General > Product Reviews
"Schroth Quickfit removable 4-point harness" By Tony Danza
RedRobin:
....
I just updated my Greenlight insurance to cover the Schroth harness and OZ LeggyRita's and TyreSure monitor and none of these items are a problem. I think that the key to it is that these items are TUV approved. The broker I spoke to knew about these items - The average car insurance person on the end of a phone wouldn't know what the heck I was talking about but Greenlight are very familiar. He even suggested that my policy note could cover me swopping between my wheels whenever I wanted. All for the standard £25 policy update fee.
RedRobin:
....
Having now used my Schroth Quickfit harness at The Ring and a trackday at Spa, I can report that it's extremely comfortable and you soon forget how nice and tightly strapped in you are.
It's a bit of an effort threading the bulky part through my Recaro slot so I've left mine installed in the car for the time being. It's easy and tidy to stow and so results in having a choice of seatbelt every time you get in the car.
TUV approved and a great product.
RedRobin:
....
Posted by animal in another thread (was off-topic) : -
--- Quote from: animal on November 16, 2009, 10:41:16 am ---
Not wanting to take this any further off topic, but that photo concerns me Robin - are those your seats?
Bucket seats such as those shown here are rarely strong enough to actually take harnesses through the cut-outs, they are purely cosmetic. It was the same story on the old RS Focus - people we putting harnesses through the seats, but the backs of the seat aren't designed to take the load from a harness and can buckle and distort in a heavy impact, offering little or no support and potentially fatal consquences as the seat collapses around you. Just thought I'd let you know in case you weren't already aware of the dangers. The seat backs are separate from the base and arent stiff enough, like proper one-piece bucket seats, to handle forces exerted on them.
I don't mean to preach, but it's quite a serious safety concern - particularly on a track. They look lovely though... I hope I can source some.
--- End quote ---
....I think this is a question of safety best answered by both Recaro and Schroth. I will attempt to get some info from them and post accordingly in due course.
Meanwhile, my tuppence-worth is that the Recaro's are probably (hopefully!) stronger than those in an old Ford RS Focus. But more importantly, do you know of any fatal or serious injury crashes where these Schroth Quikfit belts were installed?
Also my Recaro versions don't fold forward very well, although they aren't a one-piece shell. There must be plenty of one-piece shell bucket seats on the market which are neither TUV approved nor of a material which won't shatter/break under severe duress, but I haven't researched this point.
Also, the Schroth literature accompanying their Quikfit harness makes a big point of where the rear straps should and shouldn't be anchored and surely this is with seatbelt safety uppermost in their mind.
tony_danza:
Hmm.. an interesting point and one that certainly can't be dismissed given the seriousness. I'm in no way qualified to give an answer, but here's my views.
I've know that placing the mountings at the wrong angle can break a seat, and your back.... no matter if it is a 1 piece or whatever. Their placement is ABSOLUTELY key.
I can only place faith in the TUV approval and the fact the mountings are well within the correct angle range. I can also only place faith in Recaro not making a seat with harness guides that isn't actually suitable to use harnesses with. It'd be lawsuit city.
IIRC the MKI RS Focus had Sparco seats? not exactly a make with no provenance - did any Sparco seats in an RSF actually fail? I'd be very interested in seeing one. Were people mounting them correctly?
The new EVO has OEM provision for harnesses to be used with their OEM 2 piece seats, the mountings are hidden under flaps in the rear shelf. Surely these would have been type and safety approved if the manufacturer is putting these in as standard?
RedRobin:
^^^^
Whether you are 'qualified' or not Mike, your views on this make a great deal of sense to me - All very good points. TUV are pretty strict AFAIK.
It may take some time for me to get Recaro and Schroth replies. No wonder I don't have time to work!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version