School me on seat belts

YJJPWrangler

YJJPWrangler

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2005
Location
Charlotte
Need a set of belts for the rear seat that can be used with car seats. Currently have mounting tabs under the seat and a shoulder bar. Would just lap belts and the car seat top tether be sufficient for mild wheeling? Obviously they would be out for the harder stuff.
 
IME, the shoulder belt doesn't do much to retain the seat. It's mostly about cinching the car seat down to the vehicle with the lap belt part. Tether is supposed to absorb/slow forward rotation.
 
I toted my kids around with just the lap belts in the bestop fold and tumble in the back of my CJ.
top strap (that goes under the headrests) I attached to the fold and tumble floor latch with a climbing carabiner.

No one died 🤷‍♂️
 
Honestly if you are using anything modern for a child seat it should be compatible with the latch system. Weld in some solid bar anchors to use the latch straps and make sure the seat is supported and angled to meet the guidelines printed on the labels on the seat. Best set up for three point latch, one low on either side of the seat and one up/over/behind the seat. This will mimic how a modern car seat attached to a modern car latch system.
 
Backseat is a mastercraft seat. No latches to hook to. I do have harness tabs welded to the frame and shoulder bar so I should easily be able to attach it a lap belt. I can get a pair of Corbeau lap belts for $75.

Plan is to put the car seats in for wheeling trips but if we are just running up to the neighborhood pool, they can still use the lap belts.
 
YJJPWrangler said:
Backseat is a mastercraft seat. No latches to hook to. I do have harness tabs welded to the frame and shoulder bar so I should easily be able to attach it a lap belt. I can get a pair of Corbeau lap belts for $75.

Plan is to put the car seats in for wheeling trips but if we are just running up to the neighborhood pool, they can still use the lap belts.
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The size and style of lap belt will make a difference. I am not able to easily fit my harness lap belt through the car seat and adjust it so the latch mechanism is to the side of the car seat. Additionally, it can be difficult to cinch the car seat down as tight as I’d like it to be for trail riding. The kiddos are gonna wiggle/bounce side to side in the car seat a lot on the trail. If the car seat is loose at all, that’s going to add a significant amount of movement to the equation.

I prefer the car seat to be strapped in very tight in the buggy - much tighter than in a normal vehicle. The ratchet strap method allows me to get it as tight as I want.
 
YJJPWrangler said:
@Kickdeez That makes a lot of sense...and rachet straps are free...

I still need to add the center tabs, that means pulling the tank again but thats not too bad.
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Dear sir, please do not use the free ones. Only buy the good stuff for the sake of the children.
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YJJPWrangler said:
@Kickdeez That makes a lot of sense...and rachet straps are free...

I still need to add the center tabs, that means pulling the tank again but thats not too bad.
Click to expand...
If you're going to be pulling the tank to add some tabs anyway, it might be worth considering adding some dedicated mounting tabs/attachment points specifically for the ratshit straps. On mine, the attachment points I have available are not in the most ideal locations. I cuss and throw things every time I put that car seat in and take it out. And every time I tell myself that I'm gonna add some brackets that are better positioned to make my life easier. But I still haven't done it...
 
Kickdeez said:
If you're going to be pulling the tank to add some tabs anyway, it might be worth considering adding some dedicated mounting tabs/attachment points specifically for the ratshit straps. On mine, the attachment points I have available are not in the most ideal locations. I cuss and throw things every time I put that car seat in and take it out. And every time I tell myself that I'm gonna add some brackets that are better positioned to make my life easier. But I still haven't done it...
Click to expand...

Good idea. Right now I can reach the tabs on either side. It will be one the ones in the middle that are a pain. I think for now, I'll probably leave the straps hooked up all the time. If the car seats aren't in, I can always strap in cooler etc.
 
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