Failed MOT - rear seat belts

[Jim San]

Having passed no problem for the last 6 years, it has failed for having no rear seat belts.

Bit miffed but fair enough, can't blame a bloke fir being diligent. But now I need to sort it, even though we don't really use them - and knowing they'll get chewed because they snag in the bed mech.
Wish I knew where I'd put the ones I took out years ago.

Thinking of putting non-inertia ones in. I know they are not as comfortable/ usable, but it would hopefully give me a chance of keeping them from getting chewed on the bed mech.

Thoughts welcome

[ZsZ]

Is the lap belt enough for them? Was enough by law when these vans were made.

BW had kits for rear belts. Not sure if only 3point or also 2point ones. Belts + mounting plates.
Combe Valley Campers made a YT video on installing 3point to a panel conversion.

[Oldiebut goodie]

If you present it for the MoT with the bed out they can't test them! Or look for them. ( there are no seats then )

[cobblers]

As above, fold the bed down, then it's not a seat anymore and doesn't need any seatbelts. By the letter of the law this should work, however you might still have issues because I think your MOT tester is misinterpreting the rules anyway! As far as I'm aware there's no legal requirement for seatbelts in the back of a van or motorhome built in the 1980s - A lot of campers were built without seatbelts in the 1990s and 2000s.

I have presented dozens of camper vans for MOTs with no rear belts and never had anything mentioned.

[mrhutch]

As above, fold the bed down, then it's not a seat anymore and doesn't need any seatbelts.

absolutely this...

I once MOT'd an old panel T3 with no windscreen installed because the wiper motor had failed and I didn't have time to fix it.

[Jim San]

If you present it for the MoT with the bed out they can't test them! Or look for them. ( there are no seats then )

This did actually cross my mind.

I'm now wondering how I'm fixed as the fail is now on the system
I can't simply take it somewhere else surely!

[davidoft1]

If you present it for the MoT with the bed out they can't test them! Or look for them. ( there are no seats then )

This did actually cross my mind.

I'm now wondering how I'm fixed
as the fail is now on the system
I can't simply take it somewhere else surely!

You can take it back for retest they will just advise seat folded so not tested, though looking it seems to be 1991 for rear belts being obligatory

[Aidan]

how many seats shown on the V5 ?

[Oldiebut goodie]

I don't think the number of seats on the V5 comes into it - my Merc had 19 seats on the V5 still but only 2 seatbelts for up front. Still went through the MoT with no queries for years until I sold it.

[multisi]

No seat belts in the back could be a safety issue, somebody sitting in the back not strapped in would worry me.

[Mocki]

Just fold the bed down , if it’s a bed and not a seat it needs no belt …..

[Porkscratching]

No seat belts in the back could be a safety issue, somebody sitting in the back not strapped in would worry me.

Wouldn't bother me at all. Less safety hones the senses. There's merit in every vehicle having a ruddy great spike in the centre of the steering wheel and child seats on the bonnet.

Perhaps it's an age and risk related thing.

Regards, Max

[multisi]

Ive learnt from experience after my first T3 not having belts fitted to the rear seat/bed , i had to pull up sharpish when someone had pulled up around a bend, the 2 friends in the back came flying forward and smacked into the bulkhead behind the front seats, i was only doing about 20 miles an hour !

[Timburrows]

Dual purpose rear seats eg seat and bed do not need seatbelts,tell them to show you the place in the manual 

[Jim San]

I'm not a tester, but I have seen the manual and it is open to interpretation erring on the side of belts being needed.
However, the tester who sent me the pic of the page on the manual says its harsh if my usage is as i say it is and the tester could have given benefit of doubt - easier said than done in most cases.

I've bought belts, I'll not fit then but they will be sold with the van when the time comes.

I'll retest the van at another mot station (once I can get these so and so lower ball joints off and changed!!! Caliper bolts are being stubborn wee mo fos )

We have snow forecast in the coming days - of course there is, it always and only snows when the bloomin syncro is in the sick bay