Rear seatbelt mod - is this a bad idea?

[simmadown]

I've been exploring options for upgrading the rear seatbelts in my 60 due to numerous complaints from the precious cargo that rides back there. I'm wondering if anyone has tried using these belts:

http://www.gotbelts.com/relapsh.html

Looks to me like an installation similar to the one shown here could be pretty slick:

http://www.gotbelts.com/welrn.html

I would try to conceal the belt behind the seatback under the carpet and have it come out through a slot near the top.

Anyhow, it seems like the impact load for the shoulder restraint would be transferred from the the bolt hole on the pillar to the latch that holds the seatback in place. Wondering if anyone has an opinion about the safety of this mod.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Randy88FJ62]

I've had complaints about the rear seatbelts as well. I can't imagine why they chose the design they did. It's unusal, almost like they got a surplus load of thousands of aviation seatbelts and said sure, we'll use them.

 

[Jerry D.]

I’m no crash test expert, so take this as just my $.02.

Anchoring the shoulder belt at the floor would allow the person and seat to pivot forward in a frontal impact. This would cause the person to be bent forward at the waist and causing injury and/or head impact. In pic #1 on your second link, the seat back does not look to be secured by anything, this, in my opinion, would pivot forward and fold the child into the seat cushion and/or hit the seat in front of him. Shoulder belts need to be mounted within a few degrees of the typical shoulder height and onto something solid like the door post or even a roll bar.

I know there is information available from seat belt manufactures that give these references to mount location. Can’t find it right now, but will post up when I do.

Again, my $.02

Jerry D.

 

[simmadown]

I've had complaints about the rear seatbelts as well. I can't imagine why they chose the design they did. It's unusal, almost like they got a surplus load of thousands of aviation seatbelts and said sure, we'll use them.

I bought the Toyota shoulder belt retro kit from $OR and it actually made the belts much less pleasant than the original. The lap belt ratchets down while you wear it and wont feed out unless you retract it all the way. The shoulder belt bolts to the pillar at one end and sort of hooks onto the lap belt insert.

Can't say I recommend the Toyota "upgrade".

 

[hank14]

I am planning on using this type:

AMSAFE 4 Point Lap & Shoulder Seat Belt

I think it is the best compromise since I want to keep my 60 as original as possible. It will anchor to one point on the floor behind the rear seat (I haven't figured that part out yet), and allow easy adjustment like most 5 point kid's seats.

The one downside is the need for good headrests for rear end collision support. I suppose a high back booster will work until the kids are 100 pounds or so?

Thoughts?

 

[simmadown]

I’m no crash test expert, so take this as just my $.02.

Anchoring the shoulder belt at the floor would allow the person and seat to pivot forward in a frontal impact. This would cause the person to be bent forward at the waist and causing injury and/or head impact. In pic #1 on your second link, the seat back does not look to be secured by anything, this, in my opinion, would pivot forward and fold the child into the seat cushion and/or hit the seat in front of him. Shoulder belts need to be mounted within a few degrees of the typical shoulder height and onto something solid like the door post or even a roll bar.

I know there is information available from seat belt manufactures that give these references to mount location. Can’t find it right now, but will post up when I do.

Again, my $.02

Jerry D.

That's my fear. Though I was thinking that, if the shoulder belt was routed behind the seatback, the impact force would be transferred to the seatback and then to the latches at either side.

But really, it seems like too much of a risk and I think I will get the belts with the piece that bolts onto the pillar. Either from a 62 or from Beams. The Beams seatbelts look like a pretty good product and I will post the results if I go this route.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

I've been exploring options for upgrading the rear seatbelts in my 60 due to numerous complaints from the precious cargo that rides back there. I'm wondering if anyone has tried using these belts:

http://www.gotbelts.com/relapsh.html

Looks to me like an installation similar to the one shown here could be pretty slick:

http://www.gotbelts.com/welrn.html

I would try to conceal the belt behind the seatback under the carpet and have it come out through a slot near the top.

Anyhow, it seems like the impact load for the shoulder restraint would be transferred from the the bolt hole on the pillar to the latch that holds the seatback in place. Wondering if anyone has an opinion about the safety of this mod.

Thanks,
Eric

The best route is to buy 62 rear belts and plastic covers. or you can build your own covers (see pics) then just cut out where the retractors go. usually the hole in the pillar is threaded already, and the holes in the floor are all there. Looks like a factory install. With a 63 rear bench you even have headrests.

cheers,
J

 

[simmadown]

I am planning on using this type:

AMSAFE 4 Point Lap & Shoulder Seat Belt

I think it is the best compromise since I want to keep my 60 as original as possible. It will anchor to one point on the floor behind the rear seat (I haven't figured that part out yet), and allow easy adjustment like most 5 point kid's seats.

The one downside is the need for good headrests for rear end collision support. I suppose a high back booster will work until the kids are 100 pounds or so?

Thoughts?

That harness-type belt looks like a good solution for smaller kids. It seems to me like the strength of the latches holding up the seatback would be pretty important in the event of a rear end collision. I doubt that it's available, but a design load spec for that hardware would be useful info.

 

[simmadown]

The best route is to buy 62 rear belts and plastic covers. or you can build your own covers (see pics) then just cut out where the retractors go. usually the hole in the pillar is threaded already, and the holes in the floor are all there. Looks like a factory install. With a 63 rear bench you even have headrests.

cheers,
J

That looks really good. I think I have a lead on some 62 belts and may copy your design.