A Safer Bench Seat

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by achop

Hope this isn't too dumb of a question, but are the head-rests critical to this installation/safety?

All depends on the head/neck height of the riders in the seat. Headrests are intended to reduce the risk of whiplash.


Herb

[achop]

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

All depends on the head/neck height of the riders in the seat. Headrests are intended to reduce the risk of whiplash.


Herb

Right, thanks! I just wondered if the 4-point belts themselves depended on the headrests in order to avoid ... er, choking? ;-) the beloved passengers or something. It sort of looked like the belt performance didn't require the headrests for structural separation or anything like that.

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by achop

Right, thanks! I just wondered if the 4-point belts themselves depended on the headrests in order to avoid ... er, choking? ;-) the beloved passengers or something. It sort of looked like the belt performance didn't require the headrests for structural separation or anything like that.

Got it. The thing with shoulder belts is that the shoulder straps are supposed to to be anchored above the shoulder. The top of the backrest probably accomplishes that, and like you mentioned the headrests may just add separation between the shoulder belts.


herb

[achop]

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Got it. The thing with shoulder belts is that the shoulder straps are supposed to to be anchored above the shoulder. The top of the backrest probably accomplishes that, and like you mentioned the headrests may just add separation between the shoulder belts.


herb

Thanks - and your project looks amazing. Well done!

[rachbmartin]

Hi! We are in the same boat! Also in SoCal. What did you end up doing?

[Vinofly]

Has anyone removed the original bench seat and put in a sprinter bench with integrated shoulder harnesses and head rests?

[Steve Hunt]

Originally Posted by Vinofly

Has anyone removed the original bench seat and put in a sprinter bench with integrated shoulder harnesses and head rests?

I have a Transit seat for my Econoline. It was born a cargo van so there were no bench seats to remove. Mount the tracks to the floor and it’s fairly easy to take in and out with a 2nd person. A little heavy/awkward by yourself but possible.