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Square peg round hole?
Posted: 07 Apr 2010, 18:44
by charliemac72
Hi peeps
I am trying to work out whether I am asking the impossible - to install three seatbelts (1 x 3 point, 2 x lapbelts) into my T25 Devon (83 Aircooled). As the rock n roll bed is a 3/4 there isnt a lot of space, but its the only solution I can think of to accomodate 2 adults, a teenager, an 8 year old and a five year old. The configuration Im thinking is OH driving, 8 year old in passenger seat with appropriate child restraint, 4 year old in rear with child restraint (booster) and 3 point belt, and myself and skinny teenager with rear lap belts. Not the most comfortable I imagine, but the only solution as far as I can see it?
I've trawled through old posts and wiki, and cant seem to find the answer to this one so over to the experts... by the way the length of rear seat is 108mm....
Thanks muchly folks!
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 07 Apr 2010, 18:46
by kevtherev
Do you not have a potty box?
being a Devon
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 07 Apr 2010, 18:52
by charliemac72
Thanks Kev
yeas we do have the potty box (nice terminology) but when Ive made enquiries about a rear facing passenger there I was told theres nothing to attach the fixings to (ie no bulkhead????)
Does this make sense to you?
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 07 Apr 2010, 18:54
by eatcustard
charliemac72 wrote:Thanks Kev
yeas we do have the potty box (nice terminology) but when Ive made enquiries about a rear facing passenger there I was told theres nothing to attach the fixings to (ie no bulkhead????)
Does this make sense to you?
Welcome
Are you talking about the poo seat or the seat belt fittings?
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 07 Apr 2010, 19:00
by charliemac72
Hey Custard
The seatbelt fittings (I think???)
I am a complete novice, I thought it may be possible to bolt the buddy/poo (nice)/potty down and then fix a three point inertia belt to behind the passenger seat side...
Tres complicated I need wine damn is it really only wednesday?
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 07 Apr 2010, 20:21
by kevtherev
lap belt the buddy seat once it's bolted to the battery box
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 07 Apr 2010, 20:26
by CovKid
Yep, my buddy seat uses same fastenings as forward seat - I just put slightly longer bolts in.
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 08 Apr 2010, 09:09
by charliemac72
Thanks guys - does anybody else have experience of a) bolting down the buddy seat and b) putting a lapbelt on it? I cant understand why the conversion company I've been emailing dont seem to think its feasible on a T25?????
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 10 Apr 2010, 19:51
by lorri-d
Actually I'd be very interested in the answer to this too as would like to do exactly the same thing. Our T25 is a transporter that's been converted, would this make a difference?
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 11 Apr 2010, 13:15
by kevtherev
As explained the buddy seat bolts to the battery box..as does the lap belt or to the B pillar for a three point
Our T25 is a transporter that's been converted
By a conversion Co. or DIY?
Matters not really. My van was converted by Autosleeper, they never fitted a Buddy/potty box seat, so I made one (from the wiki plans) based on the Devon Box.
It bolts to the back of the battery box. There's no back rest as the pass. seat swivels so it would be a lap belt.
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 28 Jun 2010, 07:07
by Epiphone
Hi, can someone confirm for the mounting part below, is this simply bolted on to the normal metal or is there a need for a mounting plate to me mounted on it (such as with seatbelts).
B2B-montage.jpg
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 29 Jun 2010, 07:53
by Epiphone
im assuming then its just like the rear 3-point seatbelts (3 bolts in normal bodywork), no extra mount plates need to be welded in, cos there are 4 bolts through normal thickness bodywork? can anyone confirm?
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 29 Jun 2010, 11:08
by CovKid
I guess its whether the bracket itself has spreader plates on the reverse. Key here is having fastenings that can't tear out. I appreciate that things are a little different if you're facing backwards, but all seat belt fastenings have to be strong. In mine I made my own seat and a back for it otherwise it was awful to sit on for any length of time owing to the slope of the passenger seat in front. I then fitted a lap belt which bolts to front passenger belt stalk and the other end under bolt on down the side of passenger seat (it on high point of step). Thats more than adequate as a fastening and the fastenings are already there - you just use longer bolts. The only drawbacks with a buddy seat (apart from having to face backwards, and some hate that) is its not great on bends, passenger having to hold on tight to stop sliding off.

Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 05 Jul 2010, 08:12
by Epiphone
Hi, so I installed 1 of the seats behind the driver. Here there are 2 cyclindrical mount points on the floor and the holes in the driver seat box. I had to drill 2 again on the left, as I had this welded over.
IMG_6079.JPG
I then cut some metal (7x5cms for example) and used this as a mounting plate on the opposite side (1 in battery compartment and 1 in wheel arch the otherside of petrol expansion tank). Just to take some of the pressure of the thin metal of the driver seat box. Its not welded in or anything, but better than nothing.
IMG_6078.JPG
But on passenger side, there is no mount points what so ever. So would definitly have to the the floor mounts welded in.
Re: Square peg round hole?
Posted: 06 Jul 2010, 07:23
by Epiphone
added pics