Harness like restraint from OEM seatbelt?

[bcworkz]

Installing harnesses in your Zed is not for everyone, though nearly anyone on a hoon would want better restraint than that afforded by the typical street seatbelt. Something like CG Lock is an improvement. I present another option that is OEM, easy to use, and almost as good as a 4 point harness.

Only works for RHD cars on driver's side only. I just learned that in US spec cars, the right hand seatbelt has a ratchet function intended to easily secure child seats. There's no reason it couldn't just as easily secure an adult driver. The seat belt functions normally until someone pulls the belt all the way out, at which point a ratchet is engaged which allows the belt to retract, but not extend. The ratchet is disengaged again by fully retracting the belt, restoring normal 2 way operation.

If you were to source a US spec right hand seatbelt & reel and install it in your RHD car, you could easily invoke this feature in seconds, even while driving, anytime you anticipate a hoon coming up. Most people will get adequate restraint by just pulling the belt very tight. If you have electric seats, you can make it painfully tight. Your hips will be fully restrained, just like a harness or CG Lock would do. In addition, your torso is somewhat restrained, somewhat like a harness would do, but what the CG Lock does not do. You would have to then briefly unfasten the belt to restore normal 2 way operation. The cost from a US breaker plus shipping shouldn't be much more than the CG Lock price.

Disclaimer: This is just an idea I had and wanted to share. I do not know if there are fitment, legal, or insurance issues that prevent implementation. Also consider the effects if the explosive tensioner should fire when the belt is already tightened this much. (an issue with CG Lock as well) My instinct tells me there would be no serious injury from the belt, but you may be bruised a bit.

 

[Perana]

Sorry maybe just me, but not understanding what your saying. Sounds like your just describing how an inertia seatbelt works, again maybe just me?

CG lock is just a marketing ploy for peeps that don't know how to properly use a seatbelt.

 

[mmm-five]

The other option:

• move your seat back 2 inches
• inertia lock the seatbelt by pulling quickly
• move the seat to it's original position

You are now secured into the seat by the belt that's now locked in a shorter position than normal.

 

[bcworkz]

With inertial lock, there is a real possibility of releasing it if the tension was momentarily released. With this reel, the only way for it to release is to let it fully retract. Before that point, if it gets any slack, it'll just get tighter and tighter.

The trick of using the seat as a tensioner doesn't work if your normal position is all the way back, and doesn't work that well with manual seats in any position. The problem with inertial lock is you have to introduce slack to engage the lock. Moving the seat is a work around, not a solution.

If you were to actually try it, you would see it is superior to other tension gimmicks, surpassed only by true harnesses. If the tension gimmicks work well for you, then this mod is not for you. If it were available for left side, I would do this mod.

Perana, you CAN try it, just not while driving. Sit in the passenger seat, pull the belt all the way out, then let it retract around you, then pull it tight. You'll see how it is superior to inertial lock immediately.

 

[Perana]

Ok after reading your second post, i thought AGAIN what the f**k is this guy on about,,,,Wellllllllllllllll i stand corrected. You are right and now understand and see what your talking about, it does indeed have a different type of seatbelt on the passenger side (lhd) with a ratchet.

I remember when i first got my car (about 3 years ago) taking the wife out for a drive, she complained whilst driving she couldn't reach forward to get something out her purse and i rubbished her for moving forward against the belt to quickly. Now i see why she couldn't (humble pie on the menu tonight).

Just tried this and have to admit couldn't move at all, very secure,but even if i was back in the UK, wouldn't want this type on the drivers side, can't reach forward for the likes of sat-nav or if i dropped something whilst driving. Will stick with usual route, sit in car, sit properly, seat belt on, pull tightly across the lap part and then let go across the chest part,,,,,sorted.

Well spotted though bcworkz and thanks.