Schroth 4 point harness

[JLMounce]

Since the last event I've been looking for a way to get a little more support in my factory seats instead of having to fight them.

I've been looking at harness systems with a harness bar but I fear I'll lose usability of my back seat.

One system recomended to me on SVTPerformance was the Schroth 4 point harness system that uses the factory anchors of the rear seats instead of harness bar or roll cage.

The price is right on this but there's one slight problem. The system is designed for racing seats or factory style seats with a dual post head-rest. Mustangs only have a single post head-rest. One way in which to solve this would be to take 3 carribeaners linked together. The center would be around th center post and the shoulder straps through the two carribeeners linked to the center.

Would this be tech acceptable while I save for a pair of proper seats?

[Coloradomark]

I'm very leary of using 4 or 5 point harnesses in a car without roll protection. If the car rolls and the roof collapses then it is difficult to get your head and neck out of the way. I used to use a torso strap with good results. It is just a web belt that goes around the seat and your upper body. It did an effective job of holding me in place without the risk that is presented by a full harness system.

[ker]

if you do a search at svt performance in the cobra r forum, you should find a rather lengthy discussion on harnesses without rollbars and vice versa.

[bpanther]

To answer your question, it would probably be ok. We would need to see the final installation.

Any time you move away from the OEM system which has been tested and proven by the auto manufacturers to provide protection during a crash, you open yourself up to not being able to get on track.



Please be very carefull when looking at 4 point belts. Not all of them will be legal. *In general*, the Schroth belts are permitted in HPDE provided they meet the following:

They must be DOT approved for installation in you car's make and model and installed per the manufacturers instructions. You must carry the documentation that shows this or you may get bounced from tech (or during the middle of the day).

Here is a quick note on auto-x straps, harnesses and quick clips. These are designed to keep you in the seat and are not designed to protect you in the event of an accident. The car often prevent the factory 3 point seatbelt fom properly doing it's job. Since hitting something or rolling very rarely happens at an auot-x, it's not an issue. Depending on the design of these devices, they may be putting you at risk for injury in the event of an accident.

[MHISSTC]

psst...
[/whisper on]
although DOT approved for many other VERY similar or nearly identical applications and they seem to follow all the Schroth installation recommendations and requirements needed for DOT approval, Schroth 4-points are not currently DOT approved for Mustangs.
[/whisper off]

;)

[JLMounce]

Interesting. I've pretty much given in to the fact that I'm just giong to have to shell out the doe for some good seats.

Not all bad though, lap times should improve due to not fighting the stock seats and hey we're taking weight out of the car, so win win. My wallet hates me though.