Roll cage + seatbelt + childseat?
Turbo Mini Forums

Been mulling over (since around 2.30am when I woke up ) whether it is possible to successfully combine a roll cage, inertia seat belts and a child seat.

I have a mini estate with a 6 point bolt in cage. Firstly I would like to replace the harnesses with inertia seat belts, and I've read somewhere that is it acceptable to fit the reel on the doorstep rather than in the rear companion bin. Can anyone confirm that is the case?

Secondly I would like to fit a child seat in the back. With the cage in place the normal fitment of a reel on the arch as per a saloon wont work, but I wondered if a single belt could be fitted in the centre. This brings about the problem of anchor points.

I'm a bit stumped on where/how to mount the reel and what to do about a top anchor point for an inertia belt in an estate. Maybe a static belt or strap is an option. I'm not sure what an MOT tester would think about a static belt, or even the whole idea of homemade seatbelt mounts.

Any thoughts?

Hi,
I had one estate where rear seat belts were anchored though the spare wheel well.
You could ask the question here

Cheers,
Gavin :)

VEMs Authorised Installer / Re-seller. K head kits now available!

WB/EGT gauges. Click here for customers write-up

Visit www.doyouneedabrain.co.uk

My Mini build diary

An interesting one but I think, over and above the interest of the MOT tester should be your concerns (and I'm sure it is) over anchorage of the baby seat and child! do these seats not now come with some standard (euro) harness points in new cars - perhaps this could be an easier situation to replcate over installation of a traditional 3point belt system?

You are correct, safety first! We have 2 seats that are both fixed in using a standard 3 point belt. I don't know of any other belt fixings tbh.

One seat is also isofix which we use on an isofix base in our subaru. I really like the isofix setup but the front support leg would not sit properly on the exhaust tunnel in the estate.

Why not add some tabs/bars to the cage and make a frame for the child seat to mount into....

As a rospa registered fitter I'd have to say the isofix idea would probably be a no no.

The idea of moving the seatbelts is pretty sound as long as you can get a strong enough mounting point.

Also remember that alot of the child seats with pretensioners etc do not like the standard mini blets so try and get something with a short a tail as possible for the lower part of the buckle :)

i have even same problem. i am going to IMM by mini traveller from 66. mini is without seatbelt.... but i have to mount one to the rear seats becouse my child is only 2,5 year old.
i still did not find ideal solution.

leave the kids at home??

Leave the wife at home

wife and child are mini fans too (his first word was mama, second dady and the third one mini).... how to live such cild at home?

so, seatbelt solutions are wellcome still!

Get your wife a normal mini with belts all round...

sorry a bit o/t

could you tell me where you got the estate rollcage from please?

thanks