KIds Seats and Belts

[Jerry Emert]

Now that I have the new MH home, one kid wants to name it Bucky, the other the Beast.  I digress.  Anyway, it came with no seat belts or appropriate forward facing seats for other than pilot/co-pilot.  My idea is to install a couple capt's chairs one behind the other on the curb side slide.  (shown in pic if it worked) The space is about 73 inches long and I found some chairs that are 24 inches front to back not counting when the seats are in the back position.  My question, what is under the floor on the slide?  Could I just drill holes, stick the bolts through and call it a day?  It can't be that easy.  Kids are 7 and 13.

Any ideas?  Thoughts?  Thanks in advance.
Jerry

[Edward Buker]

Jerry,

For the most part kids do not sit and look out the window in these RVs from our experience with ours which may make the couch an option. They have other interests while driving, a lap type DVD player or a hand held game is more likely, possibly a book, but all the kids are different. Our last motorhome had seat belts bolted through the floor and the couch had slits in the bottom near where the base and back join where they were worked up through and could be tucked in the crease below the back when not in use. You could possibly have the slits added.  If the couch frame was a strong metal tube or rail and I used one of the couch anchor bolts for a seat belt mount I may use the couch frame for the other belt piece. If the frame is inadequate you may have to find drilling points that work for bolting and use a plate on the underside to spread the load.

If you go the captain chair route, they have swivel boltable bases. I would guess that you will have to use some appropriate steel plate or u channel on the underside of the slide floor to fasten those chairs and seat belts adequately. Beaver Coach Sales may be able to give you some insight, they must have added seat belts over the years.

Later Ed

[Jerry Emert]

Thanks Ed, what you suggest was my first idea but it makes me a little nervous having the kids sit sideways, or perpendicular to the direction of the force in an accident.  I agree that they never know where they are, always staring at a DVD, iPod or Kindle.  I got the idea of the chairs just to have them facing forward in a crash.  I'll take your advice and call BCS Monday. 
Take care
Jerry

[BJ Sprague]

Some prefer a dinette/booth configuration where extra seatbelts (in this case for children) can be attached to the forward facing seat.  The kids like it because they have access to a table and a bit more freedom for activities while driving.  Also, the use of a dining booth allows for better seating options in the living room area.  BCS has reconfigured dining areas from table and chairs to booths.  RV Outfitters across the street from BCS would also be a good choice.  My early teen grandchildren have the booth configuration in their motorhome and much prefer it to a conventional captain's chair w/ seat belt arrangement.  The children (teens) very much like to use the living area sofas for lounging and absolutely would not give them up for captain's chairs!  Just a thought!....

[Joel Ashley]

Jerry, you are absolutely certain there are no belts for the couch already?  Both our loveseat and the hide-a-bed couch across the aisle have seat belts, usually tucked down behind cushions since we've never had a ridealong guest.  It did take some doing to retrieve them when we first looked.

Joel

PS- I vote for Bucky

[Jerry Emert]

Joel, vote recorded!
I did everything but take the whole couch out to find the belts.  The original owner had the two euro chairs put in on the drivers side.  They are not mounted.  The pass side has the couch with a drawer under it.  I removed the drawer, all the cushions and looked under and all around.  If there are belts under there you can pour the salt and I'll eat them!  The couch does have slits in it that look like belts would fit through.  There are also some hefty looking aluminum braces back by the wall that look like a good place to put belts.
I've seen a lot of crashes in my day and what they do to people seat belted facing forward.  It scares me to just let them roam around.
Thanks for your thoughts

[Joel Ashley]

On our loveseat with the drawer similar to yours, I can see the two ends of each belt mount under the rear bolt that locks down the couch frame on each side of the couch.  There are 4 holddown bolts, and the two rear ones have the belts mounted atop the frame.  The belts can be difficult to spot along black frame members.  In your case, a previous owner may have removed them or installed a non-factory sofa sans belts.

Joel

[Gerald Farris]

Jerry,
You are not missing anything. Very few Beavers were equipped with seat belts for more than two seat in the SMC era of production (1995 to 2002). However seat belts are easy to install for the sofa. I would not be worried about them not facing forward because the coach is so heavy that an abrupt stop from an accident like you can experience in a car is very unlikely to almost impossible. The biggest reason for injury in a coach accident is a rollover, and the side facing belts will do just as much good as front facing belts in case of a rollover.

Gerald

[Jerry Emert]

Thanks, I've inspected those rails the couch is bolted to from one end to the other so I'm sure it is as Gerald commented.  I will buy some seat belts and mount to the couch support and the slide reinforcement (for lack of a better way to describe it).  Still worried about what is going to happen when I loosen the bolt.  Will the bolt drop into the bottom of the slide never to be seen again?  Is it mounted like a stud and will remain visible once I loosen it?  I guess I'll see.  Thanks for info.

[Edward Buker]

Jerry,

With the slide out you can check the backside for nuts and if they turn. I think you will be all right. The bolts should have either visible fasteners or ones that are blind and secure. These couches are made and mounted to be removed.

Later Ed

[Jerry Emert]

Thanks Ed.  I'm going to go check it today.  Fingers crossed.