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Old 10-04-2011, 06:09 PM
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ckau ckau is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: central North Carolina
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The positioning of the belts is very important! If you use the V type as Tom descibes, (needs one mounting braket centered behind the seat) or the 5-point,(needs two brackets mounted behind each shoulder) In either case the mounting point should be below the shoulder level. you want the shoulder straps to pull you down in the seat not back!
The lap belt should be positioned across your hip just below the hip bone. Again, pulling you down not back. the 5th strap comes up in front of the crotch, pulling the lap belt slightly forwards not downwards.You should be able to slide your hand between the strap and yourself. Get this one right or you run the risk of loosing the family jewels
Adjust the lap belt first. pull it tight enough so you can't move in the seat. adjust the crotch strap so you can't pull the lap belt up over the hip bones. Tighten the shoulder belts till you can hardly breath and it's about right. A rule of thumb.. if the belts are on the verge of being uncomfortable, they are almost tight enough!
it seems sort of silly to tighten belts this way but during a hard hit ,your body turns to jello and contorts in all sorts of weird ways. Improper postioning or adjustment can snap a collor bone , rupture a spleen, compress the spine or at best leave some really nasty looking bruises.