No Seatbelt issue

[Indigo Crow Weaver]

It appears that my "new" motorhome has never been "inspected" (Maine state law) and there is the little issue about the seat belts, or to be more specific, the lack there of. I'm curious about how you all deal with this?

[brians1969]

Are you saying that there are no seat belts or just lap belts?  If there are no seat belts, that is a problem, one you want to rectify. Your motorhome should have  originally come with them. Perhaps someone removed them.  My '69 has lap belts. Should be obtainable cheap from a junkyard.  You probably will find the original holes sealed up.

If they are complaining that there are no shoulder belts, I don't believe they can require anything more than what originally came with the motor vehicle.

Brian

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

I believe 77 is just lap belt.  Aftermarket versions are available from you local auto supply for around $20 per seat.  Includes mounting hardware, belts, and latches.

Dave

[Wantawinnie]

Were there seat belts in the dinettes back in the 1970's models? There is a angle iron framework under the forward facing seat and four retainers of some sort in the rear facing seat of the '73 parts rig I just got. There are no seat belts currently in the rig but I can't figure out what else these attaching points would be needed for.

[brians1969]

Yes, the framework under the dinette seat was for seat belts.  I remember seeing a 74 with that angle iron framework and the lap belts were attached.

[Oz]

In addition, rear goucho models (rear bedroom with sofa sections which convert to a bed) also had seat belts in the bedroom.  The inspectors may or may not be aware of that, as with the dinette.  Safety sense dictates that they should be put in the dinette too though, at least.

[ClydesdaleKevin]

I could be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure inspection states only require the front driver's seat and passenger seat to have a seat belt in a motorhome.

Kev

[Froggy1936]

My 1977 (Chevrolet Chassis) Mini Winnie Has lap belts at every seating position in the veh I have changed the drivers lap belt to a shoulder belt setup (belt cost $75.00) it is retractable Bought one for passenger side but could not install it There is no bolt mounting for the upper attachment on the R/S on the Chev cab Frank.

[JCMAC]

  I had good luck installing a lap/shoulder belt w/retractor from Wesco performance (a Yahoo store).  In 2005 the total cost was $183 for a pair w/mounting hardware and long Sash (upper) guide.
  However, the only problem was mounting the upper/shoulder/sash anchor.  As there is no steel framing in the body sides, in this area, this presents a problem.  On the passenger's side is was easier as I mounted a 2" x 4" x1/4" aluminum plate next to the upper corner (forward) of the door frame and through bolted to body side with four 1/4" grade 5 bolts and locking nuts.  On the driver side I did the same thing but there was no door frame to add support.  In an accident, heaven forbid, I hope the loading will not exceed the pull-through ability of the mounting.
  I will try to post some pics in a few days.

John

http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/rv-seat-belts.html

[Indigo Crow Weaver]

Found the seatbelts!
Turns out I believed the gal I bought the RV from, when she said there were no seatbelts. However, after reading your responses, I went out and looked under the seats and yep... there they were (lap belts).  D:oH!


Live and learn. 

[Oz]

    I had no idea ours had any when we first got it either until I decided to look under the seats just to see how the pedestal worked... then I looked under the cushions in the dinette and rear goucho area... more seat belts.  I was quite relieved because I already had installing them written on my "to do" list.  Usually, I wouldn't have found it out until after I'd already gotten new ones...

[thelonewolf]

Can. Some one plz give me detailed instructions how to install seat belts in a coach that never had them before   pictures would be excellent but not necessarily needed  ty

[Oz]

Start by reading the previous posts to yours

[JessEm]

Bolts through the floor, and big washers.

[DRMousseau]

There are strict guidelines to follow for new constructions or altered constructions built after a certain date. They basically state that they must be secured to a base that is in integral part of the vehicle framing. These guidelines state minimal bolt size and base requirements in which some require a specific backing plate that must not deform under X amount of force. As an example, the simply bolting to the floor of a pick-up box for rear seating isn't acceptable by law. The same applies to installing mounts for seats. These guidelines varied a bit within certain years of construction, with some specific to lap belts only and others including specific needs for shoulder belts. The guidelines are also specific to passenger requirements in various vehicles.

If your vehicle was built before these requirements, then it is exempt. Installing seatbelts in such, is under no specific guideline and you should jus use common sense if you so desire. Solidly secured seat belts can be a hazard if the seat is not also secured solidly!!! I noted this with specific consideration of ol' Winnebago's dining settee seats. They are simply wood framed boxes lightly screwed to the floor.

Various seatbelt laws state that they MUST be used if the vehicle is so equipped. But SOME exemptions do apply. These are usually specific to passengers rearward of the driving compartment, and surprising include certain others such as mail carriers and garbage collectors.

The sticky grey area is that of children. According to Law, they MUST be restrained by specific requirements, and those laws {while I am still not certain), don't seem to have any exemptions under the previous guidelines. This was a matter of concern for me when traveling with young grandchildren, that the law states must be secured in a specific restraining devise and fashion according to age. Recent personal experience has shown that in older vehicles, such as my ol' Winnebago, common sense should prevail. I wish I had a photo of my 3yr old grand-daughter's mangled car seat that was on the dining settee, but it has since been disposed of, being no longer usable. I will only state that her lack of injury in our recent incident, was not due to protective child restraints.

Use common sense, and remember,... driving carefully is NOT enough. You must also drive thoughtfully and considerately.

[MotorPro]

I am sure that it varies among states but the cars I built and had to get inspected the belt had to be bolted through the floor and be backed up by a plate min. .062 thick and min. 3 inch square.

[thelonewolf]

Thank you was very helpful.  My rv. Is a 71 and didnt have seat belts but I am planning to install them

[ClydesdaleKevin]

Since your RV is a 71, then I personally would go with bolts through the floor with big washers backing up the nuts as well, and use lap belts.  Do not attach them to the frame of the vehicle, but rather through the floor of the coach.  In an accident, the body can come free of the chassis, and you don't want to be the anchor point in that situation.  However your seats are attached to the floor is how you should attach the seat belts.
Kev

[Rickf1985]

My belts are attached to my seat. They are also part of the seat in my 98 Dodge dually and in just about all of the big trucks I have driven with air ride seats they are part of the seat. As long as the seat is firmly anchored to the floor and is on a steel base to which you can bolt the belts to that would be good enough. If you hit something hard enough that you rip four bolts holding the seat out of the floor you probably are not going to survive regardless of where the belts are attached.

[DRMousseau]

As Rick stated,.. seat belt installations vary with type of vehicle, model and year of production. Guidelines and laws regarding such are pretty detailed and specific depending on type of vehicle and use. However, if your vehicle falls outside of those specified, then use good judgement. Good judgment means dune buggys and race vehicles will require different considerations than passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. I've driven big trucks in which only the drivers seat was equipped.

HOWEVER,... state laws vary regarding use!!! And some may be in conflict with federal equipment requirements. That big truck with only the drivers seat equipped can NOT carry a passenger in the front unequipped seat in many states regardless of the year of build. Always good to check your state and federal laws and guidelines and the governing authority. And believe me,.... it's tough to find something specific to motorhomes in this matter.

Interesting to note,.... seatbelts were originally designed and required to keep the driver restrained within the safe confines of the vehicle. They didn't necessarily prevent serious injury. Later refinements and design did much to reduce injuries in professional racing and certain recreational use. Law enforcement, fire departments and other first-responder were major supporters of required use in passenger vehicles,... not because of safety or injury prevention, but because they kept accident victims IN the vehicle. The uncertainty of seatbelt use still requires first-responders to ask, "Was everyone wearing seatbelts?" and "Is everyone accounted for?",... and still, many extensive searches along the roadside and throughout the accident scene are often made for possible unknown victims.

Install your seatbelts AND SEAT, as secure as possible! It's jus common sense.

[Rickf1985]

And here is an ironic twist. I add this just in case you may think about doing it. The five point racing harness made for a race car is NOT considered safe in a motor vehicle inspection!!!!! Will not pass in a lot of states. It is the most stupid thing I have ever heard of being a race car driver myself and being saved by those belts more times than I can remember but I had them in a car that I used on the road and on the track and I actually had to install factory seat belts along with the five point racing harness to be legal. Oh, I had to go through special inspection and get a waiver because they said the full roll cage was not safe either. D:oH! D:oH!

[uglydukwling]

Just because you find seat belt mounting points, that doesn't necessarily mean the vehicle was originally equipped. With some makes of cars, there was a period before seat belts were required, when they were offered as an option. The manufacturers would install the threaded holes for seat belt bolts, but they didn't install the belts unless you paid extra for them. You still find this in all vehicles today. There are lots of bolt-holes and extra wires for options that aren't installed. It's easier to punch the holes in all vehicles, than to make different frames depending on what options will be installed further down the assembly line.

[DRMousseau]

Not ironic at all Rick,.... it's the difference between "safety devise" and "restraining devise". While both are generically called "seatbelts", laws will state "restraints" and race rules state "safety harness", and there's a big difference in materials and hardware construction. In both cases, rules, laws and regs are very specific for a specific purpose. Many injuries have been caused by restraints, while many others have been prevented. This has been a huge controversial issue and laws were passed primarily for "restraint" by lobbyists of insurance companies and first-responders, rather than for safety by popular vote of a misinformed emotional public. Child restraints have the same purpose. The development of "passive restraints" and "encouraging" alarms, buzzers and even start prevention is a result of the same. The recent development of "air bag" systems were truly made with safety in mind, rather than restraint.

And it's true that MANY vehicles had options for restraints in early days of development. You often saw plastic plugs under the rear seat that covered the holes for these mounts and either plugs or plastic capped bolts beneath the front seats. After sales installation instructions required those bolts to be replaced with those in "the kit". I remember seeing these and wondering "What the heck are those for?!? They don't do nothin or hold anything." Of course seat belts weren't popular then.

Vehicle construction is quite different today, from when these classics were made. But I've heard that a "Retro" styled Winnebago Brave is now marketed. You might stop by a dealer to see what and how construction is different, since these new models are required to have both lap and shoulder restraints with the classic style of the days past. Shoulder restraints might be tough to install on older models. My '73 Brave has a square tube frame around the driving compartment jus behind the seat position. Jus perfect in position for shoulder restraints, BUT (notice that's a BIG but) I would NOT advise drilling a mounting hole into or thru it because of structural integrity. It may be a seeming minor issue, but I would instead suggest a strong bracket fashioned to bolt AROUND that support to which restraints could be securely attached, if I were to have installed them.

[Froggy1936]

On my 1977 Chevrolet Mini Winnie I installed a L/F seat shoulder harness type seat belt (replaceing lap belt) The bolt hole for the shoulder strap was factory installed under upholstery . Frank

[thelonewolf]

My 71 Apollo did not come with seatbelts  and I am having a very hard time finding ones