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Date:         Sat, 17 Jun 2006 15:01:53 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Front seat belt replacement
Comments: To: jpbeauch@GMAIL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I got new belts from the VW dealer a few years back. I think they were about $150 for each seat. If they are still available from the VW dealer I think Camelback VW in AZ. still offers list members a discount and will ship.

My one fear in retro-fitting seat belts to a vehicle that they weren't specifically designed for--well, I just figured out it's two fears. One would be just the nusance factor--that since you have to buckle them every time you get in and out of the car if they don't offer ease of on and off in the environment they weren't specifically designed for (retracting/buckling) they would become very frustrating--like your originals that won't retract. The second is functionality in a crash. I suppose in some ways a seat belt is a seat belt. So even if it's not specificially designed for a certain vehicle it might work fine--in fact it will probably work fine--but I didn't want to take the chance so I spent the cash at the VW dealer.

Also having dealt with insurance companies in the past we all know they are trying as hard as they can never to pay a claim. Retro fitting seat belts and finding out at the time of a collision they don't function properly in your specific vehicle might be just enough for the insurance company to leave you hanging. I'm not saying this is the case, but it's one I wouldn't want to find out on my own. And on this note injury due to a belt not designed for the vehicle would be a drag.

I guess that's three concerns. I'm not an expert by a long shot. But maybe some things to think about.

That's my 2 cents.

Best, Jeff 83.5 Westy LA,CA

In a message dated 6/16/2006 9:04:12 PM Pacific Standard Time, jpbeauch@GMAIL.COM writes:

My front seat belt are very tired and won't retract anymore by themself. As I was looking for a part replacement on gowesty and on BusDepot website, to my surprise they don't seems to offer those anymore. SO I've looked around and found some replacement seat belt for a dodge van which is suppose to also fit our vanagon.


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