buying first camper....seatbelt advice

Jimmer84

Jimmer84

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We had gone to view this camper today and it seemed a great buy, fantastic condition, recent works included new subframe, front brakes and pipes, alternator, battery, etc. Drove well, very clean inside with absolutely no damp, etc.

Our only concern is a bit of a big one, it only has two front belts in the front seats with the back of it having two side facing benches. This would mean my wife would be in the back with no seatbelt, what would everyone's advice or opinion be on this?

If i should post this elsewhere, let me know and I can start a new thread
 
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This vehicle has got a very odd MOT history.
If you check that it has a MOT at https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/VehicleFound?locale=en it says it's MOT-ed until 13 November 2020, but if you check the MOT history at Broken Link Removed it says it has no MOT and the last one shown to have been issued was on 14 October 2006 and only 2 MOT's issued for it.
 
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You can not travel without a seat belt - therefore in that van you can only drive it with a driver & passenger (2 people)

The van may be 4 berth for sleeping, but not for driving
 
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Nasher said:
You can not travel without a seat belt - therefore in that van you can only drive it with a driver & passenger (2 people)

The van may be 4 berth for sleeping, but not for driving
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:welco:
That only applies for Motorhomes after I think 2004.
Although legal to travel without seatbelts in a van of that age, its not safe to travel on side facing seats.
 
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Two on Tour said:
This vehicle has got a very odd MOT history.
If you check that it has a MOT at https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/VehicleFound?locale=en it says it's MOT-ed until 13 November 2020, but if you check the MOT history at Broken Link Removed it says it has no MOT and the last one shown to have been issued was on 14 October 2006 and only 2 MOT's issued for it.
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I think I would be giving it a swerve something not quite right if it sounds too good to be true.........
start checking all the serial numbers to see that they match the original registration maybe

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Personally, ALL travelling passengers should have either a forward facing or rear facing inertia belt or lap belt.
Ideally, the inertia belts should be forward facing and the lap belts rear facing.
A lap belt forward facing would just give no upper body support in a forward facing collision, making the wearer “ double up” at the waist.
Rear facing lap belt gives a little better support, but ideally for all occupants, inertia belts , in my opinion only, give better protection, either forward or rear facing.
This is often a problem with vans labelled as 4 berth, but not enough correct and safe belts fitted to carry 4 persons.
Side facing lap belts: watch what happens to a Newton’s cradle when you set it off and then imagine this is what would happen to the passengers sitting sideways on to a forward facing crash.
In my opinion only, although this may sleep 4, it will only carry 2 safely.
I am unsure of the legalities here, and I am sure someone may point out these, but I have answered from my own view of safety.
I have an old van, it sleeps 5 to 6 and has 4 forward facing inertia belts and two rear facing lap belts.
When we were looking the travelling seat belts were a major point for consideration , but if only 2 of you are to use the van, then the 2 front seatbelts will be perfectly ok.
My van does not have however, any side benches, rather a mid placed table dinette for 4 and a single table dinette at the rear and an over cab double bed for 2 more to sleep in.
I only mention our layout to try and give you some idea of other types.
And please remember that these are only my opinions. Thanks.
 
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Two on tour, yes I had seen this and checked the history out, it has got a current mot until November this year, we did an hpi check which confirms this and seen the mot certificate today also. The vehicle was owned by his father who had the supplier look after the mot, etc, but I was happy with its condition and current mot status to be honest. It hadn't moved at all in his father's ownership before he passed away last month. The work carried out was to put it through mot in November.

Nasher, we had thought this also but speaking with a number of local motorhome dealerships and researching online seems to point to any vehicle pre 07 with side facing seats do not require them by law but any front facing seats do.
 
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I had a very short journey once sitting on a back bench seat with no seat belt and it was horrible, Felt very unsafe. Kept getting thrown around because there was no way to sit safely.
Seems a shame to miss it but I think it would be a bad buy for this reason on its own.

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Lenny HB said:
:welco:
That only applies for Motorhomes after I think 2004.
Although legal to travel without seatbelts in a van of that age, its not safe to travel on side facing seats.
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Info here suggests that if nothing else, it’s the insurance that’ll be the issue with people sat in side facing seats.
Our 2006 MH is a 4 berth with only the cab seats get belts.
Additionally the V5 is for 2 people including driver.
An email exchange with MH imsurers Comfort was a “no” to having more passengers. ☹️
 
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StephandJohn said:
I had a very short journey once sitting on a back bench seat with no seat belt and it was horrible, Felt very unsafe. Kept getting thrown around because there was no way to sit safely.
Seems a shame to miss it but I think it would be a bad buy for this reason on its own.
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I agree with this.
 
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Compass Avantgarde 180 | Nick Whale Motorhomes

www.nickwhalemotorhomes.co.uk www.nickwhalemotorhomes.co.uk

these are a great budget van but not sure how big you want it or your licence go for 2006 (old bodyshape) or earlier to save some pennies it has 6 travelling seats all properly belted (no lap belts there is a reason why they are no longer fitted) and can take car and booster seats safely. they do smaller ones too put this on just so that you can see the seatbelt layout As you can see seatbelts are a major consideration don't get into the dogbelts that's a whole new ball game

Good luck with your search🐶🐶
 
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Re: post #2.
Not only is the MOT history a bit odd, the two tax/mot check websites noted show two completely different year of 1st registration. One site states Dec 1995 while the other shows Feb 1997.

My advice..... Walk away and don't look back.

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Jimmer84 said:
Our only concern is a bit of a big one, it only has two front belts in the front seats with the back of it having two side facing benches. This would mean my wife would be in the back with no seatbelt, what would everyone's advice or opinion be on this?
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Have I missed something, why would your wife be in the back without a seatbelt? You have two front seats.

My wife wouldn't sit in the back because she would miss opportunities to say, slow down, back off, you should have turned left there, mind that cat, Oooooh look at that view etc
I agree with others here, just seems a little odd in its history and has had a lot of work done recently, how do you know its dry as well, have you tested it personally?
 
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Thanks for your responses guys, it helps us newbies make sure we don't make a wrong call based on inexperience.

We won't be going for this one purely on safety grounds and not being comfortable with only the two belts. I had done a full HPI check and it had said everything was legit and OK but the seatbelt scenario has halted our interest regardless. We are limited to our choices over here in Northemr ireland but the search continues and will keep looking......safely at any suitable campers but now with another notch on our experience cv lol.
 
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Boxtraveller, we have a 1 year old who would take up the passenger seat......sorry I should have pointed that out lol!
 
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Welcome!
I'd start by researching PAYLOAD.
You will need plenty for a growing family and that is likely to be your main restriction.
Take your time, you should have an advantage with no PX.
 
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Also you said no damp, did you thoroughly check with a damp meter, at first glance they look OK once home the damp shows.

Get a meter if you have not got one.

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Back to seatbelts ....on any van before 2007 ish you can legally use side facing seats.No belts required, and if you have rear facing seats none required for them either.After 2008 all traveling seats require belts. You cannot travel on side seats after 2008. You should not use any belts on side seats ( lap belts or 3 point) as they can break hips /necks with only small collision's.
 
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Jimmer84 said:
Thanks for your responses guys, it helps us newbies make sure we don't make a wrong call based on inexperience.

We won't be going for this one purely on safety grounds and not being comfortable with only the two belts. I had done a full HPI check and it had said everything was legit and OK but the seatbelt scenario has halted our interest regardless. We are limited to our choices over here in Northemr ireland but the search continues and will keep looking......safely at any suitable campers but now with another notch on our experience cv lol.
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Isn't there an equivalent site to this in NI called Motorhome Craic?
Think they also have a selling section too🤞and very similar to this format.
Might be worth a Google.
 
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Terry said:
Back to seatbelts ....on any van before 2007 ish you can legally use side facing seats.No belts required, and if you have rear facing seats none required for them either.After 2008 all traveling seats require belts. You cannot travel on side seats after 2008. You should not use any belts on side seats ( lap belts or 3 point) as they can break hips /necks with only small collision's.
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So there is the law outline as I was not completely clear legally as I remarked in my post previously.
Whilst ok to use (?) or not even if fitted on side seats on early vans, the real question is about your own risk assessment and aversion to Safety, and I believe you are now travelling the right path in your decision to discount this van for your needs.
Good Luck in your search and take your time. 👍
 
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Captain Yoghurtpot said:
So there is the law outline as I was not completely clear legally as I remarked in my post previously.
Whilst ok to use (?) or not even if fitted on side seats on early vans, the real question is about your own risk assessment and aversion to Safety, and I believe you are now travelling the right path in your decision to discount this van for your needs.
Good Luck in your search and take your time. 👍
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Sorry Terry, post not meant for you; was trying to quote and then pass on to original poster.
No pedance intended.
Iain.
 
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Jimmer84 said:
Boxtraveller, we have a 1 year old who would take up the passenger seat......sorry I should have pointed that out lol!
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two said:
Welcome!
I'd start by researching PAYLOAD.
You will need plenty for a growing family and that is likely to be your main restriction.
Take your time, you should have an advantage with no PX.
Click to expand...
As you have a one year old, I’m guessing you are a youngster too and therefore do not have C1 on your driving licence unless you are a professional driver . If that’s so, then you need to look for MHs that are under 3500 kg including that magic payload.

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Riverbankannie said:
As you have a one year old, I’m guessing you are a youngster too and therefore do not have C1 on your driving licence unless you are a professional driver . If that’s so, then you need to look for MHs that are under 3500 kg including that magic payload.
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Yes your right I wouldn't have a c1 licence, I have been looking into the payload side of things to keep myself safe, we are looking for these vans cause they are under the 3500kg limit enough to allow for payload, but with it not being an exact science we have a free weigh station close to us that means we can always keep ourselves right, but thank you for the consideration to point it out.....there are many things we have to learn lol.
 
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Just a Little point not all weigh bridges are free. Ours charge £25☹
 
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Terry said:
Back to seatbelts ....on any van before 2007 ish you can legally use side facing seats.No belts required, and if you have rear facing seats none required for them either.After 2008 all traveling seats require belts. You cannot travel on side seats after 2008. You should not use any belts on side seats ( lap belts or 3 point) as they can break hips /necks with only small collision's.
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Hmm. It’s any van before 2006 that you could briefly consider putting loose people in the rear and then you’re on a wing and a prayer to how much trouble you’ll be as the driver in if there’s an accident while carrying passengers in the rear.
Additional source: https://www.salopleisure.co.uk/pres...avans/motorhome-seatbelt-laws-in-the-uk/11952
Not trying to be dramatic but I had this research & debate for my mid 2006 vehicle (Which is a clearer “no” ☹)
 
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I had a '98 Swift Sundance with only two belted seats. We went to a scrap yard and bought a double seat from an old delivery van, even matched the drivers seat trim. Of course it will not swivel but we enjoyed all three of us sitting up front on the journeys. Have sold the van but kept the seats.
Please PM me if you would like to chat about it. Yours for free if any use.
 
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