Safety FAQ

Some products are simple enough that they would not need an instructional video. However, we are always looking to improve our online recourses, but we currently do not have any plans for creating new instructional videos.

We don’t stock an Extra-Large size. However, if you don’t have a specific passenger in mind, and you’d just like to order a vest that is larger than our Large size, you can request an Extra-Large. It will be charged as a custom vest and made to the following measurements:

Chest: 43
Waist: 43
Shoulder to Waist: 23

Our products are not for a specific age range, if a passenger is larger than any of our standard vests, custom sizing is a great option.

Push-button vests are typically recommended for passengers that are not prone to trying to get out of their safety equipment, or if they have low muscle tone. This is because they are designed to be easier to get in and out of while still being as safe as any of our other products.

The 303Z is the vest that we typically recommend for a passenger that is going to be traveling in both types of vehicles. It has all the connection points needed for a 100SMU (school bus mount) and a 100TM (tether mount), but it also has the loops at the waist for running the seatbelt of a personal vehicle through.

Conversion vests can either be used as a replacement for a car seat, or if the passenger has moderate muscle tone but needs a little support during rides.

Transportation vests require a mount to be attached, but they provide better support and come in different sizes for a better fit. When properly tightened, they can provide support in all directions the passenger may fall. Some come with a rear zipper closure which makes it difficult for passengers to undo their own vest if they tend to try to get out of it.

Conversion vests do not require a mount to attach to the seat, and are “one size fits most”. They are safe in case of a crash, and are a good alternative to car seat, but not ideal for passengers who might try to get out of them or have low muscle strength.

We cannot guarantee the safety of the passenger if they are using our products as a safety device and are over 65lbs. The 100H (hardware kit) comes included with all personal vehicle mounts and can be installed in the vehicle’s floor to allow our mounts to connect to it. Our products to tested up to 168lbs. attached to the hardware kit. The other solution is connecting our products to the tether anchor, but any steps in the instructions related to the vehicle’s seatbelt must be skipped. Once our products are installed correctly, the seatbelt can be used like it normally would without our products. Our products will keep the passenger seating during rides, and the seatbelt alone will act as the safety device in the event of a crash.

If you would like the benefit of our products’ secure designs, but want to guarantee the safety of the passenger past 168lbs., our products can be used solely as a positioning device. Any steps in the instructions related to the vehicle’s seatbelt must be skipped. Once our products are installed correctly, the seatbelt can be used like it normally would without our products. Our products will keep the passenger seating during rides, and the seatbelt alone will act as the safety device in the event of a crash.

Please reach out to us. We are a smaller company, so sometimes we have to get you directly in contact with the person that knows our products from a company.

Please contact us with the following information:

• Your dealer’s name
• Your shipping address

The weight rating of a product does not change based on its size, even if it is a custom sized vest that is larger.

Our products were tested to meet NHTSA regulation without the use of a booster/car seat. They must be used on their own.

Our products are designed to work in school buses and personal vehicles.

To order a custom vest, please fill out the sizing sheet which is found in the recourses section of our website. Then, simply contact your dealer and inform them that you’d like to order a custom vest, and provide them the three measurements.

We do not offer a product that is designed to cover the buckles on the sewn-on crotch strap.

We are required to provide crotch straps on products for passengers weighing 80lbs. or less. With that in mind, if you’d like to order a standard size vest, but without a crotch strap, simply note to your dealer to have it made without a crotch strap at the time of ordering.

If the vehicle’s owner’s manual states this, it simply means to reference our products’ weight recommendations.

If the piece (part#100CRA) is not broken, it can be placed back on following the video instructions below:
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We have a recommended replacement period of 6 years from the date on the product tag.

We would recommend ordering a custom mount with longer lower tethers to accommodate for the wider D-Rings at the waist of a larger vest.

You will have to contact your dealer to have a zipper lock sewn on to a vest that you’ve already purchased.

We are a smaller company, so we unfortunately do not have the reach to do an in-person training. However, we can set up a time to discuss our products and answer any questions you may have over the phone. If that’s something you’d be interested in, please email Luke Wollak [email protected]

For safety reasons, the crotch strap must remain adjustable. A slight custom modification can be requested. Please contact your dealer and ask them about “alternative crotch strap adjustment” if you’re interested in learning more.

We have not had our products generally FAA approved. Some customers have had success contacting the airline directly and asking for personal approval in their case. Some airlines like to take things like this case by case.

You will have to contact your dealer to have a crotch strap sewn on to a vest that you’ve already purchased.

The most common products used in a wheelchair are the 203PB (push-button vest) paired with the 100WC (wheelchair mount). A 103Z would be recommended instead of a 203PB, if the passenger is prone to trying to get out of their safety equipment.

We manufacture the 100WC which is intended to be used solely as a positioning device when being transported in a wheelchair. It is not tested nor intended to be used while the wheelchair is also strapped to a moving vehicle.

We offer the 1004 (seatbelt cutter) which is used to quickly and safely release a passenger that is using our products in the event of an emergency. Cutting instructions are shown on the written instructions of the mount.

Our first suggestion is always to ensure that all the instructions are being followed correctly so that everything is positioned correctly. Also, ensuring that all the straps are tightened as much as comfortably possible will resolve most issues. If the issue persists, our sewn on wrist straps are a popular accessory that will help prevent the passenger from reaching between the bite of the seat.

To ensure a proper fit, only light clothing can be worn under our vests. For safety, any heavy clothing/coats would need to go over the vest. Most customers find that the easiest way to follow this recommendation is to put the vest on first, then they put the coat on like normal. Finally, when it comes time to hook the vest to the mount, they will unzip the coat a bit to allow the mount to reach the connection points.

When a vest is properly fitted, and the mount is properly tightened, the chest strap going up towards the passenger’s neck is not a concern. There will also not be a problem with the passenger leaning to the sides. The 100NP (Neck Pads) are a great accessory if the webbing rubbing up against the passenger’s neck is a concern.

A passenger does not need to be in a spica cast in order to use the 503 (laydown vest). However, they must still use the extremity belt. The extremity belt does not need to be too tight around the legs, just tight enough to be solid for the seatbelt to secure to it.

The MAXPV is designed to connect to the tether anchor that is in the center-back of the seat, or lower. If the tether anchor is near the headrest (as it is commonly found on sedans and pickup trucks) the tethers of the mount would not have the length necessary to work as intended.

The MAXPV is similar to the MAX2 in that all of the connections between the vest and the mount end up out of reach of the passenger, but it is designed to be used in a Personal Vehicle.

Please reach out to us directly and we’ll get you in contact with a dealer that can help you with purchasing.

The 403PB (push-button vest) is typically recommended for passengers with poor muscle control because it will support the passenger’s upper body, but is easy to get in and out of due to the front push-button closure. Which mount you use will depend on the vehicle; 100TM for personal vehicles, 100SMU for school buses.

The only mount that may still be compatible with your vehicle is the 100TM. If the 100TM cannot be shortened enough or has too much slack when connected to the tether anchor, our first suggestion would be to review the child seat section of your vehicle’s owner’s manual to see what their recommendation is for tether connections. Some vehicle manufacturers suggest routing the tether through the headrest and connecting to the adjacent seat’s tether anchor. If the manual does not have any suggestions, unfortunately our products may not be compatible with your vehicle.

You will have to reach out to your dealer for returns or warranty questions.

Our products were not tested to be used in the front passenger seat. However, if the passenger meets the heigh requirement to sit in the front seat, they can use our products solely as a positioning device. The seatbelt would be used like normal, over our products. If the front passenger seat does not have a tether anchor behind it, the 100H (hardware kit) would have to be installed in the floor behind the seat.

We no longer manufacture or offer the 100ZI (zipper inserts). These were intended to provide adjustability to older vests that did not come with the triple zipper panel. These vests have been discontinued for over 6 years. Since we have a recommended replacement period of 6 years from the date on the product tag, these products should no longer be in use.

Most vests and mounts need to be ordered separately, using two different part numbers. The only vests that come standard with a mount are the MAX2s and MAXPVs.

Please reach out to us and we’ll be happy to get you in contact with a dealer that can help you purchase through insurance.

Our first suggestion would be to review the child seat section of your vehicle’s owner’s manual to see what their recommendation is for tether connections. If you are unable to find a helpful suggestion, you will need to install the 100H (Hardware Kit) that will come included with the mount that you order.

The MAX2 (for school buses) and the MAXPV (for personal vehicles) are our most secure products. They are both designed with the connections between the vest and the mount to be out of reach of the passenger. They also come standard with extra security features like a sewn on zipper lock, and a sewn on crotch strap on all sizes.

The floor mount is designed to attach to the 100H (hardware kits) that need to be installed in the vehicle’s floor.

• Sewn on wrist straps (100WR) or portable wrist straps (100WRP) – Good for preventing the passenger from reaching for connections, clips, etc. on their own vest.
• Sewn on upper arm straps (100UA) or portable upper arm straps (100UAP) – Good for preventing the passenger from reaching too far away from their body.
• Sewn on crotch strap (100CR) or portable crotch strap (100CRP) – Good for preventing the passenger from trying to slip out from the bottom of their vest.
• Sewn on zipper lock (100ZL) – Good for preventing the passenger from unzipping their own vest.
• Ankle Straps (100AR) – Good for preventing passengers from extending their feet in directions that they probably shouldn’t.
• Buckle Guards (100BG) – Good for preventing passengers from pressing the buckles on their push-button style vest.

FMVSS 213 governs the performance and some design criteria for child restraint systems for children who weigh up to 80 pounds. The standard includes requirements for restraint crashworthiness, labeling and instructions, flammability, and buckle and release pressure. The NHTSA testing that we do on all our products includes the FMVSS 213 requirements.

When ordering a custom vest, you can request to have it made in any of our standard webbing colors: Dark Blue, Light Blue, Burgundy, or Black. If you don’t have specific measurements, you can also request one of our standard sizes to be made in a different color than it’s normally made, but this would be charged as a custom vest.

We no longer manufacture or offer the 100CSE (crotch strap extenders).

Our products were tested to meet or surpass NHTSA

The buckles on the push-button vests use tilt adjusters. These adjusters are designed to easily loosen when at an angle, and stay tight when flat. They should lie flat against the passenger’s chest. We would suggest ensuring that the vest is rotated so that the push buttons are in the center of the passenger’s chest and stomach. Doing this will allow the buckles to work properly, even if the passenger does not have a very flat chest.

Our policy/recommendation is that our products be discarded and replaced after an accident, regardless of the extent of the damage.

Our first suggestion is to ensure that the mount is adequately tightened around the seat. If it is tightened and the problem persists, some customers have had success using a grip tape of sorts around the area of the seat when the mount will rest.

The tethers are adjustable by using tilt adjusters. These are designed to loosen when at an angle and will not loosen when lying flat. Please review the video instructions for your mount and ensure that all the roll adjusters are in the correct spot.

The reason school buses are safe to ride in without a seatbelt is because in the event of a crash, all of the passengers will be cushioned by the seat in front of them. If a passenger is using our products, they will remain attached to their seat, and the passenger behind will crash into them.