Installing Chair and Three point seat belts

[JoelD]

This is a little (ok a lot) off topic but you guys will know the answer. Want to get a camper, really like the 1 ton conversion vans with toilet and sink and AC and all.

Problem is they only have two seats with belts, driver and passenger.

Is it possible to mount a third seat, with three point harness say behind and between the driver and passenger.

Unlikely I could attach the belt to an original anchor point from manufacturer as there is cabinetry and the like which would probably be in the way.

How about a race seat with integrated harness, with the seat bolted to the floor in such a way that it is not going to get ripped out in a crash, like straps going underneath between bolts?

Or, long story short, am I out of luck and need to get a truck to haul and pull a camper or the like?

Thanks guys,
Joel

 

[Diamondpilot]

Why back I put a Iroc interior in my 1986 Toyota truck. I installed the Power Bucket Seats and the Center Counsel. What I did was make 3/16" 5"x5" plates for the top side of the floor pans and welded them in. I then did the same thing on the bottom side but made it a continuous piece of 3/16" steel and welded it up then undercoated it. It was tied to the cross members. I was able to use the Toyota Seat Belts in this installation. I think anything is doable with some imagination.

Maybe look for a seat out of a ambulance for the rear medic. I am sure they are out there, meet DOT requirements, and are safe. They are primarily for Ford Vans since that is what is used in 90% of ambulance applications.

Chris

 

[thatguy]

When i worked for a rental company we kept loosing rentals to another company because they offered a 3 seat econoline van.. they had added that third seat, but just bolted it to the body (no the frame) :-0 We talked with our insurance carrier about adding a similar set up BUT mounting it to the frame somehow..

the insurance company would not go along with that due to the liability if an accident occurred and the seat came loose.. If the normal seat came loose you could go back to the MFG, but an installed seat would come back to us

Just a thought

brian

 

[wkpoor]

I have done what your after twice. My first van I added a 3rd seat behind the driver with a matching driver seat and shoulder harness.
My current van has 2 flexsteel seats behind the front seats. I had a SS plate welded to the floor all the way across the bed of the van with weldnuts on it for multiple positions. Both seats have 4pt harnesses attached to them for what I think is more security than the standard lap and shoulder. The seats don't pic up the frame but neither do the factory ones up front. However the plate is welded to a 3'x6' area of the bed. If that comes loose then the accident wasn't survivable anyhow IMO. And I used 3/4" bolts to mount the seats...much larger than the factory ones. They come out in a flash if needed. The plate is hidden by the very thick factory mat except for the weldnut holes. This makes or a very comfortable ride with lots of room between front and rear and space side to side. I can place a full size cooler either between the front seats or between the rows and still have loads of room. No PU quad cab has that much passenger room plus still have 8 ft of enclosed cargo behind the rear seats.

 

[Groo]

just be sure you reinforce the body were ever you bolt the seat, and more importantly the seat belt to.

 

[JoelD]

Thanks guys, I figured you'd have some ideas.

My mechanic thought of welding up a roll bar and mounting that to the floor and bolting through to plates underneath and then using the roll bar as mounting spot for belts.

Like you've said, there's a number of solutions out there.

Thanks for the ideas,

Joel