Shoulder Seat Belts in a Thing

The British versions of these (182) had an extended B-pillar on which the shoulder belts were attached.

-- Howard

If you are going to install a typical car 3-point belt, you should have a bracket welded about 2-3 inches above your shoulder on the side of the cage. (you should be able to get this bracket from most VW shops that sell performance/off-road parts). If you are using a racing harness, you should have a horizontal bar welded into the cage behind your shoulders and have the harness loop around the bar.

Ohhh good point. I was thinking of replacing the seats all together anyway since I hate that vinyl. great in the rain sucks everytime else :-)

I have size 24 neck but then again bigger head means more mass means more force if I get hit. never thought of that. trouble would be finding seats with head rests that go that high (would have to go nearly to the top :-)

Chris Taylor

I'm not sure which style seat tracks are in the Thing, but you should be able to switch them for other VW seats with the headrest. That's the easiest way, unless you put custom seats in.

I have a 3 point setup in my Thing. The upper mount point is just a bracket welded to the rollbar above my shoulder. The one thing (no pun) I would suggest is to get the automatic type seatbelts, the kind most cars have that let you move around unless there's an impact strong enough to trigger the mechanism. Mine doesn't have this, they're mounted solid and it hurts if you lean forward quickly to vary your view in the rear or side mirror.

JohnF

:-) absolutely Especially since I am rather on the large side :-)

even if I was not fat I am still 6'3" :-)

I fit oddly well and comfortably in the thing. snug as a bug so to speak. one of the more comfortable vehicles I drive actually.

Especially since I installed the smaller diameter grant wheel (removable lockable steering wheel) now I can get in easily (being in was easy it was the GETTING in and out that war originally a problem) as my legs would be too large to easily slide under the wheel.

the new wheel is 1" smaller and it makes all the difference.

Some people seem me getting in or out and some even openly wonder how the hell do you fit in their :-) When I give people rides they comment on how surprisingly roomy it is. even the back seats (as bad as they are space wise) are not as tight as you would expect looking in from without but the front is nearly roomy in nature.

Rommier than my Cherokee actually.

Chris Taylor

On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 17:29:42 -0500, John Willis ran around screaming and yelling:

John are you sure you want to go there? J

On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 18:33:24 -0400, Joey Tribiani , who was sitting in a corner eating his Xmas pie stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum and began to run off at the mouth like so:

I think he does want to go they're.

-- Travis (Shaggie) '63 VW Camo Baja...

On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 18:33:24 -0400, Joey Tribiani scribbled this interesting note:

Not at all sure, but I couldn't help myself!:~)

Chalk it up to too much sun and heat. It has been damn hot 'round here lately. Yesterday the heat index was up around 110 degrees (with a high temp. of 102, in the shade) and I'm up on a very steep house re-roofing the damn thing. You'd think I'd know better!

-- John Willis

On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 18:37:26 -0400, travis scribbled this interesting note:

I believe that comment deserves a very emphatic NO I DON'T!!!

(And I think you know what I mean!:~)

-- John Willis

I believe that the tracks match 72 SBs (not 100% sure). I knew a guy who mounted old 300D benz seats in his Thing, minor bracket work but phenominal comfort and adjustments. Don't get the Scat Pro 90s. They're crap. The adjuster mechinism has a peice of cheap stamped metal so if you lean back and up (like to get at your wallet, the back gives out and you find yourself looking at the sky.

John

?? that is pretty obvious if you are familiar with the thread and the subject.

Chris Taylor