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Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
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Author:  vet 180 [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 5:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
I have a very nasty habit of taking my seat belt off when I venture off-road. I know I should wear it, but instinctively take it off when the car hits the dirt.

So who here wears their belt?
Author:  tanshi [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 6:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
Wear it. The guy who died at cruiser park wasnt wearing one. His head was crushed by the car
Author:  Joe [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 6:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
I used to take it off when i hit the dirt and only put it back on when driving something that may have a chance of a rollover however since my young bloke has started to come out with us he pointed out that if he had to wear one so did i
Author:  Kor3y101 [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 6:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
I'm much in the same boat. If there's a chance of the car doing something I don't want it to, on goes the belt. But I find I get chucked about way too much when going over small ruts and stuff with it on.
Author:  Bruce [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 6:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
I wear my 5 point when off roading ALL the time.
Author:  BlueSuzy [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 6:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
I always wear one. The retract mechanism is a pain for the huge hill climbs so I clamp the belt so it doesn't retract, to my size buckled up. I use a clamp clip from a sultana bran promo thing but other things could be used.
Author:  jdk81 [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
On.
Ive been thrown out of a rolling and flipping car when i was younger, i walked away. The driver (also no seatbelt) got pretty badly messed up.

I want a separate lap sash belt (like an airplane belt and buckle), to keep me in the seat, but where my upper body can move around a little to see out the sides of the car.

Trying to do the retractable seatbelt up when on angles can be a pita.

I have only worn a full harness when flying a plane, its not what i want for crawling offroad.
Author:  Gwagensteve [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 6:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
Always always without fail.

I genuinely can't believe anyone ever drives a car under any circumstances without a belt on.
Author:  shep [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 6:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
Have picked up to many bodies and bits of bodies to not wear one.
Author:  vet 180 [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 7:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
BlueSuzy wrote:
I always wear one. The retract mechanism is a pain for the huge hill climbs so I clamp the belt so it doesn't retract, to my size buckled up. I use a clamp clip from a sultana bran promo thing but other things could be used.


I thought I would get flamed but still wanted to see what people did. The above is a very useful and the reason why I take it off. I find it restricts my upper body, affects my driving and need a shoulder reconstruction after a decent day out. I know it's a bad habit that I developed before I even got my licence. A guy I know had a 3 rotation roll over recently and swears the seat belt saved his life.

I know I have to start wearing it and the purpose of this thread was actually to see how people deal with the issues.
Author:  Scrawny [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 8:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
It's an instinctive action for me, on or off road.
Author:  just_cruizin [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 8:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
4 point harness always in the Sierra, seatbelt was in other vehicles. I can't believe how you can say you get tossed around more with it on, that's crazy.

Yes it restricts you but hey you get used to that and learn where your wheels are. I also drive most of the time with my window net on but I have a nasty habit of resting mid track. They are things you get used to and learn to live with. Retractable belts are painful when wheeling, at one point whilst my Sierra was semi streetable I had both a normal belt and harness and just flicked the harness to the sides when not in use.
Author:  just_cruizin [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
It's the old adage, you never know when you're going to need it
Author:  Gwagensteve [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
vet 180 wrote:
I find it restricts my upper body, affects my driving


You might need to look at your seating position if you're finding this the case. If you need to to move your upper body that far in the course of normal driving you might be sitting too far from the wheel/too reclined.

A bulldog clip can also be used to lock out inertia reel belts.
Author:  vet 180 [ Wed Dec 14, 2016 10:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
Gwagensteve wrote:
vet 180 wrote:
I find it restricts my upper body, affects my driving


You might need to look at your seating position if you're finding this the case. If you need to to move your upper body that far in the course of normal driving you might be sitting too far from the wheel/too reclined.

A bulldog clip can also be used to lock out inertia reel belts.


I normally sit very close and the back rest is close to upright (I have a geek driving position). It's more because the restraint always locks up with the change of direction from, dunes, rocks, hills etc. A 4 point harness would be less restrictive as its fixed in place.

I Have a bulldog clip on my desk right now. Might throw in the glove box and give it a go.
Author:  MrRocky [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 6:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
Yeah i always have it on things can happen very quickly offroad
Author:  Gwagensteve [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 6:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
Definitely.

I am aware of the problems of inertia reel belts on big angles. Piggles has fixed belts (factory) which are much better offroad, but a bulldog clip works fine to lock out inertia belts.

I personally don't like harnesses for the kind of driving I do. I find them fiddly and bulky, and if correctly adjusted they make looking around or leaning out the 1/2 door too hard. The 3" lap belt greyghost used to run (and jdk is talking about) is a good compromise for slow speed offroad work for the driver, where they can keep hold of the steering wheel.

It's a little harder for the passenger. I spent some time passengering in a car recently where I couldn't brace my feet on the firewall due to seat position (the same reason I couldn't comfortably reach the grab bar on the dash) and the car wasn't running doors. it was quite hard to find something to hang onto. I could grab the seat rail, but that put my hand between the sill and the seat, which isn't the best place to have it either. Soft top, so no grab handle above the door, and no internal cage to hang onto.

Made me think about grab handles a bit more.
Author:  30ONA [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 6:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
There are clips specifically for seat belts. They come with baby seats. I'm sure you could get one at a baby store. Or for a couple of dollars on the net , search seat belt safety clip.
Author:  tanshi [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
The claim that you get thrown around more is ridiculous. You feel the movement more maybe as the belt is stopping the movement. Type of belt depends alot on what you wheel. Id never use a lap belt for drivng rocks. It all happens alot quicker and rocks come in the window pretty damb quick
Author:  alien [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
The only time i've not worn my belt is often the times i should be wearing it most - however it's because i've driven up something half way, then gotten out to spot myself and on getting back in the belt has retracted and locked shut.

Does anyone know how to unlock a belt that's locked while the car is on an angle? (Other than having clamped it beforehand)
Author:  pete_79 [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 8:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
Seat belt on every time for me too. It's purely instinct to reach across for the belt before the shifter or handbrake, without fail.

I had a very serious roll when I was on my Ls. I over corrected on a high speed bend, we flipped and rolled something like 7 or 8 times. The car was an absolute mess, but my brother and I walked away with only a sore neck and some scratches from all the glass flying around in the cab with us.
No question the seat belts saved us.
Author:  Marko_SJ [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 8:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
vet 180 wrote:
I have a very nasty habit of taking my seat belt off when I venture off-road. I know I should wear it, but instinctively take it off when the car hits the dirt.

So who here wears their belt?


Belt is always on driving a car. Same with wearing a lid on a motorcycle.
Author:  Red89 [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 10:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
A properly adjusted harness is like having a permanently locked belt, you are meant to wear them that tight that your butt and back remain stuck to the seat in all positions including upside down. So if you hate the restriction it will be worse with a harness.

I use to only ever put mine on when I thought I was going to need it, as I found out with my last roll you cant always predict when you will need it. I was lucky enough to walk away with a badly bruised back and nothing else.
Author:  Kor3y101 [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 10:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
Just to add, I find I get thrown about more with the car across ruts and such as the car is rocking so many different ways it's not funny. Once I take it off, I can lean forward so that I can keep my upper body straight and unconfined in the rear of the bucket seat. But this only happens when I am literally on flat ground and needing to cross a heap of ruts that make it painful. Or on the beach.
Author:  MrRocky [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
I pull it tight and lock it if im doing something fast and sketchy
My head does hit the roof occasionally otherwise
Author:  Gwagensteve [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 12:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
How fast are some of you driving if staying in the seat, restrained by the belt is unbearable?

I think some of these jimny's should have numbers on the sides.
Author:  Kor3y101 [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 1:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
As fast as necessary to maintain momentum and cross over the obstacle. To me it's kind of like standing up on a motocross bike, sure you can cross the obstacle sitting down and destroy your ass bones, or you can stand up and use your legs as shock absorbers for your upper body.

It's not that I CANT sit in with the seatbelt, it's that at that point in time, I deem to risk to be very minimal and prefer the comfort of leaning forward in the seat.
Author:  Gwagensteve [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
The whole point about always wearing a seatbelt is because we can't assess when the risk is minimal. If we could, we'd never need them, not any other safety equipment on the vehicle. If the car is travelling fast enough for the speed and range of motion of you in the seat to be that high, you need to have a belt on. An awkward bounce, or the car catches a rut which tips it up and you might not have the opportunity to reflect on misreading the risk.

When I'm hitting something at any speed it's never occurred to me it would be more comfortable without a belt on.


More vehicle rollovers happen on flat ground and at the beach than on technical terrain because speeds are higher. There is a corresponding level of injury and death because people rarely assess the risk of speed on flat ground/beach properly.
Author:  vet 180 [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 2:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
Gwagensteve wrote:
The whole point about always wearing a seatbelt is because we can't assess when the risk is minimal. If we could, we'd never need them, not any other safety equipment on the vehicle. If the car is travelling fast enough for the speed and range of motion of you in the seat to be that high, you need to have a belt on. An awkward bounce, or the car catches a rut which tips it up and you might not have the opportunity to reflect on misreading the risk.

When I'm hitting something at any speed it's never occurred to me it would be more comfortable without a belt on.


More vehicle rollovers happen on flat ground and at the beach than on technical terrain because speeds are higher. There is a corresponding level of injury and death because people rarely assess the risk of speed on flat ground/beach properly.


That's the thing, my mate that rolled recently did some hard wheeling that trip, but when he rolled it was literally just driving back to the road after the wheeling was finished. It was by no means the most difficult thing he wheeled all day, just an awkward bit of sand.

As mentioned in the first post it's a bad habit I have had for a long time and I instinctively take it off when I hit the dirt/rocks/dunes. It is something I want to change and this post has been useful.
Author:  Gwagensteve [ Thu Dec 15, 2016 3:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you wear a seat belt when driving off-road?
To be honest, I think there's a number of things going on here unconnected to the seatbelt.

1: The seats offer inadequate support
2: The vehicle has insufficient wheel travel for the desired speed of travel
3: The vehicle has insufficient traction to slow down
4: Because racecar yo
5: There might be a little bit of driver inexperience going on.

I say this because all of these things are open to negotiation, but removing the seatbelt so you aren't restricted when flailing about in the cabin isn't one of them. I am aware what a difference a good seat can make. I have 7 quality aftermarket seats at home that have been or are going into my cars.

The faster you want (or need) to go the more of 1 and 2 you need. If you are trying to drive as slowly as possible and it's still a problem you need more 3. If you want more 4 you need more 1 and 2. If the problem is #5 then you need to spend more time with others in comparable vehicles to lean techniques and lines.

Note that actually increasing wheel travel in a road driven vehicle is very difficult without significant fabrication.
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