Harness safer with my set up?

[Osakakev]

Hi,

 

After a bit of advice if fitting a harness would be safer than seat belts for driver and passenger. My car has roll cage, bride seats and a non air bag steering wheel. I don't want to fit just for style.

 

Also I assume I would need a harness bar?

 

Cheers

 

 

[Ekona]

Safer? Arguably, but only if worn correctly. That would mean installing them with the correct break angle, and ensuring they are fully tightened when in use and in 5 or 6 point form to prevent submarining. 
 

That said, where does your head sit in relation to that roll cage? If there is any chance that in an accident it could come into contact with that cage then you should be wearing a helmet anyway, so a harness done up tight might prevent the need to wear a helmet. 

[Osakakev]

Thanks Ekona.

 

I should have said I only use the car for normal road use and it will never be tracked. Just concerned I could hit my steering wheel and if I can make it safer for my passenger then it's worth doing. I would get someone professional to fit it.

 

I am not sure where my head sits to be honest but will check (I'm 5.10 ish).

 

Cheers

[Ekona]

Imagine being in a roll over situation where you’ll be jerked around everywhere, your head could easy come into contact with one or more parts of the roll cage which can actually make the fitting of one more dangerous. I would seriously consider either wearing a helmet all the time when driving, or fitting a quality harness system with that setup. 
 

Are they genuine Bride seats? If so they will be fine with harnesses, if fake then be aware that their structural rigidity may fail when using harnesses due to the forces involved. 
 

Tricky this stuff, ain’t it?!

[Osakakev]

I never thought of the roll cage being dangerous so harness seems the way to go as not wearing a helmet going to work lol. Was thinking of Takata ones (only because I know they are not cheap). Would I need a harness bar? 

 

I hope they are genuine, has all the bride rails etc! I bought the car from Japan at auction and was listed as having bride seats and also has some expensive mods so can't imagine anything is fake

 

Cheers

 

[Ekona]

You’ll need something to attach the harnesses to, so either a bar (if it allows the correct break angle on the install) or bolting down somewhere in the boot should suffice. 
 

Any decent harness will do, I’d always go 3” for comfort and other than that style is pretty much up to you. I believe that technically you need a seatbelt buckle style still for MOT compliance, but you’d have to find a pretty picky tester for that to ever come up. I’m a fan of the Schroth ones, but honestly it’s up to you at that point.  

[BobbyZ]

Something to be aware of when checking clearance between your head and cage is that necks can stretch quite a lot in an accident. I can't remember the exact amount (and a quick search did not bear fruit) but it's a good few inches.

[Osakakev]

Thanks Ekona & Bobby. I probably have 2/3 inches head space and the roll bar is padded where I could hit it!

 

Will have a look at specialists in the North West who might be able to fit them for me