Series III alternate seat belt anchorage?

[allende]

For a long time, (like 30 years of ownership) I've noticed a small plastic cap on top of the tub bulkhead just behind the seats, one on each side of the vehicle. Now putting on a soft top for the first time, I've been puzzling seat belt anchorage - well the small caps conceal a threaded hole that just fits the static belt anchorage bolt that's been mounted on the side of the staion wagon top. Anyone know of this little fitting and whether it's intended as a seatbelt anchorage?

[4flattires]

Like...

..this?

[allende]

Just like that. Although the shoulder belt anchor on my Series III is a flat plate and bolt. Your IIA belt appears to be the same as the lap belt anchorage I have. Thanks.

[s3landy]

My Series 3 had the shoulder belt anchored in the hard top.

Mike

[Lalo88DK]

This is where mine was originally anchored. It's the military way for some models. Now it's anchored to the standard hardtop bracket.

[daveb]

where to anchor the belts is a common problem with a soft top land rover. There are seatbelt mounting bars that were used by the miltary. Not the prettiest things but I guess they work, get the mounting point up above the sholuder. I would not want to be in a wreck with the seatbelt on the bulkhead like that. Even though I did run with similar setups for many years. I would not do it now.

[amcordo]

Isn't that really low for a shoulder belt? I don't know the physics of it, but I remember someone on here mentioning once that you have to be careful to put it high enough so that the force doesn't compress your spine when you're hit?

..this?

[4flattires]

Amcordo,

Shhhhhhh.....don't tell anyone, but that pic is from the Photobucket acct of the ....err...well...ugh...a certain Rover that graced the pages of fleabay recently and got the forum a'buzzin.

My Series however, has this mounting point and I wondered if I should zip tie the cooler to it, or string a clothes line from side to side. The picture is my best guess thus far as to what might have belonged there.

I hear what you're saying. That's why my response was more of a supportive question, rather than fact. I can however offer my 66 VW shoulder belt support mount (factory) is below shoulder level, and I'm a six footer.

[daveb]

when I got my SIII it had 58,000 miles on it and was almost completely original. The static belts were attached at the same point using the anchors. They are nice tie downs but a terrible place for a shoulder harness.

[crankin]

Mine also had a shoulder harness located there. However, I felt really nauseas every time I would use it. I felt like I was pulling pulled down and back all the time and confined.

[ArlowCT]

The best place to mount seat belts in a soft top is to the ROLL BAR!!!! Please look into having your local fab shop weld up a roll bar for you if your planing on running a soft top. I have seen the results of a back roads rollover and it is not pretty.

I have 4 friends that walked away from a rollover last summer ONLY because of the fact the truck had a roll cage and they all had their seat belts on.

As for mounting height, i have heard the top mounting point should be a inch or two below the top of your shoulder. Lower is compresses you, higher it allows you to come out of your seat too much in a rollover.

Good luck and keep it safe.

[mrdoiron]

..this?

this is the same as mine...
mike

[Les Parker]

Soft top seat belts.

Here is how I have set up the 90 seat belts on my soft top, this will work with a 109", however I do not think there is enough space for the seat belt reel and bracket to mount on an 88"
:-