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Front Seats..................................................... 9
Bucket Seats................................................ 9
Split Bench Seat (80/20 Split)..................... 13
Air Suspension Seats.................................. 13
Rear Seats.................................................... 20
Rear Seat Operation................................... 20
Safety Belts.................................................. 21
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone........... 21
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts............................................. 25
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly............. 26
Driver Position............................................. 26
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment................. 35
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy.............. 36
Right Front Passenger Position................... 36
Center Passenger Position.......................... 37
Rear Outside Passenger Positions
(Crew Cab).............................................. 38
Safety Belt Extender................................... 41Child Restraints............................................ 42
Older Children............................................. 42
Infants and Young Children......................... 45
Child Restraint Systems.............................. 49
Where to Put the Restraint
(Regular Cab Models).............................. 54
Where to Put the Restraint
(Crew Cab Models).................................. 55
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH).................................... 57
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Outside Seat Position
(Crew Cab Models).................................. 58
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Rear Seat Position (Crew Cab)
or Center Front Position............................ 60
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position......................... 63
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
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4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until
it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is
secure. If the belt is not long enough,
seeSafety Belt Extender on page 41.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle
the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
5. Move the shoulder belt height adjuster to
the height that is right for you. Improper
shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce
the effectiveness of the safety belt in a
crash. SeeShoulder Belt Height Adjustment
on page 35.
6. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the
shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull stitching on the
safety belt through the latch plate to fully
tighten the lap belt on smaller occupants.
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Page 39 of 430
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it
clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make
sure it is secure.
When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the
way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the
way and start again. If the belt is not long
enough, seeSafety Belt Extender on page 41.
Make sure the release button on the buckle
is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle
the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
3. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the
shoulder part.
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Page 41 of 430
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the
buckle.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you,
you should use it.
But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer
will order you an extender. When you go in to
order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so
the extender will be long enough for you. To
help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else
use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to
fit. The extender has been designed for adults.
Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it,
just attach it to the regular safety belt. For
more information see the instruction sheet that
comes with the extender.
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{CAUTION:
People should never hold a baby in their
arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby
does not weigh much — until a crash.
During a crash a baby will become so
heavy it is not possible to hold it. For
example, in a crash at only 25 mph
(40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg) baby will
suddenly become a 240 lb (110 kg) force
on a person’s arms. A baby should be
secured in an appropriate restraint.
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Page 48 of 430

Q:What are the different types of add-on
child restraints?
A:Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by
the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic
types. Selection of a particular restraint should
take into consideration not only the child’s
weight, height, and age but also whether or not
the restraint will be compatible with the motor
vehicle in which it will be used.
For most basic types of child restraints, there
are many different models available. When
purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is
designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is,
the restraint will have a label saying that it
meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s instructions
that come with the restraint state the weight
and height limitations for a particular child
restraint. In addition, there are many kinds
of restraints available for children with
special needs.
{CAUTION:
Newborn infants need complete support,
including support for the head and neck.
This is necessary because a newborn
infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs
so much compared with the rest of its
body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing
seat settles into the restraint, so the
crash forces can be distributed across
the strongest part of an infant’s body,
the back and shoulders. Infants always
should be secured in appropriate infant
restraints.
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Page 49 of 430

{CAUTION:
The body structure of a young child is
quite unlike that of an adult or older child,
for whom the safety belts are designed.
A young child’s hip bones are still so
small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt
may not remain low on the hip bones, as
it should. Instead, it may settle up around
the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt
would apply force on a body area that
is unprotected by any bony structure.
This alone could cause serious or fatal
injuries. Young children always should be
secured in appropriate child restraints.
We know securing a child can present real
problems in a medium-duty vehicle like yours.
If your vehicle is a regular cab model with
an air-suspension seat in the right front
passenger’s position, there is no place in your
vehicle to secure a child restraint.The only answer is to have smaller children make
the trip in another vehicle, where they can get
the protection they need.Child Restraint Systems
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use
in a motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system
designed to restrain or position a child on a
continuous flat surface. Make sure that the infant’s
head rests toward the center of the vehicle.
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A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed
to improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt
system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt
positioner, and some high-back booster seats
have a five-point harness. A booster seat can
also help a child to see out the window.
Q:How Should I Use a Child Restraint?
A:A child restraint system is any device designed
for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat,
or position children. A built-in child restraint
system is a permanent part of the motor
vehicle. An add-on child restraint system is
a portable one, which is purchased by
the vehicle’s owner. To help reduce injuries,
an add-on child restraint must be secured
in the vehicle. With built-in or add-on
child restraints, the child has to be secured
within the child restraint.
When choosing an add-on child restraint, be
sure the child restraint is designed to be
used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label
saying that it meets federal motor vehicle
safety standards. Then follow the instructions
for the restraint. You may find these
instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both.
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