Harness setups ... your thoughts?

[4x4Dad]

I want to put 4-point harnesses in the back seat of my 88 GW for the kiddies. Obviously, I'll just reuse the lap belt mounting points for two of the four points, so the problem is where to mount the shoulder straps.

(I'm not interested in building a full cage or paying someone else to do it, but I do plan on taking the kids out with me as often as I can, and the lap belts alone won't cut it. I'd prefer not to hear my kids' heads bonking aginst the door or window every time I drive over a rock or through a ditch.)

I assume there isn't an aftermarket bolt-in harness bar for FSJ's, so I'll throw some questions out to the forum:

What, if anything, have you done to outfit your rig with 4- or 5-point harnesses?
Did you make a harness bar or other mounting setup yourself?
Did you have someone fab it up?
Did you buy one for a different make/model and the modify it?

I'll probably have to get an off road shop to fab something for me, so any advice on what to ask for and where to put it would be appreciated. Pics would also help.

Thanks.

p.s. - I'm new to fabrication stuff, so assume I'm stupid and go from there when you offer up your opinion. :D

[Chevelleguy]

They do make floor mount harnesses. They have longer shoulder straps.

I don't think the kids are going to like them though, the straps are going to be digging into their necks as they TOTALY limit movement. Being able to let the vehicle sway and move under you is how you avoid the soreness the day after the Jeep trip. When I am off road, I sit forward in my seat so my back and neck don't get yanked around.

Have them wear light weight bicycle helmets.

[Hammer]

It is easy enough to put in the shoulder belts for the back seats.
Basically end up with the same as the stock front seats have.

Not the same as 4 or 5 point (no real reason for 5 point IMO unless you REALLY drive fast!). But with kids, they will be a lot happier with belts that move with them.
They make auto retracting 4 point belts, but they are $$$.

As for the bar, you would want to make it attach to the wheel wells with a pretty long mount to get good strength from the single mounting point that you are thinking of. Should be fairly easy for any shop to make one up though. Just plan ahead so it doesn't get in the way, but still provides a SAFE mount.

[FSJ Guy]

Honestly, if the kids can't keep their heads away from the windows, they need to be in booster seats or car seats. I have a friend who's been wheeling with his kids as young as 2-3 months. Quite literally, slept like a baby in the baby carrier.

See my website link below for my inexpensive (Less than the $300 so-called kits at other websites) rear shoulder belt installation.

[4x4Dad]

Honestly, if the kids can't keep their heads away from the windows, they need to be in booster seats or car seats.

I agree completely. They'll both be in booster seats just like they are in the minivan, but that only lifts them up three or so inches. I'm probably just being paranoid about this, but I want them (and my wife, by extension) to feel that they're safe. I thought about the bike helmet idea--maybe that is the better way to go. Just put in stock shoulder straps for the rear, slap on some helmets, and call it good.