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Topic: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt (Read 921 times) previous topic - next topic

Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

I searched the archive.. best I found was 10 years ago. Has anybody replaced their lap belt with a better system?

I'm over 200 lbs. The Foretravel is about 15 tons. Yet, a simple lap belt is supposed to avoid serious injury in an accident? I'd like a 3 or 4 point harness. An ejector seat with a parachute would be ideal. Can this be done?
Paul
'92 U300 SBID 40'  #3968 "Large Marge"
Detroit Diesel 6v92TA & Allison HT746
'09 Mini Clubman w/ manual 6spd @ 39 mpg

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #1 –
Paully. The seat is bolted to the top of a plywood box. I have looked at mine and wondered also if a shoulder setup would be feasible.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #2 –
Paul, there is quite a bit more to it than just installing another bolt to hold a third strap. What would you attach the shoulder belt to? Do you know how to mount the belt in such a way that it won't decapitate you in an emergency situation?

Actually, in most situations you are more likely to be above the damage anyway. Use the driver-side window as a reference point and mark (use removable tape) where you actually sit. Then put your car near there and see where you would be if you ran into it. I suspect that your feet are well above the roofline of your car and that there is about three feet of coach ahead of your feet.

Your best bet is to drive defensively. You already know that it is going to take you a lot longer to stop your coach than your car, so you leave more room between you and the vehicle in front of you. You drive the coach in a gentler way than you can drive your car. Etc.

Now, if our coaches had the same weight-to-horsepower ratio as your car does, and a nice manual transmission to match.....

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #3 –
I am in the process of replacing my 2000 model year Flexsteel cockpit seats with Villa seats from a 2003 Model.

The Flexsteel seats have standard lap belts, which are bolted to the *seat* frame.

The Villa seats include a shoulder harness, with all belts bolted to the *seat* frame.

In both cases, the seat frames are bolted to the floor with four 3/8" bolts.

DW *thinks* she will feel more secure with the shoulder belt helping to secure her from the huge windshield, which is all she can see in front of her. (Irregardless of the many times she has complained about how uncomfortable the shoulder straps are in the car.)

It is very important to try to keep our spouse happy. (Rational discussions are not part of the equation.)

Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #4 –
You might be able to do a four point with a Y shoulder harness but will need upper slot in the seat, and add structure below the floor to anchor to. But the reality is there essentially nothing structural in front of you from the floor up. The old vw busses you could buy a leg saver bars. You could put a big honk'n deer guard on the front and fab some leg savers. Or if your handy with fiberglass, add some stringers using kevlar, CF, or S glass, on the backside of the front cap. Your kinda exposed like a motorcyclist so drive accordingly.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #5 –
Excellent point.. seat replacement is probably the way to go. My F-150 has a seat frame. That part doesn't worry me. Without the shoulder restraint, and in the absence of an air bag... that steering wheel will take my teeth out.

Semi's have 3 point harnessess.. School busses too for the driver. Seems like the ruless for motor homes were written thinking they are parked more than anything.

As proof, in Washington state, I was handed the keys to Large Marge, given a pat on the back by a banker, and waved goodbye to two guys saying it was easy.. don't worry about it. Insane.
Paul
'92 U300 SBID 40'  #3968 "Large Marge"
Detroit Diesel 6v92TA & Allison HT746
'09 Mini Clubman w/ manual 6spd @ 39 mpg

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #6 –
Paul,
We switched our seat belts to a 4 point harness.  They work great and easy to install.  The harness was not expensive.  We feel more secured.  The center strap is bolted to the chair frame at the base and swivels with the chair.

John M.

4 Point Seat Belts - Push Button Buckle (Charcoal Shown)
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #7 –
BTW can you drive large Marge with your current driver's license? Some states have exclusions for large RV's some don't. Had to drive mine clear across Los Angeles at 8-9 in the morning. Had about 1600 hours driving experience in a 12 foot wide, 145,000 lb dump truck with about the same amount of training, but that was almost 37 years ago.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #8 –
I went to high school in Houston. No family there, but after here, I am thinking the Livingston TX Escape thing.. so I get to practice before the test.

Thanks John! I will do that.
Paul
'92 U300 SBID 40'  #3968 "Large Marge"
Detroit Diesel 6v92TA & Allison HT746
'09 Mini Clubman w/ manual 6spd @ 39 mpg

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #9 –
Quote from: John Morales –
Paul,
When switched our seat belts to a 4 point harness.  They work great and easy to install.  The harness was not expensive.  We feel more secured.  The center strap is bolted to the chair frame at the base and swivels with the chair.

John M.

4 Point Seat Belts - Push Button Buckle (Charcoal Shown)
Any system is only as strong as it's weakest link, lost a best friend in the early 80's when his Jeep with a full cage and 4 point harnesses rolled and separated. Cage struck him in the head. Sometimes feeling secure can lead to poor decisions. Cage anchor points had fatigued from twisting. Coach anchor points and hardware for the seats may have been given little forethought unless your coach has huge backing plates underneath the floor structure and or are tied into structural members. I ride a crotch rocket, and ride fully knowing the risks, and a false sense of security from "safety" gear is foolish.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #10 –
Correct. But in a curve I took too fast, I want a little help keeping my shoulders square to the wheel.. in case I hold it on 3 wheels.

I also plan to bolt hammers and fire extinguishers forward and aft.. one door is not enough.

Safety first..
Paul
'92 U300 SBID 40'  #3968 "Large Marge"
Detroit Diesel 6v92TA & Allison HT746
'09 Mini Clubman w/ manual 6spd @ 39 mpg

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Paully –
Correct. But in a curve I took too fast, I want a little help keeping my shoulders square to the wheel.. in case I hold it on 3 wheels.

I also plan to bolt hammers and fire extinguishers forward and aft.. one door is not enough.

Safety first..
Safety first would mean caution in an unfamiliar situation, or an unfamiliar road, etc. That being said, chaos is a crapshoot. Can't predict it, can't prevent it. Any safety device is your value decision. Period.

Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #12 –
The seat frame to floor is the weak link.  4 long bolts , with one maybe two through metal.
 Increasing the leverage vector  with a shoulder belt  over the seat top will for sure break the seat out of the floor.  You would need a shoulder belt attached to the Bus up behind the window.  Not sure if anything is there?  Magnet test? Stud finder..

 
 

Re: Lap belt vs. 3 point belt

Reply #13 –
Paul, I now have two fire extinguishers by the door and one on the wall on my side of the bed. One can never have enough safety.
Burns are painful and I would rather we escape without them.
We once had a house fire and the fire department said they wouldn't have been able to save the house if we hadn't had our fire extinguisher. Our two young kids were screaming at the top of the stairs and I was able to suppress the flames long enough to get them downstairs--in an old high ceilinged farm house.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD