RAM 2500 (2019 year). Instruction — part 17

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Locating The LATCH Anchorages

The lower anchorages are round bars that are found

at the rear of the seat cushion where it meets the seat-

back. 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 seat-

back and seat cushion.

Mega Cab/Crew Cab Rear Outboard Seats Driver Side

Locating The Upper Tether Anchorages

Regular Cab models have tether strap anchorages

behind the front center and right seats. Mega Cab

and Crew Cab models have tether strap anchorages

located behind each of the rear seats.

Regular Cab Tether Anchorages (Behind Covers)

1 — Tether Strap Hook

2 — Tether Strap To Child Restraint

3 — Tether Anchor

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Crew Cab Outboard Tether Anchorage

Crew Cab Center Tether Anchorage With Head Restraint

In Raised Position

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Mega Cab Tether Anchorages (Behind Covers)

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

Regular Cab Or Crew Cab Full Bench Rear Seat: No Lower

Center LATCH Anchorages Available

Crew Cab Split Bench Rear Seat Or Mega Cab Rear Seat:

Center LATCH Anchorages Available
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 posi-

tion blocks the outboard LATCH anchors or seat belt, do not

install a child seat in that outboard position.

WARNING!

• Do not install a child restraint in the center position

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.

• Never use the same lower anchorage to attach more

than one child restraint. Please refer to “To Install A

LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint” for typical instal-

lation instructions.

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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 Automatic

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.
1. Loosen the adjusters on the lower straps and on the tether

strap of the child seat so that you can more easily attach

the hooks or connectors to the vehicle anchorages.

2. Place the child seat between the lower anchorages for that

seating position. For some second row seats, you may

need to recline the seat and / or raise the head restraint (if

adjustable) to get a better fit. If the rear seat can be moved

forward and rearward in the vehicle, you may wish to

move it to its rear-most position to make room for the

child seat. You may also move the front seat forward to

allow more room for the child seat.

3. Attach the lower hooks or connectors of the child restraint

to the lower anchorages in the selected seating position.

4. If the child restraint has a tether strap, connect it to the top

tether anchorage. See the section “Installing Child

Restraints Using the Top Tether Anchorage” for direc-

tions to attach a tether anchor.

5. Tighten all of the straps as you push the child restraint

rearward and downward into the seat. Remove slack in

the straps according to the child restraint manufacturer’s

instructions.

6. Test that the child restraint is installed tightly by pulling

back and forth on the child seat at the belt path. It should

not move more than 1 inch (25.4 mm) in any direction.

WARNING!

Never use the same lower anchorage to attach more than

one child restraint. Please refer to “To Install A

LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint” for typical

installation instructions.

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How To Stow An Unused Switchable-ALR (ALR) Seat
Belt:

When using the LATCH attaching system to install a child

restraint, stow all ALR seat belts that are not being used by

other occupants or being used to secure child restraints. An

unused belt could injure a child if they play with it and acci-

dentally lock the seat belt retractor. Before installing a child

restraint using the LATCH system, buckle the seat belt

behind the child restraint and out of the child’s reach. If the

buckled seat belt interferes with the child restraint installa-

tion, instead of buckling it behind the child restraint, route

the seat belt through the child restraint belt path and then

buckle it. Do not lock the seat belt. Remind all children in the

vehicle that the seat belts are not toys and that they should

not play with them.

WARNING!

• Improper installation of a child restraint to the LATCH

anchorages can lead to failure of the restraint. The child

could be badly injured or killed. Follow the child

restraint manufacturer’s directions exactly when

installing an infant or child restraint.

• Child restraint anchorages are designed to withstand

only those loads imposed by correctly-fitted child

restraints. Under no circumstances are they to be used

for adult seat belts, harnesses, or for attaching other

items or equipment to the vehicle.

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Installing Child Restraints Using The Vehicle Seat Belt

Child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle

seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder

belt.

The seat belts in the passenger seating positions are

equipped with either a Switchable Automatic Locking

Retractor (ALR) or a cinching latch plate or both. Both types

of seat belts are designed to keep the lap portion of the seat

belt tight around the child restraint so that it is not necessary

to use a locking clip. The ALR retractor can be “switched”

into a locked mode by pulling all of the webbing out of the

retractor and then letting the webbing retract back into the

retractor. If it is locked, the ALR will make a clicking noise

while the webbing is pulled back into the retractor. Refer to

the “Automatic Locking Mode” description in “Switchable

Automatic Locking Retractors (ALR)” under “Occupant

Restraint Systems” for additional information on ALR. The

cinching latch plate is designed to hold the lap portion of the

seat belt tight when webbing is pulled tight and straight

through a child restraint’s belt path.
Please see the table below and the following sections for

more information.

WARNING!

• Improper installation or failure to properly secure a

child restraint can lead to failure of the restraint. The

child could be badly injured or killed.

• Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s directions

exactly when installing an infant or child restraint.

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Lap/Shoulder Belt Systems For Installing Child
Restraints In This Vehicle

Regular Cab Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) Locations

Mega Cab/Crew Cab Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)

Locations

ALR = Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

Cinching Latchplate = Cinching Latchplate

ALR = Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

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Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With Seat Belts

What is the weight limit (child’s weight

+ weight of the child restraint) for using

the Tether Anchor with the seat belt to

attach a forward facing child restraint?

Weight limit of the Child Restraint

Always use the tether anchor when

using the seat belt to install a forward

facing child restraint, up to the

recommended weight limit of the child

restraint.

Can the rear-facing child restraint

touch the back of the front passenger

seat?

Yes

Contact between the front passenger

seat and the child restraint is allowed, if

the child restraint manufacturer also

allows contact.

Can the rear head restraints be

removed?

Yes

The head restraints can be removed in

every rear seating position if they

interfere with the installation of the

child restraint. Refer to “Head

Restraints” in “Getting To Know Your

Vehicle” for further information.

Can the buckle stalk be twisted to

tighten the seat belt against the belt

path of the child restraint?

Yes – Cinching Latch Plate

No – ALR

In positions with cinching latch plates

(CINCH), the buckle stalk may be

twisted up to 3 full turns. Do not twist

the buckle stalk in a seating position

with an ALR retractor.

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Installing A Child Restraint With A Switchable Automatic
Locking Retractor (ALR):

Child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle

seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder

belt.

1. For Mega and Crew Cab Models

Place the child seat in the center of the seating position.

For some second row seats, you may need to recline the

seat and/or raise the head restraint (if adjustable) to get a

better fit. If the rear seat can be moved forward and rear-

ward in the vehicle, you may wish to move it to its

rear-most position to make room for the child seat. You

may also move the front seat forward to allow more room

for the child seat.

For Regular Cab Models
Place the child seat in the center of the seating position.

Move the vehicle seat as far rearward as possible to keep

the child as far from the passenger air bag as possible.

2. Pull enough of the seat belt webbing from the retractor to

pass it through the belt path of the child restraint. Do not

twist the belt webbing in the belt path.

3. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you hear a

“click.”

4. Pull on the webbing to make the lap portion tight against

the child seat.

5. To lock the seat belt, pull down on the shoulder part of

the belt until you have pulled all the seat belt webbing out

of the retractor. Then, allow the webbing to retract back

into the retractor. As the webbing retracts, you will hear

a clicking sound. This means the seat belt is now in the

Automatic Locking mode.

WARNING!

• Improper installation or failure to properly secure a

child restraint can lead to failure of the restraint. The

child could be badly injured or killed.

• Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s directions

exactly when installing an infant or child restraint.

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6. Try to pull the webbing out of the retractor. If it is locked,

you should not be able to pull out any webbing. If the

retractor is not locked, repeat step 5.

7. Finally, pull up on any excess webbing to tighten the lap

portion around the child restraint while you push the

child restraint rearward and downward into the vehicle

seat.

8. If the child restraint has a top tether strap and the seating

position has a top tether anchorage, connect the tether

strap to the anchorage and tighten the tether strap. See the

section “Installing Child Restraints Using the Top Tether

Anchorage” for directions to attach a tether anchor.

9. Test that the child restraint is installed tightly by pulling

back and forth on the child seat at the belt path. It should

not move more than 1 inch (25.4 mm) in any direction.

Any seat belt system will loosen with time, so check the belt

occasionally, and pull it tight if necessary.
Installing A Child Restraint With A Cinching Latch Plate
(CINCH) — If Equipped:

Child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle

seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap/shoulder

belt.

1. Place the child seat in the center of the seating position.

For some second row seats, you may need to recline the

seat and / or raise the head restraint (if adjustable) to get

a better fit. If the rear seat can be moved forward and rear-

ward in the vehicle, you may wish to move it to its

rear-most position to make room for the child seat. You

may also move the front seat forward to allow more room

for the child seat.

2. Next, pull enough of the seat belt webbing from the

retractor to pass it through the belt path of the child

restraint. Do not twist the belt webbing in the belt path.

3. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you hear a

“click.”

4. Finally, pull up on any excess webbing to tighten the lap portion

around the child restraint while you push the child restraint

rearward and downward into the vehicle seat.

WARNING!

• Improper installation or failure to properly secure a

child restraint can lead to failure of the restraint. The

child could be badly injured or killed.

• Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s directions

exactly when installing an infant or child restraint.

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5. If the child restraint has a top tether strap and the seating

position has a top tether anchorage, connect the tether

strap to the anchorage and tighten the tether strap. See the

section “Installing Child Restraints Using the Top Tether

Anchorage” for directions to attach a tether anchor.

6. Test that the child restraint is installed tightly by pulling

back and forth on the child seat at the belt path. It should

not move more than 1 inch (25.4 mm) in any direction.

Any seat belt system will loosen with time, so check the belt

occasionally, and pull it tight if necessary.
If the buckle or the cinching latch plate is too close to the belt

path opening of the child restraint, you may have trouble

tightening the seat belt. If this happens, disconnect the latch

plate from the buckle and twist the short buckle-end belt up

to three full turns to shorten it. Insert the latch plate into the

buckle with the release button facing out, away from the

child restraint. Repeat steps 4 to 6, above, to complete the

installation of the child restraint.
If the belt still cannot be tightened after you shorten the

buckle, disconnect the latch plate from the buckle, turn the

buckle around one half turn, and insert the latch plate into

the buckle again. If you still cannot make the child restraint

installation tight, try a different seating position.

Installing Child Restraints Using The Top Tether
Anchorage

WARNING!

Do not attach a tether strap for a rear-facing car seat to

any location in front of the car seat, including the seat

frame or a tether anchorage. Only attach the tether strap

of a rear-facing car seat to the tether anchorage that is

approved for that seating position, located behind the

top of the vehicle seat. See the section “Lower Anchors

and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) Restraint System”

for the location of approved tether anchorages in your

vehicle.

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Regular and Mega Cab Trucks:
In the regular cab truck, the top tether anchorages are located

behind the center and right passenger seats. In the mega cab

truck, the top tether anchorages are located behind each rear

seating position. There is a plastic cover over each

anchorage. To attach the tether strap of the child restraint:
1. Place the child restraint on the seat and adjust the tether

strap so that it will reach over the seat back, under the

head restraint and to the tether anchor directly behind the

seat.

Regular Cab Tether Anchorages

2. Route the tether strap to provide the most direct path

between the anchorage and the child seat. The tether

strap should go between the head restraint posts under-

neath the head restraint. You may need to adjust the head

restraint to the upward position to pass the tether strap

underneath the head restraint and between its posts.

1 — Tether Strap Hook

2 — Tether Strap To Child Restraint

3 — Tether Anchor

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3. Lift the cover (if so equipped), and attach the hook to the

square opening in the sheet metal. Tighten the tether

strap according to the child seat manufacturer’s instruc-

tions.

Crew Cab Trucks:
The top tether anchorages in this vehicle are tether strap

loops located between the rear glass and the back of the rear

seat. There is a tether strap loop located behind each seating

position. Follow the steps below to attach the tether strap of

the child restraint.

Right Or Left Outboard Seats:
1. Raise the head restraint and reach between the rear seat

and rear glass to access the tether strap loop.

Head Restraint In Raised Position

WARNING!

Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of an air

bag. A deploying Passenger Front Air Bag can cause

death or serious injury to a child 12 years or younger,

including a child in a rear-facing child restraint.

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Tether Strap Loop With Center Head Restraint In Raised

Position

2. Place a child restraint on the seat and adjust the tether

strap so that it will reach over the seat back, under the

head restraint, through the tether strap loop behind the

seat and over to the tether strap loop behind the center

seat.

3. Pass the tether strap hook under the head restraint behind

the child seat, though the tether strap loop behind the seat

and over to the center tether strap loop.

Tether Strap Through Outboard Tether Strap Loop

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4. Attach the hook to the center tether strap loop (see

diagram). Tighten the tether strap according to the child

seat manufacturer’s instructions.

Tether Strap Through Outboard Tether Strap Loop And

Attached To Center Tether Strap Loop

NOTE:

If there are child seats in both of the outboard (left and right)

seating positions, the tether strap hooks of both child seats

should be connected to the center tether strap loop. This is

the correct way to tether two outboard child seats.

Center Seat:
1. Raise the head restraint and reach between the rear seat

and rear glass to access the tether strap loop.

Tether Strap Loop With Head Restraint In Raised Position
2. Place a child restraint on the seat and adjust the tether

strap so that it will reach over the seat back, under the

head restraint, through the tether strap loop behind the

seat and over to the tether strap loop behind either the

right or left outboard seat.

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3. Pass the tether strap hook under the head restraint behind

the child seat, though the tether strap loop behind the seat

and over to the right or left outboard tether strap loop.

Tether Strap Through Center Tether Strap Loop

4. Attach the hook to the outboard tether strap loop (see

diagram). Tighten the tether strap according to the child

seat manufacturer’s instructions.

Tether Strap Through Center Tether Strap Loop And At-

tached To Outboard Tether Strap Loop