Rumble Seat Risk

[Huskerj]

I just bought a Model A Coup. We spent some time re-aligning the rumble seat and replacing the bushings. The seat now opens and closes very easily. The primary use of the rumble seat will be to haul grandkids around.

My question: Is there a risk that the rumble seat will close on sudden braking? If so, does anyone have suggestions on preventing the seat from closing?

Thanks in advance for any response.

[alexiskai]

In my mind, the risk of the seat closing per se is not the important risk - rather, the risk is that the bodies of the grandkids, which are in motion, will tend to remain in motion when the brake is applied. The danger is from the metal parts immediately in front of them, not from the backrest behind them.

The way we addressed this problem was to install lap belts in the rumble seat and then to put the kids in standard safety carseats with five-point harnesses. The seat is sufficiently rigid to keep the rider's torso from rotating forward. However, this won't work after they outgrow the car seats.

You could take the car out with no one in the rumble seat and try a panic stop to see what happens. My guess is that the pivot point for the seat is high enough that it would not close on its own.

[Jacksonlll]

It won’t close upon braking.
Make sure the kids know about that body metal that is right in front of their teeth.
I never had a problem, and a ton of kids have been in there.

[Kevin in NJ]

The first problem is getting thrown from the A.

I did volunteer rescue for 14 years. An open jeep with no seat belts was always fun. People everywhere. This is at low speed in town driving.

The A is no different. It will throw you from the front cause the door will fling open in minor accidents. Kids will be thrown.

The seat can flip forward too, but I am not sure how easy. For my cabriolet I have lap belts installed.

Oh, I have many hours in the rumble seat. Starting from when I was 5 years old. Yes you do go forward if you stop fast. Of course, any ride in a rumble seat is a great ride.

[Licensed to kill]

I don't have a car with a rumble seat but want one for the grandkids as well. It seems to me that a rumble seat is safer than the front seat of a roadster. Hard braking or hitting something will throw them into the dash as easily as the deck in front of the RS. The front seat is less safe because in a sharp turn, the door CAN some open and spill it's occupant. No side door in a RS. I would MUCH rather have the grand kids ride in a RS than in the back seat of my fordor with suicide doors. There really IS no safe place in a model A if you are in an accident. It's like driving on the road in a glorified golf cart with ZERO safety features built in.

[TerryO]

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You might want to get a swimming noodle, split one side, slide it on the metal in front and use it as a cushion. I haven't tried it but they work well on the slide out right above a storage door in my 5th wheel camper. Just a thought and it might save you having to make a payment on your dentist's Mercedes.


TOB

[McMimmcs]

Many of the people that are vocal about rumble seat safety have no seat belts up front. In my opinion a little hypocritical.

[Gary WA]

Originally Posted by McMimmcs

Many of the people that are vocal about rumble seat safety have no seat belts up front. In my opinion a little hypocritical.

And How do you know that??!!!!

[McMimmcs]

Originally Posted by Gary WA

And How do you know that??!!!!

From being in the Model A crowd for over 40 years. Attending Model A functions, tours, car shows, Hershey and Carlisle. They both have their safety deficiencies not just the rumble seat.

[Jack Shaft]

Buy a Honda, its nice and safe,and no one will call you a hypocrite..truly,lap belts in a model a might give you a sense of security but they won't lessen your chances of being seriously hurt a major accident. In fact being belted in with a fuel tank in your lap might be detrimental. The car possesses no safety features for the occupants, strapped or not.

[kawagumby]

Originally Posted by Jack Shaft

Buy a Honda, its nice and safe,and no one will call you a hypocrite..truly,lap belts in a model a might give you a sense of security but they won't lessen your chances of being seriously hurt a major accident. In fact being belted in with a fuel tank in your lap might be detrimental. The car possesses no safety features for the occupants, strapped or not.

I see it differently. Seat belts will keep you in the car which does provide more protection than flying through the air to who-knows-where you'll land, maybe head-first, and possibly being vulnerable to being hit by another vehicle. Seat belts were one of the first things I added to my A, along with turn signals.

[Jack Shaft]

Originally Posted by kawagumby

I see it differently. Seat belts will keep you in the car which does provide more protection than flying through the air to who-knows-where you'll land, maybe head-first, and possibly being vulnerable to being hit by another vehicle. Seat belts were one of the first things I added to my A, along with turn signals.

Where did you anchor your seat belts? The steering column is a fixed unit,no crumple zone like a modern car..more like a fixed pike to impale on.If the belts make you feel comfortable more power to you,its your car,do as you wish.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by Jack Shaft

Where did you anchor your seat belts? The steering column is a fixed unit,no crumple zone like a modern car..more like a fixed pike to impale on.If the belts make you feel comfortable more power to you,its your car,do as you wish.

Video walkthrough here for 3-point belts in the coupe front cabin and lap belts in the rumble seat.

[Jack Shaft]

Originally Posted by alexiskai

Video walkthrough here for 3-point belts in the coupe front cabin and lap belts in the rumble seat.

The reason I asked,is like with your well made tutorial its very difficult to install seat belts correctly.For instance,your center rumble belt mount utilizes the d nuts that retain the lower deck lid panel...those fasteners will fail under belt load.the same with the rumble hinge bracket.Seatbelt mounts are designed in a modern application where the belt will fail before the anchor during load testing.I understand,especially when hauling children that restraining them is good,but a belt anchor failing under load renders installing belts an exercise.

[kawagumby]

Originally Posted by Jack Shaft

Where did you anchor your seat belts?

"A passenger rode in my car, with the seat belt on. We had an accident, the anchor failed and the passenger was injured and today we are in court as a defendant ,the passenger is seeking compensation for their injuries.. here's how it goes.."



So, your position is that seatbelts are a liability due to possible litigation stemming from less than likely collision situations. That reminds me of a city attorney I once challenged who had the position that the city should give up many of its services because they could expose the organization to lawsuits.



When I installed the seat belts in my '31 roadster I noted how thin the sheet metal was behind the seat, so I added angle iron to spread the load over a larger area. An unlikely collision of enough magnitude to cause the belt anchors to fail would no-doubt be of such severity that passenger survival would be unlikely in any case. I didn't install belts in the rumble seat area as I don't plan on carrying passengers there, but if people were to use that seat, I would install belts, as the probability of real-world safety enhancement for the vast majority of more common collision scenarios, or other kinds of errant forces acting upon the car, is absolutely undeniable.

[Jack Shaft]

Originally Posted by kawagumby

"A passenger rode in my car, with the seat belt on. We had an accident, the anchor failed and the passenger was injured and today we are in court as a defendant ,the passenger is seeking compensation for their injuries.. here's how it goes.."



So, your position is that seatbelts are a liability due to possible litigation stemming from less than likely collision situations. That reminds me of a city attorney I once challenged who had the position that the city should give up many of its services because they could expose the organization to lawsuits.



When I installed the seat belts in my '31 roadster I noted how thin the sheet metal was behind the seat, so I added angle iron to spread the load over a larger area. An unlikely collision of enough magnitude to cause the belt anchors to fail would no-doubt be of such severity that passenger survival would be unlikely in any case. I didn't install belts in the rumble seat area as I don't plan on carrying passengers there, but if people were to use that seat, I would install belts, as the probability of real-world safety enhancement for the vast majority of more common collision scenarios, or other kinds of errant forces acting upon the car, is absolutely undeniable.

To me its more like exposing yourself to risk through assumption. That's dangerous ground.Seat belt issues are the bread and butter of ambulance chasers..want to learn proper anchoring? I reccomend not using a courtroom.

[Licensed to kill]

Originally Posted by Jack Shaft

Buy a Honda, its nice and safe,and no one will call you a hypocrite..truly,lap belts in a model a might give you a sense of security but they won't lessen your chances of being seriously hurt a major accident. In fact being belted in with a fuel tank in your lap might be detrimental. The car possesses no safety features for the occupants, strapped or not.

Something I have been saying since owning my first model A. Safety???, the gas tank is in your lap and the ignition source (battery) is under your feet. What could possibly go wrong in an accident??. IMO the best way to make your Model A "safe" is drive defensively and always be ultra-aware of your surroundings at all times because the ONLY way to be safe in a Model A is to not get into an accident in the first place.

[Richard in Anaheim CA]

Not the ideal safety measure, but when someone rides in my rumble seat, I tie the opening handle to the spare tire which is only inches apart when open.

Seat belts should be a must and the padding at the front of the opening an excellent addition.

Riding or driving our Model A's is definitely not as safe as the new cars but the experience is worth a small measure of risk.

Remember, life is a sexually transmitted experience and don't regret your birthday. The more of them you have the longer you live.

Yes, I too have experienced "Many" old women who tell me "We had more fun in those things"

HELP !'talking and I can't shut up

[daveymc29]

I have had ladies tell me of accidents in the rumble seat. But not from falling out. Seems funny to me how many old grannies will share some early memory of their youth in the rumble seat with total strangers. A smile and twinkle in their eye makes me suspect it was a precious memory indeed.

[McMimmcs]

Originally Posted by daveymc29

I have had ladies tell me of accidents in the rumble seat. But not from falling out. Seems funny to me how many old grannies will share some early memory of their youth in the rumble seat with total strangers. A smile and twinkle in their eye makes me suspect it was a precious memory indeed.

I have had the same experience. Truly is funny.