The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk no seat belts

I read on another web site that if your vehicle did not come out with seat belts,you don't have to have them to be legal. Is this true?
Thanks,
Gene

This is true in Michigan. However, my wife and son said I would be riding w/o them unless I put a couple sets in...so I did!

Gene, I think that's true, but there may be some states that have different requirements. Like fonz, my wife won't ride in an old vehicle without belts, and I like them, too!

In Utah to get my truck inspected and licensed I had to have them. Check you local DMV site for requirements. I remember one of the posters here talking about the door popping open on his AD on a corner, his wife would have been on the road without them.

Different laws everywhere. I can legally drive mine without seat belts, but no passengers. I installed seat belts.

Here in Ks as long as the truck didn't have them stock then they don't have to be in it.Asked a highway patrolman when he pulled me over for speeding

Going way back into my school memories, I didn't think they could pass a law that "back dated" and made illegal a product that preceded the law..."Ex Post Facto" if I recall correctly.

In Utah no inspection, no plates. Also every front seat passenger/driver not wearing a belt is a $45 fine.

http://www.drumrightpd.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6

Frequently Asked Questions about the Oklahoma Mandatory Child Restraint Law

What vehicles are not required to have seat belts?

Passenger cars manufactured prior to 1967 and pickups, vans and SUVs manufactured prior to 1971 were not required to have seat belts. Also, school buses and many commercial transport vehicles which carry more than 10 passengers are not required to have seat belts. As long as the vehicle did not have seat belts as original equipment, then it is exempt from the law.


Hope this helps!

John

this is a question that could be better answered by the appropriate governing body. (DOL, police, etc.) This isn't the kind of thing you trust to some strangers interpretation of the law, opinions, or experiences. Or you could just put seat belts in and wear them, there is a reason most (all?) of the states have seat belt laws, and it seems to me a person would have a bit more respect for their own life....

Here in Il. if it came with no seat belts you don't have to have them.



Pete

Here in Colorado if it was not equiped with belts from the factory you don't have to have them. However if a previous owner installed belts, from that point on you must have them.

Regardless of the various state laws, I am a proponent of adding seatbelts to our old trucks. The last thing you want to do is get in a shoving match with that rigid steering column.

X2 on what DavidF says....!

Keep in mind that that steering shaft lurking behind your
horn button is solidly attached to the steering gear
and will harpoon you in the unfortunate chance of a good frontal hit.

ALL my old cars have belts and/or shoulder harnesses installed.
Try Juliano's for all styles and colors; great products. Put his shoulder harnesses in
my 51 panel.

I found a web site this morning that had the laws for all 50 states and all that I checked showed that my '59 truck was exempt. It was dated 2006 so it is possible that they have changed some of the laws since then. I know it is safer to wear seat belts but in Oklahoma there is no helmet law for motorcycles but seat belt laws. My other vehicle is a motorcycle and I wear a helmet but I think that I am safer in my truck even without the seat belt. Life is a risk. That is just my opinion.
Gene

Gene, Welcome! We like new guys and would like to keep them--- the door latches on these old trucks are terrible and the imported replacements are worse.The doors can and do pop open under the stress of cornering. Roll overs almost guarantee doors flopping open. Please install belts (with reinforcements under the floor since they were not designed to withstand collision forces against belts).
We want you to continue to contribute to our fun here.

Couldn't agree more. And for those thinking lapbelts alone are going to help them, read this from another forum where someone had the misfortune of finding out the hard way that steering wheels aren't very forgiving when impacting your ribs:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showpost.php?p=5334537&postcount=221

I installed seatbelts in my 51 and always wear them. On top of the safety aspect, it keeps me from bouncing off the seat as you can in a 1 Ton. I must say that after five years and 18K miles I have never had a door come ajar. I think with good latches and sturdy fit cab, they stay latched.

No rear bumper, seat belts, turn signals, or right hand tail light required if the vehicle didn't come with them and these were all options except the turn signals if you count hand signals. My GMC has all.

All good comments...For myself, I wear seatbelts without fail. However, I do have a problem with the intrusive look on a truck that they were never designed for. Where do you draw the safety line? Move the gas tank out of the cab? Install a collapsible steering column? Bear-claw latches? In my belief, and considering the limited driving and the "heightened attention level" while driving, it will be tough to talk myself into adding the belts. On the other hand, when my kids inherit the truck, it will most likely have belts. Maybe something that could have the release in the uppermost part of the cab corner so that they could be a little less obvious at a show. When the cab gets blasted and painted, it will most likely be common sense to at least incorporate the mounting provisions.

Is it the law? I don't think so...Is it a good idea, yeah but it is going to require some give and take to maintain the more original feel.

I think lap belts are much better than no belts, and if you can mount them correctly, shoulder belts are best. Anyway, since someone mentioned vendors, I have had belts from seatbeltsplus.com in my 'Bolt for 3 years and are very happy with them....and I just ordered another set from them for another car I'm building.

Any body want to share details of an installation of seatbelts? I haven't seen shoulder belts in any AD trucks except where they have installed later model seats that had them built in to the upper back. Would be interesting to see ideas on other ways to do that to keep it more in line with the original look. I am kind of looking at seat belts as just part of the make it safe to drive thought.

I installed them in my '41 just to avoid arguments. But I think it is kinda stupid to strap yourself to the gas tank

The May 2012 issue of Classic Trucks magazine has a pretty good article on installing seatbelts. You can probably read it online.

...deves web site...


I went with lap belts in the 50 plus added a center hook on the bench for my 4 year olds car seat


.

I never thought of that. You make a good point.

Yeah and that gas tank is strapped in tight and safe. Why wouldn't you be?

I agree that it messes with the look and nostalgia, but the oh so common fender-bender at 30 mph is gonna getcha. The truck may not take much or any damage, but your neck and that chest thump against the steering wheel ain't gonna feel good. It may not be required, but it is highly recommended.

In real life, in cab fuel tanks don't explode on impact. That's TV and movie BS. Even if they did explode they don't hold 500 gallons like the movies show.

Good point Dave,it's been proven that at even at 15mph,no matter how big and burly you might be,you cannot physically hold yourself back in the seat in the event of an impact.....

if you get in a wreck bad enough for the gas tank to be damaged you are most likely dead anyway. It is pretty well tucked away. And if you are in this very same wreck without seat belts you probably are dead like twice.

I think at least lap belts are needed. The doors on our trucks tend to easially pop open upon impact. Whenever the local news reports people killed in a crash - often they are ejected from the vehicle. Lap belts will at least keep us inside the cab.

I installed lap belts in my first car, a '51 Chevy, in 1962. I've always felt like I would slide off the seat onto the floor if I didn't wear it.

I have lap belts in my current '48 but I've been thinking about adding shoulder belts.

I installed my belts 3 point belts from Juliano's Juliano's

Big Chevy, thanks for the pics of your installation. Looked at the other pics of your truck, you and so many others on this site keep me motivated. Thanks also for the link to Juliano's. They even had a how to for in install in an old truck.

After the last outing with some Grandkids in the truck I just ordered the belts.It's a good time to do it as my interior is being done and The seats I have in there are from the 53GMC project just temp so I can drive her.Gotta keep driving my 52.

Ordered from Juliano's

Pete

The law here in Alberta is that if it didn't originally come with seatbelts you don't need them. So for most vehicles in the 60's you don't need seatbelts if it didn't have them originally. However, if the vehicle is modified (as in you've changed from the original 30HP engine and original suspension to all modern suspension and 300HP), then you need lap belts at a minimum.

After seeing the pictures of that suburban I'm considering putting Juliano's shoulder belts in my '46 GMC I'm building.

Has anyone installed them in a 41-46 Chev/GMC?