Defender question

[Ayahuasca]

As some of you might know, I have owned a Defender for some time, in fact it is the car I have owned far longer than any other. I have a love / hate relationship with it, and describe it as a convoy of parts, some of which work, moving in close proximity. It is an abusive relationship, sometimes I abuse her - which she seems to enjoy, and other times she abuses me.

But I have noticed that she is trying to kill me. In fact she seems designed to kill me. I need to drive her with my seat pushed back as far as possible, to the full extent of its negligible travel. This lines up my temple with the seatbelt mounting point. A solid metal bolt that protrudes into the cabin by an inch of so. In normal street driving this is not a problem. But off-road, when the vehicle is lurching violently left to right ( as it was crossing a deep axle twisting muddy gulley yesterday), the seatbelt mounting bolt can impact the skull pretty violently. Felt like I had been stunned by a captive bolt gun.

Short of wearing a tank crew helmet, what solutions to this are available?

Ta.

[GetCarter]

I'm afraid you just have to take your chance. I've owned 4 Defenders and it was only the fact that they would make me deaf which made me finally give in and get cars from this century.

Enjoy while you can.

ETA: I notice we both joined PH in the same month 19 years ago. We're so last century

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 27th May 15:19

[100SRV]

I noticed that too, could be fatal. It really needs a dense foam cover over the seat belt Upper anchor bolt and swing buckle. Maybe an opportunity for one of the aftermarket trim companies?

[Ayahuasca]

GetCarter said:

I'm afraid you just have to take your chance. I've owned 4 Defenders and it was only the fact that they would make me deaf which made me finally give in and get cars from this century.

Enjoy while you can.

ETA: I notice we both joined PH in the same month 19 years ago. We're so last century

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 27th May 15:19

Ah yes, I remember this when it was all TVRs!

[GetCarter]

Ayahuasca said:

Ah yes, I remember this when it was all TVRs!

..and green fields of course.

[A.J.M]

Sit further forward.

Sorted.

• may not fix your issue

[300bhp/ton]

Drive slower off road.

But seriously you’ve got to be going some to hit your head on anything under normal off road driving.

There should be a plastic cap over the bolt:

[InitialDave]

Buy a Series that's old enough not to have seatbelts. Slower, too. Far safer.

[Ayahuasca]

300bhp/ton said:

Drive slower off road.

But seriously you’ve got to be going some to hit your head on anything under normal off road driving.

There should be a plastic cap over the bolt:

I was going “as slowly as possible and as fast as necessary.” Very deep muddy clay single track traversed by a deep but narrow ditch. Gingerly lowered the vehicle into the ditch and gave it some beans to climb out. While crossing there was a violent side to side sway and my head still hurts days later. Yes there is a hard plastic cap but all that does is stop the blood rusting the steel.

A couple of Hiluxes became stuck in the ditch which was a nice bonus.

[blueST]

My wife was nearly knocked unconscious by that bolt. She was busy taking photos when I drove into some diagonal ruts, the car rocked and the next thing she has stars and tweety birds circulating.

If you are quite tall, you could install some seat risers like the Mud U.K. ones, which let the seat go further back. That’s what I have and my head is not in line with that bolt.

[superlightr]

Maybe a whoosh moment but why not buy some givh density foam and glue it over it?

[Ayahuasca]

superlightr said:

Maybe a whoosh moment but why not buy some givh density foam and glue it over it?

That is what I will do.