Rear Seats and Legalities

[Ben]

Hi Everyone

I'm getting all the bits together to go from soft top to hard top, and I've been trying to sort out some cheap rear seats. There seem to be loads of bench seats on eBay at the moment, and they go for a lot less than the individual ones.

Firstly, can I put these into a 1995 Defender? (I mean legally - physically it can't be that hard :) )
Secondly, how the heck do I fit seatbelts?

The rear seats will be used really occasionally - there's normally just the two of us.

Cheers

Ben

[Priglet]

My 110's on an R plate and at the very back has bench seats with 3 belts per side. Therefore I'd say the bench seats would be legal.

If I have the back empty over the weekend I'll try to get some photo's to show how the seat belts are attached. Don't imagine it's that different from in a 90.

[Ben]

Thank you  :D

I guess I'm most concerned about how thin the aluminium is on the rear tub and whether this is strong enough to withstand an accident.

Cheers

Ben

[iianorthants]

looking at removing my bench seats asap, as if the person not sitting it. isn't paying atantion when you slam on the breaks they hit the rear bulkhead even with the belt tight :( so going to invest on a couple of forward facing which sit at back and have 3 point belts.

[Topple]

when I put bench seats in my series 3 I use 3 point harnesses, used huge great washers on either side of the nut / bolt and a big square of steel plate for each also underneath (outside only).

got through mot's not problem.

I've just transferred the same belts and fixings into my 90 bit used genuine county seats - again got through mot without a problem.

I've just given away 2 bench seats which were sitting in the garage when I sold the SIII. otherwise you could have had them.

P

[yer auld aunt nelly]

ive got 2 forward facing seats with 3 point belts.That i want rid of and im looking for a pair of bench seats and belts if thats any help to any one :lol:

[Priglet]

I've had a quick look at the bench seats in mine - sorry couldn't find camera.

There's a steel tube which runs along behind the seat. It's fairly substantial and is attached to the wheel arch in 4 places, once at each end and there's a stay between each passenger. I suspect for a 90 there'll be one less bolt to worry about. The seatbelts are attached to the tube fairly close to where it's bolted to the vehicle.

Bolts look at least 17mm and there's steel plate on the underside of the wheel arch to stop them pulling through.

[Ben]

I wondered if I'd need to get belt bars. I'll have to have a serious dig through at all the auto jumbles to try to find a pair. I guess these are more stable than having the belts directly to the tub, even if I use big spreader plates sandwiched around the aluminium.

That'll be a want ad then  :D

Thanks

Ben