SWB forward facing rear seats
- Thread starter dandd
- Start date
This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Flossie
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 11,001
- Location
- Shropshire
You can buy them , they fold up and stow away so you've still got a 'boot'.
Seat belts are the main issue or the mounting of them. I've seen an ad somewhere and you could get the whole kit, probably from that landrover seat company who's name .....annndd I've just remembered! Exmoor trim- try them.
Seat belts are the main issue or the mounting of them. I've seen an ad somewhere and you could get the whole kit, probably from that landrover seat company who's name .....annndd I've just remembered! Exmoor trim- try them.
FlyingPete
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 1,305
- Location
- Coventry
It was designed for side-facing and other alternatives don't work all that well. The problem with forward-facing rear seats is it's awkward to get in and out of them. Later Defenders have the tub sides chamfered so they sit a bit further apart, but they're still only suitable for skinny people.
Early Defender or Series vehicles which have been converted usually end up with little to no gap between the seats, so the only way to get out is to fold a seat up. Any seat which you can't readily vacate in an emergency or accident is simply dangerous.
If you don't want side-facing, the safest option is probably to mount these type of seats against the bulkhead facing backwards. Stil reduces the seat capacity from four to two though.
Early Defender or Series vehicles which have been converted usually end up with little to no gap between the seats, so the only way to get out is to fold a seat up. Any seat which you can't readily vacate in an emergency or accident is simply dangerous.
If you don't want side-facing, the safest option is probably to mount these type of seats against the bulkhead facing backwards. Stil reduces the seat capacity from four to two though.
Rubins4
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 813
I'm after forward facing rear seats for my SWB for the same reason. Currently little ones chair goes in the middle front, but her legs are starting to get too long!
I have seen the fold down rears with lap belts attached which I assume must by MOT-compliant (and no worse than the existing middle seat position which is only a lap belt anyway).
I have seen the fold down rears with lap belts attached which I assume must by MOT-compliant (and no worse than the existing middle seat position which is only a lap belt anyway).
FlyingPete
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 1,305
- Location
- Coventry
It's one of those situations where the law wasn't written with old land rovers mind. The side-facing seats can be easily adjusted to suit little people with no booster seat needed. But the law says they need a booster, and none are approved for going sideways. In an ideal world, common sense should apply!
dandd
Active Member
- Posts
- 139
My kids are not at booster stage they are still in big cumbersome car seats. They are 2 and 3 and fanatical about my toys so I want them to be able to enjoy them with me.
I’m interested in looking into decent side facing seats though. Basically I’m just after some actual examples of those that have done exactly what I’m asking about. I should. Probably do some research into it and see what that exmoor trim are flogging these days.
rob1miles
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 3,565
- Location
- Slough and Bath
I did get a childs seat that was approved for going sideways, it wasn't sold as such, but in the fitting instructions it included side facing rear as an "OK". I do have a side facing double seat one side in the rear, but in the end I never used the child seat in it because there was no belt to fix it and the UK rules are seat belts are not to be used on side facing seats so its a catch 22, even if you can buy an seat to fit you can't fix it in place! If you want forward facing in a SWB I would do one behind the other on one side.
dandd
Active Member
- Posts
- 139
What the F**kThe forward facing ones from Exmoor are 600 quid each
FlyingPete
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 1,305
- Location
- Coventry
My old 6-seat 90 had lap belts on all four back seats. Optional extra from the factory. Seat belts have never been required for this type of seat, but must be used if fitted. In a silly quirk of the law, kids are allowed to ride in the back if there are no belts fitted, but if there are then using the standard seatbelt on its own (despite being the right size anyway) is not allowed.
rob1miles
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 3,565
- Location
- Slough and Bath
Agreed, I have a feeling it has to do with those side bench seats on Routemasters, it would be the same time the regs were being written. No way of knowing either way but it is a bit odd and there were a lot in service.
