RAM 3500 Chassis Cab (2021 year). Manual in english — page 20

314

SAFETY

Older Children And Child Restraints

Children who are two years old or who have

outgrown their rear-facing convertible child seat

can ride forward-facing in the vehicle.

Forward-facing child seats and convertible child

seats used in the forward-facing direction are

for children who are over two years old or who

have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height

limit of their rear-facing convertible child seat.

Children should remain in a forward-facing child

seat with a harness for as long as possible, up

to the highest weight or height allowed by the

child seat.
All children whose weight or height is above

the forward-facing limit for the child seat should

use a belt-positioning booster seat until the

vehicle’s seat belts fit properly. If the child

cannot sit with knees bent over the vehicle’s

seat cushion while the child’s back is against

the seatback, they should use a belt-positioning

booster seat. The child and belt-positioning

booster seat are held in the vehicle by the

seat belt.

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.



Never install a rear-facing child restraint in

the front seat of a vehicle. Only use a

rear-facing child restraint in the rear seat.

If the vehicle does not have a rear seat, do

not transport a rear-facing child restraint in

that vehicle.

WARNING!

Do not install a rear-facing car seat using a

rear support leg in this vehicle. The floor of

this vehicle is not designed to manage the

crash forces of this type of car seat. In a

crash, the support leg may not function as it

was designed by the car seat manufacturer,

and your child may be more severely injured

as a result.

SAFETY

315

Children Too Large For Booster Seats

Children who are large enough to wear the

shoulder belt comfortably, and whose legs are

long enough to bend over the front of the seat

when their back is against the seatback, should

use the seat belt in a rear seat. Use this simple

5-step test to decide whether the child can use

the vehicle’s seat belt alone:

1. Can the child sit all the way back against

the back of the vehicle seat?

2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over

the front of the vehicle seat – while the child

is still sitting all the way back?

3. Does the shoulder belt cross the child’s

shoulder between the neck and arm?

4. Is the lap part of the belt as low as possible,

touching the child’s thighs and not the

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!



Improper installation can lead to failure of

an infant or child restraint. It could come

loose in a collision. The child could be badly

injured or killed. Follow the child restraint

manufacturer’s directions exactly when

installing an infant or child restraint.



After a child restraint is installed in the

vehicle, do not move the vehicle seat forward

or rearward because it can loosen the child

restraint attachments. Remove the child

restraint before adjusting the vehicle seat

position. When the vehicle seat has been

adjusted, reinstall the child restraint.



When your child restraint is not in use,

secure it in the vehicle with the seat belt or

LATCH anchorages, or remove it from the

vehicle. Do not leave it loose in the vehicle.

In a sudden stop or accident, it could strike

the occupants or seatbacks and cause

serious personal injury.

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.

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316

SAFETY

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)

X

X

Rear-Facing Child

Restraint

More than 65 lbs (29.5 kg)

X

Forward-Facing Child

Restraint

Up to 65 lbs (29.5 kg)

X

X

Forward-Facing Child

Restraint

More than 65 lbs (29.5 kg)

X

SAFETY

317

Lower Anchors And Tethers For CHildren

(LATCH) Restraint System

LATCH Label

Your vehicle is equipped with the child restraint

anchorage 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.

LATCH Positions For Installing Child

Restraints In This Vehicle

Regular Cab LATCH Positions

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

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SAFETY

Crew Cab 60/40 Split Bench LATCH Positions

Crew Cab Full Bench LATCH Positions

Lower Anchorage Symbol (2 Anchorages Per

Seating Position)

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

Lower Anchorage Symbol (2 Anchorages Per

Seating Position)

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With LATCH

What is the weight limit (child’s weight + weight

of the child restraint) for using the LATCH

anchorage 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).

SAFETY

319

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.
Booster seats may be attached to the LATCH anchorages

if allowed by the booster seat manufacturer. See your

booster seat owner’s manual for more information.

Can a child seat be installed in the center

position using the inner LATCH lower

anchorages from the outboard seating

positions?

N/A – Regular / Crew Split Rear Bench
No – Crew Full Rear Bench

Regular Cab Front/Full Bench Rear Seat: Use the seat

belt and tether anchor to install a child seat in the center

seating position.
Split Bench Rear Seat: Use the supplied center lower

anchorages to install a child restraint in the center

position.

Can two child restraints be attached 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 anchorages, 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 passenger 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 restraint owner’s manual for

more information.

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

Ú

page 38.

Frequently Asked Questions About Installing Child Restraints With LATCH

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SAFETY

Locating The LATCH Anchorages — Crew

Cab Only

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.

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. Crew Cab models

have tether strap anchorages located

behind each of the rear seats.

Regular Cab Tether Anchorages (Behind Covers)

Crew Cab Outboard Tether Anchorage

Crew Cab Center Tether Anchorage With Head

Restraint In Raised Position

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.

1 — Tether Strap Hook
2 — Tether Strap To Child Restraint
3 — Tether Anchor

SAFETY

321

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: 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

position blocks the outboard LATCH anchors or

seat belt, do not install a child seat in that

outboard position.

Always follow the directions of the child

restraint manufacturer 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

Ú

page 322 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. If the

second row seat can be reclined, you may

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

Ú

page 327 for directions to attach a

tether anchor.

WARNING!



Do not install a child restraint in the center

position using the LATCH system. This posi

-

tion 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.

For typical installation instructions, see

Ú

page 321.

WARNING!

Never use the same lower anchorage to attach

more than one child restraint. For typical

installation instructions, see

Ú

page 321.

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SAFETY

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.

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

accidentally 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 installation, 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.

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.

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.

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.

SAFETY

323

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. 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.
See the “Automatic Locking Mode” description

Ú

page 301 for additional information on ALR.

Please see the table below and the following

sections for more information.

Lap/Shoulder Belt Systems For Installing

Child Restraints In This Vehicle

Regular Cab Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)

Locations

Crew Cab Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)

Locations

ALR — Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

Cinching Latch plate — Cinching Latch plate
ALR — Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor

Top Tether Anchorage Symbol

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SAFETY

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

Ú

page 38.

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.

SAFETY

325

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 Crew Cab Models

Place the child seat in the center of the

seating position. If the second row seat can

be reclined, you may 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.

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.

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

Ú

page 327 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.

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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SAFETY

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. If the second row seat can

be reclined, you may 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.

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.

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

Ú

page 327 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.

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.

SAFETY

327

Installing Child Restraints Using The Top

Tether Anchorage

Regular Cab Trucks:

In the regular cab truck, the top tether

anchorages are located behind the center and

right passenger seats. 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 underneath 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.

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 instructions.

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.

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.

For the location of approved tether

anchorages in your vehicle, see

Ú

page 317.

1 — Tether Strap Hook
2 — Tether Strap To Child Restraint
3 — Tether Anchor

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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328

SAFETY

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

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

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.

SAFETY

329

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.

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

Attached To Outboard Tether Strap Loop

Installing Three Child Restraints:

1. Place a child restraint on each outboard

rear seat. Route the tether straps following

the directions for right and left seating

positions, above.

2. Attach both hooks to the center tether strap

loop, but do not tighten the straps yet.

3. Place a child restraint on the center rear

seat. Route the tether strap following the

directions for the center seating position,

above.

4. Attach the hook to the outboard tether strap

loop.

6