General Boards > Redecorating and Updating your Motorhome

KIds Seats and Belts

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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

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