Question Need advice - 89 Jeep Cherokee

my2boys · Mar 25, 2010

DH just bought an 89 (yes, 89 not 98) cherokee to be his vehicle for work and such. Mine is a 97 Explorer and will be the main vehicle.
My concern is there are no shoulder belts in the backseat on the cherokee. While the boys won't be in there much, there is a chance they could be occasionally. DS1 is in a booster (Turbo), DS2 is still in a FPSVD (for a little while longer - not sure what his next seat will be).

Can shoulder belts be installed?
Can tether anchors be installed?
What are my options for allowing the boys to ride in the Cherokee?

Thanks.

carseatcoach · Mar 25, 2010

I do not know if shoulder belts can be installed, but that's something to look into -- in fact, it would be a good idea to replace all seatbelts as they are now 21 years old! Tethers can probably be retrofitted. If there are no shoulder belts, then the children would need to be in harnesses, either harnessed seats or travel vests/harnesses.

my2boys · Mar 26, 2010

OK.
So I searched back through here and found a post stating that an 89 can have tether anchors installed. I haven't talked to dealers about this though.

I've called a couple Jeep dealers and seatbelts for this year have been discontinued but they all suggested looking at junk yards, etc for some.

Where does this leave me?

(should I move this to the carseat area?)

skaterbabs · Mar 26, 2010

I absolutely would NOT use junkyard seatbelts. Try another dealer, call corporate, etc.

my2boys · Mar 26, 2010

Rebekah,
That was my feeling too. Corporate (at least cust service) directed me to the dealers who say they can't get them. Are there any other options to get new seatbelts?

If I can't get a seat belt, what about a harness/vest with the tether anchor? But then what about when the boys get older?
I much prefer to have the shoulder seatbelt but will make do if I have to.
At least it's not our main vehicle.

skaterbabs · Mar 26, 2010

If they're giving you the run-around, then a vest & tether is really your only option. Of course, that still leaves you with 20+ year old seatbelts.

my2boys · Mar 26, 2010

So there's not another option/business/3rd party type deal where I can get seatbelts?

Well, darn.

Thanks for your help.

skaterbabs · Mar 26, 2010

I'm sure there probably is, but I wouldn't know where you'd start looking and of course you'd need to make the parental decision to use aftermarket seatbelts.

my2boys · Mar 27, 2010

So dumb question - what's wrong with aftermarket seatbelts? How are they different from replacing seatbelts?
Not trying to be snarky - just trying to gather all the info I can.

Maedze · Mar 27, 2010

my2boys said:
So dumb question - what's wrong with aftermarket seatbelts? How are they different from replacing seatbelts?
Not trying to be snarky - just trying to gather all the info I can.

You have no way of knowing if they will work. That's pretty much it.

Also, if you choose to go the vest/top tether direction, keep in mind that the back seat is probably not high enough to provide safe head and neck support.

I would suggest looking into an 86-Y harness with a high back booster.

kathysr98 · Mar 28, 2010

These people do restoration, replacement, and custom seatbelts. As others have stated it would be a use at your own risk situation, but the company is well thought of in the custom & show car circles.

http://www.ssnake-oyl.com/

Question Need advice - 89 Jeep Cherokee

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