Shoulder Belt installation thoughts and opinions/experiences

[slixtyfive]

Just checking to get thoughts, opinions and experiences (good or bad) from those who have or are planning a three-point seat belt upgrade. I'm want to do this and need to get the mounting nuts welded in before i take the cab in for painting.

Anything about brand/type of belts as well as locating the mounting point. I understand that it needs to be a solid point to mount to but i'm wondering more about if anyone has had specific experience with doing this and later wishing they had done something different - like the height or location for the new upper mount etc.

Thanks in advance.

[ICEMAN6166]

lots of people have done this, you can search the forum and find it
heres one
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19782

i wont as its one of the reasons i drive old stuff, no neck leashes.

[F7BIGJOB]

i wont as its one of the reasons i drive old stuff, no neck leashes.

Ditto

[slickmainer]

here is a great how to

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10557

[slixtyfive]

Yes, i've seen some of the other posts on what other people have done. I'm not really looking on a 'how to' on this - i know what needs to be done and how to do it.

I'm looking more for 'after the fact' comments - after they have used/driven for awhile after making this upgrade and to see if they would do anything different or have any suggestions from 'learning the hard way' so to speak.

[jkimbrel65]

i wont as its one of the reasons i drive old stuff, no neck leashes.

Ditto

x3
I drive a 62 cause they can't make put any of that crap on her yet!!

Mike

[slickmainer]

Ah, gotcha. Idk, I still roll with lap belts

[FordChild]

OK, I'm all for the lack of Gov't intrusion, too... and foregoing the legitimate safety aspect of it...(ie, not flying through the windshield, etc) I look at shoulder belts this way: As long as it's a law, I will attempt to follow it, in order not to get pulled over.(if they ever repeal it, I will most likely never wear one again.) BUT, if a cop sees you flying by, with say, a tag expired by a month, AND you're not wearing a shoulder belt, well that's a two-fer, and he'll be more inspired to come after you. Now, if you go by with the same expired tags, but you're wearing your "neck leash", then you have a better chance of him going, "Ah, screw it". And to Mike & all, after you argue with him about how old the truck is... and you're not required to have shoulder/lap belts, etc, how are you going to feel when he's so pissed that he can't write you for that, that he STILL writes you up for the expired tags?? Just sayin'...

[jkimbrel65]

not gonna argue with him pay the ticket and wait for the next one(got one 5 days straight when offered to bring him coffee the next day he gave up lol and have never had an expired tag



Mike

[ICEMAN6166]

OK, I'm all for the lack of Gov't intrusion, too... and foregoing the legitimate safety aspect of it...(ie, not flying through the windshield, etc) I look at shoulder belts this way: As long as it's a law, I will attempt to follow it, in order not to get pulled over.(if they ever repeal it, I will most likely never wear one again.) BUT, if a cop sees you flying by, with say, a tag expired by a month, AND you're not wearing a shoulder belt, well that's a two-fer, and he'll be more inspired to come after you. Now, if you go by with the same expired tags, but you're wearing your "neck leash", then you have a better chance of him going, "Ah, screw it". And to Mike & all, after you argue with him about how old the truck is... and you're not required to have shoulder/lap belts, etc, how are you going to feel when he's so pissed that he can't write you for that, that he STILL writes you up for the expired tags?? Just sayin'...

no "two-fer" because im not breaking any laws, in either my truck or car as neither were required to have that so its a non- issue.
besides that i make sure my tags are current and so im not worried about that.

[fmartin_gila]

I am of both train of thought's on Belts. As a Pilot, it is just a normal thing to strap in when getting into a mode of transportation. On the other hand, my 2nd of my 4 Wives would still be alive if she had not been held captive by Seatbelts holding her in position so her skull was crushed in an accident in 1987.

Fred

[slickmainer]

I just haven't gotten to it which is why I have lap belts. from the write up I haven't heard anyone say they would do it differently

[charliemccraney]

I have 3 point belts and there's nothing I would change.
I think 3 point belts are generally safer. There will always be unique situations where they just don't help. That is true with anything.

I hit a pole when I was a teen and had no belt. I just held onto the steering wheel and I was fine. However, a passenger who also was not wearing a belt did get injured. So I'm not going to try to claim that no belt is safe. My view on the 3 point is that I'd rather risk a sore collar bone than a rearranged face or back problems or worse.

[MadMaxetc]

I had my lap belt on when I wrecked my 63. IT saved my life. What it didn't save is my two front teeth, a concussion, and a pop in my neck that still hasn't got better even with years of therapy and chiropractic care.

I now have 3-points in all my vehicals. The slick will probably get 5-points.

[totten]

Will save you from being crushed by steering column. I have 3 points from southern rods. Tony

[Toyz]

Since the majority of places I work require in-plant seat belt usage, even with 10-20 mph speed limits, I have got in the habit of buckling up when going forward. Driving the old tow truck across country; I kept reaching for non-existent belts! The redeeming factor was being pretty well "cocooned" in, with the later seat and the gargantuan wheel!
As far as location, I just took a dirty measurement from the bottom seat cushion seating surface to the upper mount on my full-size Bronco, since it seems comfortable for my height. I have not yet duplicated it on any of the slicks, so I can't lend any real results.
I need to determine a source for dependable retractor setups; Bronco or Mustang applications might be made to work, but don't seem to have long-term dependability in my experience.
Paul

[kstones63]

I put 3 point harness inmy truck and I like them but I am used to them from my other vehicles. I got mine from http://gemstreetrods.com/ and they have worked out fine.
I know that some people don't like them and that is fine. It is all about what you are comfortable with.

Kevin

[bobenhotep]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meiuOQHTsNg

The neck leash thing reminded me of the "neck belt recall" on " The Onion Movie".

[64 f100]

You are not required to have seat belts in trucks before 1964, of any kind. Do what you want, you will anyway, regardless of what someone else says. The statistics are biased , seat belts may or may not save lives. Don't believe propaganda. Think for yourself. Government stats are based on what they collect, mainly how many people died for lack of seatbelts. How many that were able to save their own lives because they were not restricted in movement, is not something they bothered to find out, since their brother-in-law sold seat belts. Like I said, think for yourself. Your not saving any lives regardless of using seat belts, maybe prolonging those, but not saving. You don't get out of this world alive. Safety is an overworked word and subject to interpretation.

Rich

[Gritsngumbo]

I buckle my seatbelt when I start my vehicle because I feel safer and more comfortable with them on. I don't know about other areas of the country and "lack of seat belt statistics", but in I would say in 98% of the reported deaths in our area the occupant(s) were NOT wearing seat belts. That's good enough for me.