who will add seatbelts?

[remya]

Does anyone know of a company or manufacturer in Ontario who will add seatbelts and SCBA restraints to an existing apparatus? We presently can only accommodate 2 FF’s in our rescue as our rear 4 seats do not have any restraints of any kind.

[Roadwarrior]

First, check with your manufacturer of the truck. If they can't do it (or the logistics of it make it impossible) then there are a couple of apparatus manufacturers in Ontario. Seagrave (Carleton Place) and Asphodel (Norwood) come to mind but I know there are others. Shouldn't be too hard of a job.

[FLASHOVER05]

The cost to add seatbelts to an existing unit is not an issue. What I would like to know is how old is the rescue? Why were no seat belts installed initially?

In any case, there are several manufacturers and dealers that can do the work for you, Have a look at the directory to the left, search for Apparatus and that should narrow down your options somewhat.

Good Luck!

[cranky]

Almost any heavy truck company can do it so long as they have a certified installer. There is a course you have to take even to remove and re-install seatbelts. There may be a bodyshop that can do teh work for you.

[remya]

The rescue is 8-10 years old and was built by a company that builds hydro trucks and not fire apparatus (noth'n but the best for us). The chief at the time never requested any to be installed in the rear so they never came with.

Thanks for the tip cranky I will look into those two possibilities.

[ShaneM]

this may not be as easy as some suggest. I would think that retrofitting a seatbelt would place a great deal of liability on the installer. From what I understand, seat belts must be pull tested to meet federal motor vehicle standards. I could be wrong. I'm sure there are people out there that will take their chances, and put them in for you.

I tried to get a child seat anchor installed in my family minivan a few months ago, and couldn't find anyone willing to do it.

[PFD023]

From what I understand, seat belts must be pull tested to meet federal motor vehicle standards. I could be wrong. I'm sure there are people out there that will take their chances, and put them in for you.

I tried to get a child seat anchor installed in my family minivan a few months ago, and couldn't find anyone willing to do it.

Ahhh pull testing.....we do that at our end before the final assembly stage on most of the components...the anchors, tongues etc. When they install the complete assembly, the assembler will have done the pull testing prior to installation (so it's done twice...once on components and once on assembly). It's all been done prior to selling to the marketplace. The seatbelt assembly will still only be as secure as the final mounting. If the vehicle wasn't designed to have assemblies installed then there is an opportunity for liability. We have to collect heaps and heaps of data on all our manufactured seatbelt components....probably more than the average joe would ever think necessary. Not sure what the aftermarket installer would have to do....what about dropping firetruckguy a pm?