4-point harnesses in a Spyder WITHOUT a roll cage?

[iiiwildfireiii]

Hey guys,

Does anyone know the best way to install some 4-point harnesses in a Spyder WITHOUT a roll cage? Proper safety please, I'm not attaching them to the bottom of my seatback. Is it possible to attach to the frame underneath the rear seats? Sypders don't have B or C pillars so i'm at a loss as to what to do? I've searched but if I've missed the article could someone point me to it?

Thanks!

 

[silvreclips]

I have seen most people attach them to the mounting points for the rear seat belts

 

[Locke]

Install a roll bar, and add a seat-belt bar.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

Mach V sells a harness bar that connects your OEM shoulder belt mounting points together and allows you to mount your harness to it. I'm not sure of the configuration on the spyder's, but I'm sure you could design one yourself very easily that does the same thing (and at a fraction of the cost for the Mach V one). Just make sure your design works around the use of your OEM seatbelt mounting location and that the bar runs at about shoulder height for safety. It sounds like you already understand the importance of that though.

 

[EmberSpyder]

Install a roll bar, and add a seat-belt bar.

I hate the roll bar look but I am sure you can put in a seat belt bar behind the front seats. It would go right down the middle of when the back seat is. You wont be able to have anyone back there any more.

 

[endlessMyk]

I would think if you're too the point where you need harnesses, you'd also want a roll bar at least....

but yeah, you could just do a bar behind the seats I guess-get rid of having people ask to sit back there. i hate when people ask for a ride, I tell them no room, but then they argue that there's a back seat they can fit... then they bi***.

 

[iiiwildfireiii]

Well, I took out the back seat and I definitely can run the harnesses (both driver and passenger) to the rear bolts without hardly any difficulty. In addition, while its not *quite* shoulder level, I believe it will work without any additional risk of spinal compression. The biggest reason I wanted a harness is because I have an aftermarket steering wheel I wanted to install and didn't want to run the risk of smashing my face into the wheel. I sit a good ways back (long arms, not gangsta..) so I think it should be okay. I'm considering NOT installing it due to insurance issues, like if you get hit and are injured did the air bag deploy...etc etc.

While true, I won't be able to use my back seat (god, who'd want to fit back there anyway?!), it also gives me incentive to make my own custom rear seat covers for a removable bass tube and amp. Also, my cousin is working on fiberglass, so I'm going to turn it into a two seater anyway. *giggles*

Now all I have to do is decide on seats....

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Hey guys,

Does anyone know the best way to install some 4-point harnesses in a Spyder WITHOUT a roll cage? Proper safety please, I'm not attaching them to the bottom of my seatback. Is it possible to attach to the frame underneath the rear seats? Sypders don't have B or C pillars so i'm at a loss as to what to do? I've searched but if I've missed the article could someone point me to it?

Thanks!

With proper safety in mind....

Don't install a 4+ point harness WITHOUT a roll bar. Everyone likes to think that they will not roll their car, however, if you do and have a 4+ point harness on the likelihood of sustaining serious injury escalates from the harness. The issue is that you can not easily "lay down" in the seat when the roof collapses and you will crush your spinal column. Simple as that. But hey, it's YOUR a$$, not mine.

 

[iiiwildfireiii]

Honestly I didn't even think of that, which is stupid of me especially since I'm in a convertible. I was focused on keeping my face from not hitting the windshield and forgot to think in 3 dimensions. Whoopsie.

Also, nice usage of bolding there chief. Consider me properly chastised.

I'll have to find me a decent looking functional roll bar as I am more concerned with looks than speed (though both are important to me). Seems all the nice looking ones really are more for show than anything and I don't want some ugly, hunk of steel jutting out of my car.

 

[Defiant]

If you roll, you're not going to have time, and probably not the strength, to "lay down" in a fight against gravity and centrifugal.... centripetal.... well, physics.

The bigger day-to-day concern is that 4-point belts aren't legal for road use. Some near-bankrupt states are looking for the income off any ticket they can write.

 

[jjgrizz73]

You probably wont find any roll cages specifically made for the spyder. Best bet is to fabricate one up for yourself or have a shop make one after getting the proper dimensions with pvc or something of the sort. Plus a good welder could make it look real nice. The featured member - gixxerdrew has a very nice roll cage made by yoshifab but they are asking a few grand for it. You might be able to get some ideas of how to fab it properly with some of his pictures. With the convertible I think the roll cages look great not to mention that if you roll with our cars, you're pretty much screwed

 

[FORMONTOYA]

While I do agree that one would not have time to think about laying down as with most accidents, things happen faster than thought. However, during the "flopping" around that goes on during a roll-over, one would have more "freedom of movement" in a standard 3-point harness than being "locked-into" position that racing buckets and a 4+ point harness provides.

And Oh yea....legality does have a play into things as well.

 

[iiiwildfireiii]

Oh yes... A roll in a spyder = human strawberry pancakes. Which happens to be a very real possibility in my area as I live in the mountains. Google Tail of the Dragon and you'll see what I mean.

I'll check out gixxerdrew and see if I can come up with something. All depends on cost really as I'm in the middle of a rebuild currently. God, I wonder what the price of decent steel is right now...? Worst comes to worst, I'll just leave the steering wheel and belts stock for now. It seems like its really not worth the hassle with the cops / insurance companies to go aftermarket.

Wonder how easy it would be to modify one of those 'light bars' that are available for the spyder? Reenforce it a bit to stiffen it up and make it...well...functional.

 

[RyAn007]

Harness bars are the way to go with out a roll cage nad if you look at RRE's website they have a way to mount them to the rear seatbelt brackets.

 

[Locke]

Harness bars are the way to go with out a roll cage nad if you look at RRE's website they have a way to mount them to the rear seatbelt brackets.

If you own a convertible and feel you need a real harness, then you also need a roll-bar.

Most refs, (all?) when requiring a 4 or 5 point harness, will also require the use of a harness bar.