Just wondering if anyone's done this and actually had it approved by an engineer? I'm pretty sure a CRAB bar would need to be installed first and the anchor point attached to that.

Depends on the state rules that apply. I believe in NSW it has to have a crab bar, however in Qld as long as its got the right style of setup, it can be mounted through the floor in the back. I think up here it requires a certain size plate as a minimum (I recall about 15 to 20 square centimetres) with a welded captive nut and must be riveted to the panel so it can't fall if the anchor is removed. Also has to be high tensile bolt of the correct thread. If all these conditions are met it can be mounted below the floor as long as the back of the seat does not bear any weight from the strap (as early seat backs are not reinforced).

In my van they go to just in front of the rear hatch, I fitted 3 since the cost was minimal per fitting and no different to certify 3 points or one (was free anyway since I was getting the rear seat complianced at the same time). On dual cabs I've seen them fitted through the back of the body or down behind the seats through areas of the body which would hide the fittings.

Not sure with dual cabs, you need to find out what the local regs are and should be able to do the work yourself to save some cost - I was quoted around $200 to have 3 points installed and complianced (without the back seat added in) and all up mine cost about $135 including the anchors, install hardware and inspection for both the rear seat install and the seat anchor point compliance. In comparison a used crab bar can be around $100, new ones fitted are up in the $350 to $400 range depending on where you go. My father in law got a single one fitted in his rodeo dual cab (it goes from behind the seat up and attaches at the top of the rear window) which was a couple of hundred fitted and complianced.

I'm not so much interested in state rules as I am in something that will be safe for my child. The problem with mounting the anchor point down behind the seat is that the seat itself isn't made to take the kind of load the baby seat belts would put on it in an accident, like you've said. All the CRAB bars that I've seen are a bolt in bar which probably work fine in a bus but in a DC there's no access to the rear of the panel so it'd need to be welded in just above the rear seat but below the window I guess.

Thanks for your input mate.

Anyone have experience of fitting one to a DC?

They should all be as safe as each other as they all comply/have to comply with Australian standards, whether fixed anchor points or a bar. The point I was making about the state laws differing is that some states must use certain types only. If installed properly, all available systems will be safe - we all want what's safe for our kids especially in a vehicle with old school brakes and no airbags/crash protection.

I believe some of them now fit in using nutserts to fit the bars which do not require access to the panel behind. I'm not sure if you can/are supposed to weld them in.

They should be, but I think some are better than others. The Isofix system is widely regarded as the best worldwide but we've only relatively recently been able to access it here in Australia. Not much good in a DC though.

I'll look into the nutsert option, I just spoke to an installer that said the same about welding one in, thanks.

All sorted, no CRAB bar needed, just a couple of mounts and a plate in the correct spot and it's done. I'll put some pics up when it's done for any others interested.

Who's doing it for you Scotty ?

Nath

I found a local fella Nath, turns out only him and another installer in Queensland knew how to go about it. Just gotta sort everything else before Valla now!