BJ73/74 & Child seats

[shlux]

Hi,

I'm in the process of selling my '82 SWB Hilux and am thinking of getting a MWB 'cruiser so that I can fit the kids in the back.

Just wondering if it's possible to fit a child seat in the back with anchorage points etc. I saw one (BJ73) the other day and there wasn't anywhere to attach an achorage point. It looked like an import so maybe that was why.

Have any of you guys done this? I'm also keen to get my hands on a manual to see if this can be done also.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[ORSM45]

not too sure mate, but i know there wont be a mount in the roof as its a fibreglass canopy. im sure there would be or talk to an engineer to get one put in.

[MUSS]

there shood be 3 anchor points pointing to the back of the barn doors? they are fully welded to the standard roll cage??

[shlux]

Thanks guys - I'll have a look next time.

How do you find the MWB on road? Do they pitch and rock much like the SWB BJ/FJ40's?

[MUSS]

depends on the suspension and condition of your springs and shocks and weather you want to run ya middy with or without the front sway bar....if you do remove it be prepared to change your driving stylr completely

[Bluey]

i sold my hilux in dec and got middy so can fit kids in back.

not sure about legalities have put anchor point in myself. believe rac(whatever) do this, saw brochure recently.

first off aren't factory anchor points because age of vehicle, i simply put in one anchor point through floor 5 - 10 cms behind rear seats. this was actually my first mod to the car

the rear seat clips to floor on 2 points and can be unclipped to fold forwards. these clips are massive 10mm (well i think so) solid tube and associated extra bracing under car. i dilled through floor pan and this extra bracing, and used bolt kit that came with car seat. had to use spacer too underneath car between floor pan and extra brace.

am going to be putting 2 more anchor points in on weekend, will let you know all the details.

pm me or if anyone else interested will post up pics/dimensions.

as for ride, i have left suspension as is (standard, sagged) and so far fitted 33's. i find ride to be excellent, but then last car was hilux, and with 2" bl and 3" springs. even the missus reckons it's heaps better (and she is 31 weeks pregnant!). my daughter loves it, sits in middle and see everything.

luggage carrying isnt huge with seats up but then isnt small either. so far haven't had troubles getting everything in. buy a middy, they're cool

cheers
Lance

[Bluey]

jake, checked my roll bar and has no bolt points to use.

btw, vehicles without (child) anchor points:
sedans made before 07/76
station wagons made before 01/77
hatchs made before 01/77
light pas vans made before 86
4wd made before 07/90
sport cars
cars made for commercial use: twin cab utes, panel vans & utes

and as for legalities on fitting own anchor point, apparantly doesnt need to be checked (here in tas). for anyone reading this, please dont assume my anchor points are dodgy, they are anything but. my child(ren soon) mean more to me than anything else.

[roscoFJ73]

How do you find the MWB on road? Do they pitch and rock much like the SWB BJ/FJ40's?

Im fairly impressed with my new suspension on my 73.There is no comparison to the ride in a 40. The ride is a little bumpy but my passengers including my old mum reckon the 73 is quite comfortable.They also handle well out on the open road but like all 4x4 they have their limits.I found this out recently on caves rd in the Marg river region when I come into a bend too fast.It was cos the ride is so comfy I forgot I was in the 73.No dramas, it just lent over a little further than comfy and a reminder it had reached its limit.

[Bluey]

ok, now have 3 anchor points in back. process is very simple really:

1. fold seats forward, undo metal strip along back of car and fold carpet forward.
2. will now see the rwo "rod's" that rear seats clip onto. these are bolted through floor pan and through extra brace.
3. simple matter of drawing line across floor bisecting rear set of mounting bolts that hold rods.
4. if you look at shape of ridges on floor, you will see 3 larger and wider raised sections, one centre, and other two on either side. these are where anchor points will go
5. middle anchor, drill 8mm hole in centre ridge. need to use spacer (comes in anchor bolt kit) between bottom of floor pan and extra bracing.
6. left and right anchor, drill 8mm hole in respective ridges (are actaully second from left and second from right)
7. bolt in anchor points and ready to head out with family

[Bluey]

[MUSS]

wtf... i was told that the 3 fixin points on the back of the roll bar were child restraunts but hey i dont have any kids

[Bluey]

couldnt find any mounts on roll bar. where are yours located ?

[MUSS]

couldnt find any mounts on roll bar. where are yours located ?

pointing to the back barn doors on the back of the roll bar that goes accross the roof

[Bluey]

couldnt find any mounts on roll bar. where are yours located ?

pointing to the back barn doors on the back of the roll bar that goes accross the roof

will check again tomorrow for any threaded mounts in roll bar. shouldnt be any though as long as your middy was built for aus, as 4b in aus didnt start getting anchor points till 1990.

so, is your middy an import after all

[MUSS]

LMAO narh dont think so.... but that wood explain the pathetic one and a half person front bench seat

[roscoFJ73]

the rear seat clips to floor on 2 points and can be unclipped to fold forwards. these clips are massive 10mm

Bluey someone give me a old imported rear seat.I was going to get the cables that release the seat from its seated position and fit them to mine.Upon closer inspection I found the Japanese spec rear seat has only ONE attachment point on the floor(centre). I think it is because aussie cruisers have seat belt buckle straps connected to the seat and need the extra anchoridge.
Needless to say the cables that release the seat wont work on my cruiser
and of course they are in mint condition

PS there is someone in Perth selling 73 roof,rollcage and rust free rear doors.I dont know the person and I havent seen the stuff but can give the mobile number

[Bluey]

the rear seat clips to floor on 2 points and can be unclipped to fold forwards. these clips are massive 10mm

Bluey someone give me a old imported rear seat.I was going to get the cables that release the seat from its seated position and fit them to mine.Upon closer inspection I found the Japanese spec rear seat has only ONE attachment point on the floor(centre). I think it is because aussie cruisers have seat belt buckle straps connected to the seat and need the extra anchoridge.
Needless to say the cables that release the seat wont work on my cruiser
and of course they are in mint condition

PS there is someone in Perth selling 73 roof,rollcage and rust free rear doors.I dont know the person and I havent seen the stuff but can give the mobile number

yep, thats right. all three buckles and centre seatbelt are connected to actaul seat, not floor like most (all other?) cars

i've already got spare rear doors, cut down no glass. spare roof etc would be cool tho

[auto_eng]

Bluey,

Good to see you don't want to do anything dodgy where that kids are involved. Some things just are not worth the risk.

Child restraints can be a very complex area. I have been involved in a fair bit of testing with these. It is very easy to over load the seat with the anchorage position. I know because I broke an expensive seat during a destructive test on Monday (doh!)

When child restraints are positioned below the top of the seat back the restraint will inherintly place a load on the seat hinge and seat back. That is why a lot of people use a CRAB (Child Restraint Anchorage Bar) and run that between the sides of the interior or between the rear roll cage bars. You can buy these as a pre-fabricated item for about $150 in a pretty powder coat.

I have not had a good look at the layout in your type of vehicle but just be aware that the closer the anchorage is on the floor to the seat back the more load it will put on the seat hinge. Each child restraint anchorage is required to be able to hold 3.4 kN. That is basically the same as hanging about 1300 kg of the restraints you put in.

Also be aware that you should not put a child restraint on a seat that has a split back. Eg. a centre seat sometime has a split that would allow the tether stap of the child seat to pass down through the seat.

If you want, I am happy to have a closer look at your vehicle (as much as possible over the net) if you want a 2nd opinion on what you have installed.


Cheers

[Bluey]

Bluey,

Good to see you don't want to do anything dodgy where that kids are involved. Some things just are not worth the risk.

damn right there

Child restraints can be a very complex area. I have been involved in a fair bit of testing with these. It is very easy to over load the seat with the anchorage position. I know because I broke an expensive seat during a destructive test on Monday (doh!)

When child restraints are positioned below the top of the seat back the restraint will inherintly place a load on the seat hinge and seat back. That is why a lot of people use a CRAB (Child Restraint Anchorage Bar) and run that between the sides of the interior or between the rear roll cage bars. You can buy these as a pre-fabricated item for about $150 in a pretty powder coat.

the anchor points are behind seat back, but not by a huge margin. i decided on position based on extra brace that is below floor pan and necessity of leaving luggage room. it is a middy after all have seen pictures of these bars in brochure from racv. this bar idea mite work to bring anchor points up and more room underneath for luggage or homemade drawers i've been planning

I have not had a good look at the layout in your type of vehicle but just be aware that the closer the anchorage is on the floor to the seat back the more load it will put on the seat hinge. Each child restraint anchorage is required to be able to hold 3.4 kN. That is basically the same as hanging about 1300 kg of the restraints you put in.

Also be aware that you should not put a child restraint on a seat that has a split back. Eg. a centre seat sometime has a split that would allow the tether stap of the child seat to pass down through the seat.

not to worry, rear seat is full width bench type

If you want, I am happy to have a closer look at your vehicle (as much as possible over the net) if you want a 2nd opinion on what you have installed.

thanks, i would appreciate this. they are my kids after all. what sort of info/pics would help? distance from back of seat to anchor, angle of strap, etc....

Cheers

cheers
Bluey

[shlux]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the positive replies and I'm glad to hear that middies are not too bad to tour in. My shorty is also very bouncy with a 2" kit and 2" lift with 35" muddies....

I used to have a tricked up BJ40 many moons ago and it wasn't much fun driving to destinations but lots of fun once I got there though...

Thanks again.