Can I use a 4 or 5 point harness without a cage or racing seats safely?
gmoore


[Modified by gmoore379, 2:25 AM 11/12/2002]

 

Definitely NOT. Invest in a rollbar at least (4 point) and a cage if you are serious about racing. Your head will be the rollbar in an accident because you CAN'T move in a harness. You will most likely be killed due to the fact you can't dunk away in the seat whereas you can duck away with the factory restraint system.

 

Ahh, good point. How much will a cage run me?
gmoore

 

I hope this isn't a street vehicle..

If you have a cage, you'll need to wear a helmet at all times as well...

 

you won't, if you get padding on the bars, you'll be fine, but if you're a tall fella, it'll be tough to keep your head from bouncing around that padding.

A roll cage will be about 150-200, but installation is the killer. Bolt in ones are pretty shitty, you'll want it to be welded in.

 

You CAN run a 3 point w/o a rollbar. You just need to know how to bolt it in right. You can get a Sparco one that bolts to the 2 stock seat bolts, and the rear passenger seatbelt (behind the seat cushion). Or like I did and get some new bolts and some 18 gauge super fuggin huge washers and bolts and bolt it to the uni-body. I did it with the 3 point, though I am planning on a rollbar and 4 point later.

 

stock seatbelts are 3-point

 

No ****. But the racing style 3 points dont go up to the shoulder re-coiler, they are exactly like a 4-point only once the go over your shoulders there is an adjuster that joins it in to one strap that goes back to the floor of the car in one point instead of 2, which is good if you still have seats.

 

those are still absolutely dangerous w/o a rollbar or cage.

 

The problem isn't about whether it's physically possible to properly mount a harness without a cage or not.

On the off-chance that you roll your car, you're more likely to die strapped into your harness than you are the oem belts. The oem belts allow you to move down in your seat so you don't get crushed. There is absolutely no need to use a harness on the street. The OEM belts serve thier purpose quite well.

 

Yes. Look at the Schroth 4 point harnesses. They can be mounted to the stock mounting locations and it's DOT legal for the streets.

It's a lot more cost effective than a cage, especially if you're just street driving. A lot easier to get out of as well, especially if someone wants to get in the back seat.

Good luck!

 

^^^
Thank you.

On some cars its not practical to have a roll-bar so you use a bolt-in 3-point or 4-point harness. They have quick-release buckles and are street legal. It's no different than with the straps mounted to the roll bar because it's still run the same exact way. Two straps going to either side of your waist, and two straps over your shoulder, fully adjustable in 5 ways.

 

But when you're strapped in, can you lean forward like you can w/ stock seatbelts? If not, it is still extremely dangerous to use w/o some kind of roll bar or cage. Harnesses used on the street is extremely pointless.

 

Not wise. That's like going to the bathroom in a pine forest without toilet paper.


[Modified by P, 12:50 PM 11/12/2002]

 

No, you can't use them safely on the streets. Yes, it's DOT legal, but the simple fact that you can't move to the side in case the roof collapses makes it dangerous. The question is: do you want to be able to move to the side during a rollover or would you like to risk having your head crushed? Common sense.

However, if you plan to use them for Auto-X exclusively, you'll be just fine. Many people install 3 or 4-point harnesses just for Auto-X. Just don't use them on the streets.

 

YES I can still move forward and YES I can still move to the side. It keeps you in the EXACT same way as it would if it were hooped around the harness bar. I could easily get out if the roof were crushed BUT I DONT SEE WHY IT COULD BECASUE IT CAN HOLD 2X THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR AS IT IS REQIRED BY LAW.

 

then you're not strapped in the harnesses correctly. The whole point of harnesses is to keep you PLANTED so you don't have to worry about bracing yourself or anything during high g-forces around a track.

 

Your not suppose to be able to lift your upper body away from the seat...

 

Im not auto xing, I run at the strip. So Im guessin stay oem?? Thanks for the help though.
gmoore

 

yeah, you're not going to be experiencing high lateral g-forces on a drag strip, so harnesses really aren't going to help much, unless you get VERY fast, you would want them for safety purposes. But if you get into the 11's or faster, you're going to have to get a cage anyway in order for tracks to allow you to run.

 

Definitely not strapped in correctly. I had 3-point harnesses and I couldn't move my torso forward or to the side. They're supposed to hold your shoulders against the seat preventing you from moving forward or sideways in the turns or while braking. Tell me what the point is of wearing a harness if it's not even holding you down tight enough. Might as well use the stock belts.

 

Yes when its ******* tight when I decide I want to go a little faster, but one of thse ******* ricers was saying how its dangerous to run a harness w/o a cage, becasue you cant move if the car gets crushed. 1 the roof won't crush if Honda is complying with safety laws, 2 I do know how to wear it and I don't keep it so tight that I can't breathe, but it is tight enough that it will prevent me from hitting anything in my car.

 

jeez man don't get all worked up over it

 

OK you're right, sorry!

 

harnesses w/o seats and a cage=====BEING TRAPPED in ur seat as the roof crushes ur head and breaks ur neck....


RICEBOY STATUS my friend

i'm happy u posted b4 u went ahead with this