Rear three point seatbelts.

[Richard Saunders]

Hi

I bought some three point rear seatbelts from James Paddock and asked my local garage to fit them. They just told me they could not work out how to fit the top point (other than fixing to the inside of the hard top )

Can anyone help me understand where the top point should be fixed? Even better would be a recommendation to a garage that could do it for me (I'm in the Reading area, but willing to travel). I have two kids and would not want to trust to lap belts.

I've seen three point belts in the back of Stags, and of course James Paddock would not sell them if they were obsolete! So I know it can be done!

Thanks

[kgnich]

You could always try Enginuity, based in London and not that far from Reading I believe - Tony Hart fitted my rear three point belts fifteen years ago and they were a good addition for when my kids were small.

Graham

[Andrew S]

Richard, you remove the shock absorber top nut and drop and then drill a hole in the side of the mounts and the bolt feeds through and you tighten up from inside arch. This is the only hole you have to drill. I am sure someone on here will have a a photo of the position. My Stag isn't here so cant help, sorry

Andrew

[Richard Saunders]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate it!

[ethel]

Hi Richard,
As Andrew said the shoulder strap is fixed to the inside face of the wheel arch near the shock mount. To add confusion the reel goes on the front of the wheel arch and so when the passenger puts the belt on they have to pull the belt next to their hip, not the bit next to their shoulder.
There is a school of thought that the shoulder strap mount is not high enough especially for adults (I'm sure you'll find some of the discusion if you search on here) as the strap comes just over the top of the seat back. The main reason I originally chose three point over lap belt was that it held a child seat more securely - the sort of seat that you strap to the car first and then strap the child in with belts fitted to the seat.
John.

[Andrew S]

John, we used to have a child seat in ours and it makes no difference where the strap is or reel. When buckled up, if you push down on the seat the play is taken up side ways by the inertia and as the seat is fastened also to the centre short belts in the centre of the back seat that go straight to the floor, its very secure.

[martin]

Hiya Richard, I don't like to throw a spanner in the works, but you must contact your insurance company ! This is a serious mod which the Stag is not equipped to take, that's why they only have holes for lap belts, it may nullify your insurance. There is also a risk of the seat back frame collapsing under the belt in an impact. Sorry, Martin.

[Richard Saunders]

Thanks for the flag Martin. I will check with my insurers.

[Sheepdip]

I'd be interesetd in teh answer Richard. Persoanlly with my youngster in the rear I'll take any measure to make sure he's safe and I don't think the 2 point is. However a friend asked a supplier who only supplied the lap belt on the basis it was designed for the Stag, however I wonder what a strapping 6 footers opinion would be when he wacks the T bar.......

I agree with comment above on location of strut mounting, during restoration I had to remove the reinforcement and reckon its the thickest metal on the car! Seen some 3 points using the top shock mounting, I don't believe thats strong enough. Also think in a crash the rear rail will give way but won't be a huge increase in belt length.

Paul

[Richard Saunders]

Paul - I contacted Enginuity and have the car booked in for May 17th (the earliest they could manage!). According to the chap I spoke to it is a couple of hours work, around £200, and 'quite involved'. I'll let you know how things work out. I have lap belts in my Landrover Defender and they are next to useless but its only the dogs that ever go in the back. I wouldn't consider them in the Stag.

Richard.

[Sheepdip]

Yes please Richard, also if you contact your insurer, be interested in their opinion. Thinking again, spose you could put both lapbelts and 3 point in the car and make them wear both! Its a difficult call as I guess the argument could be a badly fitted 3 belt could cause more damage to a body than a 2 point. Apart from fitting an air bag to rear of front seat, not much else to do.

Cheers

Paul

[v8wgm]

I have the 3 point inertias fitted in mine. I didn't have instructions as I bought 'universal' reels. I ended up having the swivel part that is above your shoulder fixed to the rear seat frame upside-down and it is hidden underneath the tonneau cover. The reels are located low down in the well, bolted through a reinforced section of the inner wheel arch.

I've never been very happy with the installation though as I recognised the forces in an accident would collapse the rear seat frame partially, but also my rear Stag seat tends to make you lean towards the centre of the car which isn't good with the diagonal belt on the outside.

As it is my two young sons in the back, I'm now seriously considering fitting a set of 4 point harnesses instead.

[Sheepdip]

With no experience of 4 point harness, where would you attach the points - presumably one on the rear bulkhead? My 3 point are static which means I can make them fairly tight, but similar to your comment it doesn't stop him slipping sideways and out when he falls asleep, 4 point would help, or turning the radio up......

As an aside, holidaying in Northumberland a couple of years ago, in Newcastle we bought a couple of huge football bean bags and stuffed them round the lad in the back. While paying for petrol, a white van man walked round the car then said to the Mrs "Triumph never did sort the airbag out properly"......

[Richard Saunders]

Here's what my insurance company said:

Dear Mr Saunders

Thank you for your email.

The professional fitment of rear three point seat belts would not affect your policy, there would just be our standard administration fee of £20.00 to pay if you went ahead with this modification.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards
Lancaster Insurance Services

[martin]

Nice one Richard, I hope the other insurers are as good. Martin.