly impossible to outgrow RF by height)
Disadvantages:
(In fairness, these aren’t necessarily problems but I list them here to inform consumers of specific 4Ever issues)
- Sometimes tricky to tighten harness when rear-facing
- Somewhat twisty straps
- Made in China
Conclusion:
So, does the Graco 4Ever DLX do everything it claims to? Mostly, yes. Because of its height, it is one of the longest-lasting rear-facing seats on the market for tall kids who still weigh less than 40 lbs. Forward-facing, it has harness heights comparable to many forward-facing-only seats, and will easily get almost every child to an appropriate booster age.
Its shortcomings occur in booster mode, but even those aren’t horrible. Although the booster isn’t much taller than the harness, it will still get most kids to an age and size where a backless is acceptable. As a backless, it’s chunkier than most other boosters, but it can get the job done.
Will the 4Ever last “forever”? Is it the only seat a family will ever need? That depends, but in general, I’m going to say yes. It will fit most newborns well, and will certainly move with a child through most rear-facing, forward-facing and boostering needs. It has a very generous 10-year lifespan, but time could be lost between when it’s manufactured and when it starts being used for the child. It’s also possible that the child may not pass the 5-Step Test before the seat expires. In that case, the 4Ever won’t technically last forEVER, but it’ll come awfully close. It might not be the best choice for people who enjoy getting new seats often (*coughcough*), but for parents who want to stick with one seat for a long time, the Graco 4Ever could be an excellent option.
Currently, the Graco 4Ever DLX retails for $299.99 but can often be found on sale for less. It is relatively expensive upfront but represents a good value considering the 10 years before the seat expires. Its sister seat, the Graco Grows4Me retails for $224.99.
Please visit Graco’s website for more information.
Thank you to Graco for providing a 4Ever for our review. No other compensation was provided and the opinions and comments are entirely those of CarseatBlog.
Updated February 2022
CarseatBlog Experts Rating
Recommended: 4Ever DLX and 4Ever SnugLock
When I wash the car seat cover, can I use baby detergent? Or is the cover only able to be washed without detergent? I cannot find the answer to this anywhere! Please help me lol
Hi Kayla, baby detergent is fine. 🙂
Thanks for the great review! I’m having trouble deciding between the Britax Advocate and the Graco 4ever- do you like or dislike one more than the other for any reason? Thanks
Hi Jordana – both are great seats and you really can’t go wrong with either. However, each carseat has its advantages and disadvantages so make sure you know what they are in advance so you can weigh the pros and cons. If you’ve done that already and you still can’t decide between the two, the best advice is always to go someplace that sells both and try them out in person (buckle your child in them; ask to take the floor models out to the parking lot to try them in your car). Honestly, both are great products and you’ll probably be very happy with either of them but there is usually something that tips the scales one way or the other. Good luck!
Second carseat investment, re-occuring problem, brand new seat, we just upgraded, – they really need to make the straps longer than they are my baby’s only eight months and the straps are fully stretched out to the max limit not to mention he’s a boy, they could take that into consideration when they design the seat and make the strap locking device further out from the seat, my baby is by no means overweight, he is tall, reguardless they seriously give you very little strap room or locking/release room especially for a growing baby. Do they even test their products on actual babies, toddlers, small children if they did they would instantly see the many errors of the product! All that money invested in something he’ll outgrow in a month….!
Hi Melissa, something is wrong. The straps shouldn’t be “fully stretched out to the max limit” on a 8-month old. Make an appointment with a local CPS Tech who can help you troubleshoot the issue. You can find someone local by searching the database in the SafeKids system: http://cert.safekids.org/
Click on “Find a Tech” and then search by state and county to find techs in your area. If you’re not having any luck, post back and we will try to help.
I just bought this seat and I can not find a video anywhere that shows how to correctly instal the car seat with a seatbelt. We have an 08 Ford F-250 and there are no clips to be able to use the latch system much to my dismay and I don’t feel like it’s safe just putting the seat belt through the slot it goes in and clipping it in. There has to be a way to make it stay locked in that I’m just missing. I can’t get the sealt belt to lock and even if I do i have to fix this every time we start going in the car because the seat belt releases. How am I supposed to trust my seat is going to protect my child in a crash properly if I don’t have a way to keep the seatbelt snug?
DeAnn, your seat belts lock by pulling them out all the way slowly to the end, then letting them retract. You have switchable retractors, so when the belt starts to go back into the retractor, you’ll hear a clicking sound which notifies you that you’ve switched it into locked mode.
Make sure you have routed the seat belt through the correct belt path: rear-facing is under the legs, forward-facing is behind the back.
I’m wondering if you could help me in deciding which recline position (5 or 6) for my 4 year old in FF harness mode. I currently have it at 6, but not sure if that’s too upright? Is it OK to have a slight recline when a child is forward facing? I noticed though, if I do set it to 5, I would have to remove the vehicle’s headrest because the seat’s headrest is pushing against it. I have a 2014 Honda Odyssey. Thanks for your time.
How much does your child weigh? If your child is less than 40 pounds, you have to use position 4, which is quite reclined. (As long as the base is on the vehicle seat, it’s okay if most of the 4Ever’s back doesn’t make contact with the vehicle seat.) If your child is over 40 pounds, you can use position 4, 5, or 6, depending on what you prefer.
I’m looking into the Graco 4Ever with Safety Surround. do you think it’s worth it? or is it just a thing to earn extra money cos it’s only exclusive in babies r us
The Safety Surround feature is exclusive on some seats to BRU and Target. The headwings are certainly beefier and contain thicker EPS foam, so while we don’t have any absolute proof that they provide extra safety, they are an upgrade for sure.
Thank you for your review. It was extremely helpful. We just purchased this seat after my little and I were involved in a VERY minor accident but because he was in the carseat, it legally had to be replaced. Thankfully the trade in even at BRU was going on! I was going to get it at Costco but seraching online I only saw the evenflo for the $199 price so unless its a seat that is only available in the stores for that price, everyone else had it for the $299.99 and the “surround sound” one for $329
I just have one question– my little is 6 months, 26.5 inches long but a slender 15.7 lbs (born this way.) I’m trying to figure out if the extra seat insert/padding should be used throughout the rear facing stage or if I can take it out? I feel like my son is sitting on top of all the padding if I leave it in but the photo on the box for rear facing infant has the insert. I think he’d be okay with the bottom half but the head thing is really in the way. He has great head control and can pull himself up towards the seat back in his car seat if not buckled (which is only when i’ve set him down with the car off before buckling him in. )
anu thoughts/ideas/insights
Sara, the inserts can be removed at any time. The only caveat is that if you remove the bottom insert, the head insert must be removed as well (Graco doesn’t want the head insert to float there alone). Since you don’t want the head insert, it’s perfectly fine to remove it.
Hello! Thank you for such a thorough review! We are starting to potty train and I can’t seem to get the booster part of this car seat clean and odor free. I have taken off all of the washable pieces and wiped down the base the best I could with a clorox wipe and reclining it both ways to get into both sides. Do you have any suggestions for cleaning the booster portion? Thank you!
Hi, Thanks for your video on how to take the back off so you can use the backless booster seat. However, It would be GREAT if you could also do a video about how to put the back BACK ON. My daughter is in Germany and I had to take the car seat apart so I could mail it to her in two boxes since the original one was so large. She got the booster back onto the back but knows that if the straps are not correct, the car seat will be dangerous. So … even if you don’t have time to do a video … instructions on your blog would be great also!!
Thanks!!
I went into my local Babies-R-Us intending to buy the Chicco NextFit and walked out with the Graco 4Ever. I have some thoughts to add:
1. Cleaning!
Yes, the pads are easily removed, however, any fluids flow into the pivoting base, which is impossible to completely disassemble. After LO got car sick last winter on a trip back from Grandma’s house, I spent days poking q-tips into the base through every slot. It took 6 months for the smell to dissipate. To us, this completely negates the point of purchasing a single seat to use until our child is ready for the seat belt.
2. Hard to tighten the harness!
The review mentioned that the harness is difficult to tighten. I want to iterate here just what an impediment that is using the seat correctly, especially in winter weather in a cold-soaked car. This is purely the result of bad design. It is a huge blow to this seat’s ease of use. Pulling the harness from behind is an un-intuitive workaround that is difficult to get a grandparent or babysitter to fully grasp. Ease of use has a direct relationship to safety.
We still have the seat, but it has been relegated to “backup” seat status. Ironically, we bought a Cosco Scenera Next to be our backup and airplane travel seat, but we grew to like it so much, that it is now our primary seat. At 1/6th the cost of the 4Ever and made in the USA, we can afford to keep buying an appropriate, affordable seat for each of LO’s growth stages. I’ve now concluded that in opting for a 4Ever, I was chasing a false economy.
I must credit this blog for turning me on to the Scenera.
HELP!! I need a video to show where the elastic bands and hooks reattach after cleaning.
We have a Graco 4ever and drive a 2015 Chevy Traverse. The car seat will be installed with the LATCH system in a captains chair in the middle row. Our baby is 8.5 months old, weighs 22lbs and is 31inches long. The captains chairs are deep. The problem is our babys head slumps to his chest. Is there anyway to fix this? We have tried with and without the infant insert.
Sasha, when you look at the recline angle indicator on the side of the seat, is it closest to the newborn end? There’s quite a range of recline allowed, so you can adjust the recline until the bubble is further back by putting a tightly rolled towel under the base in the vehicle seat bight (crack).
Hello! Great review👍 I own this car seat and recently installed it in my 2014 Ford Fusion, rear facing (my daughter is 12 months, 20 lbs). I actually ended up taking it out and going back to my infant car seat because even in the number 3 recline, my daughter looked as though her head was slumping (is that a word?!) when she would fall asleep. It made me uncomfortable, with the position of her airway. My thought was that backseats tilt upwards too much or this seat and negate the recline position, pushing the seat forward more. I’m hoping to be able to use this seat eventually once my daughter weighs out of the other (30lbs). Any thoughts, advice? Have you heard of this problem with this seat before? Thanks 😁
I’m having the same problem!
3 is a very upright recline. 1 is the most reclined. In both vehicles I’ve installed this seat in, 2 is the best recline and puts the bubble right in the middle. You can take out the infant head pad and leave the body pillow (rear facing only) and this helps from pushing the head forward. I started using this seat when my girls were around 6-7 months, they’re now 20 months. At 12 months, when sleeping, head slouch isn’t as big of a concern, they have the strength and ability to move their head while sleeping.
I love that it has a 10 year lifespan with others are less.
Hi! You mention that “This seat lacks a built-in lockoff device.” Is the detachable metal buckle-looking thing, which the manual calls a locking clip, not a lockoff device? I’m referring to the thing described on this page of the manual.
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/1090119/Graco-4ever.html?term=installation&selected=6&page=105
Even if it is a locking device, it sure seems like it would be a pain to use and easy to lose. Does anyone have experience with using this?
Thanks!–
–SMSS
Hi, I own the Graco 4ever car seat and was wondering if you could provide forward facing installation instructions using the seat belt. I know how to do the latch installation but I don’t trust myself to do the seat belt installation. Is there an instructional video on your website by any chance?
Thanks in advance!
Mike
What’s the difference between the 4Ever and the pricier “safe surround” option I’ve seen at BRU?
Help. I can’t decide between the Britax Marathon G4 or Graco 4ever. Do you have a comparison for these two?
Hi Lola, the Britax G4 is a smaller carseat. The newer ClickTight models are more comparable in size to the Graco 4Ever. The 4Ever offers booster modes, so it will work longer for most kids than the Britax models. The ClickTight system is great for making easy installations.
We have a 2010 Dodge Ram Crew cab and a Graco Size4Me convertible seat that we still need rear facing. We are having a really hard time getting it to fit in our vehicle and still have passenger leg room and it seems that it won’t fit in the middle seat. Are we doing something wrong? Did we choose the wrong seat?
Oh btw it is a Ram 1500.
Hi Jamie, we’ve owned several Ram 1500 models over the years and I can tell you it’s a common problem in the quad cab models. The crew cab models have much more space for a rear-facing carseat but the quad cab models are terrible. All the Ram 1500 models with a backseat (old and new) have that indented center seat and it’s nearly impossible to find a convertible that will fit on that shallow center seat without hanging off the cushion too much (at least 80% of the footprint of the carseat must be on the seat; no more than 20% of the footprint may hang over). And the quad cab models have very little front-to-back space in the backseat so if you put a RF seat behind the front passenger seat it usually means moving the front seat up so far that even a short person is uncomfortable. I’m pretty sure the footprint of the Size4Me is too large to fit safely (at least 80%) on that center seating position but I don’t know that for sure and I don’t have a Size4Me that I can try in our 2012 Ram 1500 to test it out. Have you tried to install it RF in the center? If so, can you take a picture and email it to me at [email protected]?
I have a 2011 Ford Edge. I have a 3 year old LO in a Chicco Nextfit. We are pregnant with twins, and buying a new car isn’t an option right now. What other carseats could I use that would fit all 3 across in the backseat? Could I use 2 of the Graco Snugride?
My husband has a 2010 Dodge Ram 1500, and we use a Graco Headwise for the 3 year old LO, are there any options out there for his truck to fit 3 across? He has a short middle seat, so I don’t know how many options there are for that.
Any suggestions would be great!! Thank you in advance for your assistance!!
Julie
Hi Julie, congratulations on the twins! It’s been a while since I’ve been inside an Edge but if I remember correctly that middle seat is very narrow. I don’t think 3 across is going to be easy in that vehicle. It’s going to take some trial and error. Go to Babies R Us and ask them to let you take some floor models out to the vehicle. You’re just going to have to try a bunch of different combinations and hope you find something that works. As for the Ram, I am very familiar with that vehicle since we Ram 1500 owners too. I can give you specific advice but I need to know which 1500 model he owns. Is it the quad cab or crew cab?
Hi Kecia, I am wondering which car seat you would recommend for a newborn for a 2015 dodge ram 1500 quad cab.
Hi Brittney – are you looking for an infant carseat with base? Does someone frequently ride in the front passenger seat or will it be just the driver and the baby in the back on most rides?
I paid $300 for this thing and all it does is rattle. I have contacted the “consumercare” line. I was told I had to submit a video and a picture of the front and back of the seat. Really!!!??? Ok, so the consumer needs to prove the problem. It’s not like I’m trying to get a new seat on an old purchase, the purchase is recent. So I jump thru the Graco hoops only to learn they cannot open my video because the file is too large. Too bad for me….I’m told nothing will be acted upon until I get that video to them. Meanwhile my grandson is subjected to a constant, annoying rattle in his ear. Hope he doesn’t end up with hearing loss as Graco refuses to believe this Grandmother just trying to right. I’ve read reviews complaining of the same problem. Thumbs down.
I second the comment on the rattling. Seems worse when the seat is unoccupied.
Yep, I also have the rattling. It’s worse as you move the headrest higher (i.e. as your toddler grows)…very frustrating. I’ve taken to moving the whole carseat to the trunk when not in use…
Disadvantages:
-Made in China
Really?
Hi Todd,
I always prefer items made in the USA, Canada or Mexico if there is a choice. Fortunately, many carseats are still made in North America, especially convertible and combination models. I feel the supply chain and manufacturing process management is much better when manufacturing is local, especially for products involving safety like food or carseats. Also, by purchasing products made in North America, it supports domestic jobs and the economies of cities and companies located in countries that are fair trade parnters. Plus, the working conditions and environmental concerns of many manufacturing sites in the far east is always a concern to me.
Finally, many buyers from organizations and state agencies that have federal funding are required to purchase carseats made in the USA. We keep a list for this purpose- https://carseatblog.com/25477/country-of-origin-where-carseats-are-made/
Please note that the country of origin for a carseat does not affect our review, other than this type of notation. Also, if a carseat is certified for use in the USA or Canada, it meets the necessary safety standards regardless of where it was made.
hi! i need to know if the 4 ever car seat is compatible with the modes click connect stroller? thanxs
Hi, Nadia. This seat is designed to stay in the car, not to click into strollers. If you want a rear-facing-only infant seat (the kind that does snap into strollers), you can check our list of recommended seats for some ideas: https://carseatblog.com/carseatblogcoms-recommended-car-seats/
I currently have an infant seat but have purchased the 4ever. I’m not sure if I’m ready to give up the carrier feature on my infant seat yet. My child is 5 months. Any thoughts? I’m sure it’s personal preference but wanted some input. Thanks!
Hi, Kim. You’re right that it’s a matter of personal preference. As long as your child fits properly in the seats, either one is fine. If you live in a place that gets cold in winter, you might find that the infant seat will be more convenient for a few more months, but some people prefer the convertible seat. If you have a second car, you could try out the 4EVER in there while continuing to use the infant seat in your primary vehicle.
My question is does this convert for use in a stroller or would I need to buy a seperate car seat just for that
No, unfortunately this seat can’t be used in a stroller. If you’re interested in a rear-facing-only/infant seat that can snap into a stroller, you can check our list of recommended seats: https://carseatblog.com/carseatblogcoms-recommended-car-seats/