Number of belted seats

[vwnova]

Can anyone answer why when a motorhome has so many berths, there are fewer seat belted seats. I know rules have changed now but why did MH builders do this.

 

[Landy Andy]

Mine hasn’t. Sleeps 5, 5 belted seats.

 

[pappajohn]

Probably down to weight.
6 passengers is considerably heavier than 3 or 4.
Extra berths could be for people following by car but pretty pointless

 

[LesW]

For when one has guests staying overnight.

 

[PaulW2]

Can anyone answer why when a motorhome has so many berths, there are fewer seat belted seats. I know rules have changed now but why did MH builders do this.

Some have more of the one, some more of the other, some are equal. Depending on the age there is also the question of what the legal requirements were when they were built. These changed over time. Eg does a rear passenger need seatbelts, do only forward facing rear passengers need seatbelts, are sideways facing seats allowed to carry passengers.

Sometimes I think it's a payload question, sometimes it's a layout question (how many legal seats can I have given this layout) and sometimes it may be a practicality/cost question of building the necessary support structures to enable seatbelts.

My first motorhome had an equal number (6). My second had 4 belted travel seats and 6 berths. My third has 4 belted travel seats and two berths, with the possibility of a third.

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[L' Hobo]

Seat belt anchorage is highly regulated and vehicles have to meet these standard.
Perhaps, because of the vehicles structure, this is not possible.

My Murvi has a very clunky bed hinge that everyone complains about but, it is necessary for the 6 seatbelts (or so I'm told?)

 

[Brains]

It looks good on the spec.

The sales guy either pushes the fact that it can sleep 6 (and 'forgets' to mention it can only carry 4)
or they push the fact that it can carry 6, so can be used as a family run around, but sleeps less.

The standard layout for most campervans is belts for 4 or 5 but only a double bed for 2

 

[David and Sally]

Our last Burstner was two berth four travelling seats

 

[Brains]

Our last Burstner was two berth four travelling seats

That is pretty standard for most two berth motorhomes as well as nearly all campervans
Ours is the same

 

[FrankNicklin]

Our Swift 590RS is 5 berth with 4 seat belted seats.

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[gus-lopez]

Here in spain they advertise as X to travel & Y to sleep

 

[Jim]

Essentially EU law specifies that among other things such as weight per no' of berths and per metre of length, you must provide at least 75kg for every designated travel seat.

So many vans do not have this much payload, so they remove 'official' travel seats, Often by just removing a seatbelt. They'll still call it a 5/6 berth van though. Those passengers above say 3 or 4 must get the bus and meet you there.

 

[scotzsue]

Then add in the insurance, how many belted seats does the vehicle have as stated on the V5, have had one van a conversion, which still had the original 5 seats on the V5 but in fact only had 2 seatbelts, confusing or what.
It was insured as having 2 seatbelts and only ever carried 2.

 

[FrankNicklin]

Then add in the insurance, how many belted seats does the vehicle have as stated on the V5, have had one van a conversion, which still had the original 5 seats on the V5 but in fact only had 2 seatbelts, confusing or what.
It was insured as having 2 seatbelts and only ever carried 2.

Our V5 makes no mention of the number of seats, its blank, but we do have 2 rear passenger seatbelts plus driver and passenger up front.

 

[scotzsue]

Our V5 makes no mention of the number of seats, its blank, but we do have 2 rear passenger seatbelts plus driver and passenger up front.

Like i said confusing or what?

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[FrankNicklin]

Like i said confusing or what?

And ours is 5 berth to add more to the confusion.

 

[scotjimland]

We have three belted seats... but only a small double bed ..could be cosy though

but seriously, we use our van as a daily driver and the third seat comes in useful

 

[Wingingit#1]

Ours is 5 berth and with 5 belts but theres no way you could physically have 5 people use and sleep comfortably

 

[StillGoing]

Our motorhome has more belted seats (4) than berths (2)

 

[L' Hobo]

Then add in the insurance, how many belted seats does the vehicle have as stated on the V5, have had one van a conversion, which still had the original 5 seats on the V5 but in fact only had 2 seatbelts, confusing or what.
It was insured as having 2 seatbelts and only ever carried 2.

I believe it is the responsibility of the owner to inform DVLA if the V5 is incorrect?

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[L' Hobo]

Our V5 makes no mention of the number of seats, its blank, but we do have 2 rear passenger seatbelts plus driver and passenger up front.

It should be on your insurance.

 

[L' Hobo]

Our motorhome has more belted seats (4) than berths (2)

Mine has 6belted seat but it is a MURVI

Multi-Use-Recreational-Vehicle-(can't remember what the I stands for) and can be easily changed into a 6seater mini-bus.
PS. Mines a 2berth.

 

[tonyidle]

My belted seats 3 and 4 are in my loft.

 

[scotzsue]

I believe it is the responsibility of the owner to inform DVLA if the V5 is incorrect?

No longer have the vehicle have advised the new owner.

 

[97243]

Our Laika registration doc says 4 + 4 although there are no rear belts, just sideways banquettes.

Our new (to us) Esterel has four belted seats, but the registration document says we are only permitted to carry 3.

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[scotzsue]

Our Laika registration doc says 4 + 4 although there are no rear belts, just sideways banquettes.

Our new (to us) Esterel has four belted seats, but the registration document says we are only permitted to carry 3.

Quite common the driver 1 is permitted to carry 3 passengers, i queried this with a 6 seater I had and that's the response from DVLA was 14 years ago though.

 

[CAB96]

Our V5 makes no mention of the number of seats, its blank, but we do have 2 rear passenger seatbelts plus driver and passenger up front.

You can inform the DVLA and they should issue a new V5.

 

[EuroTrotters]

compliance ? Type Approval.

Most of the 4+ berth motorhomes with seatbelts I see are UK built.

Our Current Hymer has 6. 3 Inertia real forward facing, 1 rear facing and 2 lap belts, 1 forward and one rear.

Oddly, Our Frankia was 4 forward facing inertia but the spec listed it as having 6 travel places, two without belts.

La Strada and Eura Mobil only has 4 inertia real forwards facing