Seatbelt safety

[EdoublE]

WD-40 would compound the issue because it will attract more dirt and sand. One of the guys actually said he tried WD-40 before he removed the harness and it just made things worse. I'm curious if a silicone based lubricant would possibly work better.....?

I was thinking a graphite dry lube lubricant would be the ticket.

PRP makes a 5-point Cam-Lock SFI 16.1 Harnesses with CleanLatch Technology in both ratcheting and standard.

It would be great if someone asked RG at the SS how to maintenance the cam lock.

 

[sand shark]

I think the seat belts are tied to the engine too. If it doesn't sense all of them are buckled then it goes into limp mode. I wonder if you loose this feature if you go aftermarket. I wonder if it goes into limp mode if the cam-lock is jammed.

If the aftermarket belts don't have the sensor built in you override the safety feature.

So Im not sure how I wanted to start this post? To make it clear this is not about comparing one UTV brands stock seatbelts vs another. Or one brand or style vs another. It’s about making sure you’re using the best safety equipment you can, be it stock or aftermarket.

So yesterday a friend of mine was in a UTV accident. He is in his 70’s and he & his wife are traveling with the 5th wheel and visiting family in northern NV. A nephew got a new UTV and they had been going out for some rides. At about 25-30mph so not real fast, and this proves you don’t need to be going fast, they drove right into a storm washout. It was 25-0 in an instant.

My friend was in the passenger seat with the nephew driving, and in the impact his chest hit the grab bar breaking his sternum. He had to be put in an ambulance and taken to the hospital. Fortunately it looks like only his sternum was broke and he has no other injuries.

The seatbelts were stock 4 point style where the two shoulder straps are retractable like in your passenger car. Due to this it caused his sternum to hit the grab bar. This tells me he either came out of the shoulder belts, or the belts did not lock up or did not lock quick enough and his body was thrown forward 12-18 inch if not more. That’s insane, to become that loose in a seat. And to clarify I don’t know how he was wearing the belts, except he was wearing all 4 points when they crashed.

Car in the washout.
View attachment 2206

Look at the distance you have to move to hit your chest against the grab bar, which is now bent. He probably moved 12-18 inches.
View attachment 2207

This is just a picture I found online to show the style of seatbelts that were in this car. As you can see there is no shoulder adjustment as they are retractable. There is also a rubber strap to hold the two belts together.
View attachment 2208

Bottom line I don’t care if your belts are stock or aftermarket. Your seatbelts need to work right. They need to be installed properly and worn properly.

The Speed UTV comes with a true race style belt. They will not be SFI certified, so while they might be better than the other stock UTV belts, there are still better available. Also the other manufacturers stock belts are self adjusting, where the Speed belts you will have to manually adjust each belt strap separately and each time someone sits in that seat.

Please, please if you don’t know how to adjust your belts, because you’ve never had a traditional 5 point seatbelt. Ask someone who knows to show you how. Dont not ask because you feel dumb. You would not believe how many I know that did not understand how the crotch strap was to work. You will feel worse if injured or if you injure someone else. It hurts less to learn.

I personally like and have always used a 3 inch wide harness in my cars. There is also a brand and very particular style belt I like & use. So I’m going to try the Speed 2 inch wide CamLock belts. But if I don’t feel like they are right for me, and if I don’t feel comfortable they will come out, and what I like & know will go in.

Good news is my friend is going to be ok. At his age, it’s probably going to be a slower recovery as you just heal slower. I don’t know how long he’s going to be in the hospital? Assume he will be out soon, but I’m pretty sure they will be stuck in NV until he’s ready & able to drive the truck & 5th wheel home. Plus the rest of the trip is done.

Sorry to hear about your friend. That is nuts the seatbelts allowed him to move that much.

I know on my Can Am with the stock belts they will tighten down on your shoulders when you are going through whoops at speed.

I like the 5 point PRP belts in a 2" shoulder and lap with the traditional link/latch set up. Never have issues with this set up. I have been in cars with the camlocks. They are nice and easy to use.

 

[Demlock]

For non-racing non-speed demons, what are the thoughts on buckle (automotive style) belts without the retracting/self adjusting feature? Essentially, a standard 4 point harness, just a buckle vs latch/cam system.

 

[gonzalez.michael1]

For non-racing non-speed demons, what are the thoughts on buckle (automotive style) belts without the retracting/self adjusting feature? Essentially, a standard 4 point harness, just a buckle vs latch/cam system.

Never seen one before. Nothing beats the old school latch and velcro.

 

[Nikal]

For non-racing non-speed demons, what are the thoughts on buckle (automotive style) belts without the retracting/self adjusting feature? Essentially, a standard 4 point harness, just a buckle vs latch/cam system.

Not a fan! I’m sure in a recreational setting they will not fail. But if this was good the racing industry would adapt them and they don’t.

Also not a fan of intergraded sewn in shoulder to lap belts either. But that’s just me. Some like it as it removes the hassle of trying to latch all 4-5 points, and you only have the lap belt to buckle. I’m actually surprised the Speed belts don’t have the intergraded shoulder sewn to lap belts. It takes some of the education out of how to buckle up.

 

[Dirtlsinger]

Not a fan! I’m sure in a recreational setting they will not fail. But if this was good the racing industry would adapt them and they don’t.

Also not a fan of intergraded sewn in shoulder to lap belts either. But that’s just me. Some like it as it removes the hassle of trying to latch all 4-5 points, and you only have the lap belt to buckle. I’m actually surprised the Speed belts don’t have the intergraded shoulder sewn to lap belts. It takes some of the education out of how to buckle up.

Old School was to weld them together at the buckle.

 

[Nikal]

Here’s something most probably don’t know. Robby used to be a Simpson Safety supported driver. He wore and used all Simpson gear. When Simpson was looking to build a recreation off road seat belt they came up with the D3, and Robby was the poster boy for Simpson and the D3 belts as he’s the well known off road guy.

For those that don’t know the D3 used hardware vs sewn to intergraded the lap & shoulder belts, making it a single point buckle. I wonder if Robby ever thought of using this style of belt in the Speed? He knows about it, but who knows if they thought about it, or what the cost might have been as this is a Simpson Safety design.



Edit: also look at this picture and you can see by intergrading using hardware the shoulder straps are closer together putting the shoulder belts in a better position to not come off your shoulders.

Now look at that picture and imagine how much farther apart the shoulder straps are if you have to sew them in after the buckle and then moving the lap belt adjusters even farther down on the lap belt. The Simpson design is the best if you’re wanting a intergraded shoulder/lap belt.

 

[Nikal]

I’ve been a long time supporter & used of Simpson, until Bill left & started Impact Racing. We were the first off road racing team to run Impact racing belts and gear.

But still to this day I use Simpson and the preferred belt I like is the Latch F/X as it’s a 3 inch lap belt with intergraded adjusters built into the buckle hardware. No trying to pull down to tighten and having the seat slots get in the way. Or trying to reach between the seat or chassis & body. Grab the belt strap at the buckle and pull strait.

Here is the F/X belt. Look at how the adjuster is part of the latch. It can take some getting used to as it can be like wearing a rodeo belt buckle or something! But after a few rides you don’t notice it and I actually feel more supported.

 

[pyrocoyote1]

Here’s something most probably don’t know. Robby used to be a Simpson Safety supported driver. He wore and used all Simpson gear. When Simpson was looking to build a recreation off road seat belt they came up with the D3, and Robby was the poster boy for Simpson and the D3 belts as he’s the well known off road guy.

For those that don’t know the D3 used hardware vs sewn to intergraded the lap & shoulder belts, making it a single point buckle. I wonder if Robby ever thought of using this style of belt in the Speed? He knows about it, but who knows if they thought about it, or what the cost might have been as this is a Simpson Safety design.

View attachment 2251

Edit: also look at this picture and you can see by intergrading using hardware the shoulder straps are closer together putting the shoulder belts in a better position to not come off your shoulders.

Now look at that picture and imagine how much farther apart the shoulder straps are if you have to sew them in after the buckle and then moving the lap belt adjusters even farther down on the lap belt. The Simpson design is the best if you’re wanting a intergraded shoulder/lap belt.

my neighbor used simpson straps in his play car . and they are very comfortable and i agree i prefer this over any other seatbelts that I have used . the can am seat belts with the self tightening on the woops feel good but in the back of my mind i know mechanical thing like that will eventually wear out or break i would perfer to keep it simple.
since we are on the subject of seat belts, i learned recently about this man john paul stapp that did extensive research on seat belts and the effects of G force on the human body in the 50s. he is the reason we have seatbelts in cars and he survived going 0-600 mph in less then 5 seconds then 600 mph to 0 in less then second. he survived by his seatbelt design.

 

[BajaOrBust]

If the aftermarket belts don't have the sensor built in you override the safety feature.

Sorry to hear about your friend. That is nuts the seatbelts allowed him to move that much.

I know on my Can Am with the stock belts they will tighten down on your shoulders when you are going through whoops at speed.

I like the 5 point PRP belts in a 2" shoulder and lap with the traditional link/latch set up. Never have issues with this set up. I have been in cars with the camlocks. They are nice and easy to use.

What do you all think of 2 inch versus 3 inch belts? I got 3 inch belts for my wife’s Polaris, and they are pretty bulky.

 

[Dirtlsinger]

What do you all think of 2 inch versus 3 inch belts? I got 3 inch belts for my wife’s Polaris, and they are pretty bulky.

3" laps, 2" shoulders, or 3" sown over into 2". 3" shoulders are uncomfortable, and don't fit in Haan's devices very easily.

 

[sand shark]

Having those sterum clips

What do you all think of 2 inch versus 3 inch belts? I got 3 inch belts for my wife’s Polaris, and they are pretty bulky.

3" shoulder straps end up rubbing your neck. 2" are more comfortable when cinched down.

 

[Nikal]

I’ve always ran 3 inch shoulders as that was required per Score, BITD or any off road racing series. So for me they are comfortable. It was only a few years back with the H&N devices that a reduced to 2 inch belt were race legal.

Back in the day Mastercraft used to make Woolies, (sheep skin) that like pads, slipped over the harnesses. I still have a few pairs.
I thought I had a picture? I’ll have to take one.

Here are pictures of the Simpson FX belts in my Baja bug Prerunner and RZR.

 

[Need for Speed]

Hey, that reminds me. I seem to recall Robby saying in a few of his older update vids a couple of years ago that all Speed cars will come with wrist restraints. However, I haven't heard mention of wrist restraints in Speed cars for at least the past year or more, and I don't recall any of the owners who have Speed cars saying that wrist restraints came with their car. I'm not complaining, I'm just stating an observation. Perhaps Robby decided that the available window nets address the concern (that's pure speculation on my part). Does anyone know if wrist restraints come standard with Speed cars? @AZSPEEED38 or @Chupacabra Offroad did your El Jefe come with wrist restraints?

I too remember Robby saying cars come with wrist restraints, so does anyone know if the windows nets canceled out wrist restraints ?
And are the seat belt sticking problems being addressed and updated by Robby and team ?
I'm not complaining and I'm ok with Speed delays in production to make changes and improve Our cars : ) El Diablo #1495
Meanwhile I'm just driving the crap out of the RZR , Roxor, Honda Africa Twin, ( i prayed for years that Honda would save us from Polaris and Can Am ) I do admit I hate working on the RZR because it only pisses me off with all the cheap crappie hardware and throwing money at it and having fun too ! Ok therapy is over.

 

[sand shark]

I too remember Robby saying cars come with wrist restraints, so does anyone know if the windows nets canceled out wrist restraints ?
And are the seat belt sticking problems being addressed and updated by Robby and team ?
I'm not complaining and I'm ok with Speed delays in production to make changes and improve Our cars : ) El Diablo #1495
Meanwhile I'm just driving the crap out of the RZR , Roxor, Honda Africa Twin, ( i prayed for years that Honda would save us from Polaris and Can Am ) I do admit I hate working on the RZR because it only pisses me off with all the cheap crappie hardware and throwing money at it and having fun too ! Ok therapy is over.

If you have window nets in theory you do not need the wrist restraints as the nets should keep your arms/hands in the car.

 

[Need for Speed]

If you have window nets in theory you do not need the wrist restraints as the nets should keep your arms/hands in the car.

I know that, but there are a lot cars being delivered that don't have window nets. And I'm wondering about the sticky seat belt issue I heard about being upgraded.

 

[Nikal]

I just saw a video of the SXSBlog guys testing the new MavR. Surprisingly they were not as big of fans as I expected?

But during the video I took these screen shots of how they were wearing the stock seatbelts. I was shocked! I just don’t know if they don’t know how to properly wear a seatbelt, or what? But this is exactly how you never wear your seatbelts.

Remember your buckle is to be in your lap and straps you in at your waist. This is the #1 most important belt to have on. Then shoulders, and if set up properly should be snug but not pushing you down in the seat as that’s adding compression pressure to your spine. Then a crotch or submarine belt is to support the lap belt and keep it from rising, but to keep your body from being able to slide out from under the belts.

Please never let anyone ride in your cars without the belts properly adjusted. This is why they are adjustable.
Wrong! He’s wearing the lap like a sternum strap.

Wrong! Even the passenger should have it lower at his belt line.

 

[Grandpa H]

I just saw a video of the SXSBlog guys testing the new MavR. Surprisingly they were not as big of fans as I expected?

But during the video I took these screen shots of how they were wearing the stock seatbelts. I was shocked! I just don’t know if they don’t know how to properly wear a seatbelt, or what? But this is exactly how you never wear your seatbelts.

Remember your buckle is to be in your lap and straps you in at your waist. This is the #1 most important belt to have on. Then shoulders, and if set up properly should be snug but not pushing you down in the seat as that’s adding compression pressure to your spine. Then a crotch or submarine belt is to support the lap belt and keep it from rising, but to keep your body from being able to slide out from under the belts.

Please never let anyone ride in your cars without the belts properly adjusted. This is why they are adjustable.
Wrong! He’s wearing the lap like a sternum strap.
View attachment 2865
Wrong! Even the passenger should have it lower at his belt line.
View attachment 2866

Good catch, they know better….or they should. Look at all of the tragic stories shared on our Speed forum. They need to set a better example.

 

[AZSPEEED38]

Hey, that reminds me. I seem to recall Robby saying in a few of his older update vids a couple of years ago that all Speed cars will come with wrist restraints. However, I haven't heard mention of wrist restraints in Speed cars for at least the past year or more, and I don't recall any of the owners who have Speed cars saying that wrist restraints came with their car. I'm not complaining, I'm just stating an observation. Perhaps Robby decided that the available window nets address the concern (that's pure speculation on my part). Does anyone know if wrist restraints come standard with Speed cars? @AZSPEEED38 or @Chupacabra Offroad did your El Jefe come with wrist restraints?

No wrist restraints came with my car, but I have window nets.

 

[cobbler702]

No wrist restraints came with my car, but I have window nets.

And how many times did we hear that ALL speed cars will come with wrist restraints? Dozens!

And it shouldn't matter if you have window nets or not. Many of us will remove our nets for certain riding and the wrist restraints should be there in my opinion.