Harnesses - talk to me
Discussion
Just put a couple of budget buckets (Sparco Sprint) in the 182
Now I am looking at harnesses - but I would rather not spend a lot.
I am a very amateur track dayer. Only done 2 so far this year, I have 2 more booked in next month
What is the real different between 3,4,5,6 point harnesses. etc
What should I look for, should I buy second hand?
Any advice very much appreciated
Now I am looking at harnesses - but I would rather not spend a lot.
I am a very amateur track dayer. Only done 2 so far this year, I have 2 more booked in next month
What is the real different between 3,4,5,6 point harnesses. etc
What should I look for, should I buy second hand?
Any advice very much appreciated
Do you have a roll cage fitted? Harnesses and no roll cage could actually be more dangerous than a seatbelt in the event of the car rolling and the roof collapsing. Google has the depressing detail / reasons why.
- 4 point harness: will have 2 shoulder straps and 2 lap straps that meet in the middle. pros: cheaper, less bits. cons: you could submarine (google)
- 5 point harness: as above, but adds single strap between your legs. pros: prevents submarining. cons: one strap could be painful where it hurts most...
- 6 point harness: as with 4 point but has two straps between your legs. pros: less chance of doing damage to your member. cons: pain to get into, cost
It's a critical safety component worth the outlay of a new one IMO!
- 4 point harness: will have 2 shoulder straps and 2 lap straps that meet in the middle. pros: cheaper, less bits. cons: you could submarine (google)
- 5 point harness: as above, but adds single strap between your legs. pros: prevents submarining. cons: one strap could be painful where it hurts most...
- 6 point harness: as with 4 point but has two straps between your legs. pros: less chance of doing damage to your member. cons: pain to get into, cost
It's a critical safety component worth the outlay of a new one IMO!
Best compromise at the lower end of the budget is probably the Schroth ASM 4-point belts, they'll give some protection against submarining but they're still a compromise - especially with no rollover protection.
Stick to belts and a CG-Lock if you can find one, probably the safest option in the cageless tin-top.
Stick to belts and a CG-Lock if you can find one, probably the safest option in the cageless tin-top.
It’s one of the several areas you don’t want to scrimp on.
Would always recommend buying a 5 point harness as a minimum but preferably a 6 point one if you can.
3/4 point harness and you risk submarining as mentioned above which is basically slipping out underneath the harness.
Schroth is my brand of choice but there are plenty others out there.
Would always recommend buying a 5 point harness as a minimum but preferably a 6 point one if you can.
3/4 point harness and you risk submarining as mentioned above which is basically slipping out underneath the harness.
Schroth is my brand of choice but there are plenty others out there.
Whatever you do, don't buy off ebay etc, so so much fake stuff out there, deadly dangerous rubbish. Get from a proper supplier, you don't have to spend fortunes, lots of choice.
I personally use a 4 point, no its not as good as a 5 or 6 because of submarineing in an impact, but I hate the nutcracker element, a 6 is better in that regard obvs.
I personally use a 4 point, no its not as good as a 5 or 6 because of submarineing in an impact, but I hate the nutcracker element, a 6 is better in that regard obvs.
CrutyRammers said:
I've got Scroth in my Dax, but I do find that they start to slacken off a bit after a few hot laps.
I've found this on all the harnesses I've used in my Radical (all 6 point). Must just be a feature of them? I've used TRS, Scroth and Sabelt (and maybe a few others) - all new.Dunc.
dunc_sx said:
CrutyRammers said:
I've got Scroth in my Dax, but I do find that they start to slacken off a bit after a few hot laps.
I've found this on all the harnesses I've used in my Radical (all 6 point). Must just be a feature of them? I've used TRS, Scroth and Sabelt (and maybe a few others) - all new.Dunc.
I had 4 points fitted to my Westfields right up to the point when i totaled one at Mallory and submarined under the belts and hurt my legs and shoulders. Since then i will only ever use a 5 or 6 point.
The other issue to consider is cheaper belts have a 2" width strap, more expensive ones 3". It is your life and only you can decide where that safety to cost ratio sits, but my MX5 has a 3" wide strap 5 point belt. It would have been a 6 point, but a suitable extra mounting point was not viable and 5 was good enough for me.
The other issue to consider is cheaper belts have a 2" width strap, more expensive ones 3". It is your life and only you can decide where that safety to cost ratio sits, but my MX5 has a 3" wide strap 5 point belt. It would have been a 6 point, but a suitable extra mounting point was not viable and 5 was good enough for me.
when i was looking, i pretty much decided on an ASM (anti-submarine) 4pointer. i never actually bought though.4point will be the most you could go with with 99.9% of OEM seats.
if i were buying non-ASM, then it'd have to be a 6point. i can only imagine a 5point would be a nut-cracker if the worst happens.
if i were buying non-ASM, then it'd have to be a 6point. i can only imagine a 5point would be a nut-cracker if the worst happens.
If fitted correctly, the 5th andn6th points are there to stop the lap strap riding up. You should not move forward in the seat if the lap strap is correctly positioned. While this is true of a 4 point as well, they are often not adjusted well for comfort reasons and get tightened up with the shoulder straps and thus pulled up. If you do move forward in a seat, 5 or 6 will still hurt like hell.
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