Thread: Baby Seat in Defender

Originally Posted by carjunkieanon

Existing tie down points. All logic (and engineering) suggests, 'Why not?'

Law says. 'No.'

I have seen the stock car seat mounts tear off numerous standard factory cars (from looking over wrecks at a wrecker) so I tend to agree with you.

Having said that I have got a pro to install the mounts because I can't be bothered to have the discussion with the police if something ever happens.

Originally Posted by stewie110

Having said that I have got a pro to install the mounts because I can't be bothered to have the discussion with the police if something ever happens.

^ that and, if you used the tie-down points instead of a properly installed system and something did go wrong and your kid was injured/killed, I can only imagine you'd spend the rest of your life feeling guilty for taking a cheap shortcut.

Originally Posted by carjunkieanon

^ that and, if you used the tie-down points instead of a properly installed system and something did go wrong and your kid was injured/killed, I can only imagine you'd spend the rest of your life feeling guilty for taking a cheap shortcut.

I contemplated it, but they could easily tear free if loaded up in a crash. I'd rather know I fitted the proper certified solution to avoid any potential legal issues. It would be bad enough living with the prospect of injured children or worse. That's why I have the ugly big bar behind the 2nd row. Not forever. They get bigger eventually.

Originally Posted by mekon76

I contemplated it, but they could easily tear free if loaded up in a crash. I'd rather know I fitted the proper certified solution to avoid any potential legal issues. It would be bad enough living with the prospect of injured children or worse. That's why I have the ugly big bar behind the 2nd row. Not forever. They get bigger eventually.

The tie-down points on my drawers are bigger and stronger than child seat tie-down points, so that's unlikely to happen in my case. And they are attached to the drawers, which have four heavy duty bolts anchoring them, so the vehicle could roll and the drawers wouldn't move.
I compare them to the tie-down points on the wife's Mazda 2 and the Defender's are much heavier and apparently stronger. That kid isn't going nowhere.

Well I'm obviously unsafe.... In all of my old cars, I've drilled a hole in the floor/parcel shelf. and used a plate/HUGE washer so it can't pull through. It's only a tether point after all.

Far safer than all the hatchbacks that have there child safety mount on the rear edge of the hatch.... so even the merest impact into the boot will obliterate the mounts. Absolute insanity ..... Yet "legal"

Just look at the pathetically light child seat mounts in the back of a Range Rover classic for example.

Say you can't just fit ISOFIX loops to the seats can you ? ISOFIX is absolutely bloody brilliant.

seeya,
Shane L.

Hi,
a few threads on this topic and I have recently been through all this in NSW re two pumas, a 110 and a 130 CC and both have been done exactly the same way with a bracket added to the rear of the seat back as per recent photos in this thread. The problem with some of the other options mentioned here is insurance and rego as I was told by RMS--everything is fine until an accident. In addition you should receive an engineering approval certificate and it will be recorded on your rego as a modification--also a help in advertising the car when you sell.

I got a number of quotes through LR dealer recommended fitters, and others who specialise in this job and was annoyed at the seemingly high cost, some insisted I must have all three seats done and cost varied from about $1K to $1500--even when I said I only wanted one they would not listen--three or X!

In the end my local RMS approved engineer in Sth Windsor did one attachment point in both cars for a total of $900--most of which was for the paperwork. They (RMS and insurance) will not accept tie downs, etc --only CRAB bars--difficult if a cargo guard fitted, a single post to the floor, or proper attachments in the seats.

I know from my rally days you can not have a seat belt go over the back of the seat and down to the floor--reasoning being a huge shunt may cause the harness to bend your back and snap and that is why they run maybe at an angle rearwards to an anchor point but not the floor.

It all depends if you want to run the risk re alternatives even though some of them would certainly seem strong enough--it is just the way the law operates.

Originally Posted by alan48

Hi,
a few threads on this topic and I have recently been through all this in NSW re two pumas, a 110 and a 130 CC and both have been done exactly the same way with a bracket added to the rear of the seat back as per recent photos in this thread. The problem with some of the other options mentioned here is insurance and rego as I was told by RMS--everything is fine until an accident. In addition you should receive an engineering approval certificate and it will be recorded on your rego as a modification--also a help in advertising the car when you sell.

I got a number of quotes through LR dealer recommended fitters, and others who specialise in this job and was annoyed at the seemingly high cost, some insisted I must have all three seats done and cost varied from about $1K to $1500--even when I said I only wanted one they would not listen--three or X!

In the end my local RMS approved engineer in Sth Windsor did one attachment point in both cars for a total of $900--most of which was for the paperwork. They (RMS and insurance) will not accept tie downs, etc --only CRAB bars--difficult if a cargo guard fitted, a single post to the floor, or proper attachments in the seats.

I know from my rally days you can not have a seat belt go over the back of the seat and down to the floor--reasoning being a huge shunt may cause the harness to bend your back and snap and that is why they run maybe at an angle rearwards to an anchor point but not the floor.

It all depends if you want to run the risk re alternatives even though some of them would certainly seem strong enough--it is just the way the law operates.

What a load of merde. I'd drill a hole, plate it, and call it a day (just don't drill through any electrics/fuel tanks/fuel lines).

But hey, guess hey much I care about stupid laws etc....

seeya,
shane L.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

Say you can't just fit ISOFIX loops to the seats can you ? ISOFIX is absolutely bloody brilliant
.

Unfortunately the powers that be in Australia decided ISOFIX needed to have a top tether to be legal here. I was shopping for a capsule just as ISOFIX was legalised so there were no compatible capsules available due to the need for a top tether.