Club 80-90 Forums

I couldn't quite find a definitive answer on this, but i'm thinking of buying a T25, but i have three kids, ages 5,8, and 10. If a van comes with none or two rear belts, can i assume its possible to add a third seat belt?

Apologies if this is detailed else where.

cheers

Steve P

I believe you can if it is a Multivan / Caravelle type interior with a full width bench-seat / rock-n-roll seat in the back, but not if it is a more standard camper with built-in units along the driver's side wall.

Our 1981 Autohomes camper has two seats on the rear bench (with lap belts) plus a rear facing buddy seat with three point belt.

So you should be able to find something similar - although I 'think' the rear facing buddy seat was an optional extra.....

Hi Steve,

I have a factory caravelle as my daily and also have 3 children, 2, 3 and 8, For our youngest we use a lap belt fitted child seat and the 2 oldest use the standard 3 point intertia belts that are fitted.

Factory caravelles (window vans) have the seat belt mounting points already installed on the rear, that gives you 3 point seat belts for the 2 sides and then the option of a lapbelt in the centre. These are pressings and fixings in the factory metalwork and will be regardless of the interior conversion.

Panel van conversions, where the windows have been cut in, do not have the seat belt mountings, but you are able to weld them in if youre that way inclined, i believe brickwerks do a kit for the side upper seat belt mountings, check out their handy guide buddy:
https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/rear-seat-belts/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hope this helps.

I have 3x 3point seat belts in the back, just takes some longer seat belts and some planning.

The van is an original Devon conversions so caravelle with fibreglass wardrobe.

Note that the caravelle's rear row of seats is further back than in most campers.

Belt one (nearest to the door) runs from the accessible mount on the pillar next the the door.
Belt two (middle) is a long belt running from the rear mount behind the window.
Belt three (cupboard side) runs from a fabricated bracket inside the wardrobe. You could run from the other rear mount but could be awkward when packed up!

There is also an extra anchor plate welded with the others under the seat.
All winders hinden away and nice and neat, passed three MOTS and as a bonus the kids are safe!

I wasn't allowed to use it without proper seat belts... "Sort it or sell it!"

There's also the question of isofix for the little ones. It's possible to retrofit using a F0rd kit. I am considering fitting a bench seat from a T5 which has 3x3 point integral belts. Also an option of a sliding base. Still need to check some measurements and not cheap but would offer a lot of flexibility for a day van or weekend camper

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I used to have a Sharan, and used the middle rear seat (lap belt fixed to the seat). I found the rails it clips to online and bolted them to the floor with reinforcement underneath. Careful positioning means it can be front or rear facing, and is easily removed when camping, or can just be folded up. No longer have the sharan (it left on the back of a skip lorry) but kept the seat. With two 3 point belts on the back seat, we can take three kids with us.

Retr0bot wrote:I have 3x 3point seat belts in the back, just takes some longer seat belts and some planning.

The van is an original Devon conversions so caravelle with fibreglass wardrobe.

Note that the caravelle's rear row of seats is further back than in most campers.

Belt one (nearest to the door) runs from the accessible mount on the pillar next the the door.
Belt two (middle) is a long belt running from the rear mount behind the window.
Belt three (cupboard side) runs from a fabricated bracket inside the wardrobe. You could run from the other rear mount but could be awkward when packed up!

There is also an extra anchor plate welded with the others under the seat.
All winders hinden away and nice and neat, passed three MOTS and as a bonus the kids are safe!

I wasn't allowed to use it without proper seat belts... "Sort it or sell it!"

I chose this option for my panel van. Paid a welder about £50 to weld the mounts on place. Fitting the belts from brickwerks is dead easy. That was 2 years ago. We've just had another baby and he didn't come with a seat belt so I've ordered a specially made belt that is extra long with 2 tongs. I will fit this alongside one of the brickwerks belts and the double tong means it can be fully removed once the rock n roll bed is pulled out.

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