NEWS PARTS JEEP & 4x4 ATV & UTV

Children and Jeeps

2122 Views 19 Replies 6 Participants Last post by **DONOTDELETE**, May 1, 2000

G

Discussion Starter · Apr 28, 2000

My two kids (three and Four 1/2) were almost as excited as I was to get this Jeep CJ-6. They love climbing around in it and cant wait to take it in the woods. My question is more on the lines of safty for them and not for good looks or curb appeal. Is there a good way to put seat belts in the rear? I would prefer shoulder belts and may even put another rollbar in the rear to give a place to put the belt and for rollover protection. Also is there a better seat that I may retrofit maybe a s10 blaser rear seat or something. I thank you and my kids I'm sure would thankyou as well

Jim

The first time I fell in the mud...
I realized I belonged there.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

109

· #2 · Apr 28, 2000

Not sure about Missouri but in Pa. you have to keep little ones in child safety seats. So I would say start by adding lap belts to the existing seat so you can hold down the child seats. Add the roll bar for extra protection. I'm not sure that a S-10 or Cherokee XJ rear seat would be a good idea since they both fold down and come in two pieces. Maybe a front bench seat from a S-10, Commanche or similar pick up would be better. My kids really liked our XJ when they were that age and still love it today, 12 or 14years later. Good Luck!!/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

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G

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 28, 2000

Safty first is always good. I would look into Beard seats, I know that they make a rear seat for Jeeps. Adding to the roll bar for the rear is a good idea. The latest CJ& that I purchased came without a roll bar, I plan to build a custom roll cage that is tied into the frame befor I let my daughter go along wheeling.

Enjoy the Jeep

G

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 28, 2000

MO laws also say that child seats are to be used but my 4 1/2 year old is above the cutoff and out of the seat. What about 2 lowback buckets with harnesses, (do they go small enough for kids) or maybe one of those old subaru brat seats they used in the bed ,anyone remember those.

thanks Jim

The first time I fell in the mud...
I realized I belonged there.

G

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 28, 2000

Why not find a used CJ back seat? the one in my cj has seat belts bolted to the frame of the seat, and bolts to the floor with 5 bolts. A roll bar from a 76-77 CJ-7 would make an easy starting point for a cage, but it only bolts flat to the rear fenders and body - you would want to install some risers from the frame to make it rock solid. Just my 7 cents(inflation, you know)

Bob N

Bob N

G

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 28, 2000

The Jeep seat would be a good Idea(sometimes the obvios is overlooked) I assume the belts atatched are lap belts ? Also there is already a rollbar like in most CJ's but with the extra length and the rear seat 3' from the front seats it just doesn't look safe for rear passengers.

Jim

The first time I fell in the mud...
I realized I belonged there.

G

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 28, 2000

Mine has the lap belts. Look to the later Wranglers for the shoulder belt version. Maybe one of the YJ guys could give you more info on how those mount. Maybe a Wrangler rollbar would solve the top mount problem if you're going to use shoulder belts.

Bob N

Bob N

G

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 28, 2000

My advice would be to build a family cage that is tied into the frame. If you can't build it then draw up a rough design and take it to a fabricator. I had my cage built at a drag racing shop b/c I don't trust my welds with my life. You could then sleeve the tube and get shoulder harnesses from some place like 4wd Hardware and then put either a CJ, YJ, or a fold and tumble rear seat in.

Tim Springer
1980 CJ7
WALSTIB/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

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040

· #9 · Apr 28, 2000

The only issue with the stock CJ/YJ rear seat is whiplash protection. My son only goes in the back seat if we take the full child seat out of the van and put it back there. When he rides with me every day to drop him off at pre-school, he sits up front in the passenger seat with a booster seat...the booster seat manual plainly states not to put it on a seat where the child's neck is above the top of the rear of the seat. I'd like at Beard seats or squeeze a pair of high-back bucket or racing seats in the back (CJ & Early YJ will just barely fit between the wheelhouses...this is what I'm doing with my Scrambler). As far as the cage, you can just have a 'family' section added to it and attache the shoulder harnesses to it.

G

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 28, 2000

Thanks a ton for the info, I think I'm sold on a pair of high backs in the rear with a family roll cage . I have a friend thet makes tube aluminum racks for ladders on trucks and they look strong and are incredubly light anyone know if this would be strong enough?

The first time I fell in the mud...
I realized I belonged there.

G

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 28, 2000

it would not be strong enough. think about dropping the jeep upside down onto it from about 10ft up. and make sure what you have will support it, if you really want to be safe. go do a search to find video clips of trucks and jeeps rolling, it always sends a chill up my spine. was at a rollover 6 months ago and the jeep rolled about 4 times down a hill, at night, full cage even got tweaked and no damage to people besides one whose head hit the cage and got cut open. anyway, just make sure it is tough.

'95 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
33"s, snorkel, 1000+ RTI, Warn xd9000i

G

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 28, 2000

I'm looking into the suggestions from Jeepskate, for my '86 CJ7.
To get shoulder belts in the rear, add a family style cage.
Not very difficult.

The problems starts, when the young ones becomes about 7, then their heads are above a stock rear seat, which means high whiplash risks ....
Sooo, at the moment, my son (which is nearly 7) rides in the front seat *only*.

I have looked for a long time for a rear seat, which has a high back style, look decent *and* fits between the wheel wells of the '7 ...
The best i have seen, is two *small* bucket racing style seats.

One other solution, would be to build two (removable) upper back / neck / head rests, which would extend from the top of the (stock) rear seat, and up to the horizontal bar of a family cage. I think that the horizontal bar would be curved fairly far aft, nearly touching the rear window ??, to make it possible with such an extension to the rear seat (because of the angle of the rear seat ....)

At the moment, my wife usually doesn't ride with my son and me in the Jeep...
("It's a boy thing ..")

Regards,
PerJ (From Norway)

<[email protected]>
Using self-discipline, see http://www.eiffel.com/discipline

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G

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 28, 2000

2

Jim, have you hooked up with the guys from the Midwest Jeep Thing club yet? They may be able to put you in touch with some fabricators. And since you're in St. Peters, be sure to come to my G.U.M.B.O. mud race July 4th in O'Fallon!/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif The kids will love that for sure!!!

TEX

/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif Got Mud?
G.U.M.B.O. Mud Racing

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G

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 28, 2000

I tried the stock CJ7 hiback buckets in the rear several years ago, and they DON"t fit. I'm in the same position, still trying to
figure a manageable alternative for the back. I saw a CJ several years ago that replaced the back of the stock fold and tumble
seat with a much higher back, I'm seriously considering that route.

Brad
ORC Land Use Section Editor
http://www.off-road.com/land

078

· #15 · Apr 28, 2000

My brother built a slick rear seat for his CJ7 when his kids were little. He mounted two fiberglass bucket seats, the kind you find in
sand rails, to a frame that bolted between the fender wells. He mounted 4-point harnesses to the rear cage/floor. The seats sat up
higher too, so the kids could see better.

BHT

G

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 29, 2000

Thanks again for all the info guys seems like we're all looking for something maybe I'll invent one and get rich(ha ha) There is a great picture of a kids setup in new june issue of Four Wheeler magazine on page 119 may give someone some ideas, also some great writeups on tires 9I've seen alot of questions that were asked answered there.

TEX I would love to come to the mud runs on the 4th I'm sure my kids will be excited, Thanks for the invite

Thanks all

Jim

I;m not going to take it anymore !!!

jeeper2

· #17 · Apr 30, 2000

I thought I'd add my 2 cents. I think Jeepskate's got the right idea with the YJ roll cage and the added protection it provides. I've been looking, but haven't found one yet. I do put the boys (3 and 5) in the back seat and use a pair of Century Breverra car seats. They look like little bucket seats and have their own hed rests. They also come with harnesses to attach the upper back of the seat and to the back of the jeep.

If I was a horse, they would have shot me years ago... /wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif

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Dirt Dog

· #18 · Apr 30, 2000

Well I was trying to figure the best way to keep my daughter safe in the jeep.
I finally figured it out...........let her drive./wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif
http://home1.gte.net/rythem/mygirlpic.htm
Sorry about the size.

"No officer I haven't been drinking , Thats just how my Jeep drives"

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Dana

· #19 · May 1, 2000

In reply to:

I finally figured it out...........let her drive

Well, my daughters aren't quite as young (11&12), but they had their second driving lesson yesterday. Took, 'em up to the sandpit, a big flat area, put the CJ5 in low range, and let 'em have at it. They had a blast! and so did I. The 11 year old is a more confident driver, but the 12 year old is smoother on the clutch.

To make it even more special, a bald eagle (rare here in CT) sat up in a tree and watched the whole time, occasionally swooping down and circling around us, passing a few feet overhead. All in all a great day for a couple of junior Jeepchicks and their Dad!

-Dana

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public
debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom tempered and
controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest
Rome become bankrupt" -Cicero, 68 B.C.

G

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 1, 2000

What about those really cheap RCI racing seats?
Aaron

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