Bench seats/insurance warning

Some motorhomes have seats in the living area that are for use when parked only. If the 90 is insured in this way specifically as a 2-seater you should be fine. Unless you had an accident and there were people riding in the back in which case there would be trouble.

Better to find an insurer that will insure the car as is without such conditions. I think most are relatively sensible seeing as it's standard-fit seating approved by the manufacturer.

FlyingPete said:

Personally, I think the 'danger' of traveling sideways is greatly overestimated.

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It's not the travelling sideways that's dangerous, it's the stopping travelling sideways that's the problem.

If you have side facing seats it is illegal to have any sort of seatbelt on them. They are just for sitting on without straps. My 90 has them on either side and each is good for 2 people - so 4 in the back in total.

Common sense tells you that driving at 60+ on the motorway with four people in the back is probably asking for trouble, but taking your mates to the pub on a local road where you rarely touch 25 mph is a lot of fun.

Mine's fully ragtop too so it's a proper giggle - which is why I have the Landy in the first place. If I wanted a risk free mode of transportation I'd buy a Prius and stick it in the garage.

its not illigal , its just not recomended nor is it mandatory.

interesting point though is - goverment guidance does explicitly state that if a seat belt is fitted to a seat it MUST be used.

mot guidance states

Side facing seats are not required to be fitted with seat belts

I view them as you do dannilids - short infrequent trips at low speeds

It's a conversation had over and over as new people buy Defenders and wonder if they can use the seats or the wheel arches as actual seats. A lap strap (as that's really the only way you could have a seat belt fitted to a bench seat) would do a good job or severing your spine in a lateral impact. Probably struggle to walk that off even after a dip with the magic sponge. I believe that lap straps are illegal, but haven't got a clue about a four point harness or something like that.

Truth be told they vehicles themselves are designed to go slowly over rough ground and bouncing around in the back when doing a lane or similar is a right laugh. Just be sensible and don't attempt something that will see your offspring catapulted into the air or over a cliff.

DaninLids said:

I believe that lap straps are illegal, but haven't got a clue about a four point harness or something like that.

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Lots of landys have rear lap straps fitted from the factory, mine included, though it wasn't mandatory to fit them. It is more to stop you from flying around inside the cabin than anything else. With a 4-point harness or shoulder belt the forces would be in entirely the wrong direction.

Ditch any insurance company that enforces such a ridiculous condition/restriction and never use them again for any of your insurances for any car, house etc......