Rear facing seat belts?

[KKV]

We have a 2017 ACE.

Does anyone have experience or a part number for reverse bench seat belts? Our forward facing banquet has seatbelts. The reverse does not. Is there an obvious reason they’re not there that I missing?

[Campnjoe]

Safty Hazzard. Thats why they are not there.

[Bob Denman]

Yup...

[EA37TS]

Ask the manufacturer. My 2020 Accolade has 2 seat belts on the forward facing dinette bench and 2 on the rearward facing bench.

Safety is not the answer otherwise nobody would have belts on a rear facing dinette bench.

[Down South]

Originally Posted by Campnjoe

Safty Hazzard. Thats why they are not there.

I don't understand the logic for this statement. Maybe someone can explain it to me.

I have a 2017 ACE and it does not have the belts on the rear facing seat, just the front facing seat.
I could see it not being that big of a deal from a front collision. But a roll over would be a different situation.

[Bob Denman]

... Think how a head would snap back during a front-end collision...

[16ACE27]

For the front facing seatbelts on the dinette; think how a face would smash the table on a front end collision.....

The answer is cost.

They put them on the front facing for consistency with cars (that's what we're used to). and the front facing makes it easier to have conversations with the front seat occupants.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by EA37TS

Ask the manufacturer. My 2020 Accolade has 2 seat belts on the forward facing dinette bench and 2 on the rearward facing bench.

Safety is not the answer otherwise nobody would have belts on a rear facing dinette bench.

It’s possible that safety standards vary by weight class, like larger trucks not requiring air bags. I don’t know, but on smaller motorhomes the size I’ve been comparing, it seems most manufacturers only install seat belts on rear facing dinette when there’s a wall behind. In case where a dinette is in short slide where only half the dinette bench has slide wall behind it, they often only install one seat belt and not the other. But you’re correct that there is no absolute pattern, at least not an obvious one to me.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

For the front facing seatbelts on the dinette; think how a face would smash the table on a front end collision.....

The answer is cost.

They put them on the front facing for consistency with cars (that's what we're used to). and the front facing makes it easier to have conversations with the front seat occupants.

Newest safety trend on smaller motorhomes is to adopt European standard and install automotive-style seats with headrest and shoulder harnesses. I really like that because it protects against what you describe.

It adds cost for sure, but also makes seats harder to convert into a bed. I noticed yesterday that Winnebago reworked 59G floorplan and eliminated front bed made from seat. Now it sleeps 2 versus 3 or 4 (if small children). Change involves more than new seats, but I’d bet it played a part. EKKO and other van campers also have shoulder harness and head rest to protect from rear collision.