Message Forums

Hi - we have a Renault Trafic Autosleeper and would like to ask if anyone knows about seatbelts in the back.

We have 2 kids which is fine; two seats in back with lapbelts, but sometimes have my stepson with us and then things get complicated... The camper can convert from 2 forward facing back seats into 1 forward facing and 2 sideways facing seats.

We bought the camper thinking that this would be a perfect solution to the occasional time we have him with us. However, since then I have been doing my research. Scary scary scary. Suffice to say side seats are just not safe, with or without belts, 'catastrophic injuries to spine, head etc'. So we are not going to put the side seats out for travelling.

What I am looking into is perhaps building a 3rd forward facing seat in the aisle between the other two back seats. On another forum, people have mentioned wheelchair friendly taxis and ambulances that have some kind of temporary seat or belt but I can't imagine this (not having a brain that can imagine such a technical thing). Can anyone find me a picture of this??

The other alternative is to have all 3 kids secured in the existing forward facing seats (passenger seat and 2 back seats) and the second adult sitting on the floor / camping chair and taking pot luck with the dog! Could never forgive myself if anything happened to any of the kids so would rather take the risk myself.

Help!

Hiya

ebay number 150419752712 this is what your asking to look at, you will also require the unwin floor mounted runners, all off this is standard fit for disabled minibuses etc, also the seats can be mounted into the same track enabling removal, do be aware that this MUST comply to M O T standards, but not hard to fit so dont let this put you off

mick

Hi

I work with adults with a learning disability and all our vehicles are wheelchair accessible.  All seats on our vehicles are fitted with Unwins floor tracking and the seats just slot into it so all the seats can be removed.  I'm sure that you would not have much trouble finding a seat as many establishments have to remove seats to allow wheelchair access and as they take up more room so the number of seats are reduced.  You would need floor tracking fitted and to check that the floor is strong enough or have it strengthened.  Once the tracking is in place the seats just slot in. If your county council have specialist vehicles their fleet provider may be able to help  (we have a garage full of seats at work but cannot do anything with them as they have to be returned when the vehicle is changed).

The ones on ebay are for fixing  a wheelchair in place and use an old system which is no longer recommended as ratehr than metal clamps which are shown we now using webbing straps.

Jean

If you google Unwins safety systems this might help.

Jean

Did you solve your 5 seat problem? If not this van  might be worth a look.

http://www.motorhomemarket.co.uk/detail.php?id=1599

Jules

Thanks, we managed to kind of sort it... We had a side seatbelt fitted to one side and when we have my stepson, he goes in the front and one adult takes this side seat. Not great but I just had to get over my safety concerns. If we had an accident in it, I don't think it would matter if we were in good safety belts or not - apparently we'll all be crushed like eggs in an eggbox anyway.

We'll know better next time - this one has a shelf life of a couple of years due to it's rusting undercarriage so we'll just be better informed next camper we buy!