auto trail (1 Viewer)

[clarify]

Hi
Have been looking at auto trail mh with side sofa layout .They can be up to 6 berth but only 2 designated passenger seats .Is there any way to increase this ?
RAY

 

[DESCO]

As far as I know it is impossible to add seatbelts to an existing motorhome due to lack of fixing points.

The garages I know will not take the responsibility of doing this work due to health & safety restraints.

If any one knows different I am sure they will post.


Dave :thumb::thumb:

 

[grumps147]

Hi, I am sure others will advise you but seat belt fittings/mountings have to be done in accordance with whats known as type approvals. Have a search here for designated seats, as these are the only seats you can now sit in while traveling safely and legally in new motorhomes.
We bought the forward/rear facing dinette seats model Apache 700 SE with the optional lap belts for the rear facing seats to give us a driver and 5 designated seats.
One of our reasons for choosing the Autotrail was with the belt mounting brackets in the two lockers, you still have a reasonable amount of useable storage space. On some the metalwork fills these lockers.
:soaobox:Safety wise, it is not advised on older vans to sit people in other seats, but people do.

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[Mikemoss]

If you're buying new AutoTrail have an option for fitting either a double dinette or L shaped settee which would give you the two passenger seatbelts you're looking for.

If second hand, the best (probably the only safe) option would be to try to find one which was originally ordered with this option.

 

[lifeson]

First post on here,
We have just ordered a new Auto-trail Cherokee and was told adamently by the dealer and the sales manager and the Auto-trail rep that for a person of either 12 or 13 yrs old or over 135cm height that they could sit in a side facing seat without any seat belt fitted, it is their responsibilty and not the drivers.
This was also in their sales brochure.(pg 8)
We have a duaghter 14 yrs old and they all agreed she could sit in a side facing - non designated seat without a seat belt (not ideal, but legal)
Would be interested to hear other members views?

 

[DESCO]

Don't know the legal position but personally would not let a child or adult travel without a seat belt and a designated seat.

I have seen the resultant mess. Once seen you won't do it again.

Sorry forgot to say Welcome to MH Fun on your first post

Dave :thumb::thumb:

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[pablomc]

Not Illegal Link Removed

See Q13

I wouldn't let either of my kids travel without a seat belt. Each to their own.

Welcome BTW. :thumb:

 

[grumps147]

First post on here,
We have just ordered a new Auto-trail Cherokee and was told adamently by the dealer and the sales manager and the Auto-trail rep that for a person of either 12 or 13 yrs old or over 135cm height that they could sit in a side facing seat without any seat belt fitted, it is their responsibilty and not the drivers.
This was also in their sales brochure.(pg 8)
We have a duaghter 14 yrs old and they all agreed she could sit in a side facing - non designated seat without a seat belt (not ideal, but legal)
Would be interested to hear other members views?

As answered above definitely not legal, see Autotrails own website as well for information on this:

"New European leginslation (EC Directive 2005/39/EC) states that to
travel in a sideways facing seat with aseat belt is unsafe and that from 20th October 2007, new vehicles will not be allowed to be registered with sideways facing designated travelling seats.
To coincide with above legislation.Auto-Trail has introduced a number of optional layouts to most of its luxury models. You can drive confidently knowing that you and friends can travel in comfort and safety."

Full text in the below link:

http://www.auto-trail.co.uk/seat-belt-variations.htm

I am astounded at the lack of knowledge of the sales staff you spoke to.

Our sales staff were to the letter of the law in the link with their advice, and were most anxious that we were aware before making our decision to purchase, even though at that stage it may not have been their sale.

 

[lifeson]

As answered above definitely not legal, see Autotrails own website as well for information on this:

"New European leginslation (EC Directive 2005/39/EC) states that to
travel in a sideways facing seat with aseat belt is unsafe and that from 20th October 2007, new vehicles will not be allowed to be registered with sideways facing designated travelling seats.
To coincide with above legislation.Auto-Trail has introduced a number of optional layouts to most of its luxury models. You can drive confidently knowing that you and friends can travel in comfort and safety."

Full text in the below link:

http://www.auto-trail.co.uk/seat-belt-variations.htm

I am astounded at the lack of knowledge of the sales staff you spoke to.

Our sales staff were to the letter of the law in the link with their advice, and were most anxious that we were aware before making our decision to purchase, even though at that stage it may not have been their sale.

I knew this would happen,
2 posts one says legal and the other Illegal (post above says its legal BTW)
I must admit that after reading the dft website link (Thanks pablomc)

- has sideways-facing seats?
There's no legal requirement to fit seat belts in sideways-facing seats. The human body bends forward from the waist - not sideways - so the potential for internal and spinal injury is high if a passenger uses a seat belt in a sideways-facing seat. For similar reasons child seats and boosters cannot be approved for using in a sideways-facing seat.
Therefore, a child who is required to use a child seat/booster (ie, all those under 135 cm tall who are also under 12 years old) cannot travel in a sideways-facing seat. A child who needs to use a child seat or booster must use a forward or rear-facing seat.

This to me says it is LEGAL (not ideal but not ILLEGAL)

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[Scout]

First post on here,
We have just ordered a new Auto-trail Cherokee and was told adamently by the dealer and the sales manager and the Auto-trail rep that for a person of either 12 or 13 yrs old or over 135cm height that they could sit in a side facing seat without any seat belt fitted, it is their responsibilty and not the drivers.
This was also in their sales brochure.(pg 8)
We have a duaghter 14 yrs old and they all agreed she could sit in a side facing - non designated seat without a seat belt (not ideal, but legal)
Would be interested to hear other members views?

we tried one like that, the sideways facing seats caused neck pain as the passanger allways tried to look forwards, there was allso a a feeling of sickness

we bought one with dinnette with forwards facing seats instead.

 

[pablomc]

I knew this would happen,
2 posts one says legal and the other Illegal (post above says its legal BTW)
I must admit that after reading the dft website link (Thanks pablomc)

- has sideways-facing seats?
There's no legal requirement to fit seat belts in sideways-facing seats. The human body bends forward from the waist - not sideways - so the potential for internal and spinal injury is high if a passenger uses a seat belt in a sideways-facing seat. For similar reasons child seats and boosters cannot be approved for using in a sideways-facing seat.
Therefore, a child who is required to use a child seat/booster (ie, all those under 135 cm tall who are also under 12 years old) cannot travel in a sideways-facing seat. A child who needs to use a child seat or booster must use a forward or rear-facing seat.

This to me says it is LEGAL (not ideal but not ILLEGAL)

It is down to interpretation for the Autrotrail statement making it very much a grey area. E.g. A side facing seat cannot have a seatbelt fitted, which by default means it cannot be a designated travelling seat. What you need to take into account is the number of travelling seats on the log book as this is what could potentially get you into trouble with the law should you be stopped. My advice would be to air on the side of caution and the extra safety a correctly nominated travelling seat would give.

Good luck.

 

[pablomc]

Just to add further you only mention 1 child, so I assume you only have one child. You maybe need to consider Half Dinette option which would give you 2 forward face seats with a seat belts. If you have 3 children then you are into that grey area.

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[DESCO]

I knew this would happen,
2 posts one says legal and the other Illegal (post above says its legal BTW)
I must admit that after reading the dft website link (Thanks pablomc)

- has sideways-facing seats?
There's no legal requirement to fit seat belts in sideways-facing seats. The human body bends forward from the waist - not sideways - so the potential for internal and spinal injury is high if a passenger uses a seat belt in a sideways-facing seat. For similar reasons child seats and boosters cannot be approved for using in a sideways-facing seat.
Therefore, a child who is required to use a child seat/booster (ie, all those under 135 cm tall who are also under 12 years old) cannot travel in a sideways-facing seat. A child who needs to use a child seat or booster must use a forward or rear-facing seat.

This to me says it is LEGAL (not ideal but not ILLEGAL)

I was being polite in my first post on this subject, if you want it spelled out in detail, they had to pick up the pieces of a child who had been thrown out of a window when sitting on a sideways seat, when involved in an accident.

It may be legal but if you want the possibility of having this on your conscience then go ahead.

Dave :thumb::thumb: