I had mentioned before that I was getting great fuel mileage and power (10L/100km) doing 100kms/h. However, for the past eight months I have only driven my HiAce to work and back. When I started to drive to Mexico, i realized that i was only getting about 13L/100km and difficulty maintaining 100kms an hour. However after the first 800kms or so of travel, my fuel economy was back to 10/100 and I could go 120 if I wanted. I am assuming that prolonged high speed travel flushed some carbon build up? It could be a cheap solution for others to try if they are experiencing bad fuel economy. If nothing else a good excuse to escape and take a road trip.

Also, I had to fix up my HiAce in order to have it safe for a Child Seat. It is impossible to get any garage to mess with the seat belts due to liability, so instead I was able to put some child restraint bolts in the floor behind the bench seat, as well, I had a welding shop fabricate a LATCH system which welded right onto the frame of the seat. This only cost me about $250, but is definately safer than just the lap belts I had before.

I hope someone may find this helpful.

Interesting. I take it this was on the rear most bench seat. A pic would be really nice if possible. I will have to do the same (when I get ours on th road). Still fiddling with lights...

Also, about the fuel econ. Do you think the difference may be winter vs summer diesel? If you travelled down south now like MExico and were used to burning winter fuel here, you would likely notice about what you posted in performance gain. ?

I'd love to see a pic also of the work you had down to improve safety for child seats, it sounds like it was no problem.

I was still in Northern BC when I noticed my fuel economy improving, so I am pretty sure it was Winter diesel.

As for the Child seats here is a pic of the LATCH weld job and bolts on the floor for the rear restraint belt. Of course, the welder said that he is not liable, but that he would trust it with his kids. Regardless, it is definitely better than what I had before. If you have this done, I would strongly recommend that you take in your child seat with you to ensure that it will work. It took a lot of research to find out dimensions etc. (sorry, I don't have the specific websites, google LATCH specs), but basically the diameter of the steel where the LATCH system connects is supposed to be 6mm, and placed just behind the bite of the seat where your seat belts are located.

Transport Canada told me not to do this as it has not undergone safety requirements (ie. I would have to send my van at 100kms an hour into a cement wall and see if it all holds up), or accredited by them.

***I am not suggesting for anyone else to do this. This is just to show what I had done, and by no means am I liable if you choose to do the same ***

Just the nature of the world we live in today.
Cheers

Thanks for the pics.

pS NExt time you should stop by sunny Smithers and have a visit with us!

Thanks for the picture, just being good parents looking out for your future. Something to definately think about and do my homework on. Cheers!

I dont really under stand this ..... ?... how do these loops attach to a child seat....could you post a pic of the child seats in situ..... cheers

On most new child seats they come equipped with the LATCH system. This is basically two clips attached to a tether that are incorporated in the base of the childseat that reach back into the bite of the car seat and attach to the metal loops. The reason I had these put in is because my HiAce only had lap belts that I could not tighten to secure the child seat. Here is a link to a diagram I found online that might show you better than I can explain.
ttp://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/vehicle/child/latch.htm

cheers mate..... been up against this problem myself.... presently I just spin the middle bench round and have the kids sitting rear facing with lap belts but I'd preffer proper kids seats.... mine being a fully kitted out camper it will provide a few more problems , but at least I know where to start.... cheers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/liebe011.gif)

this latch system appears to be only available on your side of the water us europeans have taken up a different system ..so thats that idea out the window (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)