Quick Release 5 point racing Harness

[smartHHO]

I was thinking about putting one of these in the car. hehe since the normal seat belt in every car really tears you up in a crash. Race Car Drivers have these for a reason, they don't rip off your arm when one side of your body flails around. What you all think. LOL Red to match my inside.

[VinceLA]

Cool idea but keep in mind, a race prep car has a roll cage has well. The shoulder straps are required to be mounted on a roll bar/cage. Maybe there is a way to weld a horizontal bar across the rear of the smart trunk area. Also, technically the center strap (goes through your groin area) should be mounted to the floor pan.

[markitect]

I would suggest you make sure to get a retractable(cam lock) harness with a lock, so that you can still move around.

More importantly the shoulder straps are typically(see install instruction for specifics of that belt) should not be secured to anything such that the angle between vertical and the belt is less then 45 degrees as measured where it comes around the seat. This is to prevent submarining, which happens because you can't move forward in the case of a sudden stop or accident because it's not retractable. With a 5(or 6) point harness you have an anti-submarining strap, or center strap which will prevent this but sacrifice other body parts.
(basically if its installed wrong, during an accident you sill slide down in the seat, the center strap will save your life, but not your ability to have kids).

Also not all race harnesses are DOT approved, you may or may not care, but if your in a state that does inspections, you will need a DOT harness.

[smartHHO]

Originally Posted by VinceLA

Cool idea but keep in mind, a race prep car has a roll cage has well. The shoulder straps are required to be mounted on a roll bar/cage. Maybe there is a way to weld a horizontal bar across the rear of the smart trunk area. Also, technically the center strap (goes through your groin area) should be mounted to the floor pan.

Thanks for the input. As for the Roll Bar, they have a real nice one that fits into the smart that is all Chrome. Looks real nice in the Cabrio, which I am getting.

Thanks for the DOT information. Never thought about that. Guess I can check out the rules for Texas on having one. Kind of wonder if there is a way to make it so that you can have the cam operation and also still have the safety of the 5 point. Like Dual Cams that hook up to the Roll Bar from the top. Now that would be a good idea.

As for the bottom belt, I am 38, both my step sons are in the Army, wife is fixed and I don't plan on anymore kids. Loosing the family jewels vs saving my life is a no brainer.

[SmartPassion]

I've seen these on many compact sports cars but sure how you local gendarmes would view one of these mounted in your car. Might not be legal.

[fmaxwell]

Originally Posted by SmartPassion

I've seen these on many compact sports cars but sure how you local gendarmes would view one of these mounted in your car. Might not be legal.

Like so many things which are actually safer, it's illegal (at least in VA). Also illegal in many states: Wearing a helmet while driving, use of heim joints instead of ball joints, and the use of European-standard headlights.

[Old smart]

It is not easy to properly install a five-point harness. Beyond that, it is not practical (unless EVERYTHING is within arm's reach with you pinned to the seatback - there is no stretch nor slack); it may not be street-legal; it is not appropriate to the intent of the vehicle; and lastly, it is pure affectation.

[markitect]

FYI Schroth has several DOT approved harnesses that allow you to move around. None are 5 point though. (any harness that allows you to move around will prevents submarining because your shoulders will go forward slightly before they lock which will keep the lap belt down.)

[fmaxwell]

Originally Posted by Old smart

It is not easy to properly install a five-point harness. Beyond that, it is not practical (unless EVERYTHING is within arm's reach with you pinned to the seatback - there is no stretch nor slack); it may not be street-legal; it is not appropriate to the intent of the vehicle; and lastly, it is pure affectation.

Agreed with everything you said except the "pure affectation" thing.

Having driven convertibles for many years, the idea of something which could keep me firmly in the seat during a rollover is not an affectation. It's all well and good to talk about roll cages and tridion cells, but if your head extends past the cage/cell, you could be toast. Note that I'm not installing a five-point harness nor recommending that others do, but in certain accidents it could be a lifesaver.