Rear seats, 1985 90.

So, here is the thing, I need at least one rear seat, its a rag top, now I dont need seat belts legally because of its age, however, I would still like to have them.

So, options?

Also, lap belts seem to be the easy option, at what age of a passenger do lap belts become illegal?

So, A bit of checking, children over 3 can sit in the back with no booster/child seat and no seatbelts, this will make it easier, so , I need a seat or two, in the back, with belts, prefer 3 point, prefer forward facing, lap belted bench seats would be a very very last resort.

Ideas?

I went through this dilemma a few years back- how to safely seat two kids in the back of a 90 and maintain useability for carting around loads when needed. Firstly, I completely discarded the notion of side facing seats. probably OK carrying adults on a hunt, off road, but not for kids. Lap belts on side facing seats probably add to the chance of injury, so I discounted them too. I looked at various options of minibus seats with integral three point belts, but wasn't happy with those either. Quite a lot of structural steel would have needed to be added underneath the tub to provide a solid mounting. I ended up biting the bullet and buying a pair of Exmoor forward facing, folding rears which are OK, but not brilliant. (I do have a used Exmoor Trim high backed rear drivers side folding, forward facing seat that I might sell complete with brackets and belt, but I am in Dorset and can't be messing about with couriers). Truth is, it's not cheap to do safely, and safety is never cheap!

I think the safest way is to buy a 110

I'm looking into this at the moment, it's a dilemma for many a 90 owner...little space in the back + need for occasional safe rear seating. The 90 came with new bench seats already fitted and no belts, I used the seats twice on pre-covid trips to local pubs. I'd like forward facing folding seats but they take up a mass of room. Currently looking at the Exmoor high back side facing seats with four point harnesses as a happy medium https://www.exmoortrim.co.uk/seating/defender-load-area/inward-facing/inward-facing-fold-up.html

Providing they're installed correctly, the four point harness is a good option ensuring the occupant is secure should things go wobbly https://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/prod...torsport-harnesses/road-and-racing-harnesses/

v8250 said:

I'm looking into this at the moment, it's a dilemma for many a 90 owner...little space in the back + need for occasional safe rear seating. The 90 came with new bench seats already fitted and no belts, I used the seats twice on pre-covid trips to local pubs. I'd like forward facing folding seats but they take up a mass of room. Currently looking at the Exmoor high back side facing seats with four point harnesses as a happy medium https://www.exmoortrim.co.uk/seating/defender-load-area/inward-facing/inward-facing-fold-up.html

Providing they're installed correctly, the four point harness is a good option ensuring the occupant is secure should things go wobbly https://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/prod...torsport-harnesses/road-and-racing-harnesses/

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Aren’t there rules about belt types in side facing seats? Exmoor recommend lap belts. I seen to remember inertia reels weren’t allowed as they don’t work sideways. I had retractable lap belts (actually still have, just don’t have the seats!).

wattfield said:

Aren’t there rules about belt types in side facing seats? Exmoor recommend lap belts. I seen to remember inertia reels weren’t allowed as they don’t work sideways. I had retractable lap belts (actually still have, just don’t have the seats!).

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Yes, there are - this primarily stating that 3-4pt inertia types should not be used for sideways seats as they allow the passenger to "fall out..." of the safety belt in moment of accident. Lap belts are not much better as under deceleration the upper body simply carries on in the speed & direction of initial travel. Whilst 4pt harnesses are not perfect, they at least keep the occupant where you want them, namely, in the seat. Not all 4pts are suitable and special attention needs to be made as to the type/how they are installed. I like the Schroth anti-submarine harnesses and have the big boys FIA units in my Sebring V8...they're very good, if somewhat pricey compared to other makes...but Schroth's attention to detail is market leading.

Has anyone successfully changed their 90 to a four or five seater on the V5C after adding rear seats?

Britcyclerider said:

Has anyone successfully changed their 90 to a four or five seater on the V5C after adding rear seats?

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Does the V5 even state the number of seats? Ive never checked mine.

I always thought a rear facing folding seat against the bulkhead would work best & safest. However I’m yet to find anything that does that. If anyone does find one, post it here!

At some point I may put the high-back seats in my 90 but, you know, time and money. Also I kind of like the originality.

MiddleAgedDirtBag said:

I always thought a rear facing folding seat against the bulkhead would work best & safest. However I’m yet to find anything that does that. If anyone does find one, post it here!

At some point I may put the high-back seats in my 90 but, you know, time and money. Also I kind of like the originality.

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This has been done and I've toyed with the same. Here's a link to a fellow, called Nick, who's completed this https://www.nickslandrover.co.uk/rear-seats/

v8250 said:

This has been done and I've toyed with the same. Here's a link to a fellow, called Nick, who's completed this https://www.nickslandrover.co.uk/rear-seats/

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That’s interesting, I hadn’t considered installing the Exmoor fold up seats rear-facing. Good idea. I wonder what the insurance implications would be.

No immediate plans to do anything like it, but food for thought certainly.